Hora Hora Downs Old Boys-in Key Game

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1948, Page 6

Hora Hora Downs Old Boys-in Key Game

THE defeat of Old Boys by Hora Hora on Saturday has kept the Whangarei senior Rugby championship very much alive. The leaders were outclassed in the backs and in the open play and were beaten 19—15. They now hold a single point advantage over Hora Hora and have to meet the much improved City side in the final series of games this week. Hora Horn’s final engagement is with Mid-Western.

City had no difficulty in disposing of Hukerenui in the final of the knock-out competition and scored a well-deserved 16-6 win. OLD BOYS’ FEEBLE BACKS

The Old Boys forwards packed well and used their weight advantage, but showed poor judgment of tactics in playing orthodox football when their backs were in such poor form. They lacked sting in the open play. Fraser, Irvinp and Grace were their best workers.

Old Boys played more like first-of-season football due, no doubt, to the fact that most members of the side had been out of action for some weeks while the representative games held the stage. However the feeble efforts of the backs could not be attributed solely to this period of inactivity.

Winger Broughton was easily Old Boys best back,

Hora Hora led 11-6 at hajf-time and ,19-9, at the end of the third quarter, when the result was beyond doubt. R. Macnay’s 16 points came from a try, three penalties and two conversions. Kingi scored the other try for Hora Hora.

Their handling, passing and tackling ,were well below standard. The forwards monopolised possession and gave their rearguard eVery chance, but it was to Hora Hora’s benefit.

Murphy, Broughton and Fagan crossed for old Boys, and Beazley kicked two excellent penalty goals. griffin the star Griffin, the City centre, was the outstanding player in the senior knock-out final. Besides scoring 10 of his side's points, he held the back-line together and was the main strength both on attack and defence. Hook’s polished play at fullback was another feature. He made everything appear simple. / Skipper showed speed and dash at five-eighth and Richardson fired out quick long passes from the base of the scrum. The forward play was rather ragged, although the City eight had more cohesion than the Hukerenui set. Windsor, Storey, Cossill and Telfer were City’s best forwards. White, Drake and R. Lynch were the pick of the Hukerenui backs a'nd Coutts and M. Rouse were the best forwards.

The red and golds had three thirdgradei's and two juniors in their ranks and were giving away considerable v/eight in the pack. The backs, however, relished the' dry ball—the first time they have enjoyed such conditions against Old Boys in the championship—and played all over the opposition.

R. MACNAY OUTSTANDING R. Macnay scored 16 of Hora Hora's 19 points, and was the outstanding player on the ground. He frequently left the Old Boys five-eighths standing with piercing runs, and his goal-kicking from reasonable range was deadly. Langdon outclassed Beazley at second five-eighth. The Old Boys man tried to break past Langdon a few times early in the piece, but was well-floored and, after that, simply accepted his pass and ladled it out to the. centre. Langdon, on the other hand, frequently showed up Beazley’s defence with his strong running.

Griffin scored a try, two penalties and two conversions, and Skipper and Anderson also notched tries for City.

All the Hora Hora backs went well

R.. Lynch and White crossed for Hukerenui.

Halfback, M. Macnay played for more than half the game with a broken nose.

Topia, Main and Whitham were the best of the forwards.

Services Tourney

PALMERSTON N„ Mon. (P.A.) Playing fast and hard Rugby, Air Force beat Army by eight points to six in the final of the inter-service tournament.

For Air- Force, J. D. Garrett scored a try. R. M. Brewer converted and kicked a penalty goal. M. R. Kennedy and D. L. Morfett scored . tries for Army. * Navy won the tournament with one win and one draw. Air Force had a win and a loss and Army a draw and a loss.