PATEA DEFEATS ELTHAM

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

PATEA DEFEATS ELTHAM

NINE TO SIN POINTS

MISHANDLING SPOILS; OPENINGS

Onlv a moderate crowd assembled at Taumata Park, Eltham, to witness the match between Eltham and Patea. Patea (a try and two penalty goals) must be accounted lucky to have Avon from the home team, whose two tries (both unconverted) were the result of clever pieces of play. The game was not a particularly bright exposition of the code, but little better could be expected for the first match of the season. The Eltham back line- proved superior in tactics to the visitors arid the forwards were fairlv evenly matched, with, perhaps, a slight advantage

to the heavier Patea vanguard. On the game jElthatn were ft trifle unlucky* to" lose, P. Bourke’© good kicking being responsible for six of the nine points scored tby Patea. The day was fine though dull, with an entire absence of wind. The teams lined out as follows:

Patea (blue). —Malcolm; D. Hunt, J. Crawford, C. Hunt; P. Bourke, Owen; Gudgeon; McTaggart, Broughton, Walker; Bremer, P. Crawford, Richards, K. Bourke; Wills. Eltham (black and white). —Paterson; Smith, Whiting, Worthington; Townsend, Williams; Muslin; F. Boeoek, S. White, Penniall; R.. Bocock, R. Bootten; L. White, Potte; Ray Birrke.

Patea used the .3-4-1 formation for the first part of the game, but Wills went to rover to counteract Eltham’s 3-2-2 formation, with Ray Burke in the rover position. Eltham kicked off and Broughton returned to half-way, where Patea started a forward rush from the lirieout, but offside play on the Eltham twenty-five gave relief. Desultory play on the Pn.tea side of half-way saw a breakaway by the Eltham forwards arid the bitie’s, line appeared in danger until Wills relieved with a kick to half-way, which Worthington returned to touch inside Patea’© territory, and from the resultant line-out Patea gained 1 further relief from a penalty. Patea now took a turn at attack, all the backs handling to D. Hunt, who was well tackled by Smith. Patea continued- to" press l and the forwards were hustling the Eltham backs until Worthington accepted a splendid mark right in .front of the posts and relieved the pressure to half-way, where a penalty to Patea allowed Crawford to find touch inside the Eltham twenty-five and Townsend marked right on the line; Back came Patea and Eltham were forced from a long kick.

From the drop-out the blue backs brought play back to the Eltham 25, where a melee ensued and the Patea forwards, with McTaggart, Wills and Richards in the lead, swarmed on to the Eltham line. Worthington went down to the rush and a clearance from the serum sent play back to half-way, w’here \ the magpies made a brief sortie into Patea’s territory. A free kick at halfway to Eltham again put Patea on the defence and Smith made an opening for Whiting to send Townsend galloping , across. Paterson’s kick missed.—lElthum 3, Patea 0 Patea made a determined effort from the lcick-orit arid Eltham forced a long kick by Malcolm, who a moment later knocked on inside his own twenty-five and Eltham were pub definitely on the attack. From a- lineout on the Patea twenty-five Eltham secured, but Whiting missing his pass let P. Bourke through. A bout of in and out passing by PL Bourke and D. Hunt saw the latter score in the corner. P. Bourke could not convert. • —Eltham 3, Patea 3. Eltham came away with the kick-out i only to .be sent back with a kick by Gudgeon, who. followed up to set his forwards going. William© intercepted, but knocked on and play settled inside the .Eltham twenty-five until a scrum infringement gave relief and Eltham forced the return of the free kick. Play returned to half-way froin ,the drop-out; mishandling on both sides saw many chances lost and halftime sounded with the scores even.— Eltham 3, Patea 3. The Patea forwards went away quickly with the kick-off, but the effort was short-lived. Williams had an ineffective shot at goal from a penalty 40 yards, out, and Patea forced a moment later. A penalty at half-way, put Patea again in Eltham. territory until a Patea player handled in the scrum, arid Townsend found the line! inside the Patea twenty-five. A golden; opportunity was lost from the line-out when Whiting knocked on a transfer from Townsend and Patea relieved to pass half-way, where they kept Eltham: peniied oh the twenty-five until a penalty relieved and Townsend found touch iliside the Patea twentyfive. C. Hunt broke away, but was unsupported, and his cross kick found the safe hands of Williams, who kicked well down for Malcolm to return to the magpies’ 25. A couple of line-outs favoured Eltham and Townsend again gained ground with a heady run until well taken by Gudgeon. Keeping up the pressure, Eltham worked the line to inside the Patea 25, where a clever interception by P. Bourke drove the magpie forwards back inside half-way arid desultory play followed until Townsend broke up an incipient Patea. back rush to send to Smith, to Whiting,- who was brought down hy D. Hunt after dodging through half the Patea backs. In a melee on the Patea twenty-five Bootten was hurt arid was replaced by Tipler. A lirie-out on the blue twentyfive saw Ray. Burke break away with a. dribble, which L. White carried on across the line to score Eltham’© second try. Paterson’s kick failed.— Eltham 6, Patea 3. Eltham made a quick return with the kick-out, but Gudgeon cleared and on the Eltham twenty-five the defenders were penalised in an easy position for P. • Bourke to convert.—Eltham 6, Patea 6.

The kick-out sa.w Patea- penalised, and Williams had a good but ineffective shot at goal from five yards inside half-way. Patea cleared to the Eltham twenty-five, where a penalty to the blues gave P. Bourke another chance to add to the score.— Patea 9, Eltham 6.

The game, which had hitherto been played at a. moderate pace, now became very fast, with Eltham forcing the pace in an effort to score, and a passing rush in which Smith. Townsend , AVorthington and AVhiting all handled was ©topped by C. Hunt, who sent into touch near the Patea twentyfive. Following the line-out Patea were penalised, but Paterson’s kick went across the front of the goal. Fast play followed up and down field until Rav Burk© had a shot from a penalty, but was short, and the game ended.— Patea 9, Eltham 6. Mr L. 01 aoham refereed.