OPUNAKE I. v. KAPONGA I.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 24 May 1915, Page 4

OPUNAKE I. v. KAPONGA I.

The above teams met on Saturday, at Jiaponga, when the homo team proved victorious by 18 points (6 tries) to nil. Opunake payed two men short, but received a hotle assistance from two of their supporters in the second spell. The weather conditions were very bad a heavy north-east gale, with rain, continuing throughout. Kaponga won the toss and Opunake kicked off against the gale and were almost immediately forced. Shortly after, trom a scrum on the Opunake 25 line Tayloc got the ball away to A. Paterson, to McCarty, and back again to A. Paterson, who got over at the corner. Crowley failed to, convert. —Kaponga 3, Opunake 0. Prom the kick-in a mixed rush resulted in McCarty scoring. He failed to goal.—Kaponga 6, Opunake 0. After a little close play in Opunake territory, Taylor got the ball away from a scrum on the Green twenty-five, Paterson sent it on to McCarty, and then to Fearon, who failed to hold it, and a line-out took place near the Opunake line. From the resulting scrum a little give and take work took place, and Davis broke away, but kicked too hard and the Green full-back forced. From the kick-in, Kaponga secured a mark in a handy position, but the kick failed. From a line-out, Opunake broke away, but O'Sullivan, getting off-side, tlie home team were awarded, a free kick. They sent the hall up, but the wind took possession and it went over the dead ball line. From the return, Opunake got a mark and found the line. A loose rush followed and Opunake were again forced. From the kick-in Taylor found the line. A scrum followed, and Kaponga broke away, "but lost a good chance by kcking too hard. Opunake broke away from a scrum, but Fearon relieved by a good line kick. From the resulting scrum Taylor got his backs moving, but they failed to hold the greasy ball and Opunako again forced. Shortly after Kaponga were awarded a free kick in a good position, hut no goal resulted. Opunake came with a rush, and the "Kaponga full-back knocked on. From the scrum Op»make pot going, but Dug Paterson found the line wpII down. MoCafty got away wit.V a good Tun, but Trang on too long and

the Green^full-bsibk him down and^a^good tuaxice; wasiosfc. Opunake forked tile: ball back, but K^ponga 2*51 9* agam and from a loose ruth CJadwick snatched the ball up, and whipping it out to Taylor, the latter AppjKJd over in a good position. The iqck was a very ooor one,—Kaponga 9, Opunake 0. J^W a mixed rush immediately after, Taylor again got over. Wo c £, oaL—^aponga 12, Opunake 0. ;J?oilowmg the kick-in the home team tried a high kick and follow, but Crowley was penalised and Greens awarded a free-kick. Dick Paterson broke away and passd to Chadwick, but the pass was top low, and the ball went out. *Rom the line-out McCarty aoj; away with the ball at his feet, but Joe saved by a mark under the From a serum the home backs "got going, but McCarty lost the leather; the forwards continuing the rush, Dick Paterson scored. The kick again failed.—Kaponga 15/ Opunake 0. Half-time was then called.

Crowley set. the ball in motion for the second half, and Opunake came with a great rush.- A series of liheouts took place, and Kaponga forwards rushed into Green's twenty-five, but a fine rush by the Opunake forwards took play well down the field. Kaponga were penalised, and Hohaia ha,d a shot; failing to score from a good kick. O'Sullivan marked the kick-in, and, sending the ball up high, the Green forwards came with a will, but McCarty forced and saved the situation. From a rebound Opunake got away and looked dangerous, but Dug. Patei-son found the line with a good punt. Opunake came again, but McCarty again forced. A line out at half-way followed. *■; The Red forwards broke away, but kohaia enapued up the leather, and got a fine^run-ia • he passed to Joe., who failed to hold, and a line-out followed; From this, Joe got away, but was hauled down. The Green forwards took it and got over, but the whistle was sounding for a knock-on. The Greens were not to be denied, and came again.. Sweeping over the line,, they seemed to have a certain score, but the greasy ball beat them and went into toach-in-goal. From the kick-in O'Sullivan 'knocked on and Dug. Paterson found the line from the resulting scrum. TJp and down play followed, and Rowlands! found the line. The home forwards! came again, but Hohaia relieved with j a fine line kick. Kaponga came back i and D. O'Sullivan relieved the pres-j sure with a speculator. A great Opu- [ nake rush followed, ending by. the, ball going out on the Kaponga line. The Red forwards, however, worked play back again. A free kick to Reds saw Joe mark, and from a high kick Rowlands broke away; Dug Paterson relieved by a good- line kick. A scrum | followed, and Chadwick, marking a 1 kick from King, found the line. Ka- ! ponga. came with a fine rush, and, sweeping over the line, Taylor again scored. No goal resulted.—Kaponga 1&, Opunake 0. The Greens shook themselves together, .and a great rush took play well down, but Dick Paterson, Murphy, and Day.is, headed a- diibbling rush, which looked dangerous, but Hohaia saved, and the Green forwards relieved. From a line put and scrum the forwards took play up and down the field. From a "hiy;h gick Hohaia got under the goal posts, but the slippery ball elu<Jed him, and Kaponga forced down. The kick-in was followed by a great rush by the Kaponga* forwards, who look play right up -the field, and Chadwick got over, but* had hard luck in failing* and O'Sullivan reached the ball first and forced down. A' high kick by Opunake was taken by Alex Paterson, who found the line. Another high kick by Hohaia was marked by Chadwick. Opunake a^ain came with a rush, and Jerry Taylor saved by forcing. Crowley sent her out, and a scrum followed on the twenty-five line, from which the Red forwards got away, but King saved well, and the Greens came again. Kaponga sgain forced. Forward rush by Kaponga was stopped, and Wallis led the Greens -to the charge again, but was slopped on the line, and the whistle sounded time, with the score —Kaponga 18,, Opunake 0. Mr C. P. Crowley made an efficient referee. For Opunake J. O'Sullivan, Rowlands and 'Wallis were most prominent in a fair forward pack, and Hohaia' stood out in the backs. Crowley, Paterson, and Chadwick were the best &l the Kaponga forwards, and Dug. Paterson, Taylor and McCarty played a fair game in the backs. Opunake have pLenty of sting in them, and with a little practice should give any team a good go.