GOOD RUGBY

Opunake Times, 3 June 1947, Page 4

GOOD RUGBY

7-A-SIDE TOURNEY WIN FOR OPUNAKE B Perfect weather favoured the Pihama Junior Club's 7-a-side Tournament (for the Don Agnew Cup) which was held at Pihama yesterday, and a large crowd was present. The games were fast and open-and a particularly good standard of rugby was maintained throughout.' The winners, Opunake B, played consistently in all its games, ' each player deserving mention at some stage, and the team had the distinction of not> having its lin« crossed throughout the tournament. Pihama B also performed well, and-although beaten 12 nil in the final; the score was not .entirely an indication of the relative strength, W. Humphries' accurate boot being the deciding factor. The-surprise in the early round was the defeat- of Alton Juniors who' created a favourable impression immediately they took the field. Pihama entered three teams, and all performed creditably, reaching the ' semifinals-. The Games '2l teams' took part and the result were as follows: Ist Round: Pihama B 3 v. Auroa 0: Rahotu A 7 B v. Kaponga A 0; Oaonui A 6 v. Okato B 3; Opunake A 0 v. Normanby 5; Pungarehu A 12 v. Waimate 0. 2i(t Round: Alton 0 v. Okato A 57 Rahotu B 0 v. Pihama A 6; Opuiiikeß 6 ay. Ok'aiawa 0; Pungarehu B 8 v. Oaonui 13 5; Pihaifla C 5 v. Auroa A 3; Pihama E 3 v. Kaponga B 0; Oaonui A 0 v. Rahotu A 8; Normanby 3' v. Pungarehu'A 4. ' 3rd Rorind: Pungarehu B 0 v. Opunake B 10; Pihama A 10 v. Okato A 3; Pihama C 0 y. Pihama B 5; Rahotu A 3 v. Pungarehu AO. _ ';■■'" Semi-Finals: Opunake B 5 v. Pihama A 0; Pihama B 8 v. Rahotu A s.■■■'■■•: Final: Opunake B 12 v. Pihama 80, ■ ' ::;'-■■ •. The Semi-finals The only points scored in the match, between Opunake B and Pihama A occurred early in thefirst spell when Barrett, broke away in a fast dribbling effort ai d W. Humphries raced over to force, and convert his own try., Rahotu was the first to open .the-account in the other semifiral, L. Pennington scoring after a good run and B. Fleming 'converting. P. Pickering retaliated with a fine try "between the posts, after running 25 yards, Jackson converting. Just on time Jackson figured in a splen-* did side-line run to score a popular try for Pihama B.

The Final The teams were: Opunake B: A. and W. Humphries, D. Vincent, P. Ward, C. Quinn, Francis, Barrett. Pihama B: Yeoman, Jackson, Forsyth, I. Segar.P. Pickering, S. Reid, R. Julian. W. Humphries opened Opunake's account early with a fine penalty kick from a difficult angle and a minute later the same player fielded the ball on the sideline and raced to the centre of the field, to kick a splendid field goal. This early success spurred the team along Pihama was forced on the. defensive for quite a spell. Opunake heeled from a scrum and Ward fed to Yincent to A. Humphries who raced round the opposition to score in a good position. W. Humphries made no mistake with the kick. Faced with, a formidable task Pihama increased the pressure and Jackson raised a roar from the crowd with _ a spectacular side-line dash which nearly resulted in a try. ■ Opunake's defence held, . however, and the final whistle blew with the score unaltered. The referees were Messrs.- C. Radford, M. Dudley, E. McCaiin, H. V. White and C. Webb. 4th Grade Tournament A 10-a-side Tournament, 4th grade, was held at Hawera yesterdav, and Opunake _ stli's and O.D.H.S. entered teams,- the latter reaching the final, a very creditable effort. Results were: Opunake 0 v. Normanby 13; O.D.H.S. 5 v. H.T.H.S. B 0; O.D.H.S.' 6 v. Manaia 5. Final: H.T.H.S. A 13 v. O.D.H.S. 0.