Rugby In Rainstorm; Mangonui Hold Harding Shield

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1938, Page 2

Rugby In Rainstorm; Mangonui Hold Harding Shield

Vl/EATHEK CONDITIONS FOR SA TURD AY RUGBY FOOTBALL PROV ' GRAMME IN THE WHANGAREI RUGBY UNION’S AREA WERE THE WORST EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR.

Several games were scheduled to be played at Kensington Park, hut the surface water on the main ground was sc bad that good football was impossible. Three visiting teams. Suburbs t Auckland) juniors. Marist fourths, and Otamatea juniors, made the journey to Kensington. A number of local teams were unable to play owing to 11 oods holding up transport. Old Boys carried the day at Kens ington ovei' City, winning 3 —o in a game that was mainly mud and water. xTt Kamo. Hikurangi fielded a scratch team made up of Hikurangi, Pipiwai and other players, the combination being defeated by Kamo, 11—-0, Meat interest on Saturday attache d t nil 10 Harding Shield challenge by Bay of Islands against the holders. Ma ngonui. Mangonui was successful nr retaining the shield by 6 points to 3. At Kensington Park, Whan garni withstood its first challenge for the Br akc Shield, defeating Otamatea 17 6.

Yates make a clear run in, but play was brought back for a knock-on.

Bay Rally—Webster Over. The Bay, who arrived late, now began to settle down, and forged past half-way for the first time. Soon afterwards, the visitors’ hefty winger. Webster, secured from a close throwin to barge his way over at the corner—a very hard man to stop, this fellow. Half-time came with the score three-all, the honours being with the visitors in the last ten minutes. On resuming, the forwards carried play up and down at a fast pace, but invariably the large pools of water at each end pulled the ball up. However, the spectators who filled the stand (there was not a soul out of it!) were always kept interested, on account of the evenness of the score.

Winning Try to Allen. In one of these forward rushes, Richards was prominent, for K. Allen to dive over and score the only try of the second half. The challengers strove desperately, two penalties in easy positions being given, but up and under tactics wei’e staked for a clear-cut win. Jamespn, Urlich and Spanake, however, were resolute defenders. At the final whistle the score was; Mangonui 6, Bay of Islands 3. Mr Sutherland, of Whangarei, was referee.