COAST RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16371, 20 June 1927, Page 2

COAST RUGBY

K. S. WILLIAMS CUP FINAL

WON BY TIKITIKI (Special to the Herald.) TOKOMARU BAY, this day. The K. S. Williams Rugby Cup, the premier trophy competed for bj sul)uuions of the East Coast union, was won on Saturday by the likitiki representatives, after a hard and at times brilliant game with Tolaga Eav. The match was staged at Tekoniaru Bay, aim the speetators were gathered ironi all parts of the ccatst, the gate proceeds, amounting to £7l, indicating the widespread interest in the cup final, in which three players who hare worn the New Zealand jersey took part. Tolaga lest thb toss and lucked oil against; the wind, and tor a minute pressed back the Tikitiki men into their own end. A penalty given against Tolaga a few minutes later, when play was in midfield, tempted Nopin to try for the goal, but his kick was unsuccessful. A series of penalties were awarded by the referee, the game being marred by. frequent infringements at this stage, and several attempts at goal went amiss, 'nut Peiliana put the Tikitiki t, am ahead with a brilliant field goal after a quarter of an hour's play.— Tikitiki 4, Tolaga 0. this reverse awakened the Tolaga men, and they launched a series of swift attacks, in 'which backs and forwards co-operated- well, the Tikitiki line being imperilled on two occasions. The 'attacks were beaten oil, however, and back in midfield again another penalty was taken .by Nepia, With the same result as before; tolaga in turn had a chance at goal from a penalty, but missed, and play continued fairly evenly for a short period. Tolaga again developed a series of. rushes, just before halftime, attd had the satisfaction of Seeing Hindmarsh go over in the corner, finalising a pretfcv movement. The angle was too acute for a conversion, and the half ended with Tikitiki one point uj). ' There was more scoring in the second half, both teams making attempts to opbit up the game. The excitement of the spectators was iiitense during critical stages of the gnihe, and the teams played to a high standard. Not long #after the resumption, Tolaga missed with a penalty kick, and Tikitiki made a strong bid from the drop-out, carrying their attack the length of the field and sending a back over in the corner for a converted try. —Tikitiki <> Tolaga 3. > Tolaga replied with a good try, and had hard luck in not adding the extra points, the ball striking the bar and rebounding into the field. —Tikitiki 9, Tolaga 6. The scores were equalised a few minutes later, when another unconverted try was obtained by the southerners, Hiridtnaish being unlucky with the kick.

Tolaga took the lead for the first time with a penalty goal, and Nepia ■ equalised by similar means. At.“no side” the scoes were even at 12 all, and it was decided to play on to a decision. Toiaga looked like scoring for several minutes, njid two more penalty kicks failed to produce points, and three minutes later Tikitiki broke away and succeeded in adding an unconverted try to their earlier total, thus winning the game by 15 points to 12. The public was well pleased with the game, and the evenness of the teams was particularly gratifying. There was a considerable amount of effstde piny, and a great many penalties were awarded against either -side on that account. The general opinion was that Tolaga was unlucky to lose, for, their play was slightly superior to that of their opponents, but the assistance given by Nepia to Tikitiki in of the game was what enabled the northerners to copo with the visitors from the south. The Tolaga side was more spectacular in its methods, and Stan Reeves was particularly brilliant. A. Crawford aild W. Lockwood Were also promirietit ih tile Tolaga side, though the, latter inclined to hang on to the ball too long. A number of big Rugby attractions are fixed for early dates, fOr on July 2 the East Coast representatives visit Wairoa in quest of the Barry Cup, on July 16 the Poverty Bay representatives will challenge for the Coronation Cup, now held by the East Coast, ahd on July 19 the annual North v. South match, fdr the / Morse Cup, will be played. The 'Morse Cup has been held by the South for several years, but this year there is the likelihood of an exceptionally strong side being turned out for the North.