RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opunake Times, 5 August 1947, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MARRIED MEN WIN JUNIOR GAMES Saturday’s main attraction was between Married and Single men’s teams and gate takings were for Miss Velma Hickey’s Carnival effort. The v game was clayed in a very friendly spirit, and produced a creditable standmi of football. Married won by 13 points to 6, their strength lying in the solid pack, although the backs displayed better penetration than the single rearguard at times. M. Dudley scored two good tries for the winners and Sid Hohaia claimed a try and converted two. Single’s points came from a try by McGregor and a penalty goal ’kicked by McCandlish. Married fielded five ex-players who all played reasonable games. M. Dudley, who refereed the sth trials apparently gained his “second wind” and was always on the ball. Fox gave up his wing position in the second half and showed promise as a fast loose forward. In spite of the fact that the referee Mr. 11. V. White is a married man, the winners vigorously claim that they won on their merits. The teams were; Married: McElroy; C. Wilton, K. Hickey, P. Walsh: I. Elgar, G. Jackson; Robson; M. Dudley, Sid Hohaia, Stewart; Dennett, ITarrop, G. Holmes, D. Holmes; Waiwiri. Single: McCandlish; Fox, Thomas, Ratahi; Riley Ratalii; Drought; Pickering, Segar, McGregor; Corkil,!, Stanley, Hohaia, Smith; Stevenson. Southern Division Final Hawera defeated Eltham by 13 points to 9 in the Senior Southern division final on Saturday. Trask an Eltham forward was ordered off fairly early and the team played one man short. The winners meet Star_ (Northern) next Saturday in the Taranaki Championship. The Juniors

Opunake defeated Rahotu by 19 points (5 tries, 2 converted) to 0, in an interesting game at Rahotu on Saturday. Opunake outhooked the home team in the first spell and the speedy green backs were always dangerous. In the second half Rahotu gained a greater share of the ball but the backs did not impress as an attacking combination. Opunake’s first try came from a fine dribbling drive to Rahotu’ s 25 where Ward secured from the ruck and fed to Vincent who went through very fast to score. W. Humphries converted. Vincent scored again under almost identical circumstances and W. Humphries converted. Just before half time D. Humphries secured from a loose ruck and dived over in the corner, the kick failed. Half time, Opunake 13. Rahotu 0. Rahotu showed improved form in the new spell but Opunake were not to be denied. Coupe and Francis broke from a line-out and a nice dribbling run ended, in Pope scoring. Ward retired injured and was replaced by D. Mailman. The bounce favoured Pope in a loose forward drive and he again scored. Rahotu was attacking hard at the finish but the defence held. Opunake 19, Rahotu 0. Mr. E. McCann was referee. Pungarehu demonstrated its superiority again on Saturday by comfortably defeating Okato. Oaonui defaulted to Pihama. Results with competition j:oints in the Coastal Junior grade are as follows: Pungarehu 20 v. Okato 3; Opunake 19 v. Rahotu 0; Pihama beat Oaonui by default.

sth Grade Reps As a result of Saturday’s sth grade trial match, in which the High School-Pungarehu combination proved too superior for the opposition, the following team has been selected to play North Taranaki on a date to be arranged : Full back: Aylewood (Pungarelm); f’s: Jackson (Pihama), Maun' (Opunake), Hickey (H.S.); jj-’s: Pukere and Murray (H. 8.); half: Watt (Pungarehu); Front (Continued foot of next column)

How: Crofskey (Opunake), Holmes (ITS.)," Welsh (Pihama); Middle How: Bishop (H.S.), Maindonald (Opunake), Hohaia (H.S.), Corkill (H.S.); Back How: McDavitt (H.S.). Emergencies, Forwards: Feavei (Opunake), Clement (H.S.); Backs; S. Head (Pihama), R Whareoka (Pungarehu). The last 20 minutes the selectors, Messrs. K. Somervell and S. McCullmn, played the team against the rest and the combination proved sound, Hickey scoring two determined tries, from hack movements. Mr. M. Dudley refereed this game.

Team P W L 1) Pts Pungarelm 11 8 2 1 17 Opunake 11 7 22 16 Piliama 11 6 o 'J 2 14 Okato 11 5 6 — 10 Raliotm 12 4 6 2 10 Oaomii -11 8 6 2 8 Auroa 11 -- 8 8 3