RUGBY AT TARADALE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 234, 22 September 1930, Page 3

RUGBY AT TARADALE

DOLBELL-CURRIE CUP CONTEST GREAT INTEREST TAKEN. Time was when, the Cup decided at Napier Park races each March was the event of the year round about Taradale and Greenineadows, and for weeks priod to the event the cnaiices of every candidate was eagarly discussed. A change has now comg over the scene, gradual at first, but in late years with startling rapidity until now wo find the Sport of Kings pushed into the background and for months past every man, woman and child residing in Graenmeadows and Taradale has been asking each other, “Who will win the Dolbel-Currie CupP” To the unintiated it should bo explained that this cup, presented by those two fine sports, Phil Dolbol and Bob Currie, is for yearly competition at Rugby between teams representative of Greenmeadows and Taradale A few years back this annual disturbance provided “Has Beans” and “Never Wasses” with an opportunity to show how much they had forgotten about the game, but such is the importance of the affair now that the yearly battle is fought between the young manhood of each township. On Saturday all roads led to Taradalo Park, and it was early evident trouble would be experienced by the public encroaching on the field of play. A deadlock over the referee was settled by the mutual agreement of Mr. N. A. McKenzie to control the game.. Greenineadows, led by a real live All B.ack in Dick Steere, were hot favourites and they were a real credit to trainer Reg Badeley as they took the field neatly garbed in a uniform supplied by the H.B.R U. A horrible tradition attaches to the particular set of jerseys worn by the Greenineadows’ team as they have been in use for three years and have never yet been worn by a winning side. Even with this handicap the Greenmeadows morale could not be shaken, Trainer Reg voicing the opinion that “hoodoos” are made to be broken. Taradale, clad in their famous maroon colours, looked rugged and determined. Three thousand throats (more or less) yelled encouragement to the teams as the referee blew bis whistle.

From the kick-off Greenmeadows swept to the attack but frequent infringements allowed Taradale to recover. Both sets of forewards wore giving the backs plenty of the ball, the rearguard delighting the crowd—which was very large—with crisp pass ing. Taradale attacked for a long period. Logan conceding a penalty, from which Ellis kicked a neat goal. Taradale 3 Greeumeadows 0 Greenmeadows then took a turn and Don Hepburn, fielding the ball 25 yards out, jazzed through the Taradalo team to score a fine try, which was not converted. The spell ended. Taradale 3 Greenmeadoivs 3 Taradale attacked from tho start of the second spell, Adams and James being prominent in the forwards, but the backs showed little enterprise. Greenineadows eventually gamed the upper hand. Elliott moved from wing-forward to half, and fed the backs repeatedly. Eventually Mapuhi swerved over for a nice try, Hepburn converting. Greenineadows 8 Taradale 3 In the final stages Taradale made strenuous efforts to eqalise. Ellis narrowly missed from a penalty, which left Greenineadows in the winning position. The final whistle went with Taradale still on the attack. BRIEF COMMENT. For the winners, Wise was safe aa full-back. Parker on the wing made many spectacular dashes and Don Hepburn was the best of the backs. Steere, McCutcheon (a 1919 King’s Cup player), Hepburn and Elliott were tho most prominent in tho forwards. Adams, James and MacDonald were the best of tho losers’ forwards, while “Mug” Smith, Tooman and Brown did tho best among tho backs.

At the conclusion of the game Mr B. Tweedie, on behalf of the Rugby Union in a breezy speech, presented the cup to the winning team. In doing so ho stressed the point that, from the splendid exhibition of fotball witnessed during the game, the district should have no difficulty in putting into the field a first class senior fifteen next season.