Old Boys, Hikurangi Put On Fast Rugby

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1941, Page 7

Old Boys, Hikurangi Put On Fast Rugby

RUGBY

Throwing the ball about in a most spectacular fashion, Old Boys and Hikurangi staged a high-scoring match at the Park on Saturday. With the Army team not being able to play for the commencement of the season, Old Boys and Hikurangi have met for three consecutive Saturdays. Hikurangi won the first two games, but in the best match of the series, Old Boys pulled off a 25—19 victory. The Magpies

Hikurangi, who played two men short, could be called the “magpies,” The jerseys were many and varied, as were the players so far as their clubs were concerned. Hikurangi jerseys were in the minority, while a number of the players are usually seen on the football field wearing the all white of Old Boys. As Hikurangi could field only half a team, Old Boys, who for the moment have a surplus of players, obliged with a few, and so, with some others picked up on the field, Hikurangi turned out.

Asserted Backs Go Well Despite the assortment of players, Hikurangi put on a good exhibition, the backs combining remarkably well considering the assortment. The match was played at a fast bat, rather too fast for the referee, and both sides fed their backs. Movements in the Old Boys’ backs were seen to break down before the wings got possession, and the two speed merchants on the outside were not given many opportunities. However, with Hikurangi, the backs put up a better showing, and in this partly made up for the short-handed forwards.

Packed With Thrills

The game was packed with thrills for the spectators, first as one side drew ahead in’ the scoring and then the other, while movements from one end of the field to the other occurred almost every few minutes. In the first spell Old Boys had the strong sun in their eyes and this made it difficult for the backs. The first score came when Procter (Hikurangi) secured near his opponents’ line and went over.

Old Boys opened their account when Jock Ferguson scored after a fine back movement. Then came Innes Ferguson’s turn and his try was converted by Pollock. Flavell was the next over for Old Boys and Pollock was again successful with the kick.

Just before half-time K. Rika crossed for Hikurangi and W. Alison added the major points. The half-time score was: Ola Boys 13, Hikurangi 8. The Second Spell

Having the advantage of the sun at their backs, it was expected that Old Boys would rather run away in the second spell, but this was not so.

The first score in the second half came when J. James went over for Old Boys and Pollock again converted. Then: F. Collins and K. Rika staged a race down the line, throwing the ball to each other (Collins was playing for Hikurangi), and Rika scored a fine try for Alison to kick a poster, the ball rebounding into the field. From a back movement W. Alison (another Old Boy who, for the day, had donned the red and black of Hikurangi) scored and from a difficult angle B. White guided the ball over. Pollock’s Day Out

Pollock, last year's school boy, was playing a great game for Old Boys, and he certainly had his kicking boots on. He had already converted three tries and now he kicked a penalty goal and finished up with a field goal, securing 13 of his side's 25 points. In the dying stages of the game, Thorpe, the old City player, who turned out for Hikurangi, crossed for the final score of the match, which ended 25—19 in Old Boys’ favour.

RUGBY SCORE-BOARD SENIOR. Old Boys 25, Hikurangi 19. JUNIOR. Hikurangi 14, Kamo 3. Central 21, Old Boys 9. THIRDS. Hora Hora 9, Hikurangi 6. FOURTHS. Central 18, Maunu 4.

JUNIOR CENTRAL WINS AGAIN Central rattled up 21 points against Old Boys 9, when these two junior teams met on Saturday. The game attracted a good many of the spectators at the Park and proved worth watching. Both sides were keen and there was hardly a dull moment right through the piece. For Central Patterson scored twice as did Stanton while Marsh crossed once. Patterson was successful, in adding the major points to two tries. Andrews put over a field goal for Qld Boys and Bourke scored, and converted his own try. HIKURANGI TOO GOOD FOR KAMO Playing at Hikurangi the local junior team proved too good for the Kamo juniors by the tune of 14 points to 3. The match right through was keenly played but Hikurangi had the advantage of play as the score indicates. THIRD GRADE HORA HORA GAIN A THREE-POINT VICTORY Playing Hikurangi as a curtain-raiser for the big match at the Park, Hora Hora thirds gained a victory of three points, 9 to 6. For Hora Hora, Bailey and Massey scored while Thomas kicked a penalty goal. Hikurangi’s points were secured from a try by Putt and a penalty put over by Taylor. FOURTH GRADE CENTRAL DEFEATS MAUNU By the margin of 18 points to 4, Centra) fourths defeated Maunu. Try-getters for Central were Goodhue, Flower, McNay, Leese and Flower kicked a penalty, as also did McNay. Cossill put over a field goal for Maunu.