Hikurangi-’ Karamea Win in Exciting Rugby

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1939, Page 2

Hikurangi-’ Karamea Win in Exciting Rugby

ALTHOUGH BEATEN 12—6 BY HIKURANGI, LAST YEAR’S LEADERS, KAMO SENIOR RUGBY PLAYERS PUT UP A GREAT FIGHT AND IT WAS ONLY THE SUPERIORITY OF HIKURANGI’S BACKS THAT ENABLED THEM TO SNATCH VICTORY ON THEIR HOME GROUND. KAMO’S FORWARDS PLAYED MAGNIFICENTLY AND, UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER AND GROUND CONDITIONS, THEY MIGHT HAVE WON THE MATCH. R. WHITE PLAYED AN INSPIRED GAME FOR HIKURANGI, REPEATEDLY BREAKING THROUGH IN ATTACKS ON KAMO’S LINE.

At Kensington Park a thrilling game was witnessed between Matmgakaramea and Old Boys, the latter being defeated. 14—11. Playing conditions for nil games favoured the backs. the grounds being hard and the weather perfect.

Brilliance Of E. White Beats Kamo

Brilliant opportunism by R. White paved the way for the victory ox Hikurangi oyer Kamo by 12 points to six.'

In a great game, played at a pace which never perceptibly slackened and which kept the spectators in a frenzy of excitement over the coneluding stages, White occupied the - stellar-place, and it was individual effort on his part which succeeded •■y' when combined efforts failed. Midfield play occupied some time at - the start and-Gibson, Hikurangi five- ; eighths, received a knock on a shoulder, being replaced by Meyers. Kamo had all the better of play for ’ * a period and then White initiated a brilliant passing movement, transferring to Cunningham, back tc White, who collided with Hewitt, but in falling effected the transfer to the winger 'who sent infield to Cunningham, . whose kick to the goal-line bounced nicely for the Kamo custodian, Skelton, who found the line. Hikurangi was now pressing solidly and White initiated three fruitless ““■ Movements, kicking over the line in the last only to be beaten in the race '■ for the bail, Kamo forcing.

' Hikurangi backs were functioning well, but the defence was excellent. ’ Suddenly, following a midfield scramble near a touch-line, Brown ‘secured possession and sent to C. White, bulky Kamo forward, who forced his way over by sheer weight and .strength’ against four defenders. Skelton failed. —Kamo 3. Hikurangi 0. Skelton made a good effort with a penalty from the sideline. Rewa, Kamo second five-eighths, beat a pass from Wharerau, and White picked up and was away in a long sprint. A try looked certain as he out-paced Skelton, but he slipped. Kamo, however, was penalised in the resultant play and White raised the flags.—Kamo 3, . Hikurangi 3. Exciting- Final Stages, White again broke away and when tackled sent a forward pass, which was scon by the referee,. to Cunningham, who failed to hear the whistle and won a 60-yard sprint against two defenders. Shoi’tly afterwards another penalty was turned to account by White, and half-time found the score. — Hikurangi 6, Kamo 3. Kamo opened up well after the : interval, but Codling received from a scrum and sent to Meyers, to White, who sold a dummy and cut through to beat the opposition in a race for the corner. He failed with the kick Hikurangi 9, Kamo 3. Fierce midfield play had spectators excited and then Brown was instruI mental in taking play to near the ; Hikurangi line. Skelton missed with a- penalty and then, a minute later, Brown charged down a clearing kick by. Pomfrett and followed on to score. ; Skelton failed.—Hikurangi 9, Kamo G. Another penalty by Skelton shaved the posts and Hikurangi attacked, White again breaking away, but was brought down, lacking support, by two converging Kamo players. Kamo’s backs went away in the first really good passing movement they had produced, Brown being forced out when he looked like scoring. Brown retired with a hand injury; and then - : 'Cunningham went away in a great twisting run across the field before sending to Hewitt, who went ever in the corner. White failed with the kick and the game ended: Hikurangi 12 Kamo 6 Mr R. Morrison was referee.