SATURDAY'S SPORTS

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1924, Page 6

SATURDAY'S SPORTS

THE BRAKE SHIELD. RETAINED BY WIIANGAREL ::OME BACKS SUPERIOR. There was a very fair attendance at Kensington Park on Saturday afternoon to witness the contest between the Northern Wairoa junior representatives (challengers) and Whangarei junior representatives (holders) for possession of t'he Brake Shield. The weather was ideal and the turf in good condition. Tho game was very earnestly fought and the challengers had their best available fifteen in the field. The visitors were a hefty lot, with a fairly fast set of forwards. That they did not succeed in wresting the Shield from the holders must be attributed to the facts that they seldom obtained possession of the ball from the scrums and that there was no organised method of attack in their back division it was disjointed. Notwithstanding these faults they put up a fairly creditable showing comprised for thi most part of willing work among the forwards and individual displays in t'ke rear guard. Tho home side was fairly strong in the forwards and secured the ball practically every time of asking. The backs were undoubtedly superior to the opposing rearguard, but at times their indifferent passing and acceptance of transfers was very noticeable. The game was punctuated with a great number of infringements, principally in connection with the offside? and advantage rule, and in this connection tho rulings given by the referee, Mr W. V. Sheppard, of Otamatea. did not seem to be uniform. The following are the teams: — Northern Wairoa ( challengers). — Full-back, Blythe; three-quarters, Colo, Trogidga and Sills; five-eighths, Wilkinson (captain) and vSolomon; half, Munro; rover, Culley; forwards: front row, Heatley and Gillespie; second row, R. Somers, Dalbcth and Watson; back tow. Dodri and Adams. Whangarei (holders).. — Full-back, Kerr; three-quarters, Beehre, Hollows and McGregor; five-eigliths, Wyatt and Ridings; half, Jones (captain); rover, D. Wilson; forwards: front row, J. Clotworthy and N. Clotworthy; second row, Pitman, White and Bean; back row, Drever and Proctor. Wairoa set the ball in motion and N. Clotworthy led the home forwards to the attack. A scrum was ordered for an infringement, from which Jones obtained possession. This player sent it along his ■ line of backs, Hollows making a nice cut in, giving McGregor room to clash over in the corner. Jones failed to convert. — Whangarei 3, Northern Wairoa nil.'

This score, which 'happened in the first two minutes, had the effect .of livening up the visitors, and their forwards, supported by Cole, went to the attack. Play evened slightly and t'he 'home side was penalised. R. Somers took a shot from a few yards inside tho half-way line and placed a beautiful goal, thus making" the scores--Whangarei 3, Northern Wairoa 3.

Heatley and Somers were prominent in a forward rush by the visitors winch failed to break the" defence of Hollows and McGregor. Solomon and Wilkins started another attacking movement which failed to penetrate the home defence. After a lot of

strenuous piny amidfield Jones mulled a kick and Whangarei forced. 'A lovely passing rush down the line between Wilson, McGregor and Bean went within striking distance, Sills and Wilkins putting in "•ood defensive work. Wairoa were penalised and Beehre had a shot, his kick falling short. Whangarei pressed hotly, but the defence was stubborn and the attackers unable to break through when time for the first quarter was called. The second quarter opened with a splendid passing rush from a line out started by Jones, the ball going to Witson, Ridings, Wyatt, Hollows, McGregor, to Wilson again, ending by the last-named grounding the ball in the required area, but a score was dieallowed. Frem the ensuing scrum Whangarei secured, but Culley intercepted the transfer from Jones to Eidings and took play to half-way. Whangarei resumed the offensive and Wilson was penalised for obstruction, the kick giving Wairoa easement. Wilson again tested the defence and had Blythe bustled, but Heatley ran back and came to his assistance. The Wha-

ngarei players were now trying out the defence sorely, and had the local backs 'handled the ball with any degree of accuracy points must have come their way. At the conclusion of one of these attacks, instigate! by Procter, Ridings and Wilson, a free kick fell to the lot of Whangarei, but Kerr failed to goal, the ball going outside the post. Watson was prominent in shirting a frontal attack of the visitors which was in progress when half-time was called. On resuming it was noticed that Solomon ami Minin> had changed places behind the visitors' pack, but the change did not make for improvement. A series of short, sharp rushes by thy visiting forwards comprised the ope-i----ing of the second half, the ball eventually going out. at toucli-in-goal. The home side then assumed t'he- offensive, faulty handling by the backs being ;i£-ahi Koticeable. Despite this drawback the homo' side worked to the visitors' cud of the field, w'hero White marked a relieving kick, had a shot iiml added another three points to tho home side's total — Whangarei fi, Northern Wairoa 3Attack and counter-attack in tru forward divisions followed, Somen on one occasion being within an ace of scoring. Heatley, too, was noticeable for good work at this stage. Sills fielded a high one and set off down the line, but when he got to within striking distance Jones brought Tiim low with a good tackle. Watson from th« loose in mid-area sent the ball among his backs and McGregor in attempting to relieve the pressure threw the ball out. A penalty was awarded and Somers was unlucky with a fine kick, the ball hitting outside of the uprights For the remainder of the epell the home side had much the better of the game. Kerr at one stage ran up field and "dummied" about four opponents. He was attended by Beehre who, travelling at top, went within inches. Blythe in attempting to gain a clearance carried the ball back, a scrum being ordered, and from the ensuing play Watson secured a gooil mark and found the line.

The final quarter opened briskly. Beehre made a nice run down t'he line and Blythe was hard pressed, but ho managed to clear, although the kick was feeble. A little later Solomon had

a chance to get "his backs going, but his passing was impossible. Jones, Hollows, Wilson and Wyatt became associated in an attacking movemei-t which went to within striking distance, the latter dropping the ball and plaj' returned to half-way, from where Somers broke away with the ball at his toe. Unfortunately he over-ran it, when near the line and Wilson cleared. The home forwards combined from a subsequent line-out and operations were taken once more to the Wairoa ciu}, the Clotworthy Brothers, Procter and Drever showing up well. A protracted invasion by the home side ha;l the visitors doing their best at defence. Whangarei should have scored on two or three occasions had tin backs not dropped the ball or infringed the rules. At last, after four scrums, Jones got the ball away to his backs and this time correct 'handling by Piidings, Wyatt, Hollows, Wilson and Beehre and back inlield to Hollows ended in the last-named getting overami converting the try, making the score—Whangarei 11, Northern Wairoa I. Time was called shortly after this score. WHANG AR. Kγ V. MANOAKAHIA. On .Saturday afternoon the Whangarei Rugby Union's B representative fifteen, journeyed to Titoki to try conclusions in a return match with the Mangakahi.i Sulwinion representatives. Fully 200 enthusiastic spectators witnessed the match, which was strenuous

enough, but a poor exposition f Rugby football. The ground was dry and in fairly good order. The weather was fine, but overcast and threatening, while a slight diagonal wind did not icnd to better conditions. The teams took the field as follows: Mangakahia.—Full-back, Saunders; three-quarters, Braim, Hunt and Elsby; five-eighths, Reo and Ruddell; half, Shortland; rover, Breslin; forwards, G. Alexander, J. Rika, A. Alexander, H. Rika-, Downs, Pollock and Hunter. Whangarei. —Full-back, 11. McLean; three-quarters, Mclnnes, Carruth ami Collins; five-eighths, Conyngham and Fraser; half, Clotworthy; rover, Dunn; forwards, Bevin, Finlayson, Cunningham, Dixon, McQueen, Downs and J. McLean. On the day the bettor team won, Imt judged on the measure of territorial advantage a two or three points margin would have been a fair estimate of the respective merits of the team?. The Whangarei forwards played a hard game and held their own in the tight

and loose, but were badly beaten >.n the hooking department, and this provided plenty of opportunities for the home backs, while the activities of the visiting rearguard were curtailed to a certain extent. The tackling of M.ingakahia throughout was splendid in contrast with some of the visitingbacks, who displayed a marked tendency to go high, the strong running if Braun, Breslin, Ruddell and Rika throwing them off repeatedly. To the inner men Whangarei owes in a big measure its victory, for it was directly due to the splendid openings made by them that the way was paved for those responsible for the scores. R. McLean

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at full-back was a wall of defence and gave a good display both in handling the ball and tackling as compared with Saunders, who showed considerable uncertainty ;it times. The wing-

ers on both .sides worked hard and ev.a . through the ordeal satisfactorily. Collins (Whangarei) and Braun (Mangakahia; played with dash, but were well marked and met with strong tackling from their opponents. Hunt for the home team displayed his usual initiative and saved his side brilliantly on several occasions when matters looked very black. Midlines made few mistakes and played a sound game throughout. There was little to choose between the respective forwards, who individually worked hard. Faced with defeat the Mangakahia players went down with colours flying, for they contested every inch of the way and were on the attack when the final whistle blew.

On the opposing skippers, Breslin and Conyngham, tossing for ends the former elected to piny on the downward grade and kicked off for the Mangakahia team. Whangarei attacked and forced, play into the homo team's 25, where Elsby was penalised for off-side play and K. McLean had a penalty shot, which went wide. The centre of activities went back to mid-field and McLean sent the backs away, but only to be checked by Braun. At this stage Gr. Alexander was knocked out and retired from the game Poplar taking his place. On resumption of play Mclnnes fielded and narrowly missed scoring with a well-directed drop-kick. An exchange of high kicking gave Whangarei an advantage, the backs being set in action. Melnncs from a short kick over the line raced Braun for the ball and scored. Dunn's kick failed. — Whangarei 3, Mangukahia 0. Play then settled in neutral territory until Dunn attempted a goal from a penalty from quarter-way, the kick being smothered. Rika relieved for the home team and sent play to halfway, where Hunter was penalised for offside play. The kick led the visiting forwards to the attack. Cunning horn, gathering \ip well,, had little difficulty in scoring. Finlayson added the major points. —Whangarei % M,augnkahia 0. In the second quarter the visitors again pressed play to the home team's 2"), where Hunt was called upon to make n beautiful save, his kck finding the line beyond half-way. From the line-out Pollock secured and sent out to Breslin, to Hunt, who beat the opposing backs and ran in to score behind the uprights. Breslin's kick failed. —Whangarei 8, Mangakahia 3. This try woke up the home team and they pressed hard to even matters, the visitors being compelled to force. From a scrum in mid-field Euddeli caught Clot'worthy napping, beat him for the leather and scored unopposed. Keo's kick ' failed and the half-time score read—Whangarei 8, Mangakahia 6. After half-time Whangarei again pressed, with McLean at the head of r > dribbling rush which ended in A. Alexander, from a good speculator, finding the line. From the line-out play w r as forced to the visitors' 25 McLean l-)eng called upon to relieve. Through inability to handle the ball smartly SaundcTS w*e beaten by T"

i layson, who made a splendid opening fur Conynghnni to score, but in receiving the pass the leather touched tho referee. From tho" scrum Clotworthy set' his backs in action, a try again looking imminent,- but Collins mulled a comparatively easy pass from Carruth. Attacking again Braun sent play to the visitors' 25, ' Clotworthy saving with a mark. From the kick the Whangaroi forwards forced play well into the home team's danger zone and from a mix-up near the side line ' McLean secured the leather ami sent I on to Collins, who dived over near ■ { the corner flag. MeTnnes' kick failed. . i—Wihangarei 11, Mangakahia fi. ! From the kick-off play entered the . •'home team's quarter, the whistle 'sounding for the las.t quarter. At tin"' I stage Sounders injured his ankle and ; went (iff. C. Frasev substituting him. ! Indiscriminate kicking marked th» opening stages of the Inst quarter, pl.ny slsifi'ng up ami down field. The homo team hold the advantage for the firsi j five minutes." Conynghani relieving the ! pres-ni ,, '. , sent ]day to the Mangakahia j end, resulting in Collins again scoring !at the ''oruer flag. Carruth's I failed. —W'haiigarei 14, Mungakahia <>. j From then on play was to the home ■ team'.-; advantage. From a free Braun ! relieved and passed to Hunt, to Shorthand, t<) Pollock and tlx-n to Euddell, wlu> looked Ike scoring, but was extremely unlucky in being pushed out jat the c-n-ne-r flag, the final whistle ! then sounding. 1 Mv A. Chissell referred. < After the match the visiting players were entertained by the Mangakahia Sub-union to a sumptuous dinner at tho l'oroti Hotel.

I

piny was full of merit.