FIRST GRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9137, 9 July 1906, Page 5

FIRST GRADE.

ELTHAM I. v. HAWERA I.

Hawera got a good team to travel to Eltham on Saturday, Sellar going into tho team and Nicholson replacing Blyth. Taumata Park was in a slippery and heavy state, but the game was nevertheless fairly fast and open. Eltham had the best of it at the beginning of the game, and early in the firsf^spell scored a fine try. Hawera were attacking, and tho ball went out" to the Eltham full-back (Johnston). The Hawera, backs were at the time going full speed towards one side of the field, 2,P<l Johnson made for the other side at a, great pace. Only Nicholson (the Ha.vrera full-back)" got in front of him, and Johnson punted over his opponent's head. Do Lay nay chased and recovered the Ball, but was collared and passed back to Johnson, who fell over the line and scored. It was an extraordinary score but a good one, due mainly to the great pace of Johnson. Dive made a good effort to convert, but failed. In the same spell McNiven scored from a forward attack. Colman mado a good attempt to convert, but failed. Shortly afterwards Colman kicked a goal from a 'mark obtained by Hunter, the first half ending: Hawera 6, Eltham 3. In the second spell Hawera ihad all the best of the game. Their backs did excellent work, Hunter being very conspicuous. A. Goodwin scored two good tries in this spell for passing rushes after excellent sprints. Dive" was easily the pick of the Eltham backs, and grafted very solidly, especially when on the defence. Fume was very poor. The Eltham forwards were fairly even. All the Hawera backs played well. Hunter showed some of his last year's form, and his meteoric dashes and zig-zag runs nonplussed his opponents. BeamiJh also played very well. The Goodwins were right up to the mark. Sellar filled the vacancy at centre very creditably. The Hawera forwards were better than the Elthata pack, Gredg, Greenbanks and Whittdngton showing out most. Mr Powdrell refereed. He was subjected to some unpardonable insolence from spectators, though his refereeing appeared almost faultless. Hawera 12 Eltham 3