SPECTACULAR RUGBY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10942, 17 September 1928, Page 5

SPECTACULAR RUGBY

COUNTY TEAMS IN ACTION PAHIATUA VICTORIOUS, 20—6. Employees of the Pahiatua and Eketahuna County Councils downed tools on Saturday, discarded their bowvangs, and donned instead a pair of little short pants which, in certain cases, displayed to perfection knees that, by their very whiteness, suggested that not for many moons had they been privileged to gaze upon the sun. At the local showgrounds, in the presence of an exceptionally large and encouraging crowd of ratepayers the County Rugby teams staged their annual battle for the handsome County rose bowl. Both sides had marshalled very likely-looking teams and in a contest where the rules were rafferty and the game 99 per cent entertainment, Pahiatua romped home on the bit by 20 points to <5. The price they paid, however, was very short, shorter even than the wind of some of the players. And that was short enough. Scientific workers the Pahiatua picknien proved to be. They invariably made for the great open spaces and although the Eketahuna hands were plodders they could not keep up the -pace set. There was no go-slow policy with Pahiatua. At knoeking-off time they were knuckling in as solidly as at the start. Eketahuna soon found that they had taken on a pretty stiff contract but though they felt it to be a losing proposition they stuck things out manfully. With Donovan setting such an inspiring example they could scarcely do otherwise. The ball \va s placed on tlie boundary line between the two counties, and" at the kick-off Pahiatua invaded southern territory. De Castro, the nippy half, got oiled up early, found a vacuum in the* defence, and sent Mills on a spirited run, only to see him pushed out in tlie corner of the back riding. ’Mills came again and from half-way booted- along the side, the leather going over the goal-line to bounce along within inches of no man’s land. Mills set sail after it but Eketahuna, mistaking him for th© Southern Cross, simply stood and g'azed, expecting the ball, perhaps, to roll into touch in goal. It didn’t, and Mills, throwing his clutch out, patted tlie ball kindly as he went by, while tlie referee, after a bad take-off. taxied up and awarded the try. Charlie Skilton just missed tlie mark with a kick from well back : Pahiatua County. 3 —o.

To give Harry Whitta a breather someone kicked the ball over towards the hospital and the men leaned on their shovels for a minute while a small boy recovered the bone of contention. The front line of Eketahuna pickmen blazed a trail into the Pahiatua district and as Rankin went to kick clear he found his foot imprisoned in a grip resembling that of a stone-crusher. Jack Moynahan and -Skiltcn dribbled all over Eke tahuna but with an excess of courtesy under the goal-posts they let a couple of visitors fight for the force-down. Donovan, alter failing to attract the attention of a sweet young thing on the side-line, punted the 1-all in her direction and scored a spectacular hit, leaving a new dent in the little red hat that gave it the Paris touch. A minute later, on the opposite side. Fensev took a fancy to a mere male and in charging across to take a high one knocked the startled spectator flat on his back with the true Tom Heeney touch. But these were only incidents in passing. Whoever picked the jerseys for the Pahiatua players chose a vivid, il hot uniform, colour scheme, arid tlie man with the whistle would have required to be a water colour artist to distinguish which from what when the fight was at its thickest. At last Rankin got possession on the wing and when he opened the throttle it was good-bye McGuinness. The referee was the only man to get near him and tripped over the winger spectacularly as the latter stopped suddenly to touch down. Skilton missed the kick: Pahiatua 6 —O. Hume and Richardson swerved a way along till a slip pulled them up. and then the Eketahuna vanguard hacked a channel through for Ryan to score. Hooper just failed to goal • Pahiatua 6 —3. Gordon Smith was making away for the visitors when Harry Whitta brought off a wonderful dive tackle. With thoughts of basket-ball Waterrens took the sphere about a chain off-side and but for the referee’s restraining influence might easily have scored. A great run by Donovan made the home team dig in but it was of no avail for Hooper goaled nicely from a penalty to make the score six all. Jack Hutton began to look a bit sick and Overseer Macrae lost bis jocular air. The clouds cleared somewhat when Feasey, Pahiatua’s sprightly fullback, ran up and through the opposing ranks only to give, a forward pass right near thy line. Charlie Skilton, however, set his lorry at top speed, charged down a clearing kick, and dived across for a brilliant try which Feasey failed to convert. Pahiatua County 9 Eketahuna County 6 Smoke-oh was called and sonie squeezed lemons while- others drank thirstily a liquid that might Have been cold tea. When hostilities were resumed Rankin played Elvy’s along the sideline and went over in the corner.

but was recalled after th© ball had been knocked on the seventh time. Donovan was making away when Whitta threw loving arms around him and liis dead weight did the rest. Jack Moynahan started th© home forwards off and a sweeping onslaught ended with Groves, Reid and Richardson diving over under the posts to share the spoils. De Castro goaled: Pahiatua 14 —6. Jack Hutton her© found his voice and his call of encouragement was like unto the whisper of Alf Howell or “Sonny” Smith. Rankin cleared out again and shattered all sprint records in racing round the opposition to score. La wry failed t 0 convert: Pahiatua 17—0. Harry Whitta, getting his third wind, slipped his tractor into second gear, hut was bogged before reaching open country and with his nose ploughed a water channel yards long. Moynahan chased through, took the ball on the bounce, and dived over under the posts. Skilton’s sense of direction was again astray and a memorable game ended: Pahiatua County 20 r Eketahuna County 6 Th© overseer in charge was Mr Bert Harvey and he proved himself an energetic if somewhat lenient boss. In order to display to full advantage the handsome trophy, a new and auspicious building is being erected in Ma in Street to house the County rose bowl.