RUGBY FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1934, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FUMBLING AT DARGAVILLE

WHANGAREI REPS. BEATEN

CAREFREE SPIRIT SHOWN

The Whangarei rep. team, which played Northeim Wairoa at Dargaville last Saturday, was defeated by 17 (tries by Panapa, Franich, Ross, Bell, Bowling, one of which was converted by McFarlane) to nine (two tries by Rarity and one by Shepherd). It was not a brilliant game, being contested in a friendly spirit, with an obvious carefree, end-of-the-season attitude on the part of all players. A feature of the game was the mishandling and fumbling by both teams, accounted for partly by a misshapen ball and partly by a strong wind, ‘■'right off the ice.” There were two alterations in the Whangarei team as chosen, Bradley taking the place of Mclnnes, and Rarity replacing Ford on the wing. Cooney retired during the first spell and was replaced by Saul. The Whangarei forwards, for whom Godfrey was always prominent, were about the best of two lethargic packs, but the Northern Wairoa backs were infinitely superior. Only faulty handling kept the score > down to reasonable dimensions.

Most of the Whangarei backs were poor, Kerr and Weir selecting the occasion for the worst displays of their careers. Cooney (before his retirement) and B. Morresey were the only backs to show any knowledge of the art of tackling.

Despite the haphazard handling, all tries were the result of good play. Shepherd’s score was the outcome of a nice passing rush, while Rarity’s second try and Franich’s try were made possible by fine runs by Morresey and McFarlane respectively. The previous Saturday, McFarlane, given ten attempts, had goaled from eight of them, but on this occasion only put one of six kicks over, while one of Kerr’s attempts seemed to be meant for the posts on the adjacent field.

Mr F. Hosking (Dargaville) was referee.

SCHOOLBOY REPS MIDLAND SCHOOLS WIN. GAME WITH H.S. JUNIORS. Fresh from their 23 —nil victory over Normal School scored at Auckland during the holidays, the Northland Midland Primary Schools representatives held the stage at Rugby Park on Saturday. They were pitted against a team from the Intermediate Department of the Whangarei High School. That they were' not strangers to good football, the boys from the country soon proved, their quickness off the mark and handling being particularly good for schoolboys. Outstanding were their nliggety Maori wing, Diamond, a strong runner, and the centre, Fleming. . Usually a booted team, the High School players found the dry ground very hard on their bare feet, and were unable to produce their form in the tight. They were also matched against a heavier team. Playing with the wind in the first spell, Midland attacked almost continually. From a passing movement, Diamond got across, and Shilton, forcing through a line-out earned a second try. The second spell was all in favour of High School, whose repeated thrusts were marked by courage and good backing. Shortly before the end, Goodall scored for Parkes to convert, making the final— Midland District 6 High School Mr D. Ross refereed. ■ The teams were: Whangarei High School Intermediate: H. Cowan, Fraser, Schon, North, F. Parkes, Coote, Nisbet, Goodall, Blake, Rowe, Vyle, Green, Penney, Balfour, Morpeth. Northland Midland District; Shilton, Reid, Fleming, Diamond, Pollock, Nash, Ratahi, Doughty, Erceg, McMillan, Beattie, Hudson, Boys, Heke, Thornton.

SEACOASTERS BEST

MANGAKAHIA JUNIORS BEATEN. Manaia’s consistency in always fielding a team, gave them a game against the Mangakahia junior reps at Rugby Park on Saturday. They were supposed to meet Parimata in the final of the junior knockout competition, but their opponents were not there to fulfil the fixture.

Northern juniors, who were to try conclusions with Mangakahia, were poorly represented, so that Manaia stepped into the breach. The fifteens were:

Manaia: K. Harnett, K. Hutchinson, Hefferman, Grant, McLeod, McGregor, Thomas, Jack, Charlie and Sid Hutchinson, Jack, Horace and Alec Robinson, Colin and Ray McKenzie. Mangakahia Juniors: Marsh, Armstrong, Waller, McMillan, Dysart, Murich, Herewini, Shortland, Wilson, McLeod, Tikena, Rika, Pera, Poa and Alexander.

In the first half the seacoast club quite held the representatives; in fact, play was slightly in their favour. There was too much over-run-ning of the ball and one-handed attempts to field for the game to be jspectacular. Combination was notably lacking, but the packs provided virile football.

The Manaia forwards were slightly superior, especially in line-outs. K.

Hutchinson, a well-built winger, made a couple of telling runs. In the Mangakahia team, Tikina and P. Rika were often prominent fpv superior work

Using a very light ball in the second half, both sides were too prone to put the boot to it. Manaia continued to hold the upper hand, and after some close play on Mangakahia’s line, Colin Hutchinson took the ball out of Marsh’s hands and got there for the try. The kick failed. The Pipiwai winger, Armstrong, made one fine run which covered half the length of the field. Herewini also served his team well. Just on time, Jack Hutchinson made a determined bid for another try and was hurt temporarily. The game ended with the score: Manaia 3 Mangakahia 0 Mr H. Beehre refereed.

TEMPERS FRAYED HONE HERE CUP MATCH. MANGAKAHIA DEFEATED. OHAEAWAI BATTLEGROUND. In a rough game at Ohaeawai, Mangakahia suffered defeat at the hands of the local team, holders of the Hone Heke Cup. Tempers became rather frayed, especially in the second half, when a player on each side was given marching orders by the referee, Mr McFarlane.

The challengers were debarred from playing Te Paa and Wells, who are not residents of the Mangakahia district.

Mangakahia more than held their own in the forwards, the heavier pack pushing, their opponents about at ease.

With several Bay of Islands representatives assisting Ohaeawai, there was a different tale to tell in the backs, however. J. Repia, Edmonds and F. Rameka were veritable racehorses.

The final score was: Ohaeawai 14, Mangakahia 3. Tries for the winners were scored by Rameka (2), Beasley and Repia, Rameka converting one.

J. Alison, Mangakahia’s try-getter, became the first man to cross Ohaeawai’s line since the cup came to that district.

Already seven games for the Hone Heke Cup have been played this season, but Mangakahia are very keen for a return fixture.

OHAEAWAI LAURELS SENIOR, JUNIOR, AND MAORIS. During the Rugby season, the Ohaeawai footballers have created something in the way of a record for a country club. The juniors won the 7-a-side championship cup for 1934, and have successfully withstood two challenges for the Pearson Cup, which is really a knockout competition.

The seniors have won the senior championship shield, and are the present holders of the Bay Union Challenge Cup. In addition, the Maori members of the club hold the much-coveted Hone Heke Cup trophy. By defeating a very strong combination from Mangakahia on Wednesday last, the holders have successfully staved off seven challenges, and it looks as though the trophy will remain in Ohaeawai until next season.

All matches under the Bay of Islands Union finish on September 29.

RANGAKAHA CUP On Saturday, September 8, the Ahipara junior team met and defeated by nine points to nil the Tokerau team in a match for the Rangakaha Cup, held by the former. The game was fast and open, and well up.to the standard of junior football. The Ahipara pack excelled in the tight, and in loose dribbling rushes. PUKEPOTO GAMES The Mangamuka juniors played a friendly match with Pukepoto juniors on Friday afternoon, and a clean, fast game saw a draw, 12 points all, on the score-board at the conclusion. The basketball match between the two settlements saw Pukepoto triumph over the visitors to the tune of 8 goals to 6. Mr F. Job refereed both games. In the evening the visitors were entertained at a dance in the Rarawa Hall, and left on Saturday morning on their return journey.