HOKIANGA v WHANGAREI

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1920, Page 3

HOKIANGA v WHANGAREI

A DRAWN GAME

For the third time this season the Whangarei Rugby Unions representative footballers deiended possession cf the Harding Shield in a hardfought contest against the Hokianga reps, at Kensington Park yesterday afternoon. Rumour and the sub stantiai defeat winch Hokianga had inflicted upon the Bay of Islands had given rise to expectation of a hard match tor the defenders, and in that respect the public was not disappointed. Tnere was a very large attendance to witness the match and all spectators had their full moneys worth of excitement, aroused by the evenness of the play. From start to finish the game was of a most strenuous nature, and the fact that neither side was able to pierce the opposing defence indicated how evenly the respective teams were matched.

At th e close of the third spell the Whangarei skipper, Weston, kicked a penalty goal, and the three-point advantage was held until the last minute of the game, when T. Clark evened the scor e by a similar method, and the result was thoroughly justified when based upon the all-round evenness of play.

Mr Smith controlled the match., which was governed strictly in accordance with the "old" rules,. and revision to the defensive tactics of finding the line, had both supporters and adverse critics amongst the spectators. Mr Smith managed the game in a manner which met with general approval. Whangarei turned out with the bes t possible team available in the district with perhaps the exception of one forward, Whibley, being unable to play, and George also being unavailable owing to his accident in the Northern Wairoa game. Tierney, of Kamo filled the breach, making five Kamo Club players in the rep. team. Hanlon, of United, who has removed to Kaitaia, played five-eighths instead of J. Little, who has been injured. Mr Montgomery, manager of the visiting combination stated that Hokianga had the team on the field ias originally selected. Throughout the game play was mainly restricted to tussle between the forwards, although the backs at times were given opportunity of which they availed themselves so far as the solid defence would permit. The forwards on both sides smothered most of the efforts of the opposing backs, Hokianga being especially successful in that way. Following were the teams: — HOKIANGA (Red and Black) Full-back —H. Whittaker. Three quarters—A. Penny, T. Clark, and B. Penny. Five-eighths—P. Clark and J. Clark Half—N. Andrews. Rover—J. Molloy. Rear-rank—H. Hodgson, C. Potier. Second row —F. Ferguson, H. Hulme, and W. Beasley. Hookers—J. Smith and T. Donnelly. WHANGAREI (Lavender) Full-back —B. Ansell. Three-quarters—A. Hamilton, B Finlayson and C. Going. Five-eights—L. Weston and D Hanlon. Half—S. Crawford. Rover—Bain Finlayson. Rear-rank —P. Tierney and A. Martin. Second row —Arneill, A. McLennan, and Tote Finlayson. Hookers—F. Little and F. O'Shea. Of the visiting forwards Smith, a Maori, was an outstanding star, and Beasley was also a grafter. Hulme, the lock, put in solid work, but age was against him. Molloy was up against a tough opponent in Bain Finlayson, and S. Crawford outshone Andrews behind the pack. The three Clarks were all useful players, Tohu : the centre, being the best back on the j side. Neither of the Pennys, on the wings, had much chance of showing what he was really worth in that position, but A. Penny gave signs of being a sound player there. Whittaker was a good full-back and handled the ball well, but his line kicking was somewhat too sure.

Whangarei were unlucky in not having conditions conducive to playing a back game, but the forwards held their own end up well aganist solid opposition, the two vanguards being very evenly matched. There was not enough packing round in the first spell, but in that respect the local forwards improved in the second half. All the regular players did hard work and the manner in which they forced play away from their own territory was often commendable. Tote Finlayson, Little, Martin and McLennan were frequently to the fore in thos e and received great help from Bahi Finlayson. Crawford's game behind the pack marked him as the best half in the province, and the defence of Hanlon, Weston and Bunny Finlayson was a big factor in the game. The wings had comparatively little to do, but both should be considered permanent men in the position. Ansell, at full-back, was again safe and ''reliable and has thoroughly justified Mr Tucker's action in placing him there, after having played fiveeighths throughout the Cup competition.

THE PLAY. Early in the match Tot c Finlayson spoilt an effort by the Hokianga backs and Whangarei attacked unt'l T. Clark took a handy saving mark and -cleared. Crawford set the Whangarei team, attacking and Weston improved matters until a 'penalty kick was awarded him and it fell short, play going back to neutral territory. Baijn 1 Fi.nlayson picked the ball out of the scrum and Tohu Clark missed with the resulting penalty kick. Before the change over Going made a smart dash up the l*'ne and the forwards improved matters until Whittaker found touch.

Hokianga attacked after the kick off and Tohu Clark found the line within a few yards of the corner flag. Weston obtained temporary relief but a bunch of Hokianga forwards took part in a passing rush which Going brought to an end, Martin being prominent in forcing play beyond the danger zone. Good work by the Whangarei forwards improved matters and a beautifully-judged kick by Weston over A. Penny's head put the visitors on the defensive. Play worked backwards and forward and near half-time Going collared B. Penny in good style, enabling the Whangarei forwards to improve their position, and F. Little to make a determined but unsuccessful effort to break through, the Hokianga forwards relieving before the whistle blew.

Following resumption of play, Little was mainly responsible for a rush which ended in a force by Hokianga. Later Tote Finlayson, by jumping high, prevented a saving mark essayed by P. Clark opposite the Hokianga goal, but the visit'ng forwards were equal to warding off the attack, Smith 'being remarkably energetic in that respect. Aniell annulled a determined assault by a fine line kick to the, half-way flag, and Crawford later obtained reVef by taking a good saving mark. After interesting forward play for some time Going placed Hokianga on the defensive, Tote Finlayson and Martin taking prominent parts in centreing play opposite the posts, where a penalty for offside play was awarded to Weston, who kicked a good goal, in spite of the charging of the opposing forwards.

Within a minute of the commencement of the last spell, Whittaker forced as the result of a forward rush. Hokianga retaliated by invading Wihangarei's half, where they remained until brilliant play and a good line kick by Weston removed it to neutral* territory. Crawford fell on the ball and T.Clark had a shot from further back than Weston's but it dropped short. Hokianga gained ground in a forward rush, but a knock-on by B. Penny gave relief, and the local reps again attacked, a beautiful side kick hy Going maintaining play in the visitors' quarter when a break-away seemed imminent. Not long before time was called, the Hokianga pack forced pTay into Whangarei's "quarter where a line-out took place. From ensuing play Whangarei was penalised and, from a good position, Tohu Clark kicked a goal, amid great applause from the Hokianga barrackers. The bell ended a drawn game immediately afterwards, the scores being 3 points all.