RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 169, 19 June 1931, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TE KAWAU BEATS OROUA. Spectators at the annual meeting of the representatives from the Te Kawau and Oroua sub-unions at the Winter Show yesterday were treated to an interesting display of the code, particularly in the opening spell, when the speedy Te Kawau backs were seen to advantage. Oroua held the upper hand in the scrums in the advanced stages of the game—the opposing set breaking up ail too quickly—but their backs did not carry the trust of the Te Kawau rearguard, which showed distinct possibilities for their future playing careers. Oroua were the first to score from a breakaway, but the activities of the opposing backs quickly made up the leeway and, adding a further try in the second half—a runaway effort—the/ ran out good winners by 16 points to 5. The rival fifteens which filed out were as under:—

Te Kawau (black and white). — Marsh, Gimblett, M. Moffatt, L. Moffatt, Scott, Goldfinch, Fuller, Price, Howard, Algar, Millard, Robinson, Gust, Harris, Beard. Oroua (blue and black). —Berkahn, Dais, Walker, Robertson, Gibson, Saywell,- Pawson, J. Martin, Martin, Hodge, Osborne, Viles, Miles, Batchelar, Monk. Te Kawau played towards the southern goal at commencement with the angular wind assisting them, but for the first few minutes the blues held the territorial advantage until an attempt to open up saw Gibson fail to retain his pass and M. Moffatt burst through the gap to clear downfield. The magpies essayed the handling game in turn, L. Moffatt penetrating to the goal front only to he opportunely halted. In a flash the blues piled through the inner defences of the To Kawau ranks and, with a defender failing to field the rolling ball, Gibson was left with a gift try. Berkahn made the margin five. Oroua 5, Te Kawau 0. • A reply was quickly forthcoming from Te Kawau for Puller set his line going from midfield and the ball went along the line to L. Moffatt, who gave an infield pass to his brother for the latter to complete. A good attempt to add the major points failed. Te Kawau 3, Oroua 5.

The blues were carrying the advantage iu the rucks as the result of their superior poundage and they gained the magpies’ twenty-five line where offside gave Berkahn a shot at goal, but the ball slewed round off liis foot. An attempt to open up in their own twentyfive spelt danger to Te Kawau when a rolling ball beat M. Moffatt and Gibson just failed to retain the leather. Play was sweeping up and down field in good style ,the game being largely a duel between the Oroua forwards and the Te Kawau backs. The latter set showed their true worth when Puller came away from the base of the scrum and the ball went out to Gimblett, the winger turning infield to ground the ball behind the posts. Scott added the major points. Te Kawau 8, Oroua 5.

Once again the Te Kawau got moving when Goldfinch cut through effectively prior to sending L. Moffatt away on liis joupney and the winger side-stepped his way through to score wide out. The kick went wide. Te Kawau 11, Oroua 5.

Oroua lost two men through injuries at practically the same time, Vilcs and Saywell going off, McJSae and Carey substituting them. The infusion of fresh blood and fresh energy proved beneficial, for the blues went to the attack, but a golden opportunity was lost when Dais failed to field a rolling ground pass, the attack culminating in a force. Half-time found the blues carrying the attack, but with tlieir deficit unaltered.

1 PLAY BECOMES SCRAPPY. | On resumption Te Kawau worked to * the asault and a beasutiful long throw 1 in which went right out to M. Moffatt, the centre, saw him hand on to L. | Moffatt for the winger to short punt 1 through, but Berkahn got to the ball ' first. Working the blind side from the serum, Pawson came away in possession, but he went too far and was promptly grassed. The blues were now taking a larger share of the play as the result of their control in the scrums, but their rearguard movements lacked finish. The magpies came back, Goldfinch bring off a pretty cut-in and M. Moffatt was through the defences when the whistle recalled him for a forward ' pass. A free kick preceded a rush by the blues to the other end and Dais kicked through to follow up fast, but he was beaten to the force by Marsh. Berkahn attempted to drop at goal only for the ball to hang low, but he followed it up to recover and went veryclose to scoring. A surprise was forthcoming when M. Moffatt fed Gimblett in his own twenty-five and the winger cleared out to side-step Berkahn and show a clean pair of heels to ground between the posts. Scott goaled to make the scores:— Te Kawau 16, Oroua 5. The final whistle sounded with the blues back on the attack. Mr F. H. Garner, who carried the whistle, was not over harsh with the players. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. HIGH SCHOOL v. TECHNICAL. As a curtain-raiser to the Te Ka-wau-Oroua game, the fifth grade representatives of the Palmerston North High School and Teclmical School tried conclusions, a game in which there was little between the opposing fifteens terminating in a three point victory for High School, who were for the main part Gordon Club players. High School had the advantage of the wind in the opening spell and maintained the attack for the greater part of the spell. However, Technical were able to maintain their line intact up to the interval, only to lose out in the second spell when they took a larger share of the play. With a scoreless game threatening to eventuate, High School launched an assault on Technical’s citadel where Missen whipped the ball out on the blind side to Farquhar, who cut through and went over the line. The kick failed. High School 3 —o. Striving with might and main, Technical made a big effort to even up the score and Boag was unlucky not to be rewarded with a trv following upon a great solo effort. The final whistle found Technical with their account still a blank, but while beaten they were by no means disgraced. Mr G. Hancock refereed excellently. MASSEY COLLEGE TEAM. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 18. The annual match between Massey Agricultural College and Canterbury Agricultural College was played at Lincoln to-day and was won by Canterbury by 14 points to 3. The contest was even, Canterbury being successful owing to better combination among the baoks. TE KAWAU RUGBY SUB-UNION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SANDON, June 19. Competition games for Saturday have been arranged as follow Sfißioii—Bui M*i y. Awahuri* at Sanson;

referee, Mr S. Reeve. Junior.—Awahuri v. Hui Mai, at Awahuri; referee, Mr A. Simeon. The Oroua Downs v. Rongotea games have been postponed and will bo played at the end of the fixtures. Hui Mai seniors to play Awahuri at Sanson are as follow': Marsh, Tattle,_ Harmon, Coates, Pearce, Hammond, Harris (2), Royal, Sanson (2), Fagan, Eru, Yorke, Wereta, Bailey, Staite, Cameron. The following Rongotea players are requested to be at Rongotea at 1.30 p.m.:— Seniors: O’Connor, Dixon, Burgess, Algar (2), Gust, Knight (2), Jacobs, Gloyn, Frecklington, Saunders, Price, Gust. Juniors: Major, Parker, Wright (2), Boswell, Craig, Clark, Hughes, Rowe (2), Liggins, Saxton (2), Lyons, Martin..