CENTRAL H.B. RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 161, 24 June 1935, Page 5

CENTRAL H.B. RUGBY

— — • Takapau Still in Lead

DAY OF CLOSE SCORING From Our Own Correspondent. WAIF UK UR AU, June 23. By a margin of four points Takapau still heads the Central Hawke’s Bay championship ladder, with one match to go for the completion of the second round. H 5.0.8. is next on the list, followed by Walpukurau, Waipawa, Ongaonga and Te Ante, in that order. So far this season Takapau have not lost a match, though the last three Saturdays have seen them just get home by two and three points, while H. 5.0.8., the occupants of the second rung on the ladder, have had two defeats, both at the hands of the shield-holders, Takapau are in a very commanding position, but if they lose one match in the third and final round, and H. 5.0.8. go through unbeaten, then the latter team stands a great chance of finishing level with the shield-holders, which will make the competition extremely interesting and result in a play-off for the shield. Saturday was a day of close scoring. Takapau had a close call with Waipawa on their first appearance on the latter’s home ground, maintaining their unbeaten record by only two points. This season Takapau are playing better football, and with even greater brilliance than last year. H. 5.0.8. brightened their chances at Waipukurau by bringing off a smart five-point win against Te Ante, in a game that set a high standard of Rugby. Playing hard and fast football, Waipukurau beat Ongaonga by four points on the villagers’ home ground, both teams staging a desperate battle that kept the spectators’ interest at a high pitch all through. H. 5.0.8. BEAT TE A UTE Using their forwards to full advantage, H. 5.0.8. defeated Te Aute College at Central Park, Waipukurau, by 14 points to nine. The game was fast and clean, and provided the spectators with plenty of excitement, the college, boys playing first class football, and showing great combination, but even so, they were unable to stand up to the homesters’ fast, heavy pack, backed up by bright play from their rearguard. H. 5.0.8. made several changes in their back line, which made it a deciding factor and a feature to be reckoned with, instead of the mere ornament it represented earlier in the season. The teams were: Te Aute: Maaka, Nicholas, Francis, Masters, Kumeroa, Taha, Okeroa, Tibble, Parker, Reidy, Kihi, Porter, Raireti, Wainoa, Huata. H. 5.0.8.: Jamieson, Monteith, O’Dowd, Piki, C. Wilson, Hill, Frederickson, Brittain, A. Wilson, Jeffries, Bowling, Phillips, Anderson, O’Halloran and Brain.

The collegians were early on the attack. Bright passing among the backs kept H. 5.0.8. very busy on defence, Te Aute maintaining the defence to keep the homesters bottled up in their own territory. Jamieson saved for Old Boys with a good force. Play centred in mid-field, till Bowling headed a forward rush which ended in Old Boys losing a touch-down when Maaka beat Brain for the ball. Baek again, the Old Boys pack forced the visitors on to their goal-line, where A. Wilson was unlucky to miss a try through a knockon. Not to be denied, the home side once more rattled the defence, o’Halloran going over the lino near the corner flag, only to be brought back foi an infringement.

Te Aute changed defence to attack with a bright passing movement that came within an ace of its objective, only solid defence stopping the rush. From fhe ensuing line-out, Bowling secured and sent Old Boys away on attack, in which both forwards and backs handled neatly, Hill’s kick through spoiling the movement and enabling Te Aute to force. However, H. 5.0.8. continued on the aggressive, but were quickly on defence when Te Aute launched a succession of brilliant passing bouts that thrilled the onlookers. H.S.O.B’s. pack bore the brunt of the attack, and from an ensuing loose forward tussle opened out, O’Halloran shooting the leather out to the backs for C. Wilson to send on, Brain following up fast to touch down. Jamieson failed to goal. Shortly after H. 5.0.8. got another chance which they turned to good account. From a scrum on the visitors’ twenty-five, C. Wilson, who had come in from the forwards to five-eighths, picked up smartly, used the blind side and beat several Te Aute players, and after fending off two others, scored in the corner. Jamieson missed from an awkward angle. Te Aute then came to light with some brilliant passing bouts that kept play fast and open, and had the homesters galloping all over the paddock. The visitors were lor a spell completely in the ascendancy, and did everything but score. Such brilliancy however, could not go unrewarded, and Te Aute got their reward when alter a beautiful passing rush, Nicholas completely outpaced the defence to score under the posts. Kumeroa converted. With the scores so close, play became very exciting, H. 5.0.8, going all out to score, Te Aute having the same idea in mind. However, the homesters got there first, when following a dribbling rush, .Monteith secured and passed infield to A. Wilson who crossed in the corner. Jamieson’® effort from the side-line was a beauty, but just missed its objective. Fast play followed, Hill putting Hie issue beyond doubt with a brilliant try under the posts. Jamieson converted. I'he game ended with H. 5.0.8. still on attack, the scores reading, H. 5.0.8. I I. Te Aute 5 Mr I). I’. Dinnan refereed. WAIITKL HAU'S GOOD WIN A strenuous game at Ongaonga gave Waipukurau victory over the villagers bv 10 points to six, in a match in which the issue leiimimd in iluubt till the end Waipukurau's points came iron: a splendid field-goal and a penaltv bv I . Fergsisson, and an iin'onverted try scored by Bruce Gibson. Both sides played a hard solid game, the WaipuKurau pack toiling manfully, to finally carry the issue to victory. TAKAPAU DOWNS WAIPAWA (Waipawa Correspondent) Ou Coronation Park, Waipawa, the ' Takapau senior team met and defeated the local seniors by 8 points to (i in a match which was filled with bright and spectacular Rugby. Some 20 minutes alter the eommeucemant ol

the match Collett was unsuccessful with a penalty kick, but within five minutes of this failure he kicked a splendid goal from the side line giving Waipawa a three-point lead. With about ten minutes to go in the first spell A. Aldrich crossed the line lor Takapau, being unsuccessful with the kick. Waipawa 3. Takapau 3 Shortly alter this Thompson with a fine run secured another try, Johnson adding the major points. The half time score, was Waipawa 3, Takapau 8. With the commencement of the second half both teams were doing their utmost to add further points, the play passing up and oown the field with great speed. With about 20 minutes to go Collett again goaled lor Waipawa from a penalty, making the score Takapau 8, Waipawa 6, where it remained till the call of time. Mr G. If. Voyce rrtereed. JCNIORS FORFEIT. The Waipawa junior team was unable to fulfil its engagement with the Waipiikuruii juniors on Central Park, and were obliged to forfeit.