OUR NATIONAL GAME.

Northland Age, Volume 23, Issue 27, 22 October 1923, Page 7

OUR NATIONAL GAME.

A MEMORABLE CONTEST. (By Old Timer.) All roads led to Sunray Park, on Saturday afternoon, the occasion being the meeting of the two famous unbeaten teams “Highbinders” and the “Tie and Collars.” Feeling ran high between the players, and the vast crowd of spectators was evenly divided in its opinion of the respective merits of the opposing sides. The game itself provided thrill upon thrill, and the onlookers were absolutely frenzied when the final whistle blew. Talk about the Springboks, Auckland, or Hawkes Bay—any of these teams if opposed to either combination would have vacated the Rugby arena for ever. The All Black selectors wonld be quite safe in sending both teams en bloc to England next year to contest the Rugby Championship of the world. The teams took the field as follows: “THE TIE AND COLLARS” : Hookers : F. Holder (captain), and A. Logan ; lock : F. B. Rowe j Supports : J. Taffe, L. Morpeth; back row Strurmfel Bros.; rover : L. H. Bell : LAllen Bell; -fths-T. Gallagher, C. S. Puckey; ftlis-A. Wilkinson, W. Elliott, F. Donaldson; full-back J. S tana way. “THE HIGHBINDERS.” Hookers : E. L. Sturmfels (captain), H. Head; lock: J. Rickman; supports :A. Holder, S. Holder; third row : B. Ducker, C. McKinnon; rover : W. Farrimoud ; £-J. Dennison; |ths : W. Whitefield, H. S. Brott; fths: R. D. Hanlon, F. Banks, C. V. Bigg-Wither ; full: A. E. Hollay. F. Holder kicked off for “The Tie and Collars” Stanaway returned with a terrific kick, which found toucli within two yards of the goal line. From the throw-in A. Logan took the ball splendidly aud using his weight, literally hurled himself over his opponents aud the line as well. First blood for “The Tie and Collars,” Allen Bell goaled with a good kick s—o. From the kick-off play flashed up and down the> ground with lightening rapidity, the backs and forwards of both sides running, kicking, and passiug like machines. The pace was a cracker, and it seemed a sheer impossibility that mere human beings could stand the strain. At length, Hollay standing about fifteen yards beyond half-way took the ball on the full, coolly potted for goal and sent her squarely bet ween the post, 5—4. Play had hardly resumed before Farrimoud, McKinnon, Rickman, and Sturmfels, broke away in a dribbling rush right over the line, and Sturmfels fell on it. Dennison converted the easy kick, 5—9. Stirred by this reverse “The Tie and Collars,” came at it again and a great run ended in L. H. Bell, taking the final pass from Donaldson, and scoring within six inches of the corner flag, Allen Bell converting with a magnificent kick which struck the crossbar and bounced over, 10—9. Half-time was called shortly after. On resuming Dennison kicked off for “The Highbinders,” and after an exchange of kicks among the backs play settled about the half-way line, and attempts by Dennison and Allen Bell to open up the game were frustrated by determined tackling by both teams. Eventually from a scrum Allen Bell sent Gallagher and Puckey away, and good handling and passing ended in Elliott short-punting over Hollay’s head, and scoring a fine try between the posts. Allen Bell converted, 15—9.

From the kick-off “The Highbinders” forwards by determined work carried play to the twenty-five, from a scrum Dennison ducked round on the blind side, side-stepped Wilkinson, swerved past Stanaway like a Hash and was over. He converted his own try, 15—14. Play started again and Taaffe following a high kick fast, smothered Hollay. From the ensuing scrum M. Sturmfels picked up and with a lightening shot potted a- magnificent goal, 19—14. Slashing work by A. Holder, Head, and Ducker, gave Dennison a chance to open up, and a great deal of concerted work ensued, the ball going across Whitefield, Brott, Banks, Hanlon and BiggWither. The latter . passed infield Brott, Dennjsou, and Whitefield coming into the picture again. Finally Wilkinson came up fast on the outside and finished off a beautiful piece of work. Dennison’s kick struck the upright and went through, 19 — 19. Time was slipping on, the scores

were even and both teams played like demons. Brott punted high aud sent his forwards away, by fierce forward work their opponents drove them back, Morpeth, Rowe, and J. Sturmfels, broke through with the ball at their toes, only to be stopped by Hollay with a hefty hoot, which found the line at the twenty-live; from the throw-in McKinnon passed in to his back. Dennison shot through and passed unselfishly on the line. S. Holder who dropped over Dennison added the major points, 19—24. With two minutes to go “The Tie and Collars” set the ball rolling again. Forwards and backs simply hurled themselves towards the opposite goal, the ball flew from hand to hand, men went down like thistles before a mowing machine. “The Highbinders” tackling was superb, but what can stop an irresistible force, F. Holder picked up and scrambled over with eight men on top of him. Amidst an uncanny silence Allen Bell calmly piloted the ball between the posts, 24 all. The final whistle blew amidst a pandemonium that was almost indescribable. Hats flew in the air, umbrellas and handkerchiefs waved, whistles blew, babies cried, and dogs howled, as Dennison, the hero of the match was carried off the ground. Bob Watson handled the game in his well-known first-class style, pleasing players and spectators alike, with his impartial decisions. And so ended a game that will he talked of in Kaitaia, down through the ages, long long after the great hearts which carried the participants so well through this great contest have ceased to beat, and the heroes ashes are undistinguishable from their Mother Earth.