JUNIOR PLAY-OFF

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 August 1928, Page 5

JUNIOR PLAY-OFF

DIVISION LEADERS MEET.

CITY DEFEAT TUKAPA. FORWARDS DECIDE IT. In a first round fixture of the playoff games loot-ween the five division leaders to decide 'the Taranaki junior championship, City, (the If aw era Wednesday .champions) (defeated 'Tukapa (Western) by 16 points to 10 on the II a went Showgrounds on Saturday. City registered two converted tries, a goal from a mark and a .penalty goal, while Tukapa annexed a try, a penalty goal, and a field goal.' Keen play of a good standard for junior football characterised the game, Which sustained the interest of several hundred spectators!, 'Tukapa 'fielded <a smart set of backs who shaded the steady home rear division in spectacular .play, hut the visitors lin'd to cede an undoubted superiority to the /home forwards, who proved the decisive factor. The teams were as follow: — 1

■City (Yellow and Black).—E. Hart.; M. Liarke, Jv. Watson, T. .Norris; G. iU'clntvre, A. iCa irncross; C. Young (iialf); -A. Hutto u (rover); ii. Ward, ,i . Dynes; B. Cannon, K. Barron, W. Jf i't cer (captain); A. Macßeth, L. Bryan r (hookers). Tmcapa (Blue and White). —J. Thomson; B. Perrier, H. .Smith (captain), K. Pinkie; L. Des Borges, T. Godfrey; H. Bowell (half); L. .Moorhead (rover); A. Lower, G. Gay ton; <7. Murray, B. O ’Brieu, \V. Pinnigan, C. .Stewart, K. Plowright (hookers).

City played with the advantage of the sun in the opening session, and tne pack went straight to the visitors' territory. Boswell cleared a. .perilous situation right on the line, but City maintained the territorial advantage. Movements by the home backs twice terminated, in likely runs by .Norris, who was surely marked' by Ferrier. The- homo backs were steady, but it was soon evident that the team’s strength lay in its bustling vanguard, who repeatedly crowded the Tukapa backs. The latter showed gameness in handling the hall ih their own twenty-five, but were caused trouble by the relentless spuiling of Sutton. With action at midfield Cairncross made a heady kick which returned City to the attack, and Ritter claimed a smart mark in the corner. With a beautiful kick from the difficult angle lie turned the mark to points. City 3 Tukapa 0

The kick-off was followed by Tuakpa’s first serious bid, but Hart was reliable, oil the last line. His sure fielding and line kicking in ensuing phases repeatedly roused the barrackers. Des Forges, who had been noted in the use of the dummy, claimed a mark 30 yards out, but the ball screwed off his hoot and went wide. Stopping a rally by Mcßetli, Ritter and company, the Blue full-back, Thomson, came into the limelight with a. tricky run to open a counter, but the effort broke when Mcßetli spoiled Des Forges. The home hookers’ success in the scrums gave chances to Cairncross and hidntyre, who handled smartly and gave Watson the opportunity to make a. number of useful runs. The Blues’ tackling was sound, and their rear division was seen in pretty in and out passing in the counters which met the home attacks. The Blue hacks were dangerous during a hectic few moments in the home, twenty-five, hut wore unable to pierce the defnee. and it was not until Ninkie cut infield to take what appeared an offside pass and drop a neat goal that points were registered, (lie score, then reading: Tukapa 4 City 3 Fluctuating exchanges showed a margin in favour of the homo vanguard’, led mainly liv Sutton, who was showing as the host loose forward on the. field. In two. successive clearances from midfield rucks and another run following an interception he made points anpear likely, hut was not supported. Title a pa. were forced, and just on half-time Young scooped a serum hall to Ca ini cross, who tried a pot, which was charged down. In the mix-up, however, a Blue player was penalised, and Hart’s careful kick' made the tally: City 0 Tukapa. 4 SECOND SPELL.

The City forwards commenced the second session* with a series of vigorous thrusts which called lor sound defensive work by Smith and Thomson. The Tukapa backs made an effort only to be turned by Watson, who swerved through in a startling run till checked by Smith a few yards from the line. Moorhead retrieved, 'but action settled in the Blues’ territory. The best movement of the game was witnessed when the home hookers heeled from a scrum in the twenty-five zone, the ball travelling smartly through the chain of backs to Norris who went over in the corner. Mart goaled with a splendid kick. City 11 Tukapa 4 A moment later the Tukapa forwards made a sady ami the backs swung into action for Dos. Forges to cut in to the goal where he was stopped by Mart’s line tackle. Attack and counter alternated and the visitors pressed for an exciting period but a home player was penalised straight out from the goal. Des Forges converting from 40 yards out. City 11

Tukapa 7 City went up with the kick-off and Hart took a long range penalty which failed to raise the flags. City’s supporters were given an anxious few seconds when play again swung to the home end and Des Forges kicked a poster with another long range penalty. Though the home hacks tackled solidly in the iau-e of further attacks they were loft istiimling when J)es Gorges opened a surprise- by sending the ball through two pairs of hands to Ninkie who struggled over in the corner. Des Foi'ges made a- good attempt, the ball sailing just outside. City 11 Tukapa 10

With about seven minutes to go ano only a point between t'*3 scores both sides made furious efforts for the try which would definitely decide the issue. City’s forwards were the more consistently aggressive and just on time Bryant broke from midfield to the twenty-five where, the ball travelled across field to cross the- lino from a punt by Sutton. In a thrilling race for the touch down Cannon got there in front of two defenders and another fine conversion by Hart made the final tally: City Iff Tukapa 10 Mr W. J. Badley was the referee.