THE JUNIORS' GAME

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1923, Page 3

THE JUNIORS' GAME

Mr H. Fleweiiyn 'f» selection of the Whangarei team proved a good oue. The forwards held their own well, but the backs had few chances, due largely to their playing too deep when on the attack. Wilson at second five-eighths was well marked and was further handicapped by Collins sending passes to him too late, and often erratically. Anderson at half played well although he stood too far from the scrums aid his passes were sluggish. Kerr at fullback played a particularly sound game. Waiting for the new ball to bounce was a fault that led to • a good deal of trouble and Pepene was especially noticeable in that connection. The forwards were an even lot, with B. Clotworthy, Alloway and Birch often prominent, and Kernohan always on the ball.

Hassail's dcfence at - full-back for the visitors was distinctly good, while Frost al3o played a sound game on the wing. Vercoe at half and Olscn, the rover, were frequently to the fore, while there was little to choose between the members of a good hardworking set of forwards. The Kaipara dcfence was sound, especially in the last quarter, in which Whangarei held the upper hand and made frequent attempts to retrieve their position.

The teams were as follows: —

Kaipara.— Full-back, G. Hassail; three-quarters, A. Pirama, E. HaighSmith and J. Frost; five-eighths, W. S. Rewa and R. GFrierson (captain); half, D. Vercoe; rover, N. Olsen; back row, R. Chalklin and R. M. Moorcrof't; second row, B. McLean, .T. Jordan 'ahd W. Shanks; hookers, W, Hanson and J. Keane. Whangarei.— Full«bac'k, G. Kerr; three-quarters, R. Tilly, K. Mcßae and T. Pcpene; five-eighths, D. A. Wilson and J. Collins; half, V. Ander3on; rover, A. Dickson; back row, N. Clotworthy anad J. Cooke; second row, R. Kcrnohan, J. Birch and B. Clotworthy; hookers, C. Downs and F. Alloway. Whangarei kickcd off against the sun and after a few minutes the forwards invaded the visitors' territory, Hassail saving well. Shortly afterwards Tilly failed to field a ball from Vercoe, and Kerr mis3ed with- a speculator, the position looking dangerous ous until Collins saved. Kaipara held an advantage and Kerr got the Whangarei side out of trouble after having waited for a bounce which was backward. Fumbling by Rewa let the Whangarei forwards, headed by N. Clotworthy and Kernohan, get well up, and a try seemed imminent when Hassoll extricated his side by clever play and from a good line kick Anderson got possession from a line out, and a passng rush initiated by him, in which Collins, Wilson, Mcßae and Pepene participated, ended, after ten minutes' play, in the last.-mentioned getting over in the corner. Kerr's at-

tempt to add the major points failed. —Whangarei 3, Kaipara nil.

The Kaipara forwards, playing well bunched;- got within striking distance and ; Moorcroft had an ineffective longdistance penalty kick at goal. The visiting' backs renewed the attack which was frustrated by Kerr getting in a gciod line-kick to past half way. At this stage the erratic bouncing of the ball was beating the Whangarei backs and an effort by the rear-divis-ion to carry out a passing rush enabled Frost to intercept between Wil-

son and Mcßae in mid-field. He raced for the line, well backed up by Grierson and Chalklen, both of whom ..handled the ball. The latter was grassed but got up again and scored a wellearned try near the corner flag- Haigh. Smith's attempt to convert was good but ineffective. —Whangarei 3, Kaipara 3. Grierson and Frost were prominent in a renewed attack by Kaipara, which was. maintained until the change-over, except for' a good counter attack in which B. ClotwOrthy and Cooke wore prominent. Play was in midfield when the; change-over -bell rang, the visitors having had the better Of the spell.

Whangarei was 011 the defensive shortly after resumption until Meßae cleared to. midfield. Soon afterwards the backa got moving and*Collins after cutting in cleverly spoilt a good chance by sending out a very wild pass to Wilson, who had eluded the two men marking him. A scrum near the Kai* para line ended in Hassell forcing. Again invading the visitors' territory, Anderson threw a lob pass to Wilson who : sent the leather to Mqßae, but the latter missed it,, and Tilty gc*t possession iand made a game and . determined rdn which was held up by the full-back, Hassall. For a few minutes {/Whangarei held the upper hand and tried to get the backs awsyy, but the defence was remarkably solid for junior grade. Prom about hilf-way Moorcroft and Keane broke through the defence and the latter got over the WhangArfei line, but was recalled for a knock on. Even play ensued, Whangarei playing rather shrewdly ,to Pirama, the weak point in the opposing defence. Cooke, Wilson and others got well up in a rush, Collins kicking hard past Hassall. The Whangarai chargers overran the ball, but Hassall passed off the ground and Kerr had a penalty shot from beyond the twentyfive which hit the bar and rebounded in field. Tilly kicked High and followed, getting Frost, and strenuous play led to a scrum five yards from the Kaipara Tiwc, The ball went to Collins who cut in, but then sent a poor pas's to Wilson. One of the defenders, "however, was penalised offside and Mcßae had no difficulty in goaling.—Whangarei Kaipara 3.

In midfield play Wilson gave some signs of his usual initiative, and the way in which he collared Frost was good to watch. Hanson came through a scrum in midfield well and then Pirama started a passing rush for the visitors. The ball went to Rewa, on to Frost, who returned it to Rewa, and finally out to Frost again. The lastmentioned dived over on Pepene'3 wing. Haigh-Smith's kick at goal was wide, half time being called immediately afterwards with the scores six points all.

After the interval Kaipara attacked in a very determined way and threw the ball about well. From a scrum within striking distance Vercoe worked tho blind side and after giving a good dummy pass he scored a well merited try right in the corner, his body failing in touch after gronnding tho ball. Moorcroft failed to increase the score. —Kaipara 9, Whangarei 6.

Twice shortly afterwards fine play by B. Clotworthy, Birch and Allowov put ; the visitors on the defensive. Anderson got round a scrum and gained a lot of ground. Whangarei played much, better at this stage, Tilly and Popene both being conspicuous in the efforts, to overcome a sound defence, in which Hassull was prominent. A period of struggling in neutral territory ensued and then Alloway an 3 B. Clotworthy broke through to the attack. A cross-field kick by Tilly, however, gave the visiting backs a chance, and Frost, with plenty of pace, looked like scoring, when Kerr smartly marked his inward pass and saved the sido thereby with a well-judged kick which found the line at the halfway flag. Towards the change over, Pirama started a movement which ended in Keane getting within two yards of the Whangarei line, but Birch and Alloway removed the danger.

Early in the. final quarter Allovvay wrenched the ball from possession by opposing forwards and, supported oy Birch, he broke, away and got a.? far *1? Hassall, a few feet from the posts. Anderson tried to force his way over from behind a scrum, and from a second one Frost carricd play right back to half-way. The home team, however, began to assert superiority find Collins was to the fore by in and sending the leather out tp . Pepene, who made a good dash bis was unable to pierce the defence. " iKaipara showed signs of tiring and Griterson took a useful mark for them.' 'Another rush by the Whangarei backs ended in the ball bouncing from Hassall over the line, but Vercoe easily won in the race for it and forced. Kaipara forwards carried out a concerted ruaii which got as far as Kerr, who saved splendidly, and again the home team resumed the offensive. A scrum within five yards of the Kaipara line took

place, but over anxiousness by the Whangarei players caused a penalty, which, was made full use of by the visitors. Again Whangarei attacked hard, Kaipara forcing in the corier. With about five minutes to go the Whangarei team pressed hard and lineouts and scrums took place within easy reach of the line. Anderson sent a pass just above the ground to Wilson who would probably have- scored hal lie been able to gather it up.r Vercoe relieved the pressure temporarily, but a final rush in which Downs and Alloway were conspicuous very nearly evened the scores. The last scrum took place within a matter of feet from tho objective line, but a penalty award gave Kaipara the chance t° clear their line and the clanging of the bell was doubtless a welcome sound to thom and to their supporters, who gave the playera an ovation upon having won the Brake shield by 9 points to 6.

Mr D. Ross, of Dargaville, controlled the game in a very efficient an-.] satisfactory manner.