RUGBY LEAGUE SERIES

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

RUGBY LEAGUE SERIES

Clive Just Scrape Home TARADALE WIN AGAIN Rugby League in Napier on Saturday afternoon was played under ideal weather conditions. League Park was well patronised for the two senior games. Cityawa gave Clive a fright by playing a game out of the bag and nearly making a draw of an exceedingly fast game. Cityawa led eight—nil at half time, but Clive came to light in the second spell and gained a five-point win. Taradale beat Marama after an open match. Te Ngarue defaulted to United in the game set down to be played at Bay View. The present positions of the teams in the senior grade are as follow

TARADALE AND MARAMA In a good exhibition of Rugby League, Taradale defeated Marama by 13 points to three at League Park, Napier. Play throughout was fast and open. Taradale had a definite advantage in the scrums, getting the ball nine times out of 10 and enabling Anderson to feed his backs consistently. A long kick by Mapuhi, followed up by Marama’s backs, gave the Maoris their first territorial advantage, but a knockon in front of Taradale’s posts spoiled a likely opportunity to score. Taradale’s forwards instituted an attack which brought them on to their opponents’ twenty-five. From the scrum Anderson fed Smith, but the latter was unable to penetrate Marama’s defence. A forward pass upset another rearguard rush of Taradale’s but another attempt brought fruit when Anderson sent the bail out to Brown, who scored in an easy position tor Moug. Smith to convert. • —Taradale 5, Marama nil. Taradale repeated a mistake made earlier in the game by kicking the ball too hard by speculation when almost on Marama’s goal-line, and lost a certain try when the ball went flying over the dead-ball line. Gibbs figured in another Taradale attack in Marama’s territory. He had the support of his fellow backs, but Marama’s defence stood the test. Taradale returned to the attack and an unintentional off-side spoiled a chance by Brown to score. Half a minute later Plested got over and Moug. Smith converted. Half-time sounded at the same time, with the score Taradale 10, Marama ml.

Taradale shortly after resumption had their first taste of defence, Marama’s backs handling much better. They took play into Taradale’s twentyfive and Cooper scored. Wano’s kick, from a wide angle, missed.—Taradale 10, Marama 3. Marama returned to the attack in Taradalc’s twenty-five, but Plested secured the ball and covered the full length of the field down the side line and scored well out. Smith’s kick failed.—Taradale 13, Marama 3. For the remainder of the game play was confirmed to neutral territory. The final whistle sounded with the score: — Taradale .13 Marama 3 Mr S. Martin refereed. CLIVE BEAT CITYAWA Cityawa fully extended Clive in a most exciting encounter at League Park, Clive winning at the last minute'by 13—8. The losing team played an outstanding game and were leading B—nil at half-time. After the change-over Clive forced the issue and had their opponents defending during practically the whole spell. Assisted by some useful back movements, Cityawa took the offensive and kept ('live defending in their own twenty-live. Clive cleared temporarily, but accurate kicking to the line brought Cityawa back into Clive’s territory. Butcher paved the way for Cityawa’s first try. He snapped up the ball and passed out after gaining valuable ground in front of the posts. The ball then went into the eager hands of Exeter, who dodged through the opposition to score between the posts. Bryant converted. —Cityawa 5, Clive nil. For a while forward play took place in Cityawa’s territory. Hamilton (Cityawa) made the position slightly easier and from a scrum the ball came to Hamilton again, who dribbled though nicely to enable King to score. The kick missed —Cityawa 8, Clive nil. Richardson (Clive) was a valiant attempt to bring his team into Cityawa’s territory by a strong run down the line, but he was forced out on Cityawa’s twenty-five just as halftime was sounded. The score was: Cityawa 8, Clive nil.

Upon resuming, Clive settled down to an attack and had their opponents defending on their own line for some minutes. From loose play Richdale got possession and ..cored near the corner, Gordine failing to convert. — Cityawa 8, Clive 3.

Tight forward play in Cityawa’s corner was followed by an attempt on the part of Clive’s backs to force over, but Cityawa’s defence wa,s sound. Clive’s battling tactics found their reward when Murray scored half way out and Allsop converted, to even the scores. —Cityawa 8, Clive 8.

Clive’s forwards had Cityawa bottled up on the latter’s line for nearly five minutes during the closing stages of play, but they were unable to force the ball over the line. Cityawa’s defence held through sheer force in the loose scrums. Clive’s efforts were rewarded, however, when, from the scrum Lister secured the ball and scored well out. Allsop converted with a splendid kick. — Clive 13, Cityawa 8. Cityawa brought play into Clive’s twenty-five, where from a penalty kick Allsop nearly gained two points, the ball sailing just outside the post. The final whirle sounded toon after, with the scores:— Clive 13 Citsawa 8 Mr Jack Fulford refereed

Taradale P. W. L. D. 1 Pts. 15 .. 9 7 1 Clive . 9 7 1 1 15 Marama ... . 8 5 3 10 United . 8 3 5 — (5 Te Ngarue . . 8 3 5 — 6 Cityawa . 7 — 7 — 0