KAITAIA COME TO LIGHT IN MANGONUI SERIES

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1937, Page 9

KAITAIA COME TO LIGHT IN MANGONUI SERIES

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] KAITAIA, This Da?. v The first round of the Mangonui Rugby Union’s senior championship was completed on Saturday in perfect weather conditions. The attendance at Kaitaia was easily the largest of the season, the spectators witnessing a splendid game between Awanui and the home team. The* outstanding feature of this match was the brilliant play, of Tom Flyh, who was making his return to club football here after being away for a season. In the other senior match, Ahipara had a day out and" soundly defeated Houhora on their home ground', Ahipara and Kaitaia are now equal in the lead and the clash between these two teams, next Saturday should be Worth going a long way to see.

Results were:— , ..../ Senior./ /Kaitaia 12, Awanui 3. Ahipara • 14, Houhora 3Junior. Awanui 8, Kaitaia 6. Ahipara 8, Waiharara 3. 'v Third Grade. Herekino 18, Waiharara 0. Kaitaia 12, Awanui 8. KAITAIA DEFEATS AWANUI. Kaitaia, at last, lifted the hoodoo that seems to have rested on them for some seasons past and' gave Awanui a dose of their own medicine. Playing with much more sting, keenness and deadly tackling throughout, the young Kaitaia side, early showed their heavier opponents that they were a force to be reckoned with. . ‘ From a scrum near ; Awanui’s twenty-five the ball travelled right along the line of backs . (something that seemed a thing of the past) for winger Newton to dive over to draw first blood. Soon afterwards, Jack Masters short punted for Flyn to score with several opponents on top of him. Awanui retaliated, M. Richards and Jarvis being prominent. From a penalty Heke Yates kicked a very neat goal, and at the interval the score was: Kaitaia 6, Awanui 3. ' It was a hard, fast and exciting second spell, Awanui striving desperately to make up the leeway. Then the highlight of the match occurred. Flyn secured near half-way, and, dodging his. way past several opponents, set sail for the line with the full-back coming across. He cut in to score, but, to the amazement of everyone, he ran into the arms of Gardener, who a moment or so previously had been taken off the field with a bad knock, but, seeing the runaway, dashed on again. Winger Robson was handy, however, and on being tackled passed back to Flyn, for him to score by the posts. Awanui had a chance or two, to increase their score with penalties, but the goal-kicking was poor on both sides. Cooper and Richards made splendid solo runs, but were unsupported. Just before time, Flyn secured near the twenty-five, and, with that weaving run of his ended up behind the posts for a perfect try. His kick hit the posts and the game ended: Kaitaia 12, Awanui 3. *9 Mr Val Beasley was referee.

THE OTHER TUSSLE. In the Ahipara-Houhora game, tries were scored for the former by B. Roberts, A. Davis and D. Walters, one of which was converted by Mac Bergan, who also kicked a penalty goal. For Houhora, N. Housham kicked a penalty goal. Outstanding players for Ahipara were;—Forwards, Tom Tari, B. Roberts and S. Urlich; backs, G. Snowden, Tapri Murray and M. Bergan. For Houhora, Fred, Evans played another fine game as full-back. W. Urwin was the best of the other backs. Johnson, Hodge and Housham were the shining lights of the forwards. Mr Fred Job was referee.