RUGBY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17088, 17 July 1926, Page 15

RUGBY.

CLEMENTS (TT MATCH

EAST COAST V. LOVERLY LAY

The premier attraction at the Oval today was the Clements (tip match between Cast. Coast nod Poverty Lay. The attendance was fairly satisfactory, But showed :i slight falling off as compared with the gates for previous representative matches. The weathei was good and the ground fairly dry. THE TEAMS.

Last t oasl.- Konia. .). Smith, Tuliou. Pare, llikutaia (captain). Ruru, Harrison. Luckwond (vice captain). Reihana, Bristow, Taiapa. Leach, McLean,- K. Beeves, Voting ; reserves: Wilson, 11. Reeves, Kingi. and Ruru. Poverty Lay. —Herewini. Suielilfe. Harrison (captain), \V. Smith. Mackav, Plank. Cregorv. Tasker, Woodward, Thomas, Maynard, Webb. Berry. Wal tors, anil Charles: reserves: Minland and Mount. A TAME OPENING.

The opening was very tame, the blues being the more aggressive and getting into the red territory ill the early stages. The Last. Const score was opened within livo minutes. Taiapa goaltng a penally from well outside Hie 2b. This reverse livened up the reds (P. 8.) a bit, and they made a sally into the blue territory. but the tackling of the <'oast players milled up the attack and the came quick Iy returned to the Povcits Lay end. A rush on the left wing, headed by Bris low and Reihana came close to breaking the red defence, but the rushing forwards were momentarily checked by W. Smith. An infringement in the ruck gavt) the Coast men another penalty, and Taiapa piloted the ball over the bar from a dliicidt. position. Thus, within ton minutes of the start, the score .stood: East Coasl 6 Poverty Lac 0

Poverty Bay showed further improvement and their tackling was crisp within the; following few minutes. The blue backs got possession, but a knockon near mid-field occasioned a serum. and Gregory got the had! away to Mackay, Plank and Harrison. The latter broke a couple of tackles and passed to Sutcliffe, who cross-kicked and gave his forwards a great opportunity. The chance was missed, however, and in a scramble on the bine 25 line the reds were given a kick. Berry scoring a good K oal. " East Coast 6 Poverty Lav 3

There was a good deal of scrambling play immediately afterwards, with the Coast forwards on the offensive, but Cregorv .got away with a very fine kick, gaining half the length of the field. I'll,, b.-ilance ol the game centered in between (hi- two 25's with a good deal of wild passing and high tackling.

The red'backs opened uiu,a number if passing rushes, bul awkward passing gave their opponents lime to pull them up and gradually the bines forced (heir way into the red lot-rib ry again. Gregory was an asset on the defence and proved very sifocessful behind the scrum, while SulclilTc was also prominent in several of the. rushes, though inclined to go too fiir forward. Poverty Bay cleared after a few minutes. Though the Coast gut the best of a line out near midiield poor handling- by the inside hacks enabled Tasker to break away and lie gave a good cross kick which his fellow forwards were unable to get to. The ball went over the boundary and the Coast forwards came through with a good dribbling rush to the red 25, where Smith and Herewini stopped them. A WILLING STRUGGLE. The blues looked like scoring within t minute, however, and carried their attack within ten yards of the Poverty Day goal post, when Tasker went- down on the ball. The penalty gave the reds relief, but though Woodward made a good run ihe blues soon brought the attack back aguill and a willing struggle was seen between the opposing packs. Another close shave for the Bay side occurred shortly after, when, from a scrum near midiield, the blue packs got the ball and llikutaia. 11. Peeves. 0. Peeves and Lockwooti carried a rush right on to the red line, where Here wini bad to* force. Once again the bluets came on, Konia following bis own kick right through to the line with Taiapa in close, support. A knock-on five yards out occasioned a scrum and the blues were given a penalty, Ruru taking the kick and narrowly failing to add points. COAST MAINTAINS PRESSURE. The Coast maintained a steady pressure on the red defence despite occasional sorties by the red forwards in which Maynard, Berry and Charles were prominent. Tasker did a lot of good work and eventually the Coasl were driven out of the Bay end and forced to defend their own line strenuously, The blue forwards quiclvty changed the complexion of the game, however, .!•'.'. Reeves and llikutaia leading a rush through the red backs. Herewini saved well and ,1. Smith, the Coast left winger, was rushed hy Sutcltlfe. and he kicked shorl In i he boundary a( midfield. Berry made a good rush into the blue end, but failed to pass, though well supported, and was dumped in possession, on the Coast 25 line. One of ihe best runs of tli» day was executed by Gregory, who retrieved the ball at niidlicld from a Coast kick and corkscrewed through the opposing forwards to the 25, where he kicked a bit too hard, allowing Konia. the blue fullback to force. For the remainder of the half the Coast team continued mainly in Ihe attack,- though if I lie red passing Lid been a bit better the h o side would no doubt have made a better showing.

Just prior to the half time whistle Gregory, the Hay half, put bis side in a good position by a run through the blues. His pass to Maekay was a bit wild and went astray, but in subsequent movements the reds encroached further on the blue territory and Charles pulled down a Coast back in possession i I' the ball, Berry dribbling over to score a lucky try. Berry attempted lo convert, bid failed badly with his kick. The half t nue score ivas : !■:.!.,( Coasl 6 Poverty Hay 6 CURTAIN RAISER MATCH, l'.ji. THIRDS VICTORIOUS. The Poverty Bay Hinds had almost a walk-over in their match against the Tolagyi Bay juniors. The visitors had a margin if weight, but showed nothing like the combination evidenced in the play of the home side, The interval sccie was 24 to nil in favor of Poverty I lay thirds, Hie scoring •men being Mae nj.ii, Iwo I ties and Iwo convi rsions : Kirk. Hogg. Wilder and Kailane, one try eai 11. The other | i inis- 1 nue from n conversion bv Winter.

Daring llie" second half (he leadermaintained Iheiryinargin in the puue and added furfhnr points. The final score was 33 to nil, tries being scored by Scythes (2), and Airey (one). FOURTH TIRADE. Old Bovs' 6, defeated High School B. 3. High School 0, drew with Celtic 0.