RUGBY COMPETITION

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1929, Page 12

RUGBY COMPETITION

CENTRAL DIVISION JUNIORS. CELTIC DEFEATS TOKO BY GOAL. The central division junior Rugby competition was continued yesterday under ideal football conditions. With Celtic's defeat by Toko the latter team and Inglewood will probably be the two to contest the final for the championship. • Stratford Technical High School A and Inglewood fifths met at A’ictoria Park to decide the winner of the competition but the game ended in a draw, six all. This is the second time these teams have met to decide the division champion and iu each case the result has been a draw. Results are: — First Junior. Toko 3 v. Celtic O. Inglewood 37 v. Eltliam 0. Third Grade. Stratford 21. v. Celtic 11. Stratford Technical High School V v. Eltham G. Fifth Grade. Stratford Technical High School 6 v. Inglewood G. TOKO DEFEATS CELTIC. According to past performances Toko firsts should have accounted for Celtic in a decisive manner but that was far from being the case. The game soon degenerated into a forward struggle and at this Celtic held their own. Neithei set of backs was excercised to any great extent but the Toko rearguard showed signs of promise at times. Had Toko opened the game up and thrown the ball about there would, probably have been a different result. As it was the game ended in a last minuto win for Toko due to the expert boot of A. Sangster. The score was three points to nil. Full of scrums and long exchange kicks the first stages were practically devoid of interest. Occasionally the Toko backs looked like business but the movements lacked that polished action that brings results. The Celtic back movements suffered through the policy of the five-eighths in cutting in or punting instead of using the three-quarters to advantage. Phillips broke away in the Toko 25 but Harris, to whom he shifted the responsibility, was neatly earthed and Toko saw that, the ball was transferred from their end with no waste of time. Pressed under their posts Celtic were putting up a strenuous defence with Toko liable to score any second when the visitors transgressed, ths rules and the ensuing free kick took the ball to mid-field, where half time found neither team with a score. The same type of play permeated ths second half. It was mainly & battle between the two paclra in which honours were fairly even. With a good line kick Carter took Celtic well into the Toko 25 but the visiting forwards bored through from the line-out and play was resumed iu mid-field. Then, with 15 seconds to go, A. Sangster kicked a goal i from a mark and Toko had won a match that would have been more indicative of the two teams' merits had it ended in a draw. Mr, G. Collins refereed. ROAD RACE TO COLEMAN, WITHERS WINS FASTEST TIME. Postponed from the previous Thursday owing to wet weather th© Stratford Cycle Club’s fortnightly road race was held yesterday. The. course followed the Pembroke Road to the factory, across to Cardiff, down the Climie Road and returned to Stratford via the Mountain Road. The distance was 17 miles. D. Coleman proved, the winner by three lengths from O. Belk. A hundred yards after them came Crockett and Melirtens, the former gaining third place with only a wheel to spare. J Withers, off SCsec., secured fastest time. Details are: — D. Coleman (3rnin) ............ 1 O. Belk (Jinin.) „ 2 J. Crockett (Imin) 3 K. Melirtens (Irinin.) 4 Time, 35min. 33 l-ssec. PULLS AT PUKENGAHU. TUG - OF-W All T OUR NAM EN T. Although a number of teams that en tered failed to put in an appearance al the Pukengaliu tug-of-war on Wednesday night those which did compete contested the pulls with a keen enthusiasm that held the interested attention of « good attendance until a late hour. The email number of teams enabled the tournament to be finalised on Wednesday evening, so last night was given over wholly to the dance, which was successful in every respect. Details of the pulls are:— (Heavy weigh ts.) Foundry A beat Pukenga.hu. Toko beat Pukcngahu. Foundry A beat Toko. (Lightweights.) Tuna beat Pukengahu. Foundry B beat Pukengahu. Tuna beat Foundry B. SHEEP WORRYING PREVALENT. Sheep worrying, allegedly by pig hunters’ dogs, has been prevalent in the Puniwhakau district lately, one settler, Mr. L. Bunn being a heavy loser in this respect, TUNA NOTES, Messrs. Fred and Reg. Kovaleski have returned after a very enjoyable holiday spent in Hamilton and Auckland. Mr. and Mrs. E. Jones have returned home. Miss Mary Kovakski has returned to Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. T, W. Henderson have returned after a motor tour through the Auckland and Whangarei district. Mr. and Mrs. F. Wellington have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Edavine in Palmerston North. They returned home on Monday. Mrs. Datson, Auckland, is on a visit to her brother, Mr. T. W. Ifcudorson,