OKATO TUG-OF-WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 4

OKATO TUG-OF-WAR

NGAIA BROS. WIN THE HEAVY. LIGHTWEIGHT TO WAREA ROAD. The Okato tug-of-war tournament was brought to a successful conclusion at the Hempton Hall last night, when, though the weather was not too favourable, there was a large attendance attracted by the prospects of some thrilling pulls. They were not disappointed, for practically all of the five pulls necessary before finality was reached were worthy of a final, whilst in the majority of them the struggle was so tense throughout that the public were roused to a pitch of excitement, it being no exaggeration to say that they were literallv on their toes, and their shouts of encouragement must have rendered some of them hoarse. Four pulls were necessary to decide the lightweight division, all of them being great pulls. Kahui Road first eliminated Hempton, and then were eliminated by Pungarehu. This left Warea and Pungarehu to decide the final, the former having three lives and the latter two. So as *o shorten the tournament it was arranged to eliminate a life from each team. Two desperate pulls were necessary before Warea finally gained the victory. So evenly matched were these teams that in the three times they met there was never more than half an inch between them, Warea winning twice and Pungarehu once. In the heavyweight Ngaia Bros., who had three lives, defeated the one-lifer, .Stony River, by inches in the final

after a good pull, and thus maintained their unbeaten record at the tournament.

The officials all carried out theif duties with precision, a special word of praise being due to the' starter and judge, Mr. W. A. Corbett, the timekeeper, Mr. E. H. Gray, the board stewards, Messrs. J. Shaw and L. O’Sullivan, the marshal, Mr. C. Eustace, and the result steward, Mr. R. C. Larsen.

In presenting tl e prizes, the chairman of the hall committee, Mr. Eustace, congratulated the winning teams and the runners-up, and the teams that “also started.” He paid a tribute to the assistance rendered by the judge, starter and time-keeper, and all. who had helped. He then presented the prizes amidst applause, the various captains acknowledging. In response to a special request Ngaia Bros, gave a vigorous haka. After supper, which was dispensed by the Hempton ladies’ committee, the hall was cleared for dancing, which was.kept up to the strains of the Magnavox, Mr. L. O’Sullivan making an efficient M.C. During the evening competitions were decided, the winners being Messrs. E. V. Andrews, C. R. Wooldridge, A. D. Gray and Mrs. M. R. Hill. Detailed results are:—

LIGHTWEIGHT. Sixth Round.

Kahui (one life) defeated llemptou (one life) by SJ inches. Hempton were handicapped by having to replace a man owing to the non-arrival of one of their usual team. Kahui took an inch and increased it bv another inch before the minute closed. Hempton got into the traces solidly but could make little impression, and with a united heave early in the third minute Kahui increased the margin to 8} inches.

Semi-finale,

Pungarehu (two lives) defeated Kabul (one life) by five inches. Kahui made the light flicker, but then the beam drew level am l for 30 seconds neither light shone. Kahui raised a flicker, but amidst deafening applause Pungarehu drew the blue light just as the sounded. The strain now told and Pungarehu seemed three inches in the next minute and, despite the desperate effortfl of their opponents, increased it to. six inches, Kabul regained an inch in the last 15 seconds.

Pungarehu (two lives) defeated Warea (three lives) by a bare quarter-inch after the best pull of the tournament, Warea thus sustaining their'first defeat, Pungarehu took a bare half-inch but they did not hold it long, as after about 30 seconds with the beam level Warea gained a quarter of an inch. This they held for 15 seconds. Then the beam

drew level and the lights constantly flickered for Pungarehu to gradually prevail and hold 1J inches when the seci ond minute was signalled. The din’was terrific. Gradually Warea regained the leeway an<L with 15 seconds to go required only half an inch. Pungarehu, however, hung on desperately and still held a quarter of an inch as the welcome time signa! sounded. The Final,. Waiea Road (F. Dick, C. Rogers, W. Smith, C. Julian, H. Wells, L. Donald captain) 53st. 41b., two lives, defeated Pungarehu (K. Elwin, A. Watt, S. Corbett, S. McFall, R. Stewart, G. Watt captain), 52st. 101 b., by half an inch after a fine pull. There was great excitement. After a breather the teams settled down for the final pull because, as teach team had two lives, it was decided to make it a sudden death. Pungarehu took a quarter of an inch from the start, but Warea drew the beam level and it hung there for a few seconds till Pungarehu again just hoisted the blue light. For over a minute the lights flickered as neither team could <_ain ( , a decided advantage. Pungarehu began to prevail and with a desperate heave secured two inches, which they held till the two minutes sounded. Warea strove like demons and, despite most determined opposition, gradually prevailed. Each side was urged to frantic efforts by their supporters and cap-' tains. Pungarehu hung on desperately, but with ten seconds to go-the beam drew level, and with one united effort Warea made a last pull to hoist the white light and gain the verdict by a bare half-inch. HE AVY WEIGH!.

Final. Ngaia Bros. (T. Ngaia, W. Mitchell, 11. Ngaia, K. Ngaia, M. Ngaia, T. Lorkin captain), 61st. 131 b., defeated Stony River (J. Inca, J. Goodwin, J. Clements, L. Donald,- J. Sullivan, R. Hill captain/, 63st. 71b., by 2j inches. Ngaia Bros., with a terrific heave, secur' d two inches as soon as the lever was re.eased, but Stony River hung on grimly and secured an inch of it back in the next minute. Again Ngaia took the inch back, only to lose it as the second minute was announced. Pull as Stony River might they could not reduce the inch margin, and towards the close their doughty opponents prevailed to take another inch and a-half.