OKAIAWA BEATS OLD BOYS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 6

OKAIAWA BEATS OLD BOYS

SCORE OF NINE POINTS TO NIL

HOME CLUB’S SCR ATCH TEAM.

Although beaten by nine points (three unconverted tries) to nil. Empire Old Boys, fielding a scratch team, by no means had the worst of a patchy match with Okaiawa at the Hawera Showgrounds, and a three points margin would have been a fair indicatioh. of the merits of the teams,

Owing .to a loss of several prominent players to the Hawera club tnere were doubts whether Old Boys would be in a position to field a team, and the exhibition of the fifteen was unexpectedly good in view of the fact that there had Ixeen rid chance of developing a combination. Old Boys had feasily the best of the first sped and were unlucky not to score. Okaiawa’s combination was the deciding factor in the second halt, when ail the points were earned.

"l’he teams were: Okaiawa (red and black).— I T. Guy, Blair, Ngaia, Murdoch; Urmond, Koriinson, jiUwards; McCallum; Tito, Clarke, _K.. Buy, Awatou; Preston, Crawrord, Wallace. Empire Old Boys (red, white ana blue;. —Fleet; Herbert, Smith, White; Bee, Cordon; Campbell; Tippett, George, Gray, Reeves, Kerri sic; Mercer, Archer, Digram. From the outset the Okaiawa backs threw the ball about freely m ail endeavour to open up the game, but their efforts were frustrated by effective, if unorthodox, tackling. Fumbling by T. Robinson gave Old Boys an opportunity, a lucky ■•speculator’' saving Okaiawa from trouble. In a bustling forward rush Old Boys perinea Okaiawa in their twenty-live, and but for a forward pass a try was never more certain. Awahou was found otrside, and from a difiicult angle Simth just failed to goai. Long range kicking arid fast following up saw U;caiawa deep in trie Old Boys’ territory. Clarke was afforded a shot at goal for off-side play by an Old Boy forward, but the ball was wide. "Wallace was found off-side in a scramble on trie Okaiawa twenty-five, but Fleet’s kicxwas fruitless. In a forward sortie Okaiawa again reached the Old Boys twenty-five, and Clarke was given a further shot at goal for an infringement. His kick was wide. Solid tackling by the Old Boys forwards saw Okaiawa bottled in their twenty-five and a five yams scrum ensued. Clarke, however, came through with the bail at toe and Okaiawa cleared to midfield. Okaiawa were once more penalised, but Smith could not goai. / In a brilliant run T. Robinson cut through the field to gain 30 yards before handing on to Ngaia, who paced his way along the line and transferred to Ormond with five yards to go. The latter was solidly tackled as he reached the line and a five yards scrurn followed. Old Boys heeled The ball arid found safety with a linefinder. The Okaiawa defence crumpled under a solid forward rush, arid the red and blacks gained a badly needed respite when an infringement enabled them to clear as the spell ended. Old Boys attacked immediately on the resumption and Smith went through in a snappy run. Okaiawa were penalised for obstruction, but Campbell found the distance too big ;• handicap to goal. Old Boys were hard pressed practically on their line. A. free lack gave brief relief anil from a scramble 15 yards out Crawford short-punted and beat the defence l'or the touch down. His kick failed. Okaiawa 3, Old Boys 0. Old Boys were m trouble a few minutes later in a struggle on then line, a free kick saving the situation. Okaiawa maintained the attack, and persistency was rewarded when Clarke bullocked his way over near the coiner. His kick failed.—Okaiawa 6, Old Boys 0. ~ i n , . Exploiting long-range lacks Ukaiawa were again deep in the Old Boys twenty-five. The red and blacks secured from a line-out 20 yards from the line and the backs swung into action. T. Robinson neatly cut in to hand over to Ngaia, who transferred to Blair. The winger was left with an almost clear run and scored comfortably. Crawford’s kick was unsuccessful. _okaiawa 9, Old Boys 0. Handling of the ball m a five yards scrum cost Old Boys a promising chance. Their backs launched a succession of passing bouts that broke down just short of the line on several occasions, and Okaiawa weie extende to keep their line- intact. L Guy found the line with a 40 yards lack to relieve the position and play swung to the Old Boys’ territory. Luck was with Old Boys in clearing from a melee five yards out, and play swung to half-way. George made a sound effort to goal from a penalty kick, but the ball was wide. Ngaia took the ball on the full, and was tackled before he could force. A scrum on the line followed, Okaiawa heeling the bah to lack well downfield. Again Okaiawa were penalised, but George eoulo nob find the uprights. Old Boys kept up the pressure and were attacking solidlv when the spell ended. Mr. A. Spratb refereed.