MARGIN OF 18 POINTS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 June 1935, Page 7

MARGIN OF 18 POINTS

CLIFTON ACCOUNT FOR TUKAPA COLLINS’ KICKING A FEATURE ADDS THIRTEEN TO SCORE

Clifton did to Tukapa just what they did to Patea on the previous Saturday. Concentrating on forward play on attack and on its equivalent of spoiling play on defence, they smashed gaps in the Tukapa line and speedily ran up a tally of 23 points as against Tukapa’s five. Clifton scored two tries, and 17 of their points came from kicking, thirteen from Collins’ foot and the other four from a field goal by Simonson. The teams were:—

Clifton. —Collins; Jones, Wilson, Robson; Simonson, Edwin; Fenton; Cole; Olsson, ALajor, Wells, Tate; Armstrong, Fowler, Longstaff.

Tukapa.—R. Knott; Webster, J. Sullivan, Gardiner; Wallace, Brown; Boswell; Thomson, Youllairo; O’Dowda, Sanger, McNeill; T. Sullivan, F. Knott, Carter.

Clifton were the first to make a move and within the first few minutes looked like scoring on two occasions from Tukapa’s mistakes. On their own line the New Plymouth team attempted to clear with passing rushes. The first time J. Sullivan knocked on and in the second Simonson could not quite hold the ball as Webster speculated for the I touch line. Another Clifton attack came to nothing as the forwards dribbled too hard, Tukapa forcing. Again the visiting pack cleared a track to the Tukapa goal and this time, from a set scrum, Simonsen drop kicked a neat goal, an opportunity lie had obviously been waiting for since the beginning of the game. Clifton 4—Tukapa 0.

Tukapa showed signs of warming up after ten minutes of hard play, but the Clifton pack rallied magnificently. Tukapa supporters had an anxious few minutes as Wilson robbed Webster of the ball and touched down. The referee ruled that Wilson had touched down in the dead-ball area. A series- of line kicks and swift, hard forward rushes took Clifton up to Tukapa’s goal once more, but a penalty kick drove them back.

Play had been in progress twenty minutes and Tukapa had not seen Clifton’s twenty-five. Brown was penalised for a late tackle and Collins sent the ball between the posts. Clifton 7 Tukapa 0.

The Tukapa pack, led by O’Dowda and Carter, made a string attack, followed by another, after Clifton had driven them back. Sullivan picked up a pass oIV his toes and, with Webster in support, ran past Wilson and Robson to Collins. There were two men to beat one, but somehow Collins reached Webster, the man with the ball, smothering the attack. A Tukapa crowd had to applaud Clifton’s next try. From an ordinary sort of attack Simonsen short-punted, and then Wilson broke through and, with an electrifying burst, completely outdistanced R. Knott, scoring near the posts. Collins added the extra points. Clifton 12 —Tukapa (J.

Tukapa were again penalised for latetackling, and deservedly too. Collins landed a 33 yards kick. Clifton 15— Tukapa U.

Tukapa were awarded a penalty for offside play, within reach of the goal, as the spell drew to a close, but Boswell’s kick missed. There was no further score during the spell. Clifton resumed as sturdily as they had begun. From a stirring forward rush the ball was kicked down the sideline, where several Clifton players packed fiercely before the ball went out to Simonson, who ran hard through a defence which was just forming. Collins converted with a beautiful kick from the side-line. Clifton 20 —Tukapa 0.

Tukapa worked up to within ten yards of Clifton’s goal, the nearest they had come so far in the match. After a couple of poor passing movements by the Tukapa backs, Simonsen cleared with a speculator. Tukapa came again ami Clifton were in danger as Collins was swamped by a wave of New Plymouth forwards. Clifton forced and attacked almost immediately, going back when Collins’ attempt at a field goal failed. Adopting a policy of kicking for the line, Clifton slowly advanced into Tukapa’s territory. Collins had a shot at goal from a penalty, and Brown, attempting to clear by a run, was brought down by Armstrong. Clifton hooked, but lost their chance as Simonsen’s kick at goal sailed wide. The Tukapa forwards rallied, and this time, giving Collins no chance to clear, moved up to the Clifton twenty-five. Clifton had to force after a rough tussle, but came within ail ace of adding ‘to tlicir tally when Cole broke away, and Simonsen kicked through. Only J. Sullivan’s speed saved his side. Tukapa went up to Clifton’s line as Collins mishandled and in a desperate flurry opened their account. In a loose rush, in which half the team handled, J. Sullivan received and battered his way over. Boswell converted. Clifton gU—Tukapa 5. During a Clifton visit to Tukapa’s twenty-five Collins goaled from a free kick, the game ending soon after. Clifton 23 —Tukapa 5. Mr J. Leac-h refereed.