RUGBY FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18758, 15 July 1935, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CUP RETAINED WAIROA TOO GOOD TOLAGA BAY BEATEN BY 37 TO NIL (Herald Correspondent.) Wairoa proved on Saturday last that their form against Bay of Plenty, when the latter defeated the Wairoa side recently, was all wrong. On a heavy ground and in the presence of a fair crowd, with the Barry Cup at stake, the holders ran out the winners by 17 points to nil. Tolaga Buy supporters were confident of victory and fielded a strong side, but they were no match for the homesters who, led by S. Gemmeil, put up a splendid showing, particularly in the forwards, who gave their best performance since the visit of the Wellington Colts' team and again demonstrated that this district, despite the fact that P. Smith and H. Mataira were absent in Australia, can still field a pack that can hold its own with anything in Hawke’s Bay or Poverty Bay. BRIGHT FOOTBALL Wairoa was early in the lead when from a scrum near the Beds’ line Winiata, half, gained possession and dived over, the attempt to goal being a failure. There was no further score until just on half-time. The visitors failed to stop a strong rush by the green pack, the movement being finished off by Kahukura going over in tho corner, no goal resulting. Half-time sounded with Wairoa leading by six points to nil. The second session saw some bright football, and the home side was on the attack practically the whole spell. After a number of invasions into the visitors’ territory, the Wairoa backs ended a very fine movement when Hutchinson, fullback, came up fast to accept a pass from S. Smith and go over in the corner. J. Mataira, brother of the All Black, converted with a great kick considering the heavy ball, the board reading Wairoa 11, Tolaga Bay nil. HARD-FOUGHT GAME From now on there was only one team in it, despite the fact that the ifeds’ did their best to stop the invasions. Prom a scrum the Greens gained the ball, and after passing through the hands of the inside backs it reached S. Siniih on the wing, and that player raced over practically tinopposed. to bring the score to 14—nil, the attempt at goal being a failure. The final .points came just as time was called. Wairoa were awarded a free kick in a handy position and Mataira again landed the oval between 'lie uprights to make Wairoa the winners of a hard-fought and at times spectacular game by 17 points to nil. Air Tt. Corbett was the refeere. FORM OF THE PLAYERS

For the winners S. Gemmell, in the forwards, proved a great leader, and trove a fine display. Collins. Rika and Kahukura were also good, but did not give the finished display that came from 1!. Powdrell, who was in everything that was going. In the backs, Hutchinson was excellent, his work in securing the best try of the day entitling him to consideration in a much more important learn than Wairoa. R.ussell was sound, but failed to realise lie had good backs

with him, repeatedly bringing off most unorthodox movements for a live-eighths by running straight across the field. P. To Ngaio was the best inside back on the field, and Winiata at half pleased. For the losers, Kutia gave the best forward display. Marshall, A. Crawford and Atkins were the best of the remainder. Burns got through a lot of work at fullback but his kicking was weak. 11. Brown was the best winger, and Armani was good at half, the inside backs being very poor.

KEEN COUNTRY MATCH

OLD BOYS’ THIRDS WIN One of the season’s brightest games was witnessed at Te Karaka on {Saturday afternoon, when Old Boys’ thirds met and defeated the Waikohu junior representatives. The ground was fairly heavy, but this did not prevent the two teams from producing good open football, and the final - score of 15-11 in favor of Old Boys gave a fail' indication of the merits of the teams. ; . The Waikohu team had, an advantage in weight, but failed to make ! full use of this advantage, the visiting team being definitely superior in the set scrums: Waikohu enjoyed a decided advantage in the line-outs, on the other hand, and two of their scores came from determined work from line-ohts ' close to their opponents’ goal line. ■ The white backs possessed more penetration, and this, combined with consistent hooking, decided the game in their favor. Old Boys’ forwards played hard in the early stages of the game, and worked down to the green goal-line, where from a scramble Scott scored in a handy position, C. Sebire missing an easy chance at goal. Line-outs were exploited to advantage by Waikohu, and they gained ground steadily, P. Buckingham eventually getting over for a try which Hollis failed to convert. PRETTY MOVEMENTS After a period of indeterminate play, tlu» Old Boys’ backs were seen in a pretty passing movement, the ball going right through the backs for Trengrove to score, well out towards the corner. Again the try went unconverted, and tho home team worked hard to get back to even terms. They played a line-out game for a while, moving down the. lino to within striking distance, and then Hollis made a strong End, cutting through the Old Boys’ defence and finishing of! a good solo effort by scoring close to the posts. He then converted his try, and gave his side the lead, at 8-6. The Waikohu forwards continued to dominate the line-outs, and this led to a further score, when Newton got tho ball close to the goal-line and dived over for a try, which Hollis failed to convert. At the interval, Old Boys were five points in arrears. WAIKOHU LIVEN UP On tho resumption, the Old Boys' forwards carried the ball to their opponents’ 25yds. line, where from behind tho scrum Carroll short-punted the bah and followed up fast for a try, well out from the posts. No conversion was made, and as Waikohu livened up considerably, flic town team looked like being beaten until Morgan got possession at midfield, and ran round the opposition to pass the ball to 11. Sebire on the quarter-line. The winger used his pace well, and just grounded the ball before being charged into t.ouch-in-goal. C. Sebire made a good kick, but again missed. The last try was the best try of tin match, Old Boys stemming a hard rush by their opponents, and Short getting the ball at half-way and running right through the opposition to score. C.

Sebire’s kick hit an upright on tins occasion, and rebounded, Clio final whistle finding the score 15-11 in favor of Old Boys.

WAIMA BEAT MARIST

FITZPATRICK CUP GAME Waima juniors were successful in their challenge for the Fitzpatrick Cup on Saturday, when they heat the Marist juniors at Tokomani Bay by 17 points to 13. Tho game was played as a curtain raiser to the Pepere Cold Cup match he tween Tobomaiu Bay and Runturia. The Fitzpatrick Clip has now been in competition between Waima and Me rial for three years and each time it has been contested the team playing on its home ground has been successful. A game flayed earlier in the year on 1 lie Aval was won by Marist and in (lie iel urn match on Saturday the cup was left in the hands of Waima once more. Scores for Waima were registered by .). Tankard (2). and Skipper, Connie, and R. Jackson one each, while Jackson converted his own try. -Marist scorers were W. Dennett {?), and E’. Ifnisinan. two of which were converled by Haisnian and ,T. Hayes. • •

INTER-DISTRICT FOOTBALL

WAINGAKE BEAT PATUTAHI (Herald Correspondent.) Ideal weather, prevailed during the week-end when a friendly game of football was plifyed on the Patutahi Domain between teams representing the Waingake and Patutahi districts. Botli sides played only 14 men. The following were tho teams :—Waingake,—l. . Buscte, K. McKenizie, C. Mills, 0. Spence, A. Hall, D. Hansen, •I. Wykes, G. Shanks, E. Wykes, G. \lcPhail, It.' Field, D. Job son. It. Honan and hen Shanks. Patutahi.—U. Worsnop, C. Wilson, A. Clifford, K. Clifford, V. Stubbing?, B. Collins, Stan. Worsnop, J. Doherty, G. Batson, P. Atkins, P. Lyons, Sid. Woriiiop, L. Greaves and J. Brown, Mr W. Beets was the referee. The turf was in excellent, condition. Waingake won the loss and Patutahi kicked off against a light breeze and with the sun in their eyes. From the kick-off Patutahi attacked, hut only for a few minutes, G. Spence relieving with a well judged line kick, which sent the ball out about mid-field. The visitors soon showed wlmt the home team sadiv lacked—fine combination in both depart ments—and a good concerted movement bv their backs resulted in McKenzie ‘short-punting over the dead-hall line. From the drop out an infringement hv the \i si tors gave Patutahi a free kick, but Batson sent the ball upfield, where it was cleanly fielded by G. Spence who found the touch-line well within the home 25yd. area. From the line-out K. Clifford, who was prominent on the Patutahi side throughout the game, 'ed a determined attack, the ball going rut at the half-way flag. From this juncture the visitors did most of the attacking until half-time.

VISITORS KEEP UP ATTACK A series of line-outs brought play ■nto the home team’s territory where G. ■Spence had an unsuccessful attempt at a field goal. Honan led a dribbling -ush. which ended in a loose scrummage, the bail going, out to Hyland who was brought down by I. Buscke. A nice run by Mills, who transferred to G. Shanks, enabled the latter to score a try after skilfully eluding the defence. L. Shanks failed to add the minor points.

The visitors kept up the attack and McKenzie picked up the ball and passed to Honan, who sent, it, out to E. Wykes, who scored, Jobson’s attempt at .goal failing. The weakness of the home defence was now lamentable, and frequent passing bouts were indulged in, only the hard work of individual Patutahi players preventing the score from mounting. A Patutahi player getting off-side enabled McKenzie to kick a well judged penalty goal. L. Shanks now led a forward rush, which ended in a scrum syds from the. home team’s goal line. A force-down saved what looked like a certain try. Snapping the ball up out of the ruck Honan just missed what would have been a brilliant potted goal. Play settled about midfield, where McKenzie intercepted a pass and after a dndgv run scored the visitors' third try. The scorer failed to convert. LACK OF COHESION Lack of cohesion among'the Patutahi backs was now noticeable. Rushes by the home team’s forwards were easily iheckecl by the Waingake players, who were not afraid to go down on the ball, speculative kicking being absent from tiicir tactics! , . ■ . , . A further score was nullified by G. Wilson soundly tackling the fast winger, 0. Mills. With cleaner passing \Vaingake should have added greatly to their score. With the sun low on the horizon the visitors had si decided disadvantage during the second spell. Patutahi played better football towards the end ol the game'and on several occasions were near scoring', ‘ but. ■ apart from being forced down on one occasion, the visitors’ defence was sound. K. Clifford and Lyons showed up on several occasions and after a period of ragged play O. Batson had an attempt at a penalty kick from just inside half-way, the ball falling short. Greaves broke awav, only to be. overtaken and well tackled by Mills. It. Field put up a brilliant run and, eluding a somewhat weak defence, scored between the posts, the try not being converted. During the. last minute of tho game Mills snapped up from the ruck and after a smart, tricky run scored the visitors’ final try between tho posts, Jobson converting with an easy kick, to leave the visitors victors by 20 points to nil. The game was Waingake’s third this season, and with further practice thev should be a team to be reckoned with in the near future.

It was disappointing to see the motley assortment of jerseys among the home team; and to note the fact that though ibis was the third game played on the Domain this season, the ground is not, vet marked out.