FOURTH GRADE FINAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 August 1928, Page 4

FOURTH GRADE FINAL

SOUTHERN DIVISION. i WON BY HAWERA HIGH SCHOOL.

After playing a stern defensive game in the first spell and -rarely opening up pla.v, Hawera. High School made no a-aco of it for AVaimate fourths in the second spell of the match that- decided the supremacy in the southern area. ■ The game was played at Okaia-wa, and gave victory to the School team bv 16 points- (two tries, two penalty goals and a field goal! to nilThe- winners possess- -a- -nicely bailanced team, able to play a defensive as well as a-n offensive game. They gft-vc -a reallv fine exhibition in both department's -o-f play. Their forwards packed well, but- at, times did not, put in -their weight, as they should, and AVa-imate, with more dcterminaitiom. 'bent them rather ba-d-lv. In loose forward rushes the losers excelled in the first spell and trained most of their advantages in this way They also showed flashes of effectiveness in this department at times during -their second spell. Their inability to finish off these attacking movements combined with capable defence by School lost -them several probable tries. In the -second spell School completely altered their tactics-, opening up -play on 1 every possible occasion. . Tho for* wards -sTumnied well -and showed much more dash. Wills, Kippenbergcr and Motrison leading them in many a spanking loose rush. They passed- well amongst themselves o-n occasions and also gave their speedy, capable- backs every opportunity, of which the backs took* full advantage. The second half was as nice and interesting a; session as one could wish. The ball came out cleanly. The half, T. Guy, got. it away cleanly, his five-eighths cut in effecand generally the movement was continued across the line of backs with excellent precision. It was exceedingly pretty to watch and very eflicicn't. for three trie's came as the outcome -of back passing rushes. The penalty -that Petersen converted was a. fine- kick, while McDonald’s potted- goal was spectacular. The forwards -all played well, but Wills was outstanding -and he revelled in t)ho play when the fortunes of -war were against him. He was, however, well backed up by a trusty six, and his rover was responsible for -a -lot of good work. T. Guy showed by his display that he- has- inherited football ability. He played a clever game and showed much resource, working the blind side effectively on at -least three occasions. His passes canie out -almost always with unfailing accuracy. Barker and Petersen combined well and both showed plenty of pace and fine dash. The- three-quarter line, too, wais good, Sturrock, ATcDonaild and Herbert showing fine attacking power, with good good kicking in defence. Herbert’s tries were the finishing touches to -excellent rushes, and he proved speedy and determined over the last fen yards from the line.

Nolan, at full, had a lot to do in the first spell and was rarely found wanting. AVaimate appeared to have the better of tho weight, forward, and on many occasions ran over their opponents-, but they and their hacks failed to take advantage. of the opportunities- offered. Shaw, Street. Tanm and 80-rric-, with the rover. Hill, were most conspicuous. The backs showed fine kicking power and individually did a- great- deal of good work, but they failed altogether to secure any combination, and in consequence their efforts largely were wasted. Edwards. Hughes, Hill and King were the best of the backs. Hawera High School wero f-ully entitled to their win, beating their opponents all round very decisively. The victory gives them the premiership in the fourths competition in the south.

THE TEAMS. High School.—Nolan, Herbert, McDonald, Sturrock, Petersen, Barker, T. Guy, Paterson, AVi-lls, Kippenberger, Keegan, Pacey, Moore, Evans, Morrison. AVaimate licc-nan, Honor!, Hill, King, Hughes, Kao, Edwards, Hill, Borrie, Tamm, Street Shaw. AVilb-uxn, Hodge, Gulliver.

THE. PLAY. Play far the first ton' minutes was close and strenuous, with the advantage mostly to AVaimate, who showed more dash and initiative. There was not much passing, the play being more spoiling -than [constructive. AAtaimate wore better in the loose and in consequence gained much ground by their dashing rushes. Edwards, Hughes and Heneri put in several nice passing rushes, but faulty handling spoilt each opening. School had to defend strenuously in The first part of the game, and were forced several times, and AVainiate had two shots -at goal, one a pot-and the -other from a mark. Then j School got to work and gave their opponents a taste of -their passing ability. Tn two quickly succeeding movements the ball passed across the line of backs to the winger, but in each instance he gave away t'ho advantage by kicking. School then worked uptield 'and in a good position Petersen had a shot from a penally and jusl failed to land the goal. AVaimate cleared, lleeiian showing good kicking ability and Edwards and Kill, carrying on AV'nimate went right to the School line. McDonald cleared ami play edit rod. Once more AVaimate got on a vigorous forward rusk, only to be -stopped by the clever defence of Guy. Attack by both teams followed in quick succession, each in turn having the advantage. Wills -headeel a fine rush by the forwards, which gained much ground for School. Wairoate retaliated and were -attacking vigorously when Petersen intercepted a pass and -put in a -brilliant run. A wild pass gave away all the advantage .and Waimatc recovered once more. Fine kicking by Petersen and Paterson sent them back and at- half-time play was in midfield, neither side having scored.

SECOND 'SPELL. Play -had been in progress -but a few minutes When for an infringement AVaimate had a -shot at goal. School backs then showed a further taste of their quality, the ball travelling (from Guy to Barker to Petersen and Mien to Sturrock, who being blocked, sent a short pass to ’McDonald and the ball went, to touch. Keeping up the often sive. McDonald made a line dash and jus’l outside the 25 flag a penalty gave I’e'torscn a chance and lie scored with a magnificent kick.

Sell oo 1 "Wanna to 0 W(limato attacked vigorously aud 'by lino kicking on Che part of Honori aud Hughes, carried play right to the opposing line. There Wills broke through and rau clean away tu ceutrc, where he kicked and Morrison, following up hard, went right downfickl and by the narrowest of margins failed to score. Waimatc forced. A minute after the kick out one of the brightest move-

meats of tlhc match, a passing rush by School backs, took, place -resulting in a brilliant try by Herbert. ‘The ball came from the scrum and passed -right across the attacking line -and the movement ended in a score. Petersen’s kick failed. School 6 AVaimate 0 'The winners maintained a vigorous attacking policy and by fine -passing movements taxed Waimatc’s defence to the utmost. AA’illts -and Kippuburg led the forwards in strong rushes and were well supported by the backs, McDonald. Petersen and*,Barker being responsible for smart dashing runs. Then, near the twenty-five flag School had a free kick, and Petersen made no mistake. School 3 Waimatc 0 AVaimate then went away in a loose forward rush and looked certain to score, but an infringement robbed them of the advantage. A free kick tol-l-owed and iSchool then got away in a series of nice dashes, on one occasion Sturrock sprinted down the line and passed infield io Guy. but the referee over-ruled the line umpire and ruled that the three quarter went. out. A minute; later Guy -sent 'out a pass to Barker and be to Pederson. The latter sent on the ball to Ale Donald and lie, turning coolly, potted a pretty goal. School Waimatc School continued to attack andjS'turreek was associated with Darker in effective thrusts. The handling of The ball was-, however, n-o’t 100 good at times and the attacks‘failed. AVaimate. forwards once more went through to attack, but Nolan sent them back by effective kicking. At length the School rushes bore fruit once more. a. -pretty movement ending in 'Herbert, securing and dashing across the line to score a spectacular fry. The kick failed.

School 1(3 AVaimate ® AVaimate made one last vigorous rush, and the ball going into touch, time was then called, leaving 'School victors by a margin of 16 p’oin’ts-, AVai mate having failed to score. Air -C. Thurston was referee.