TARANAKI OKAIAWA LUCK TO ESCAPE

NZ Truth, Issue 1079, 29 July 1926, Page 14

TARANAKI OK AI AWA LUCK TO ESCAPE

Kappnga Trounced By Hawera

(From "Truth's" New Plymouth Representative.) South Taranaki effected spine surprises m the rain on Saturday. As anticipated, Okaiawa had a hard time at Opunake, being lucky to emerge with a draw.

AT Hawera, Kaponga. were /severely . drubbed by the • local ...team. ! '. Okaiawa's lead has increased^ one •point and they are now practically unassailable. "• . • ■ ■•'• ■■ ■ -; To complete the chapter,; Athletic put it across Patea m : great style. In the north, Tukapa (22) maintained their lead by easily defeating Clifton (5), whilst Old Boys (8) brought pfC a surprise by downing Eltham (1)/' '■■ .. : ; ; Stratford, too, got overilnglewopd by 11 points to nil. ; Opunake had a strong team out . against Okaiawa,, who were minus Rangi Ruru and Phillips m the • forwards^ ..'. > .•'..-. ; W. Hohaia tackled m great style, never letting his man, pass him.. . Owen, the Opunake first five- eighths,, is a clinker both m attack and defence. Mclvor, the , second, is very ■weak. /S ■■• ; " ■'■ •"' ' ;■•■'. •■.'■ : ' 1 " "• ...' ' ' ._ •; J. Lusk is a great forward, but is no good as wing -three-quarter. In Graham, O'Rprke,- Snow and Tippetts Opunake have a great quartette of forwards. . • Tuhi, the ' Okaiawa had a lot of work- to ■■'■ do' and: ?> did it well. • Okaiawa's ;c three- (juarters— Crawford,!

Cameron . and Purvis—^are fast, but were up against solid .tackling. Kaponga took a weak team to Hawera, being without B. Hammersley, C. Paterson and McCarty m the backs and J. Hammersley m the pack. They were' unfortunate m striking McAuliffe at his best,, and despite all that Kissick, Guy, Espen, Guthorn and the ' Scott, brothers could do, went down by 17 points to 5. : Athletic forwards astonished the natives at Pa tea, getting all over them. Bourke, the Taranaki rep., scored both Patea's tries. * In Simpson, Underhill, McGlashan and Owen, Athletic have useful backs. Owen scored, two fine tries.. ', \ Tukapa had a walk-over at Waitara, Clifton fielding- a weak team Elthamhave gone to the pack. Internal dissension has ■ ended m tha csptaini R. Penhicoll,,.; going over to Stratford, whilst' other players are disgruntled. - . ■ Great interest is being taken m the meeting of the Taranaki Rugby Union this week, as the Star protest against the Tukapa try which is alleged to have been scored over the dead-ball line\ will, be decided; . ■ ,