TALL SCORING GAME

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 July 1928, Page 10

TALL SCORING GAME

OKAIAWA DEFEAT HAWERA,

TWENTY-FOUR TO TWENTY-TWO

BENEFIT TO INJURED PLAYER'S

A high scoring', spectacular game resulted from the meeting of the OkaiaAva and Hawera fifteens in a benefit match staged before the largest attendance at club encounters on the showgrounds this season. Though without the services of four usual players, D. Murdoch, I. 'Crawford, R. Clarke >aiul J. Awahou, the Southern -champions t'ooly the honours Avith 24 points (five tries, three converted and a penalty goal) to the 22 points (six tries, tvvo converted) compiled' by one of the strongest sides fielded this year by Hawera.

The tally "of scores Avas the highest reached in southern senior engagements this season, excepting the account of ill to 18 registered by O k'aiawa against Athletic in the first round.

Okaiawa fielded the more finished rear division combination, the dashing middle back pla y of D. Johnston and 8.. 'Cameron being particularly pleasing. On their superiority in this phase Okaiawa merited the victory, though the ’outside men Avere shaded !by the home right wing. -C. Paterson, and in the forwards superiority Avas claimed by -the 'Huwera and representative hookers, W. Robinson and -O. Murphy, Avho played an important part in the success achieved , by. the Amber and Blacks. The teams lined out as follow:

Okaiawa (maroon and blue). —M : . i Paterson: D. Crawford, Ngaia, L. Simons; B. Cameron, D. Johnston; M. Lynskey, captain (half); R. Ruru i (Rover); E. Tippett, It. jMcOalluni; M. * PaivsloAv, Ike. It. Guv; R. Clarke, \’ . , Tippett (hookers). * Huwera (amber and black), —J. - Checvcrs; C. Paterson, N. Hunter, T. i Norris : C- Hammond,. It. Barron; S. l F. Riley (half); A. Henry (rover); B. > lUurphv, J. France; It. Williams, N. * Paterson, E. Murphy; W. Robinson, 0. 1 Murphy (hookers). Okaiawa faced the sun.in the open ing session. Early play found . both 1 sets of hacks fumbling badly, and the " teams swung betAveen the twenty-lives 1 in scrambling, though fast, action. 1 Whatever territorial advantage , could ! be given si lowed in fa-Aour of Okaiawa 1 till, after seven minutes, the amber pack made a sortie to- Avithin a few ■ yards of the scoring line. Lynskey, 1 cheeked the bid and the venue re- ' turned to neutral territory. Johnston ' started the first successful movement ! Avhen he made a- dash; from midfield and passed to Cameron, and a- simple dummv sold bv the latter paired tlie- Avav 1 for a run in by Ngaia, Avith CraAvford ‘ still Avaiting to receive in turn. A beautiful kick by Ike secured the goal. 1 Okaiaiva 5- '■ "Within tAVO minutes the amber forwards took the aggressive. Rabin son Avas charging o\'er the line Avhen he 1 was recalled for a- knock-on, but the ' inA'asion gave results when from the ‘ scrum the ball sped from Riley to Hammond to C. Paterson, who went over in the corner just as Lynskey 1 made a loav tackle. Pater sop missed from the wide angle. 1 Ensuing- action brought points m ouiok succession. Another fine run by Cameron terminated in a transfer to ' Rum. who was stopped on the line by ’ Cheevers. but sent an in-pass to. Ike, who Avent over for a try by the posts. 1 Taking an easy kick cheaply the lock ’ missed by a small margin. Okaiawa . 8, HaAA'era 3. HaAvera’s turn came a- moment later, i Avlien the vanguard pressed in a deter--1 mined charge, which was gapped with a * trv bv' Hammond close to the upright. Paterson’s successful kick made the „ tally 8 all. The maroons went up in an immediate attack. Though sent back by Hammond, the A'isitors reached the .twentylive with the counter, and from 30 A-ards out Ike landed a goal with a carefullv taken penalty kick. Turn "and turn about was tlic order, the- home team getting through less than a minute later for a try Avell out bv Robinson. C. Paterson failed to find the uprights,- though he made a pood attempt, and the tally Avas 11 Before the mid wav whistle sounded, D. CraAvford made a pretty run of 30 yards and sent a pass infield to Johnston. Avhose return allowed Ngaia to cross by the upright, and at half-time, the score slioived : Okaiawa ’ -J-® llaAvera I 1 Hunter Avas playing first five-eighth, Barron second, and Hammond centre three-quarter in the home rear division when play resumed. Forcing the pace in the first feiv moments, Haivera sorely tested the maroons’ defence, but were unable to- press the advantage home, Johnston shone in the defence of tlic A'isitors’ citadel, and e\ r entually his forwards mado a thrust. The ball came hack to Cameron, and a wide transfer from V. Tippett to Johnston resulted in a pretty try by the lastnamed. Ike failed to goal, hut the southern champions Avere eight points UP An attempted pot by Henry, which luckilv found touch in the corner, and a hard hid bv Murphy, who' Avas unable to steady the ball before it reached toiu'h-iii-goal) Avere features of a period in Avliich Hawera made the play; hut Lvnskev, Johnston, and M. Paterson proved ‘equal to- emergencies till Riley cut through from a loose scrummage for a try betAA’een the.posts. C. Paterson goaled, and the scores slioived -Oka i aAva 19, HaAvera 16. Two long-range kicks hv C. 1 ateison failed to raise the flags for Hawera. and a moral try for Okaiawa Avent begging Avhen Ruru, Avith a clean run in, failed to hold a good pass. Hawera’s next serious attempt came when Norris raced in, to be stopped light on the line. During the exciting mixup AA'liich folloAved, Riley failed by indies to succeed; in a di\ r e for the line The ball got loose to Johnston, who punted clear. Cheevers could not resist -i, chance to pot, and the invasion was repelled Avith the ensuing force. Points came, hoAvever, when, after a run bv the maroon back, line had broken on the wing, the amber division went to the twenty-live, where a clever opening by lliley allowed him to send C. Paterson over in the corner. Hie scorer’s kick failed, hut, with about tivelve minutes to go, the tallies were again equal, each side claiming. 1J points T 1 During Okaiawa’s next attack Ike failed, with a- penalty kick. TducDrating exchanges interrupted shortly afterwards Avith the classic try of the day. From a line-out at the twentyfive tlje ball Avent from Guy to Lynskey, to Johnston, to Cameron, who sent a reverse pass to Johnston, and D. Craw- . ford finished the movement with a fix- - teen yards spurt to score well out. i Johnston’s conversion was a gem. < Okaiawa 24, Hawera 19.

An injury sustained by Hammond compelled his retirement, ancl J. Jackson took the centre position lor the remaining few .ihohieiits. Just on time a HaAA-era. sally resulted in-a. scrum near the goal . and touch . lines. , Again it avus sent -smartly to .Riley, and C. Paterson; cut-, in from the iving for a final try His unsuccessful kick left the score: Okaiawa 24 HaAvera 22--Mr. J. F. Kilcy Avasithc rcfcrcc,.