Rangiotu.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6616, 22 May 1928, Page 9

Rangiotu.

VICTORIOUS HUIAS. From Our Own Correspondent. The results of Saturday’s games were very gratifying to the supporters of the local Huia Football Club. Both the junior and third teams won their games against Eongotea teams. The iluia juniors arc making a bold bid fur the championship this season. So far they ate unbeaten, but they yet have to meet the redoubtable United team next Saturday at Eangiotu. No doubt there will be a record crowd to see this match which will practically decide the 1928 junior championship in the To Kawau Sub-Union. As both teams are in good training and confident a splendidly contested game will bo the result with the decision in the lap of the gods of stance. Huia Thirds v. Eongotea. This game played on the local ground, was fast, even and interesting, as the teams were well matched and the score made was owing to good place kicking only. Ideal weather prevailed and the ground was in excellent order. The game which was played in a good spirit was ably controlled by Referee J. Fitzgerald, of Bainesse. The Eongotea team had unfortunately undergone many alterations which upset the combination. Clark, at full played a very safe game. *F. Wright was the only man in the threequarter lino worthy of mention. ■ He played a sterling game front start to tinish. Burgess had much to do, and got through his work with credit, Liggins gave a very patchy display, and frequently had his side in difficulty. Parker (the winger) was very good, while the pick of the forwards were Pedley, E. Wright and Saxon.

The Huia’s lioldod their best team this season and when the few weak spots are strengthened this team will hold its own in its coming matches. A full-back has not yet been discovered and although Btoodiey and J. Evans wore tried they were lamentably weak Urn, at centre, gave his usual dashing display. Both inside backs, M‘Kenzia and James Young, were very safe, attacking and defending splendidly throughout. John Young, at half, is still inclined to try to do too much. He should remember ho is the main pivot in every attacking rush started behind the scrum. Baddy as winger, was a good grafter, while J. Nairnc, Hall, Matthews, and Benjamin were the most prominent of a good pack. Eongotea (blacks) kicked off and shortly after J. Young, from a penalty, almost landed a goal for Huias. Blacks were throwing the ball about well, but their good work was nullified by hard kicking and Huias forced. The white pack, driving the leather before them, soon had the blacks defending stubbornly. Several scrums almost under' the posts succeeded each other quickly, j Finally, Eongotea forced. John Young, Sadd, and Uni were mainly instrumental in again placing blacks, on defence, and Young got a chance of a place kick in range and landed a good goal. Huias 3, Eongotea 0. Play livened up considerably and the game swung rapidly up and clown lield. Clark, playing a safe game, repeatedly drove the whites back, but Btoodiey was letting his side down badly so was changed to the forward division where ho played a good game. M‘Kcnzic and Kiraura were associated in many attacks but found Wright and Burgess too deadly. The spell ended with play in mid-field. After the interval the white pack ably backed up by the strong combination behind the scrum soon dominated the situation. Jim Young ‘dummying’ dashed forward, well backed up by Buckcridgo, and the attack was on. Eadcs, Liggins, and Wright defended stubbornly. The blacks were penalised for handling in serum, but J. Young’s kick was blocked. A high kick by Liggins in front of the posts was well marked by E. Badd, who landed a neat gaol. Huias (!, Eongotea 0. From this out play was even and strenuous and ended in mid-field with the Huia thirds victorious for the first time this season. If this team continues to train on and rolls up for field practices as well as gym. work it may yet succeed in retrieving the disasters of: the early games and emerge winners, as did the 1927 team.