RUGBY COMPETITIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 5

RUGBY COMPETITIONS

KAPONGA DEFEAT ATHLETIC. HIGH WIND AFFECTS THE PLAY. Kaponga defeated Athletic by a margin of six points at Kaponga on Saturday in a fairly hard game, with a high wind prevailing throughout most of the aame/ In the first half the visitors, with the wind in their favour, scored nine points to nil, but after the change over the home pack of forwards penetrated the visitors’ front line. Play was mainly confined to the visitors’ quarter. Athletic, howexei, put up a stubborn defence and were able to keep down the score. The ground was very heavy, though there was no rain. The frame had just started when Mundy narrowly missed a penalty kick, the ball hitting the cross-bar and rcboundimr into the field. Play was then confined to the forwards. Hammensley broke through with the ball at toe, thrust into the visitors’ twenty-five, and looked like scoring. Barker, however, returned the ball to the middle of the field. In the return the visitors were o-iven a penalty and this time Mundy was successful. Play f or so “ie time was fairly even, Hammerslcy, McCarrison and Paterson each prominently showing themselves in loose rushes, but the defence held and down came the ball with the wind to be forced or to go over the dead ball line. A series of forces was the order until Dymond secured from about 25 yards out from a scrum. He made a cork-screw run to put himself within six yards of the line. Then he transferred to Meyrick, who finished the movement. The try was not converted. Kaponga at this stage considerably livened up. Athletic forced. Hammersley led his pack, taking the ball at toe again to get within striking distance, but he failed. L. Gargan took a penalty unsuccessfully. M. Owen scored from a scrum. The ball changed hands along the line to Owen, who was lyintr in h'handy position. He dashed over near the corner flag. The try was not converted. over. Ivapongu forwards were all but across, Mercer spoiling, the movement by knocking on. McCarrison tried a drop-kick unsuccessfully. The home pack drove repeated thrusts, but Dowdle, Lay, Owen and Dymond were able to check each movement. Dowdle and Dymond again earned applause, their defence saving and keeping the scores down. Mercer also tried two unsuccessful drops. The next score came from a loose dribbling rush, B. Hammersley gathering up in the ruck and crossing the line. Williams failed to convert. Thoumine secured and, dribbling over the line, scored. Williams failed to convert. Gargan secured the third try after several live-yard scrums. Peterson added the points. Peterson scored the final points from about 25 yards out on the line, when he directed a beautiful drop-kick. Mr. R. Bowman refereed.

APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. Referees have been appointed for the Rugby competition matches on Saturday. The fixtures are:— Senior Grade. Okato v. Stratford, at Stratford, Mr. A. O’Sullivan. Old Boys v. Celtic, at New Plymouth, Mr. E. Gilmour. Star V. Clifton, at New Plymouth,. Mr. A. Mac Lean. Tukapa v. Inglewood, at Inglewood, Mr. N. Frost. Opunake v. Athletic, at Hawera, Mr. M. Bailey. Hawera v. Eltham, at Hawera, Mr. J. Kiley. Okaiawa v. Kaponga, at Okaiawa, Mr. L. Clapham. Patea v. Waimate, at Patea. Mr. H. Whittington. Second Grade. Old Boys v. Tukapa, at Racecourse No. 1, at 1.15, Mr. T. Crone. Okato v. School, at Okato, at 2.30. Mr. W. Bezzant. Star v. Lepperton, at Racecourse No. 1, at 3 p.m., Mr. K. Nodder. ' Third Grade. Clifton v, Tukapa, at Waitara, at 3 p.m., Mr. L. Goodacre. Old Boys v. School, at Racecourse No 2, at 1.15, Mr. S. Kibby. Fourth Grade. School B v. Star, at Racecourse No. 3, at 1.15, Mr. L. Ritter. Okato v. School A, at Okato, at 1.15, Mr. L. Bryant. Fifth Grade. School A v. Star, at Racecourse No. i. at 1.15, Mr. W. Inch. School B v. School C, at Racecourse, Mr. Connell. ANOTHER NAVAL VISITOR FRENCH WARSHIP TO DOMINION. The French cruiser Tourville, which is one of the-“ Treaty” cruisers, and which / has a tonnage of 10,000, will visit Wellington from August 8 to IG. The Tourville has a length of 582 feet, a beam of 58 feet, and a draught of 21 feet. She has eight oil-burning boilers, four engines, and four propellers, and a speed of 30 knots. She carries eight 8-inch guns as a main battery, and a number of smaller guns. There are two triple torpedo sets and two seaplanes are carried.