RUGBY LEAGUE

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1929, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE

TWO NEW CLUBS. INKER AN Ml WINS 12—0. ! Kensington Park, yesterday, was the venue for an interesting game of League played between two newlyformed chibs. At the request of a number of players in Whangarei, who were desirous of playing under the League code, a team was formed l in Hikurangi to meet the .Whangarei lads on Thursdays. The mining town Hi bled ;i strong team and defeated the local 'players by 12 points to six, after a fine game. The play was of an extaordinary high calibre considering the absolute rawness of the Whangarei team, only three of whom had ever played League before, and several had never even seen the code. They were materially assisted by . several Rugby players who had earned,a certain. amount of prominence under the older game, and undoubtedly this factor stood to the side. Hikurangi had the advantage of having several good League players to advise and . assist the new members, and this helped considerably towards the victory of the visitors. The game was eagerly contested, and surprisingly keen, -considering the untrained state of most of- the • players. The. Hikurangi team lias adopted “Central” as ifs cognomen and’ Whangarei played under the aegis of the Athletic team. It is nnd'erstood, however, that this team will form a chib of its own and send representation to the Northland League. . For the local team, the full-back, Clark, played a great gante and was very safe. Rhanlcy, at fly, half, was! perhaps the star of the side, ■ This lad was always on the ball, eager, unselfish, and used his head. Scott will make a fine League player when ho learns the rules of the code. He is a game Tackier, fast, lias good hands, and will be a scoring factor later. Ray Dempster played in the forwards, and although used to the wing, whore his speed can be turned' to • ■ .recount, made a good impression. -. He was badly out. of training, but, despite this, was a tough battler. Baker and Love, centres, were both good lads, ' particularly the former.- This boy will shine at the game, if ho carries on consistently. Clark, on the other wing, seemed l to have an objection to dirtying his uniform. He finished the game with clean knees. I Bauman is n hard battling forward who scored-a good try. The League game suits his style very well. “Tiny” Hamilton, at half, was not up to his usual good form, but for all that was a great help to his side. The scrum was not well put down, the boys not being used to the three-two-one formation. The pack, however, made up for thenlack of knowledge by hard' work. The Hikurangi full-back, Neill, mulled the ball a good deal and gave away a number of chances. Hamilton, Atkinson, Raisheck, Meyer, Panther and O’Callaghan all understood the game and played good football at hough Rod Hamilton loafed at times. The other members of the team played sufficiently well for an onlooker to, prophesy that a good Thursday team is»in the making. Tlie teams were as follow: Hikurangi.—Neill, full-back; McTlroy, Hamilton, Atkinson, Murphy, three-quarters; Raisbeck, fly-half; B. Meyer, serum half; Steers, Barry, Marshall, front row; Panther, Jones, side row; o’Callaghan, back row, Whangarei.—Clark, full-back; H. Smith, H. Baker, Love and R, Scott, three-quarters; Shan ley, fly half; Hamilton, serum half; Bowyer, Bau-

man and Main, front row.; A. Clark' aml Irving, side row; R. Dempster, hack row. THE EI.AY. From the , ■ommciu-emcnt, r<•; scores, were registered 'for perhaps ten; minutes, although Whangarei brought, the leather right down into Hiku-! rangi’s territory, only to be kicked! into toueh-ln-goal. H. Baker, for Wha.ngaiei, made a fine solo effort from! past half way, racing well ahead of his opponents for a score. He took the kick at goal himself but was unsuccessful. Whangarei 9, Hikurangi 0. Whangarei again came .through with a rush, hut after touching down it was discovered that the ball was just over the dead hall line. Hikurangi now took a turn at attack and brought the hall to within two feet of the line where a serum was held. Whangarei heeled hack, and from the scram five yards out, Raisbeck struggled through to within a yard and transferred to Panther as he was collared. The latter just managed to fall over the line. Rod Hamilton failed with the kick. Whangarei 9, Hikurangi 9. Whangarei again came through and Dempster put in a good piece of work bringing the ball to the line and as he came down, touching it oVer the line between. the posts with his foot. Smith and Raisbeck dived together for a touch-down and the Hikurangi player won by a fraction of a second. From iho line kick the ball wont In Bauman, whose weight enabled him to cress the line before being grassed. The '.enter took the kick at goal, but failed to add the major points. Whangarei., fi, Hikurangi 9. After half time, from a .serum in Whangarei’s 2d, Meyer who was offside, passed out to Hamilton for a fast run over. The kick at goal, taken by the scorer, was again unsuccessful. Whangarei 6, Hikurangi (>, Ponte time later, o’Callaghan, who was playing his usual good forward game, scored 'for Hikurangi. Meyer failed,, with the kick. Hikurangi 9, Wha.ngarei, fi, Tito last score was made by Atkinson from an opening made by Mcllroy. Atklnsd.il failed to a Id the goal points. Air ~T. Hamilton was referee. During the match, the hat was passed round in aid of the St. John Ambulance. Brigade and' in ready response was made by the spectators.