SOUTHERN DIVISION

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 May 1930, Page 9

SOUTHERN DIVISION

SENIOR

WAIMATE v. ATHLETIC

Bv 17 points to three, Waimate defeated Athletic at Manaia in a dull, but hard game. Athletic had the territorial advantage in both spells, but Waimate's three-quarter line and front' row were too solid and fast for the opposition. Snappy breakaways were responsible for Waimate's tally and Athletic seemed to fade at the critical juncture of most of their movements. The teams were: —

Athletic (Red and White). Tuki, Dixon, Dowdle, Barker, Lay, McMillan, Gudgeon, Pnillips, Herbert, Ritter, McLean, Palmer, Heaven, Coleman and Tippett.

Waimate (Blue and Black). —Shaw, Rci, Toroa, Eliason, Whalen, Wincera, Paterson, Murphy, Lavcry, Hcncri, Edwards, Sutton, Burke, Cunningham and Gri Bin.

Athletic kicked oil: against the sun and swept to Waimate's twenty-five. Toroa snapped up the ball and cleared for the Blue and Blacks, the play swinging to midfield. Waimate commenced to handle the ball in good style, but Athletic turned defence into attack and Dixon headed a promising rush, which was halted by a knock-on. Hooking the ball cleanly from a scrum the Blue and Black backs got away with a sound turn of speed, Griffin beating the field to reach Athletic's twentyfive. Eliason found the line for Waimate and from a line-out handy to Atlilet’s line the Blue backs found themselves in a handy position. A knockmi halted the play and Athletic hooked the ball from "the resultant scrum. Gudgeon snapped up the leather and punted well downfield. Whalen secured possession and passed to Eliason, whose clean run along the line was halted when Lay grassed him. A melee ensued on Athletic's twenty-five line and, for off-side play, Athletic were penalised. Whalen took the kick and opened Waimate's tally with,a good effort. Waiiuate 3—Athletic 0. Whalen headed a solid Blue aud Black rush, but Lay saved by gathering iu the leather aud punting to clear. Waimate pressed again, but solid tackling by Dowdle ualtcd a forward action. Lavcry broke away for Waimate, but Dowdle intercepted his pass and

sent Athletic away. The Red and Whites pressed and Dowdle gathered up the ball to pace lus xvay along the line. He passed infield as he was tackled, but lie was unsupported and Waimate found the line. Gudgeon, Tippett and Dowdle Droke away and handled the ball consecutively, a dropped pass nullifying their efforts. Dowdle was latexcaught off-side and Waiiuatc came through. Immeuiately afterwards Dowdle compensated by kicking across the field to institute a rush that compelled Waimate to force down. Dixon upset Toroa when the later beat most of the opposition to gain ground for Whalen, and a struggle occurred under Athletic’s goal posts. Tuki saved in good style from a tight i - ush, but Waimate’s persistency in the attack was rewarded when Kei dived over at the corner after a. jinky run. Hencri failed to convert

Waimate (3—Athletic 0.

Athletic were consistently hooking the ball, but were not handling it eleanlv. Tuki had a shot at goal when Waimate were penalised for off-side play, but the ball hit a marker and Waimate found the line. A dribbling rush resulted in Waimate, who were maintaining a stubborn defence under their uprights, being compelled to force down to save. The play fluctuated up and downfield until half-time, the spell ending without further score. ißei had to race across field to force down for Waimate whern Atliletic followed up a long ground kick -with a rush. (Breaking away with the ball at their feet, the blue and "blacks swept to midfield. Whale picked up the ball from the loose and transferred it to Wincera. to Toroa, to Rci. 'Putting in a great run the latter swerved through the opposing backs and scored well out. Heneri’s kick failed. , Waimate 9—Athletic 0. .fritter tffound the line deep in Wainiate’s territory and Athletic hooked the ball from a following scrum. The backs set away, but a smart action was spoiled through a kick instead of a pass. Waimate were .penalised for offside .play, and Tuki endeavoured to find the uprights, but the 'ball went wide. Waimate ’» three-quarter line was proving too solid for Athletic, while the blue and black front rankers had an advantage in weight. Athletic were securing the ball frequently enough, but the wings were- not given many openings and kicking was- too frequent. In short bursts Athletic kept Waimate maintaining a stubborn defence, but with no. result until offside play gave Tuki 'a chance to-, goal. He made no mistake and piloted the ball between the uprights to open Athletic’s account. Waimate 9—Athletic 3. Griffin punted! well downfield for Waimate • and Whalen, following up fast, smothered the ball. The play swept to the opposite wing and! from a loose scrummage handy to the line, Griffin dived over. Heneri failed to add the extra points. Waimate 12—Athletic 3. Time a mil ’again Athletic invaded Waimate’s territory and a bard forward 1 struggle developed. The blue and blacks turned defence into attack when Murphy picked up the ball and handed it on to Rei. The latter clapped' on the pace to race along the line, but he was grassed deep in the red and white twenty-five. A concerted rush had Athletic in a tight position, but over-eagerness on Waimate’s part saw them penalised for offside play, and a subsequent knock-on again halted them. Tuki was given plenty of work to save trouble and Tie was always handy. Hollowing a series' of short line kicks, Athletic secured the territorial advantage, but the forwards could not hold the opposito front rankers and Waimate were away again. With the ball at their toes the blue and black forwards hemmed Athletic with a sustained rush. Wincera secured possession' and whipped the ball out to Toroa, who put in a' run before handing the leather on to Rei, wlio raced round to score between the posit;. iCuntiinghairi raised' the flags with a sound kick. Waimate I‘7—-Athletic 3. Race was beating Athletic and Waimate’s tackling was seldom at fault. The blue and blacks were on the ball at- every opportunity and despite Athletic's efforts, the game ended with the score: — Waimate 17—Athletic 3. Mr A. Murphy refereed.