LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 20 May 1929, Page 8

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

ATHLETIC v. HIKURANGI. A CLOSE GAME. Hora Flora Park was the venue on Saturday for Rugby football played under the League code. From the public’s point of view it seems a pity to condemn a game so full of possibilities, life and fire, to a ground as unsuitable for fast, spectacular play as Flora Flora. Fu the centre of the field is the remains of a cricke't pitch, slippery and dangerously hard for a player to fall on. Across from this is a hole, denoting whence a hydrant was recently removed. This was almost knee-deep in water, but has been tilled with a dray load or two of earth, with consequences that, can easily be imagined. Running straight from here to the touch-line is a trench, excavated to remove the water-main supplying the hydrant. This has been filled, after the manner of newly-dug trenches, to a height several inches above the 'surrounding field, with sticky, yellow clay, saturated with water. The players had to either hurdle this obstacle or .become hogged down. Occasionally a player was tackled so that he fell in the moss, and once or twice a scrum was formed there from which the forwards emerged with masses of clay, pounds in weight, clinging to their boots.

In spite of these drawbacks, to which could be added the disadvantage of a driving rain, a remarkable exhibition of high-class Rugby was put- up by the two teams—Hikurangi and Athletic. That the local team has improved! out of all knowledge may be adduced from the scores.

Hikurangi, with their best team, were only able'to win 7 —(5 and they had all the luck of the game at that. Hikurangi scored one try and the excellent kicking of Eod Hamilton added four more points, two from the conversion of the try and two more from a penalty. Athletic crossed their opponents ’ line twice, but were unable to add the major points by goaling, although one of the tries was scored between the posts. The failure of this kick lost Athletic the game. The green and gold wearers had all the advantage in the forward department, and time after time brought the ball at toe to, dangerous proximity to their opponents ’ goal-line. Their efforts on several occasions were frustrated by one or two of their side not playing the ball properly after being grounded, and having penalties awarded against them in consequence. Hardwon advantages by the pack were thus thrown away on at least half a dozen occasions when a score seemed impossible to prevent. This team is -deficient in the back division, but When this is remedied, they will be capable of putting up a game which will carry them to manv a victory.

Hikurangi, as usual, were strong in the backs, but not the equal of their opponents in the forward division, although tlie inclusion of << Smck ,, Dunn in this department made for considerable added strength.

lii the serums, which were well packed and property put down, Athletic showed superior, getting the ball, out cleanly three out of four times. There was'‘little back handling, owing to the state, of the ball, the greasiness of which could be judged by the fact that there was not a single mark taken throughout the play. To offset this, however, an exhibition of forward play, particularly footwork, was given which must have gladdened the rep. selector, Mr F. Little, who was an interested spectator. The teams were as follow: —

Hikurangi (red and black). —Wright, full-back; E. Cunningham, E. Hamilton, Grogan and >C. Hamilton, threequarters; Eaisbeck, fly-half; E. Cunningham, scrum-half; Hazel, O’iCallaghan and Wetherall, front row; Martin and Panther, side row T ; Dunn, back row.

Athletic (green and gold).—Hume, full-back; Morey, Baker and M. McDonald, three-quarters; F. McDonald and .Tohnson, five-eighths; iChild, half; Moody, M. Hynes, and Connelly, front row; Pennell and Gordon, side row; B. Hynes, buck row. From the kick-off play was kept for a considerable time in neutral territory, both teams working hard for an advantage. During a green attack, a Hikurngi player was penalised in his own 2a for offside and Baker took a shot-at goal. The direction was good, but the oval passed under the bar. Play continued more or less even, with a little advantage to Athletic, when Eod Hamilton broke away from near half-way. When confronted by three opponents he short-punted over their heads, and following up fast was able to send the ball along at toe over the line, where his superior pace allowed him to beat his opponents in the race for a touch-down. The whole episode was a remarkably flue solo effort. Taking the kick himself, he added two more points by sending the leather over the centre of the bar, although the angle was not easy.— Hikurangi 5, Athletic 0.

From the half-way kick the green and gold forwards brought the ball down toward their objective in a series of dribbling rushes, which culminated in a number of scrums dost 1 to the score line. From the last of these B. Hynes made a “'bulldog” dive for the line and succeeded in grounding the leather near the corner flag. From a difficult angle, Baker took the kick but without success.—Hikurangi 5, Athletic 3.

After half-time the same tactics were pursued by each side, and Hikuvan<ii brought the ball into Athletic’s territory. During a fierce defence, young Hynes was caught badly offside,

right in front of his goal, 'and Rod Hamilton took the penalty kick, having no difficulty in sending the oval over the bar for two more points.— Hikurangi 7, Athletic 3. By determined efforts Athletic again came through and “Monty’’ McDonald, getting possession, slipped* cleverly through this opponents to snore between the posts. Morey took the kick and his poor effort from this (vc- sy position cost Athletic the garni?, —Hikurangi 7, Athletic (i. Although strenuous efforlls were made until the final whistle, the scores remained unaltered, Hikurangi thus winning by one point. Mr J. Potterson gave a hiv-ei exposition with the whistle, Ms control throughout being excellent.