DOMINATING FORWARDS

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

DOMINATING FORWARDS

OPUNAKE BEAT OLD BOVS VERY STRAGGLING GAME RICHARDS OUTSTANDING.

The domination of the packs was the chief feature of a straggling game between Opunake and New Plymouth Old Boys, played at Pukekura Park, in which the visitors defeated the home side by eight points (two tries, one converted) to nil. In the close and in the open the Opunake pack was superior to that of their opponents and they raked them badly at times. The soundest player on the field Avas Richards, the Opunake full-back, whose play was in striking contrast to that of his vis-a-vis (Clifford Jones), who had a day off. The teams were:—

N.P. Old Boys (white). —CliffordJones; Priar, Richardson, Meredith; B. Mace, Galbraith; Hoskin; J. Mace, S. Fookes, Luxton, Purser, Wheeler, Somerton, Ulenberg, Whittington. Opunake (green).—Richards; Pepperell, B. Malcolm, J. Malcolm; W. King, Langton; R. Hohaia; Fevre, Matthews, W. Ruakere, Ruakere, Upson, Gudsby, Mabie, Taylor. Old Boys opened up with a dash, and but for a dropped pass by Priar might have been over in the first minute. Play came back to midfield, from where S. Fookes broke away on his own, but a short stab-punt went astray and the ball rolled to touch close to the corner flag. From the throw-in, Opunake cleared and Ruakere carried play further down the field and King kicked to past half-way. Old Boys were again nearly over when Richardson broke through on his own, but he was brought down close to the line, and, though

from a scrum Old Boys got possession,

I Hoskin missed and Opunake were able ■ to clear tlieir line. King brought Opunake down to 'Old Boys’ quarter, but i an infringement cost them the ground gained, and Galbraith sent the ball to touch at the centre flag. This was followed a moment later by an unsuccessful attempt on the part of the same player to pot a goal. From a scrum in midfield, Opunake.got the ball and Hohaia went on his own. He short-punted and beat Clifford-Jones, but in a fumble that followed J. Malcolm came up and gathered up the ball and gave it to O’Shannessey, who forced his way over for a try, which was not converted. Opunake 3—Old Boys 0. A short spell on attack by Old Boys was soon transferred to defensive play when Hohaia and J. Malcolm made a ... . »

dash down tlio side-line and a fumble and weak kick by Clifford-Jones, who was having a day off, let the greens down close to their opponents’ line, where Hoskiii saved with a timely kick to touch. The Opunake side came back and the ball went to B. Mace, who failed to get it fairly and he endeavoured to send it to the full-back, but his direction was not good. O’Shannessey came up and took possession for a moment, but lost it and then Fevre came in and finished off a ragged move by diving for a try, which Richards converted a moment before the interval, when the score was: Opunake S —Old Boys 0. Pepperell figured in the opening move of the second half when Opunake came to the attack, but the move was

checked bv Galbraith and B. Mace, and a penalty for off-side play enabled Old Boys to transfer play to past the centre line. Opunake were soon on the attack again ahd the Avhite full-back marked to check their progress momentarily, The ball went in-field and Langton sent a smart kick away, which was well followed up and a score seemed certain, but the final pass between Hohaia and O’Shannessey went forward and liard scrummaging followed close To the line till Priar, with a long run round behind the posts and a good kick, cleared to the twenty-five flag. Play was then brought back to the Opunake twenty-five flag on the

opposite side of the ground, and Old Boys compelled Opunake to force. A good move by Old Boys’ backs ivas developing nicely, but, altkobgh Mace beat his man and made a good opening,, the pace of the opposition was too hot and Priar was overhauled and orought down. Old Boys then swarm'd down to Opunake’s line and there ivas some hard tussling till Richards, ivho had been playing a great game throughout, again got his side out of trouble with a useful kick to touch rrom behind the line. Euakere led the rreen pack in a good rush, but lie was wrought down in midfield and Clifford-

rones got the hall near the side-line . n d ran out. Fast up-and-down play ollowed, and Meredith landed a good :iek to touch close to the corner flag, n the following play Sornerton was aught off-side, and the free enabled )punake to clear from the danger zone. ( ’lay was in the neutral zone when Galraith got off side and. Richards made j , great attempt to land a goal from j long way out and, though his elevaion was good, the direction was a ttle wide. The game ended with Opuake on the attack and the score was: Ipunakc S—Old Boys 0. Mr X. Frost was referee.