INTERESTING MATCHES IN MANGONUI

Northern Advocate, 21 June 1937, Page 2

INTERESTING MATCHES IN MANGONUI

[Special to “Northern Advocate'']

KAITAIA, This Day. The second round of the Mangonui Rugby Union’s championship was finalised on Saturday in perfect conditions. - At Awanui the home team were too solid in the forwards fpr Kaitaia, but the latter were slightly superior in the backs, the result being a remarkably even game. Each side scored three tries, goalkicking swaying the result in favour of Awanui. Houhora once again showed that they have made marked improvement lately by playing an interesting drawn game with Ahipara, who had so decisively defeated them in the first round. A notable feature of the second round was that the Kaitaia juniors, who were on the bottom of the ladder at the end of the first round, went through undefeated. Rsults were:— Senior. —Awanui 13, Kaitaia 9; Ahipara 9, Houhora 9. Junior.—Ahipara 18, Waiharara 0, Kaitaia 6, Awanui 3. Second-grade.—Kaitaia 3, Awanui 0. AWANUI V. KAITAIA. Anticipating another fine 1 struggle between these two old rivals, a record crowd was in attendance. At the conclusion everyone seemed satisfied that they had their money’s worth, with interest.

Awanui’s big powerful forwards played more as a pack than those of Kaitaia and were led in a most impressive manner by W. Cooper. In the line-outs and rucks he secured with monotonous regularity besides opening up play with strong runs. Ably supporting him were K. Ricketts, R. Richards, T. Smith and Tai Yates. In the Kaitaia pack, Moses Yates was once again to the fore. Harrison and Moss were the only others that impressed. The inability of the five-eighths of each team to open up play caused this department to be of a fairly mediocre standard. Bowan, for Awanui, continually kicked far too much, and Jamieson, for Kaitaia, failed to handle in. his usual manner. ,

“Nip” Lambley, Awanurs half, was probably the best back on the ground, and Newton, Kaitaia’s winger, had a good afternoon by scoring two tries. The first try was obtained for Kaitaia. “Nip” Lambley stemmed a hot rush by marking, but the referee failed to blow his whistle. In clearing ,tho ball rebounded for Robson to score. Soon afterwards Awanui retaliated in great style for T. Yates to pick up in the loose and force his way over. Brother H. Yates converted. At the interval Awanui led, 5 to 3. Kaitaia once again were the first to score on resuming, all the backs handling for Newton to touch down.

Then Awanui scored from a scrum close to the line, Lambley working the blind side for Gardner to dash over. Soon afterwards Awanui further increased their lead by a very lucky try. Bowman punted high, the ball falling between three Kaitaia players some yards behind the line, and bouncing back under the posts for Jarvis to score the luckiest try ever. H. Yates converted. -

' The next score was a nice solo effort by Newton, who evaded several players to run strongly for thirty yards along the touch line. Though Kaitaia attacked hotly and were right on Awanui’s line when the final whistle blew, their efforts were unavailing. Mr Ned Wilkinson was referee.

At Houhora, Ahipara and the home team staged an interesting game throughout. For Ahipara tries were scored by D. Urlich (two) aWi T. Lari. Houhora’s scores came from a fine solo try by M. Housham, while W. Urwin also scored. F. Evans kicked a penalty goal right on time to make the draw, Houhora 9, Ahipara 9. Mr Val Beasley was referee.