SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL

Northland Age, Volume II, Issue 36, 10 September 1930, Page 4

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL

SENIOR REPS V VALLEY. This game was played under the worst conditions possible, there being a torrential downpour for the greater part of the game, and the field was converted into a sea of mud. The blacks, who fielded five men short, kicked off and the ball was fielded near the red’s 25. H. Christensen started a rush and after some willing play and a lot of mud larking the ball eventually reached the hands ot W. Thompson who scored a good try between the posts. Valley 3, Mangonui 0. Reds kicked off and play lasted for a short time in the black’s 25. Many attempts were made by both sides to handle the ball, but owing to its greasy nature the play was merely a scramble. Offside play by the reds gave the clacks a tree kick, which was taken by Yates who with a good kick transferred play into the red’s half way. Play continued in the red’s half for some considerable time, and from a set scrum the ball came out neatly to the black backs. For the first time since the game started, the Mangonui backs had a short spell of handling the ball. After a pretty bit of play R. Smith quickly snapped up the ball and scored a well deserved try which' was converted by W. Thompson. Valley 8, Mangonui 0. The blacks, spurred on by their opponents’ lead now made a gallant effort to make up the points against them. The play was confined to the forwards and at times it was hard to say which were Victoria Valley and which were blacks. For fully ten minutes the blacks had their opponents in a tight corner and for the greater part of this time the blacks were well in the red’s 25. At times a score seemed imminent, but the whisle blew and the halt time score remained —reds 8, blacks 0.

The gecond half was purely a battle between the forwards, and the reds showed their superiority by keeping play inside the black 25 for practically the whole time.

The whistle finally blew, the score still being Valley 8, Mangonui 0. The result ot this practice game casts no reflections upon the Mangonui side as a team, as they fielded ten men only as against their opponents 15. JUNIOR MATCH AT KAITAIA. MANGONUI RETAINS SHIELD. Called upon to defend their title to the Brake Shield, the Mangonui Junior Reps gave clear evidence in this match against Hokianga that their previous week’s victory was not one of mere luck and good fortune, but rather due to their good team work and superior ability. In Saturday’s game both teams laboured under every conceivable disadvantage, it rained incessantly, the ground was well ploughed up as a result of the previous game and the ball was naturally too greasy to permit any combination play by the backs. Mangonui (black) kicked off and took the play to Hokianga’s (red and black) quarter. A heavy tussle among the forwards terminated in the reds making a force down, Ihe ball was kicked out and again the blacks forwards were making a great rush for the red’s line and from a brilliant forward rush Tartena carried the ball over the line. L. Irwin took the kick but failed.

Mangonui 3, Hokianga 0. The play was now centred in

mid field Hokianga broke aw. v in a forward rush, but the black’s defence soon dispelled theisan 1slaught. Some good kicflPg took the ball to the red’s 75, where plav finally ended in a touch down. .

From the kick off the reels made a good attack and the ball was touched down by blacks. The blacks pressed again, but a mark which was taken by Plank who made an excellent kick relieved the situation for the reds.

Blacks now carried play into red’s territory, G. Harris, again saved the reds with a good kick to the line.

Blacks again attacked, but reds retaliated and B. McKinnon came to the fore and saved his side from a precarious predicament. T. Walters now took a prominent part in a forward rush backed up by McKinnon and Whitefield, this rush taking the play into the red’s 25. The red forwards now got down to business and play was transferred into t|ie black’s territory. Beazley took the ball on black’s 25 and by a short kick forced the blacks to touch down.

The whistle signalled half time Mangonui 3, Hokianga 0.

Blacks opened up the second half with a series of forward rushes. From a scrum D. Whitefield collected the ball and took it over the red’s line. T. Walters failed to convert.

Mangonui 6, Hokianga 0. Blacks continued to attack, but Harris made a good mark and relieved the situation for the reds. Offside play by one of Mangonui’s men gave reds a free kick. Harris made a good attempt, but it proved unsuccessful. Reds were now attacking with great advantage, but C. Berghan managed to clear the ball from the scrum and play was taken to red’s 25, where play ended in a touch down. The black forwards were now showing their superiority and the reds saved the situation by a succession of force downs. Hokianga made a final attempt to secure a score and carried play into the black’s 25. The blacks soon recovered and transferred the play into the centre of the field where it cotwj tinued until the final whistle sounded. Mangonui 6, Hokianga 0.