BAY OF ISLANDS SERIES

Northern Advocate, 1 June 1936, Page 2

BAY OF ISLANDS SERIES

[Special to “Northern Advocate .”il KATAIA, This Day. Playing conditions were quite good for all matches played in the Bay of Islands on Saturday. Teams are now settling down to their last year’s standard and some good football is being played. Results were: — Senior. Otiria 32, Kerikeri 11. Okaihau 16. Oromahoe 0. Ohaeawai 9. Tung Oil 0. Moerewa 5, Kaikohe 3. Junior. Green and Gold 8, Te Reinga 6. Kaikohe 14, Ohaeawai 6. MOEREWA V. KAIKOHE. Spectators said that this was the best match to date this year in any of the union’s fixtures. Moerewa were handling extremely well, despite the fact that several junior players were being fielded. Both sides were packing very evenly, but there is a tendency in all the Bay Rugby for forwards to break too quickly, in order to be after the ball, instead of leaving it to the backs to handle. Skelton, as Kaikohe’s full-back, again drew approval for the way in which he extricated his side from several touchy situations. It will be very surprising if he does not catch the selector’s eye for a place in the representatives. Ridgely, in the Kaikohe three-quarter line, is a valuable asset and on Saturday was responsible for several worthy solo efforts. Harry Ballantine, although he is never spectacular, played with his usual determination and soundness. Skelton kicked a nice penalty to make up Kaikohe’s points. From a nice back passing rush, which seemed to catch Kaikohe unawares, Munn whipped up the ball and dashed across Kaikohe’s line. This try was converted, making Moerewa’s points complete. This year in Bay Rugby, there seems to be a genuine atteippt to open out the game and play the ball instead of the man. This is desirable from the spectators’ point of view.

Lee Taylor was back to the fold on Saturday, and, considering that he has not kicked many balls this year, his play was creditable. Eru Waro is up to his usual standard and never fails to get the crowd on tenterhooks. OTIRIA V. KERIKERI. The match played at Kerikeri against Otiria resulted in a decisive win for the visitors by 32 —11. The figures in no way indicated that the game was a 'walk-over, as it was by far the cleverest one played on the Kerikeri ground for many seasons. Although Kerikeri showed marked improvement in every way, the superior speed, combination and weight of the visiting team were too much for their opponents and resulted in most of the play in the second period taking place in the Kerikeri half of the ground. Otiria scored and converted in the first few minutes, but I£erikeri equalised with a converted try almost immediately afterwards, after which the play was evenly distributed with a score of 14 —8 in favour of Otiria at half-time, P, Cherrington tl and T. Keogh scoring for the visitors, and Tawhai for the home team.

Immediately after the, interval, P. Strongman scored a try for Kerikeri after a fine run from the half-way line, but after that the superior combination" , of the visitors kept the ball in the V Kerikeri territory, and T. Lee, J. Prime. J. Keogh and M. Wharerau each scored a try, three of which were converted, resulting in the score given above.