RUGBY FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN JUNIOR WINNERS

OKAFAWA DEFEAT HAWERA

CLOSE SCORE OF FIVE TO THREE.

The finalists in the western and southern divisions of the junior Rugby competitions, Okaiawa and Hawera, tried conclusions for the South Taranaki premiership at Manaia on Saturday. The ground was very wet and greasy and fast play was not possible. After a fairly even bright game Okaiawa defeated Hawera by 5 to 3. In the first spell Okaiawa held a slight advantage but though they gave a good exhibition both sides missed one or two good opportunities of scoring. In the second spell Hawera played more aggressively and held their own most of the time.

Hooper made an opening break-away well followed up by Rakei, who kicked the ball over the dead ball line. Hawera retaliated with a forward rush, Jackson in the vanguard. A forward pass lost the chance. From a penalty at halfway Skipper (Okaiawa) attempted to goal but could not reach the distance. From a scrum the Okaiawa half fed the oacks, a three-quarter run commencing, but at the wing the ball went wide. Okaiawa commenced another promising passing run by the backs, but this was intercepted by Jordan, who bolted. Blair, however, brought him to the ground when there was no one else to pass. Okaiawa forced down on Hawera, Guy clearing with a good line kick. Ngaia and Hooper figured in a hopeful passing turn but they were pushed over the side line. Rakei broke away and kicked to Hawera’s twenty-five. Hawera responded with a forward rush and were making good progress at Okaiawa’s twenty-five wlien G. Ngaia marked. From the loose Murdoch secured and dashed away, but no one was handy to take the pass. Ngaia figured in a passing rush, Tito commencing the movement. Dodging successfully on the greasy ground Ngaia crossed the line and grounded. Skipper converted the try, giving Okaiawa a five-point lead. Walker soon made an opportunity and dashed away to near the goal. Murdoch saved. Hawera forwards again forced the pace but a mark by Murdoch staved off the onslaught. Murdoch commenced a. movement but Eaves secured and put in some good work that carried play to Okaiawa’s line. Clarke bolted along the line and passed to Wilkinson, the latter being overwhelmed at the line. Skipper attempted a shot at goal from the field but failed. James and Murdoch were prominent in a dash to Hawera’s line but a forward pass spoiled the chances. Okaiawa again worried the Hawera pack, Guy saving with a line kick. Skipper tried a shot at goal from a penalty, but the ball fell short. After a spell of indecisive play the Hawera back line worked up-field. A spectacular piece of back play was given by Okaiawa, passing and counterpassing enabling great gains to be made. Hooper was nearly over at the corner when he fell on the slippery ground and after a scramble Guy saved by a short line-kick. Hawera became aggressive and pushed to Okaiawa’s twenty-five where James marked. The ball came back oyer the goal -line and Okaiawa forced. Tito started to break away and threw out to Murdoch, who short punted. The followup, however, was not very successful. Hawera forwards swarmed to Okaiawa’s twenty-five, Murdoch marking to ease the pressure. Ngaia and Hooper ran well but were put out near the goal line. Jackson broke away and a score seemed certain but Blair collared well and Hooper cleared with a kick. Hawera continued the pressure and had Okaiawa worried for several minutes, Murdoch ei entuallv putting a good kick up-field. From a mark Rawcliffe drop-kicked a splendid goal, thus opening Hawera s account. , . Skipper marked near half-way, but Ins shot at goal failed. Hawera made desperate efforts to score, both forwaids and backs playing well but they w f re unable to penetrate the defence. Busing and Jackson were conspicuous in held kicking. The game ended with the scores: . 5 Okaiawa Hawera Mr. H. G. Whittington refereed. FOURTH GRADE FINAL STAR PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS. KAPONGA PUT UP GOOD FIGHT. By seventeen points (four tries, one converted, and a penalty, goal) to m Star, northern division winners, defeated Kaponga, southern champions, in the final of the Taranaki fourth grade championship, which was played as a cur-tain-raiser to the College match at New Plymouth on Saturday. Star appeared to have the advantage in weight and secured the ball from the majority of the scrums, giving their backs plenty of opportunities. Ine backs handled remarkably well considerino- the heavy ground and greasy ball, and their combination and speed enabled them to turn opportunities to points. Barr, the wing three-quaiter, scored three tries. The Kaponga forwards played a fine mime and, their backs tackling well, the ”ame was not as one-eided as the scores indicate. Owing to the colours of the two clubs being the same, Kaponga played in black and white jerseys.

The teams were:— Kaponga.—Whalen, Eliaison, Bradford, Walker, Bradford, Walker, Belli, Benton, Lyndon, Divehall, West, Brewer, Walker, Hickland. Star.—Robb, Burr, Kerr, Lash, Webber, Kinsella, Rothery, Hagerty, Scoble, Worn, Manning, Webber, Sampson, Page, Early.

Star invaded, their forwards showing good footwork to take the ball to the goal line, where Kaponga held them. Kinsella shot the leather out - . His pass went astray and Whalen, the Kaponga full-back, saved cleverly. Star came again, but Kilpatrick brought relief with a speculator. After a Kaponga man had beaten his opponent for the leather as he dived for a try, the ball swung infield, where Kerr snapped it. up and scored, Rothery converting within six minutes of the start. Star was attacking again, but they met solid defence, Kilpatrick and Benton being prominent. Playing up close, Kaponga smothered the opposition attacks and took play to the Star twentyr.„.. ■wTnhj- fl.ml n]av hung

in neutral territory until the Kaponga backs gave a taste of their quality, Walker, Bros; and Kilpatrick playing well. Useful kicks by the Star backs and a solid rush headed by Page and Rothery swept the ball over the line, but Kilpatrick came across from the other wing and kicked to tho dead ball line. Handling by all the Star backs saw Lash sprint for the line, but he was forced out on the corner flag by Kilpatrick. The ball swept across the field and Kilpatrick forced. A centring kick by Kinsella saw "Walker carry back to save end from the scrum Kaponga infringed and Rothery landed an easy goal. Bradford carried play to Star’s twen-ty-five, where Robb, who was playing well at full-back, saved beautifully and Star again assumed the upper hand, Early nearly scoring. Star met sound defence both from backs and forwards and they could not penetrate the defence, a force resulting, while a moment later the ball reached the dead line. Kaponga attacked, but the Star men were able to clear and their forwards carried play to the visitors’ territory, where Rothery flashed the ball through the backs for Burr to lose the ball as he crossed. Kaponga forced. Walker’s mark stopped another Star Tush, and then Bradford Bros, drove them back past half-way. Star came again and Burr forced his way over in the corner, though a section of the crowd thought he had run into touch. Rothery failed to goal. Kaponga came through again, Behl checking a . counter Star . attack, and later heading a solid rush himself. His team rushed play to Star’s line, where from a penalty West failed to goal. Walker fielded the return and looked like attempting a pot, but passed instead. Kaponga pressed hotly on the corner, but Star defended sternly and Robb cleared. Another great rush by Kaponga ended in a scrum on the line, from which Star were able to. clear, and the backs reached the visitors’ twenty-five. Star could not be denied, and Burr capped off a solid rush by scoring near the corner. Rothery failed to goal. Scrambling play followed in midfield, but gradually Stai* worked their way down until Whalen took play to neutral territory. Kerr was sprinting for the line at the end of a passing bout, but Eliason brought him down. Star backs handling well, Burr flashed across again. Rothery failed to goal. Kaponga at once advanced into Star territory, only, to be driven to half-way as time sounded with the score:— Star 17 Kaponga 0 Mr. J. O'Grady refereed. FIFTH GRADE FINAL STRATFORD T.H.S. DEFEAT STAR. NORTHERN DIVISION DECIDED. The fifth grade final, which resulted in a scoreless draw last Saturday, was replayed between Stratford Technical High School, winners of the central division, and Star, winners of the northern division, at Inglewood, and resulted in School winning by a try to nil, and thus winning the championship. Both teams were on the field up to time, but the start was delayed half an hour as neither team had a ball, and one had to be secured from the Inglewood Club. Heavy rain overnight (although not much fell during the game) made the ground and ball very slippery, and the game consequently was rather a mud scramble. Star were somewhat the heavier team, and one would have expected that on the day to be an advantage, but School had much the better of the game. For Star Hopkinson (fullback) and O'Donnell (half) played good games, and for School Paul, Jones, Bonner, Aitken and Thompson were outstanding. The teams were:—

Star. —Hopkinson, Clout, McCauly, Julian, Cropp, McFarlane, O’Donnell, Parkin, A. Gore, Cook, W. Gore, Cursons, Haywood, Stroud, Rutherford. Stratford. —Aitken, Bonner, Jones, Crowe, Schweiters, Fastier, Bone, R. Paul, Sutton, McLaggan, McCluggage, Laraason, Roy Paul, Cowley, Thompson.

Stratford kicked off against a light wind and rain and made a loose forward rush, but Star broke through from a re-bound. From a scrum in School’s twenty-five Crowe saved with a good line kick and play returned to halfway. McLaggan gained considerable ground for School, but Julian saved. Some speculators on both sides amused the spectators, but the ball was very slippery and hard to handle. Play settled in Star’s twenty-five and they were hard pressed for some time, but School could'not cross. From a scrum near Star’s line they hooked and Cropp saved with a good line kick. Stratford tried a passing rush, but off-side play spoilt the attempt. A speculator by Stratford took the ball over the line and Star forced.

School were having considerably the better of matters but Star managed to keep them out. There was very little back play on either side and the game was mostly a mud scramble. Aitken and then Paul made good breaks for the line but were unsuccessful. Star gained the advantage of an interchange of kicks, but School were soon back again. Eventually Star cleared to half-way. The School backs opened out in a good movement started by Sutton, but off-side play stopped them. Half-time came with no score.

Soon after the kick off School broke through and Sutton and Cowley raced for the line, but the Star full-back beat them for the touch down. Star defended strongly and a free kick gave them relief for a short time. From a scrum McCluggage and Paul made a determined bid for the line, but were unable to cress. In the ensuing play Star were forced.

Star then had a turn at attacking, but determined defence kept them out and Thompson cleared. Hopkinson had an unsuccessful attempt at goal for Star from half-way. Sutton played the blind side to Lamason, who put in a good run, beating several, men. McCluggage carried on to Paul, ’who made a good dash. Very soon afterwards the same player got the ball and ran round the Star backs to score in the corner. The kick was unsuccessful. Stratford 3, Star 0.

School kept up the pressure, but Star saved by marking. Star had the better of the game for a short time till Thompson made a good breakaway. A feature of the game was the handling of the ball by Jones. Star attacked strongly and were given a free kick, but failed to goal and the game ended with Stratford three points in the lead. Mr, K, Nodder refereed.