RUGBY GAMES IN THE MUD

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1929, Page 4

RUGBY GAMES IN THE MUD

SECOND ROUND NEARING CONCLUSION

LEADERS MAINTAIN THEIR POSITIONS

OPUNAKE HAVE A NARROW ESCAPE

Conditions could hardly have been worse for football on Saturday, when the fourth series of the second round matches in the Taranaki senior Rugby competition were played. Heavy rain that fell the previous night and for three or four hours in the morning right up to the coniiueiicement of the early matches made practically all the grounds very heavy and muddy, so that they quickly churned up and became veritable quagmires in ■which it was practically impossible to secure a firm foothold. The ball became very heavy, greasy and elusive. Play under the circumstances was mostly confined to the forwards, though in some of the matches surprising bright flashes of back play were witnessed. There were no surprises on Saturday unless it was the very close call that Opunake had at the hands of Athletic, the southern leaders just getting home by a point, and the defeat of Patea bj Waimate. As a result the position of the leaders remains unaltered, the issue still being between Opunake, Okaiawa and Hawera in the South and between Star, Stratford and Inglewood in the North. Next Saturday should throw some light on the ultimate result m the North, as Star meet Stratford and Inglewood meet Old Boys. . Owing to the wet morning and the fact that a number of their players are suffering with the 'flu and from colds, Okato forfeited to Stratford. They will play a friendly game on Wednesday, Results at a glance are-

NORTHERN DIVISION.

Star 11 v. Clifton nil. Stratford, by default, Okato Inglewood 6 v. Tukapa 3. Old Boys 11 v. Celtic 6.

SOUTHERN DIVISION

Opunake 12 v. Athletic 11. Okaiawa 9 v. Kaponga 3. Hawera 9 v. Eltham nil. Waimate 5 v. Patea 3.

NORTHERN RUGBY GAMES

STAR DEFEAT CLIFTON MARGIN OF ELEVEN POINTS. SCRAMBLE IN THE MUD. ll points (three tries, one converted) to nil, Star defeated Clifton at Pukekura Park in a match that wasifull of interest, though, of course, on account of the muddy nature of the Held play was mostly confined to the forwards. Each side’s numerous attempts to open up the game were nullified by the greasy nature of the ball. Though (billed to start at 1.15 p.m. it "Was 25 minutes later before the teams ■ lined out, neither side being at full strength, Clifton being without Ward, among others, and Star without McDonald. Hunt, the Star full-back, made hie reappearance and with Young, the Clifton full-back, played a sound game. Star had the better of the first spell, but in the second play was much more even. Clifton set the ball moving and immediately, from a line-out, McLean broke away, carrying play to the visitors’ twenty-five. McFarlane, the visitor’s half, found touch but the Star men swept over the line, the Ball going to touch in goal. Star tried to open up but -were frustrated by the state of the ground, whilst Star were keeping it as close as possible. Star kept the visitors’ penned in. Suddenly Pepperell, the Star half, securing from the scrum, shot the ball to Clegg, who cut through ' and dived over to score. Harvey converted. Clifton took a turn at attack, but Star were soon hack again, a good kick by Blincoe bringing play to Clifton’s line, where McFarlane and Young saved. A good bout of passing by the Star Backs saw Blincoe well tackled by Sutton. The visiting pack gave a taste' of their quality and, Hunt failing to pick up the greasy ball, they swept down to Star’s line before Hunt was able to relieve the situation with a long kick to half-way. Fielding a high kick from Billing, Watson cut through neatly and started his backs going, but the pass went astray and Hunt cleared The Star forwards took a hand, but were Jvell checked by McFarlane, Carey and Young, and next moment the visitors were driven back by Hunt, when they solidly attacked. Star then pressed hotly on Clifton’s line and the bal! swung across the field where, from a loose rush, Moorhead scored. Harvey failed to goal. This roused Clifton, •who attacked hotly, but Clarke cleared. A little later Clegg, who had been playing a fine game, retired injured and McDonald went on, Hoffmann going to wing three-quarter. The spell ended soon afterwards with Clifton attacking and the score: Star 8, Clifton 0. Star attacked on resuming. McDonald, who had gone to first. five-eighth, handled for Blincoe to make a good dash. Clifton took a turn but were checked by Star, and McLean led a solid rush that put Star on the attack till Young checked them. Cooper, Buddy and Fowler led the visiting pack right to Star’s twenty-five, where after a . bout at defence McLean and Wolfe led the Star pack through again. Safe play by each full-back kept the play in neutral territory until, with a great rush, J Clifton kicked through the opposition for Moorhead to rush across and speculate to touch just in time right on the •goal line. Again Star pressed, Carey just forcing ahead of Beck. A mark by Watson, who found the line at halfway, gave welcome relief. Beck, Shaw and McLean led a great Star rush, but were well stopped and then Hunt cut through to kick high. He smothered Young and with the Star forwards pressing matters looked dangerous, but Clifton put all their weight. in and cleared. It was only temporarily, however, as McDonald flashed through, to be collated only yards from the line, and Cliffbn forced. Star kept up the pressure, 11. Wolfe dashing down the line, : but he had stepped out. A penalty let Watson line in Star’s twenty-five, but Star soon cleared and attached. Jonas saved with a great line kick. Clifton, keeping the ball at toe, took play to Star’s twenty-five, where Watson burst through but was held up by I- Blincoe on the ; corner. Wolfe broke.

[ through and kicked, smothering Young. Billing carried on but was badly obstructed. Star, however, carried, on, sweeping the ball over the line,' where McDonald looked like scoring, but Clifton forced. Again McLean led the forwards, but Watson saved cleverly. A Clifton man tried to find the line, but failed, and H. Wolfe snapped up and dashed over at the corner to score. Star did not attempt to convert, realising it was hopeless with the heavy ball. The game ended soon afterwards, the second spell being curtailed 15 minutes owing to the late start. Star 11 Clifton 0 Mr. F. J. Eggleton was the referee. OLD BOYS DEFEAT CELTIC STIRRING TUSSLE IN THE MUD. Visiting forwards play well. After a game that kept the public on the tip-toes of expectation throughout, Old Boys defeated Celtic by 11 points (three tries, one converted) to 6 (a try and a penalty goal). The game was- very evenly contested. Indeed, the honours go to the Celtic forwards, who played a great game and always troubled the opposition, whilst their defence throughout was very deadly. It was only the superiority of the Old Boys backs that gave them victory, though in the second spell Celtic showed up -with some bright movements and hut for obstruction would possibly have equalised the scores. O’Keefe played a great game and Dodd at full-back was very sound. Old Boys were handicapped by the absence of Morey at half, and experimented with Brown at first fiveeighth in the first spell and second fiveeighth in the second. Celtic at once attacked, their forwards going well. Securing the ball their backs got moving nicely but a dropped pass let Brown secure and line. Again Celtic attacked, but Drader marked and, Beardmore failing to field, found touch. Webster set Old Boys attacking and Medley made a great dash down the line, but was collared by Dodd. After a spell at defence Celtic forwards made a determined dash, and from a scrum Bublitz, using the blind, sent Pryce away, but he was collared by Bellringer. The visitors were securing the ball and using the blind judiciously. Fumbling by the Old Boys backs let Celtic reach the line before Brown secured and lined. Celtic kept pressing hotly and had Old Boys penned in until Olson just forced in front of two visitors. The ball was by then much drier, the handling being good on both sides. A couple of free kicks let Brown put Old Boys in an attacking position. Old Boys tried to open out, 'but dropped passes let Celtic forwards break away. A rebound let S. Fookes, Drader and Palmer through. Drader appeared to get over at the corner, but a kick-out at the twentyfive yards was ordered. Old Boys’ backs quickly got into action for a spectacular burst to see Bellringer just thrown out at the corner by Dodd, and from the line-out O’Keefe, Beardmore and Co. cleared. Old Boys kept at it. Pryce was smothered and Bellringer dash.ed up and dived on the ball near the corner. Priar failed to goal. Play hung in midfield for a while till Celtic forwards burst through. Young kicked high and, following up fast, compelled Bellringer to hurriedly line. Pryce failed to gather up and a chance was lost. Old Boys infringed and Dodd equalised the scores with a great goal. When S. Fookes broke away and sent Medley streaking Old Boys’ hopes went up, but Kettle well downed the speedy winger. Old Boys kept up the pressure but Olson could not get the ball out. Brown, with a wide pass, cut out Fookes and sent Webster away, but Medley was again tackled. From a serum Old Boys forwards carried on in a loose rush for Allen to score. Priar failed to goal. Celtic pressed on resuming but kicked too hard and K. Fookes forced. Priar found touch right at the corner, a force resulting. Half-time sounded with the score: Old Boys 6, Celtic 3. Brown set Fookes going at once. He cut through but his pass to Webster was low and fast play followed in midfield, the Celtic forwards playing solidly. Using the' blind side. Fookes broke

away but Baunton checked him. Celtic, led by O’Keefe, Johnston and Tindell, swept well past half-way. Dodd was safe when Old Boys counter-attacked. Johnston led his pack with a great burst close to Old Boys’ line, where from the scrum O’Keefe carried on to score a fine try. Dodd failed to convert. With scores even play became willing. Beardmore led his pack in a solid rush, but Brown snapped from their feet and cut through to put Old Boys in a good position. A fine passing bout through all the Old Boys’ backs saw Medley again dash away, but he could not pierce a solid defence. A dropped pass by Brown let O’Keefe and Baunton away with the bah at their feet. Baunton kicked through with Old Boys in pursuit. He overran the ball and Old Boys were not only able to clear, but attack, Brown lining near the corner from a penalty. Again Old Boys’ backs were attacking. K. Fookes kicked too hard and Celtic forced. Old Boys, securing from a loose scrum, sent K. Fookes away. He cut through cleanly and sent Brown over to score a great try under the posts. Brown also converted. Celtic came with a great dash, the forwards and backs doing their share, and Old Boys breathed freely when a force resulted. Celtic had put fresh vim into their attack and when Johnston burst through and sent Richardson away their hopes rose. Richardson made a run with Brown in support. He put the ball at his toe and kicked through near the line. Brown threw himself at him and brought him down, a piece of obstruction that roused the ire of the crowd. Bellringer forced. The crowd were now decidedly with Celtic, who attacked hotly, but a dropped pass let S. Fookes and Drader through. Dodd, however, earned applause by cutting through and lining at half-way. Celtic, playing with great dash, kept Old Boys defending, but found the tackling solid. With 12 minutes to go Celtic forwards made the pace hot, and when Old Boys cleared Dodd drove them back until Drader came through to their twenty-five. Old Boys’ backs swung ■snappily into action for Webster to make a dash but just fail to reach the line. Old Boys tried hard for the try that would mean safety, but Fookes passed forward. Celtic again assumed the upper hand, both forwards and backs moving nicely. In stemming the tide Plumtree was put out of action and retired, being replaced-by J. Thomas. Celtic kept up the pressure, making the pace willing. Bellringer was slightly injured. Great footwork by Drader had Old Boys hotly attacking as time sounded with the score; Old Boys 11 Celtic 6 Mr. A. McLean was referee. PLAY ON SODDEN GROUND INGLEWOOD JUST WINS. INDIVIDUALS PLAY WELL. (Playing on a ground hardly better than a swamp, Inglewood just managed to defeat Tukapa by a margin of three points. Though it was not raining at the time, the two teams lined out on a sodden field and Inglewood kicked off. Soon the Tukapa backs were attacking in line, but Inglewood, adopting tactics suitable to the day, retaliated with a forward rush which R. Oliver checked only with a lucky speculator. From a scrum Tukapa hooked but before C. Brown could gather in the ball Galbraith was on him and had kicked it •hard. N. Ross followed up speedily, keeping the ball at his toe until he had eluded two opponents. He scored in the corner, but failed with his kick. Again the Tukapa forwards hooked and C. Brown cleared deftly to his backs. Just as a try seemed certain Thomson gave it low pass to Smith, who was running too far out. But the ground gained was not lost. From a loose forward melee Dickson cut through and passed to Sullivan, who scored. Boswell’s kick did not go over. The mud-splashed Tukapa forwards, led by McNeill, forced their way into Inglewood’s twenty-five, but Maingay went down gamely. Immediately the Tukapa 'backs took a turn but Dickson was caught in possession and Inglewood fought their way back to half-way, where Clegg broke away with the other Inglewood forwards following closely. J. Ros-s attempted to raise the score from a free kick, but found the ball too slippery. Maingay tried the blind side, but when H. Brown was blocked he centred and N. Ross raced hard. In the scrambler that followed Tukapa forced. Inglewood were attacking with both forwards and backs, .tnd Tukapa had to force again. H. Brown received from Galbraith and after a powerful run in which he shook off several opponents, forced his way over in the corner. J. Ross failed to

■•"ivert and the spell ended with the score; Inglewood 6, Tukapa 3. A little while after the second spell had opened C. Gudgeon (Inglewood) retired owing to injuries. He was replaced by Laurence and Corney was taken out of the pack to play on the wing. O’Dowda led the Tukapa pack to the line, but Galbraith, who was playing full-back now, picked up the ball in front of the Tukapa forwards. When he was tackled N. Ross carried on the movement. Tukapa were penalised and although he was close to the Tukapa line, J. Ross was unable to goal. From a tussle in the middle of the field Thomson broke away and kicked high for his forwards who were following up. Galbraith fielded the wet ball skilfully and saved his side from a dangerous situation. Both sides were claying ragged football but a cohesive movement could hardly be expected on such a day. The game was stopped while McNeill cleaned a large splash of mud out of his eye. Maingay sent his backs away, but owing to solid tackling by the Tukapa five-eighths they were forced across the field in a useless canter. Using his height to advantage McNeill pushed his way through the line-out, but Corney cleared with a short punt. Inglewood were penalised and Hill tried to goal from well out, but the ball fell short. Individualism was the dominant feature of the game, Galbraith especially was playing magnificently, and time after time kicked hard and raced through to down his man. Thomson with the ball at his toe tried to find an opening, but H. Brown picked up smartly and punted for the corner. Inglewood were awarded a free kick. H. Brown, however, could not get the ball to rise. Galbraith secured and after running round the opposition cut in, but dropped the ball just as he was over the line, Inglewood launched another attack and Corney nearly scored. The game ended with the score: Inglewood fl Tukapa 3 Mr. Frost was referee.