SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 9 May 1921, Page 5

SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

The third week's fixtures were well contested, but in two cases there was a considerable margin between the scores. The Clifton-Kaponga match was very close, while at home Okaiawa decisively beat the strong Stratford team. Results of seniors were as follows : A GRADE. Hawera 27 v. Patea 3. Waimate 17 v. Opunake 3. Okaiawa 11 v. Stratford 0. , Clifton 8 v. Kaponga' 3. ~ B GRADE. Eltham 9 v. Star 6. Old Boys 22 v. Okato 0. A GRADE. HAWERA v. PATEA.

This match was played, on \the Show Grounds on Saturday before a large number of spectators. Great interest was taken in the fixture, as Patea had given good displays in their previous I cup matches, and the public were keen to see the local team in action and judge its prospective strength.. , Hawera (yellows) won the tow, and elected to take .advantage of the breeze. For a time play was even, but Hawera forwards, led by Fogarty and' \V est, soon put the locals in an attacking position, and from a scrum Wills j set the backs in motion, the ball { travelling from Cameron to Osborhe, j who made a good opening and sent on to Robertson, who dashed over. Os- | borne converted with, a good kick Hawera 5, Patea 0. This setback livened up the visitors, and their forwards, headed by Spratt, Stratford, and Hunt r carried play to Hawera's territory, but the effort was nullified, by good play by the local pack. They "shifted play to half-way and from the loose Fogartv secured, and after tne. forwards had participated in a passing bout the ball went out to the backs, who carried on until dt reached C. Whittington on the wing, and he finished off a particularly I fine movement by racing over near the corner. Nearly every member of the team had a hand in '■ the bout, which was undoubtedly one of the finest efforts seen in local club football for. a long time. The kick failed, and the score was Hawera 8, Patea 0. Patea now put in a lot of hard work, but were unequal to the' task of holding their more experienced opponents. Scully, Palmer, Spratt and Co. grafted well, but Hawea were not'to be denied, and soon returned to the attack. Their hookers were securing the . ball in nearly every scrum, and several passing bouts were initiated. From one of these C. Whittington beat the opposi-' tion and scored. Cameron converted* Hawera 13, Patea 0. Patea retaliated after some play in neutral ground, and good work on the touch line by Hunt carried play near Hawera's line, where from a penalty Scully kicked a good goal. Shortly after half-time was called with the score > 13—3 in favour of Hawera. In the second half it was anticipated that Patea, with the breeze "in their favour, would extend the Yellows, but such was not the case, as Hawera dominated the play even more so than in the first spell. They invariably secured the ball in the scrums, and many | fine passing rushes 1 ensued among the backs. Some were spoiled by the second five-eighths and centre hanging on when they should have transferred. Patea forwards worked well, but wereovermatched, and did not get much support from their backs. The Hawera pack was ably led by Fogarty and West, the former in particular being very prominent in almost every movement. During this spell tries were added by C. Whittington, Osborne, Robertson and West. Wilkinson converted one, bringing the score to Hawera 27, Patea 3. ; Mr F. Julian (Inglewood) controlled the game efficiently, and is to be com*, mended for strictly enforcing the rule in regard to laying on the ball. CLH<TON v. KAPONGA.

The latter travelled to Waitara, and after a keen contest, fought'out to the call of time, the home team scored a good win by a small margin of , five points, From the outset lvaponga' forwards attacked, and play under Clifton goal until .Ross arid Goodwin by good play took it upheld, and j George had a shot at goal, which i failed. They kept up the attack, and I Colman by a fine kick put his men in a good position. Ross set the backs going, but Lynskey was equal to the attacii, and shortly after, he set up a great attack by intercepting a pass, and with Malone took play to! the 25, where from a scramble Humphries passed to McCarty, who cut in and scored. The kick failed. Kaponga pack kept up the pressure, but the backs of the Clifton team were playing well and quickly retaliated, and Kaponga had to force. From a lineout near the Kaponga corner Campbell passed to Young, and he got across. George put the . ball over, but it touched an opposing player. The spell ended three all. During the major, portion of the second spell play was very keen and fast, neither side having much advantage, until towards the end Ross secured, passed to Kingston, and the ball travelled to Colman, to Jones, to Hickey, the latter • finishing a good run by getting across. George goaled. Clifton 8, Kaponga 3. Shortly after the whistle blew. Mr W. Rocn was referee. 1 STRATFORD v. OKAIAWA. The above teams met on the Okaiawa ground under favourable conditions. There was a bright sun, which was somewhat trying to those facing it, but both sides got an equal share. Okaiawa won the toss, and elected to play with the sun in their eyes. Play in the first spell was pretty even, jthe heavy Okaiawa forwards haying, perhaps, a little the better of it. There was no score, however, until near the end of the spell. Here B. Roberts secured, made a short dash, and passed to Laurent, on the wing. The latter, when blocked, passed back infield to Roberts, who crossed the line and drew first blood for Okaiawa. The kick at goal, although good, failed to find the bar. From the kick-out Stratford carried play down the field, and were awarded a free kick in a good position. Collins made a good but unsuccessful attempt at' goal, and Okaiawa forced. Half-time was called shortly after with the score Okaiawa 3, Stratford 0. Upon resuming Okaiawa, with the sun at their backs, immediately set up a strong attack. With a great dribbling rush the forwards carried the ball over the line, but Stratford forced. Okaiawa continued to press, and kept nla? well in Stratford's 2o's. A Stratford back, with the sun in his eyes, failed to field a high kick, and Nicholls, following up fast, scored Okaiawa's seconc try. The. kick at goal was again Tinsuccessful. Play still hung in Stratford's territory, Okaiawa gaining mucr ground by good line-kic?ring. Onc< more they carried the ball ovei', anc Hurley fell on it, but was over the dead ball line. Shortly after resuming a scrum was formed close to the Strat foi'd lino, Okaiawa hooked and sen the ball out to Atkins, who dodgei through and vscored a clever try. G Hurley made no mistake with the kick and landed a fine goal. The issue wa now beyond doubt, but Stratford, wh we?'e now playing a man .-short, Pen nail having retired hurt; continued t

play pluckily. They carried play right up the field, but failed to score, and the gam ended: Okaiawa 11, Stratford 0. Mr J. S. McKay capably controlled the game.

A GRADE

WAIMATE (17) v. OPUNAKE (3).

After a few minutes' play Waimate were, awarded a free kick for offside play, and L. Hughes kicked his first goal and repeated it a few minuies later, bringing Waimate's score up six to nil. Opunake now began to Jiven up, and backs and forwards did some good work and took play into Waimate's quarters; but Waimats forwards, headed by BirchaU and S. Winter^ soon relieved the position, and from a good forward rush from about halfway Bashford gave a very good and clean pass, to T. Winters, who scored. HUghes' kick at goal just failed. Waimate 9, Opunake 3, Opunake were torced again almost immediately, but rallied and took play up field; but Birchall and company soon had them defending, and from a mark L. Hughes kicked another goal. Waimate 12 Opunake 3. Opunake from the kick-out became dangerous, and Don McKay stopped a most determined rush just in the nick ■of time. Play was up and down neld and became very exciting and Radford had an unsuccessful shot at goal. From the kick-out Waimate became dangerous and took play back to Opunake's twenty-five, and from a scrum L. Hughes put in, a nice, nippy run and crossed the line, M. Bailey adding the major points. Waimate 17 Upunake nil. Half-time sounded almost immediately. Upon resuming play Upunake had sun and a light breeze at their back and kept the game open, but the Waimate defence was solrd. Radtord (Opunake) had two or three kicks at goal almost qn end, through Waimate forwards being offside. He was successful with one kick, which was Opunake s only score. Forward rushea, .were the order of the day, Birchall,1 Winters -and company shining out for Waimate and O'Rorke. Hickey and company for Opunake. Waimate backs started a passing rush, which was very nice to see, but gooch tackling by 0»u----nake soon stopped its progress.. From a free lack Phillips had a shot at goal, which just went under the Bar. Shortly afterwards the whistle blew no-side £'*i * H V. Guy opiated with the whistle to the satisfaction^ aJJ. " [