League Football

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 4

League Football

CLIVE WELL AHEAD Good Margin Against Te Ngarue TARADALE’S FIRST WIN Saturday’s Rugby League games brought two surprises, on the first win of the Taradale senior teams, and the second the decisive defeat of Te Ngarue-Petane at the hands of Clive seniors. Clive put up a higher score than had been anticipated. Clive now stand four points ahead of Te Ngarue-Petane, and a further two-point interval separates the remaining teams, City and Tatar dale being level with two each . CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE

CLIVE v. TE NGARUE

Well-deserved Victory

Clive demonstrated their complete superiority over Te Ngarue-Petane by defeating them by 18 points to live when they met at Clive on Saturday. Honours were even until the second half of the game, with Te Ngarue holding a territorial advantage. They were unlucky not to score on several occasions, and a further opportunity of scoring was lost when Hiha missed goaling from an easy position. The second half of the match, however, saw Clive definitely on top, and they fully deserved the victory which came to them. The Maori team was expected, from previous form to put up a better showing, and to run the leaders close, but their play seemed to lack the combination that it had hitherto displayed. The teams were—Clive: H. Cushing; Ben Bliss, F. Meafou, V. Southern; J. Allsopp, V. Purcell; R. Lister, A. Heynes, A. Scudder, R. Gordine, Brad. Bliss, G. Murray, M. Purcell. Te Ngarue-Petane: Eparaima; Rydder, Andrews, Spooner; Rewi, Taylor; Hiha; Pohio, K. Pohio, Ratima, Ariki, Tutu, Ransfield.

Clive carried play to the Petane line from the kick-off and Gordine came very close to scoring, but Petane cleared and carried play to the opposite end of the field. Shortly after D. Hiha took the kick when Te Ngarue were awarded a penalty in an easy place, but his kick was a poor one. Lister cleared to the half-way line. Ratima was held up right on the line following a period in which the Maori team was definitely on top. They attacked for a long period, but faulty handling and a certain amount of bad luck prevented them from opening their scoring account. Clive then swept up the field in a fine rush, most of the backs handling the ball. Meafou was held up on the line by a fine tackle, bnt Clive drew first blood soon after when they hooked the ball cleanly front a serum on the twentyfive Lister securing to run through the opposing defence for a score between the posts. Gordine had no difficulty with the kick placing Clive five points ahead after twenty-five minutes of play in the first spell. Ben Bliss scored after the kick-off, but Gordine’s kick failed.

This was followed by a score by Rydder for Te Ngarue-Petane the scorer converting his try. The half-time score saw Petane three points down and a stern struggle in the second half was expected. Clive however dominated the game from this point Pureell and Gordine scoring in quick succession the latter converting Purcell’s try. The last score was from a penalty by Cushing and the game finished with a thir-teen-point victory for the competition leaders. The scorers were: Clive (18): Gordine (one try and two conversions) Lister (try) V. Purcell (try) Ben Bliss try) and Cushing (penalty). Te Nga-rue-Petane (5): Rydder (try and conversion). Mr 8. Martin was the referee. TARADALE v. CITY Fast, Even Game Taradale drew level with City on the championship ladder by their defeat of 1 be latter team by 17 to eight at League Park in a fast game in which the issue remained in doubt until the last few minutes. Three converted tries and a penalty made up Taradale's score, City scoring two tries, one of whicti was converted. The game was more oven than the scores indicate, but Taradale definitely deserved their win The teams were:—Taradale: J. McLean; M, Smith, R. Farquhar, J. Pleated; F. McLean, T. Ilona; C. Anderson; ('. Sutton, D. Jeffares, A. Hepburn, B. Burgess, I’. Thompson, R, Gibbs. City: Mason; Fenn, Stewart, Morrison; Exeter, R. Stanford; G. Stanford; Madden, Maaka, Boyd, Redman, Woods, Hamilton. Taradale began strongly and were seven points in the lead after the first quarter-hour of play, M, Smith scoring and converting shortly after the kick '>ff and following this success immediately afterwards with a panalty kick. The latter came from a movement by Farquhar and Jeffares, who burst, along the line, only to be forced out. City were penalised for off-side play follow ing the scrum, and exeter raised the flags with a kick from the side-line. City pressed strongly after this reverse and a score by Exeter came ns the result of hard pressing nt the Taradale line. The same player missed the kick at goal.

City’s pack were obtaining the ball from a fair percentage of the scrums, contrary to their displays in previous games, and from oue scrum near the goal-line, Madden scored for Exeter to eonurt. T;:i» placed City «n the lead,

and they held their advantage through a period of fluctuating play during which the Taradale men strove hard to score. Half-time came with no change in the scores.'

From a movement in mid-field shortly after the beginning of the second spcli McLean secured and the ball was hand led by three backs, resulting in Smith’s second try. He converted with a good kick. City retaliated with a strong rush and play was confined to the Tara dale twenty-five for a considerable time, when only the hard tackling ot the Taradale men, and in particular the full-back, McLean, prevented a score. McLean finally cleared with a dribbling rush to the half-way line. Taradale placed the issue beyond doubt when Smith scored for the third time. The City full-back played in too close, and when the rearguard of the opposing team broke away from a scrum he was caught out of position. Smith converted, bringing the team’s and his own total to 17 points. The game ended soon after. Hamilton and Madden worked hard among the City forwards, and Exeter was at times dangerous, while McLean, Jeffares and Farquhar were the pick of the Taradale team, the latter combining well with Smith in several movements. The scorers were:—Taradale (17;: Mong. Smith (three converted tries ami a penalty). City (8): Exeter (try and conversion). Madden (try). Mr W. Gilhooley refereed. JUNIOR-RESULTS Ahuriri (15) defeated Taradale (13; in a good game at League Park as a curtain-raiser to the senior match. THIRD i GRADE City and Taradale drew at Taradale with five points each. This was the best third grade match of the season, both teams playing good and spectacular football.

Clive G. 5 w. 5 . L. L>. For Ag. P. 10 44 16 Te NgaruePetane 5 3 2 — 47 42 6 Marania 4 A 24 4 Taradale . • • 5 1 4—20 57 City 5 1 4—22 43 2