OROUA DOWNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 May 1930, Page 9

OROUA DOWNS

SENIOR FOOTBALL, (From Our Own Correspondent.) OROUA DOWNS, May 12. Tho local football ground was on Saturday tho place where a fast and spectacular game was fought between Oroua Downs and Rongotoa senior teams. The spectators at times attained a high pitch of excitement. Tho final score, six to nil, gives a good indication of the merits of tho two teams. Oroua Downs were considerably weakened by the loss of Marshall Moffatt, who is ill, in the line of backs, but Mudford filled the position and his playing there was more than creditable. Owing to an injury to another member of tho team, Roy Scott donned the yellow and black jersey and put up a fino showing at fullback for the first this year. The teams took the field later than the scheduled time. Both fifteens were light but the blacks (Rongotea) were heavier in tho back division and took some stopping by the yellow backs. Rongotea won tho toss and elected to play with tho 6un at their backs. G. Goldfinch, tho Rongotea skipper, set the ball in motion. Oroua Downs soon found, with the sun against them and a team keen to win, that they would have a hard row to hoe. Rongotea kept attacking and only the sound defence of the yellows stopped them from crowning their movements with success. The yellows wero kept defending for a considerable time, but the blacks, who were throwing the ball about in good style, could not penetrate, R. Algar (black hulf) sending away the ball on many occasions, but the passing rushes seemed to break down at the critical moment. Goldfinch, at first five-eighth, was playing a fine game for the blacks and cut through on more than one occasion to put the yellows in some very awkward positions. The players at this stage seemed to be keen on playing their best, and any mistake on the part of cither set of backs enabled fjbe forwards to show speed and fitness. At times some fine forward rushes were initiated by both lines, but Rongotea appeared to be dominating the play during the first half. Roy Scott, after a high return kick, followed up fast and was just beaten for the ball by inches. Free kicks were few and far between, the blacks missing a kick from a difficult angle. The yellows wero compelled to force on several occasions, and at half time the play was in midfield with the score still a blank. During the spell two black players collided and O’Connor had the misfortune to get a bad kick on tho muscle of his leg, but he continued with the game. With no score by either side, the second half commenced with great vigour and the yellows began to wake up in both the back and forward divisions. The forwards were getting after the ball and had tho blacks in bad positions frequently. Both sides began to throw the ball about and to mention any particular player would be unnecessary. The sound defence of the back division was very noticeable. The play was up and down the field, but the yellows were certainly in form this half, and from a kick through Rivers gathered up the ball and beat several players and handed on to L. Moffatt who raced tho opposition and scored about halfway between the posts and the corner flag. W. Scott’s kick missed. Stung by the reverse, the blacks immediately after the kick-out had the yellows defending, but the yellows came through with tho ball and play was brought back to black territory. Both teams were now working hard. Mudford, who took the ball near the side line, ran across tho field and transferred to W. Scott, who beat several players and handed on to L. Moffatt and, gaining speed at a fast rate, he outpaced the opposition and scored his second well deserved try in a handy position. The kick at goal again missed. Tho yellow's now kept up the pressure and shortly after the final whistle went, leaving Oroua Downs the victors by six points to nil. Mr Stan Reeves capably controlled the game. Tho gamo from the start was fast and interesting and the orders to both were evidently to “keep moving.” It was hard to pick out any particular player, but O’Connor played a fino game at full-back despite his injury in the first spell. Price, the new member in the Rongotea side, gave the crowd many glimpses of good play, being ably supported by the Gust Bros., and Goldfinch. Tho Rongotea forwards wero tall and well matched and in tho line-outs secured the ball frequently. For the Downs, L. Sargisson played a fine gamo at half-back and in tho forwards H. Rivers was always whero tho game was hardest. The game was noticeable for the fino spirit in which it was played and a gamo that wav is a pleasure for the players and for spectators to watch. Tho meeting of the two teams at Rongotea in the next round is eagerly awaited and a larger crowd should be present to witness another interesting game. In tho curtain raiser Oroua Downs juniors defeated Hui Mai by 17 points to nil. Hui Mai took the field three men short and put up a very ceritablo performance. Mr G. Fitzgerald capably controlled tho game.