ATHLETIC OVERWHELMED

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1929, Page 4

ATHLETIC OVERWHELMED

OKATAWA'S EASY VICTORY. TWENTY’- FOUR POINTS TO THREE Although it was .surmised Okaiawa would defeat Athletic at Hawera, it was not expected that such a crushing defeat would be administered. The score, 24 points (six tries, three converted) to 3 (a try) was a fair indication of the merits of the two teams, for Athletic were overwhelmed. Dogged determination was displayed by the Okaiawa forwards, and the weak defence enabled their backs to swing into action and score almost at will. Spasmodically the Athletic team made a few thrusts, but cohesion was lacking and the rearguard could . not handle the greasy ball. Nevertheless Okaiawa were penalised for numerous infringements and Athletic, had they had a kick in the team, would probably have been within striking distance at the end of the match.

Athletic opened up passing from the line out, Dowdie hanging on and running into the ruck. The Okaiawa pack burst through, Hartley in the van. Tuki failed to go down to the ball and the visitors dribbled over for Rangi Ruru to score. Ike goaled from near the side line. Phillips broke away and fell on the ball near the post, inches short of notching Athletic’s first try. From the resulting scrum Athletic infringed and Okaiawa cleared from the penalty. It was a good chance lost for Athletic. Hartley then threw out to Lynsky, the ball then going to Johnston, who ran straight and gave to Lyman, for the latter to be overhauled by Dowdlc a few yards from the line. Cameron appeared to carry on from off-side, but Smith forced ahead of him. Owen, in attempting to relieve for Athletic, wag off-side Ike made a magnificent attempt to goal from half-way, the ball sailing far past and just outside the posts. Okaiawa then commenced a brilliant passing movement that bore fruit. Hartley secured from a scrum, sold the dummy to Lay and the ball travelled swiftly via Lynskey and Johnston, to Symon, who cut in-field and had only the full-back to pass. Tuki made sure of his man, but McCullum, who appeared alongside his clubmate, took the pass and scored. Ike added the major points. This reverse seemed to infuse more dash into Athletic, and a thrust by McLean pierced the defence and gave the home team territorial advantage. An exhibition of prancing and dancing by Owen amused the crowd, f >r he eluded player after player, traversed the field twice, and finished up in the position he started from. Obviously off-side, Rangi Ruru was successful in transferring play by a great solo effort, and Athletic were compelled to strenuously defend. Owen then rehabilitated himself in the eyes of the crowd by obtaining possession near his own goal line and making a trickv run from one end of the field to the other, where he was well tackled by the full-back near the line. The Okaiawa forwards, rallying in great style, forged back with the ball at toe and, when near Athletic’s twenty-five, K. Clarke shot out from the ruck and threw himself across the line. Ike converted just as half-time was called. Rain had commenced during, the interval, and when play was resumed small lakes of water appeared in the depressions. Ike did not ra-appear with his team, his place being taken by Tippets. For a time Athletic were sorely pressed until Tuki, with a long, high punt, found touch beyond half-way. The visiting forwards went downfield in massed formation and Tuki was unable to stem the tide, Tippet breaking away to score. Rangi Burn’s kick was wild. Almost immediately the Okaiawa pack again forged through for Tippets to notch his second try. The kick failed. A series of attacks by Okaiawa looked dangerous, but Lay and McLean were enabled to effect several good saves. The crowd was on its toes when Owen made another sensational dash up the field. Over-eagerness spoiled a good opportunity, for he knocked on. Athletic’s vanguard began to work harder, with the result that Okaiawa were penned in their own twenty-five for some time. An infringement gave Athletic a chance of opening their scoring account, but it' was not accepted. Eventually, by weight of numbers, the visiting forwards worried play to half-way, where Owen made a great gallop upfield and lost possession midway between the twenty-five and the goal line. Symon on one wing fielded Lay’s long punt and, assisted by the fact * that Athletic did not follow np, ran up and started a passing bout on the left wing, the ball travelling via several hands to McCullum, whose pace enabled him to score at the corner. The try was not converted. Dowdie cut in from the ruck in Okaiawa’s twenty-five, sending a long, low pass out to Meyrick on the left wing. Meyrick over-ran the pass, but Owen snapped up and ran over at the corner. The kick went wide. The game ended shortly afterwards with the score: — Okaiawa 24 Athletic 3 Mr. H. G. Whittington refereed. HAWERA’S DEFEAT OF PATEA INTERESTING GAME IN THE MUD. MANY BRIGHT SPOTS WITNESSED. Hawera defeated Patea by 9 points to nil at Patea. Despite the fact that the game was played on a sodden ground with a greasy ball, it proved to be open and interesting from start to finish. Although Hawera held the advantage territorially and obtained more of the ball from the scrums, Patea’s sound defence undoubtedly kept the score down. Both sets of packs worked well, although Patea’s weight did not tell as effectively as it might have done. The wetness of the ground did not prevent the backs throwing the ball about in a number of interesting “passing rushes. Patea’s kick-off went out and from tho scrum Patea carried play to Ha-

wera’s twenty-five. Th e latter retaliated and after a period of give and take play near Patea’s line R. Thompson marked, saving an awkward situation. A Patea forward rush, with W. Baldwin in the lead, gained a considerable amount of ground, which Cheevers regained by lining well down the field. Hawera pressed the advantage until a free kick gave Patea relief. Play remained in midfield until Patea forwards broke away, catching Chee vers with the ball. From a free kick Baldwin attempted to goal, the kick falling just short. Hawera cleared to half-way, maintaining the pressure to Patea’s line, but the blue defence proved sound. Good line kicking by Hawera gained considerable ground on two or three occasions. Hawera were beating Patea for tho ball in the scrums, enabling S. F. Riley to send his backs away, the greasy ball preventing clean handling. Patea, with Wills and Crotty prominent, aroused excitement by a determined rush down. the line, but Anderson cleared and again Patea were hi danger until R. Thompson lined at half-way. Territorially Hawera were having much the better of the game, but could not cap their efforts by registering points. Twice from scrums S. F. Riley had his backs on tho move, but each time the movements broke down. - Hawera carried play to Patea s line, where a succession of scrums took place. Every time Hawera hooked- the ball, the inside backs made superhuman efforts to score without avail. At lart Patea hooked and carried play to half-way. From a scrum McCarthy started a '■movement thai again threatened Patea’s line, but a' rush with Baldwin and Bourke in th’a lead cleared to half-way. Again Hawera attacked, Patea’s sound defence saving the situation. Wills was off-side and Anderson opened Hawera’s account with a penalty goal. Half-time was called a few minutes later.

Upon resuming, over-eagerness causing off-side play checked Hawera’s initial rush, good lining by Zimmerman putting Patea on the attack, the ball going “dead.” Two Hawera. forward rushes with Robinson, K. Riley and Guy figuring prominently took play to Patea’s line, where from a passing rush, from a scrum McCarthy was near scoring.' Patea cleared to’ half-way, but back came Hawera in a- loose rush, Patea again clearing. Zimmerman lined well down, putting Patea on the attack. The attack was short lived, however, for by a succession of rushes Hawera reached Patea’s line, where from a scramble Guy scored. K. Riley’s kick failed. Kicking up and down the field followed until Poi lined in Patea territory. Then followed the most exciting piece of play of the day. From a scrum near Patea’s line Zimmerman intercepted Riley’s pass to McCarthy and raced nearly to half-way before kicking a grubber, which almost l readied Hawera’s line. In a race for possession Anderson won and kicked into touch a few yards from the line. A period of seesaw play marked by a determined rush by Pipi, Patea’s diminutive half, who was playing a plucky game, followed this outburst, until from a scramble K< Riley went over to score Hawera’s second try. McCarthy’s kick failed. A brilliant passing bout down the line between Crawford and Zimmerman gained a lot of ground for Patea, but littl< came of the movement. Even play followed until time sounded with th( scores:— Hawera 9 Patea ....' j) Mr, A. E. Spratt refereed, '' POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS. SENIOR GRADE. Northern Division.

OKATO CLUB MEETING. A meeting of the committee of th® Okato Football Club was held on Friday flight, the president, Mr. L. Carey, occupying the chair. The circular from the South clubs in connection with the be held at Inglewood on Monday exening was discussed, and it was decked to appoint Mr. J. Garcia the club s dele c at 4 at the meeting, giving him a free, hand...

9*3 I CO .s 5 ' h § d 1Oh Star . ... 12 10 0 2 123 63 20 Stratford .. 12 8 1 3 1,16 79 17 Old Boys .... 12 7 1 4 131 70 1® Inglewood . .. 12 7 1 4 93 66 15 Celtic .. .... 12 6 0 6 102 120 13 fl Tukapa .... 12 3 2 7 130 109 Clifton . .... .12 3 1 8 96 135 7 Ok$lto c o .... 12 1 0 11 54 203 2 SECOND GRADE. - Northern Division. THIRD GRADE. «. Star .... 10 8 0 2 153 65 10 Old Boys .... 970 2 128 35 14 Tukapa .... 10 6 0 4 130 58 12 School .. ....- 7 2 0 0 58 85 •4 Clifton .... 9 1 0 8 23 176 2 FOURTH GRADE. 7 7 0 0 175 6 14 School A .... 050 I 114 47 10 8 4 0 4 37 107 8 Tukapa .... 930 6 44 92 fl School B .... 700 7 21 141 fl FIFTH-GRADE. Star .... 7 4 1 2 60 65 9 School A .... 7 3 1 3 32 26 1 School B .... 723 2 34 57 7 School C .... 7 2 1 4 31 49 5 *Inclucl*s default. SOUTHERN DIVISION. SENIORS. Opunake ... 12 10 2 0 173 68 22 Okaiawa .. 12 10 1 1 163 92 21 Hawera ... 12 10 0 2 136 69 20 Patea .... 12 5 1 6 91 86 n Waimate .. 12 4 0 8 94 170 8 Athletic ... 12 3 0 9 104 165 0 Kaponga ... 12 3 0 9 93 114 fl Eltham .... 12 1 0 11 70 100 2 JUNIORS. Hawera .... 11 10 1 0 112 47 21 16 Patea .... 11 5 0 6 74 80 Alton .. ..11 4 1 6 76 111 9 4 Athletic .... 11 2 0 9 04 88 WESTERN GROUP. Waimate Okaiawa Opunake Kaponga ... 11 8 0 ... 10 7 0 ... 10 4 0 ... 11 2 0 3 96 3 95 6 .83 9 39 50 56 00 147 ifl 14 fl 4