N. HOKIANGA LIFTS HALLIWELL SHIELD

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1948, Page 7

N. HOKIANGA LIFTS HALLIWELL SHIELD

KAITAIA, Mon. (Sp.).—By 22 points to 8, North Hokianga senior representatives lifted the Halliwell Cup, premier Rugby football trophy among the five northernmost sub-unions, from Mangonui at Kaitaia on Saturday. This was the first Successful challenge since pre-war seasons. In the curtain-raiser, which provided better football than the main game. Mangonui third-graders successfully defended the Powell Shield for the third time this season.

tion and backing up, and his tackling was the best yet. Until hurt late in the game, F. Latimer, the Mangonui captain, was enterprising and the side owed much, to the efforts of Eric Jamieson at half, who, however, was frequently smothered by his own forwards. Last-man-down, H. Tahana, was the biggest offender in this. He was well matched on the visitors’ side by N. Te Wake. Veteran J. Walters acquitted himself well on the left wing. Ted Reid and C. Blucher were the,best in a pack which, if fit, could have done much better. Referee was Mr D. Veitch. POWELL SHIELD GAME In contrast with their seniors, the Mangonui third-graders ran the North Hokianga challengers off their feet in both departments. Lacking the opposition of the past two games they had a field day to score 10 tries, only three of which, however, were converted. North Hokianga boys were never in the hunt although they distinguished themselves by fighting back gamely to the end. Wingers P. Kapa and T. Brake each scored three tries, centre N. Berghan two, five-eighth 11. Kapa and forward D. Jones one each. Berghan converted two and missed several more. B. Weber raised the flags once. That the Mangonui wingers scored six tries showed how the boys were throwing the ball about to good effect. The defending forwards again staged a copy-book game, which produced an almost ceaseless flow of leather for T. Hoddle to feed out with precision and zest. Five-eighths Kapa and G. Queenin seldom made a mistake. The winners achieved far more penetration than in earlier games and i the experience gained in this department should stand them in good stead against Whangarci next week.

They beat North Hokianga 3G—O in a runaway .scoring procession.. Conditions were ideal and the gate was £SO. Biggest factor in the visiting seniors' well-deserved win was their marked improvement since last seaison. [ Apart from flashes of rugged resistlance by the defenders the Hokianga forwards dominated the game and the backs, although still showing much room for improvement, were sufficiently enterprising to capitalise most of their chances. North Hokianga should at least give a good account of themselves in their Harding Shield challenge next week. MANGONUI FORWARDS WEAK Weakened by the absence of several selected players. Mangonui forwards ] took a thrashing. They showed the ill-effects of having 1 been off the field for several weeks, : and were outplayed in the loose. ' The .absence of Mangonui’s North- : land team members was more marked ] than that of North Hokianga’s provincial nominees. _ -1 Mangonui backs,a,in fighting a losing 1 battle, found themselves in a new role. L. McCann, who in general did not j impress, on two occasions narrowly : missed putting up a better tally. 1 BEATEN BY BOUNCE 1 He was beaten by the bounce after i a 50-yard race with visiting full-back ’ W. Hawkins, and again was down inches from the line after a bril- .< liant winger's effort. . 1 It was also a brilliant kick from Me-: Cann which enabled H. Jameson, by ; splendid following-up to score Mango- ; nui’s only try. _ 1 McCann converted this and kicked a ; penalty. | M. Beazley. Hokianga half, scored ' < two tries; D. Hawkins, captain, J. Her- : bert, centre. L. Bates and G. Morunga j one each. W. Hawkins, full-back, who I played an outstanding game, converted i two and saved his side many more ; points. j The half-time score was 11—3. DESPERATE ATTEMPTS FAIL j Desperate Mangonui attempts to even the tally in the second half were withstood by determined defence and the mighty clearing efforts of the vis- j iting forwards. _ j The dry ground was conducive to football at its best, and the opening, exchanges were fast and even. Superiority of the visiting pack in Ihc loose was soon evident, although the backs did not impress as a mach-' ine until later. Young, and lacking in experience.' they took some time to find the- _ Mangonui weaknesses. j In the closing stages they cut ‘ through repeatedly. Beazley, the half. S. Booth and O. i Dunning, five-eighths, proved an effee- j tive combination, and the three- j quarter line in T. Campbell, Herbert j and P. Harding, was always danger-1 1 ous.

HAWKINS PLAYS WELL

Fullback Hawkins showed a particularly effective boot and was unlucky with a long penalty shot and a powerful field-goal attempt early in the game. In the forwards J. Te Wake had a slight edge in raking from the set scrums over K. Werner. J. Smith and G. Morunga, the side-row men. were a fine pair who broke fast but were always in the tight, with good support from D. Hawkins and A. Dyer. S. Beazley, Mangonui’s fullback, was one of the defenders’ most useful rearguard.

He pulled his side from trouble time and time again.

Centre threcquarter Hilton Jameson impressed with his speed, determina-