FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1929, Page 4

FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS

STAR WIN O’BRIEN SHIELD TUKAPA DEFEATED FIVE TO NIL. DISPLAY NOT EXHILARATING. •The football season in Taranaki vir tually came to an end on Saturday when the annual matches between Star and Tukapa for the Dan O’Brien Shield (seniors) and Carbine Shield (juniors) took place in warm sunshine at Pukekura Park. Star won the Dan O'Brien Shield by five points to nil, and Tukapa the junior trophy. . The senior game was hardly an exhilarating exhibition of Rugby. The teams were apparently suffering from an e.id-of-season laxity, and many mistakes were made in handling, lukapa had a superiority in the backs and Star in the •forwards. Had Tukapa secured the ball more, they would probably have won, but the Star pack for the greater part of the game kept the ball well away from them. Ncverthelss it was Star s backs who scored for them the try that won the match, Tukapa attacked from the kick off, and tossing the ball about with sweet abandon raked Star’s defence fore and aft for a few minutes. Away wont the backs from a line-out, and a sparkling passing bout ended when Thomson cut neatly through and passed to Evans who was bustled into touch a yard from the line. Star retaliated and for a time the forwards hammered away at the Tukapa corner, tumbling over the line several times but being unable to score through losing possession. Harvey eventually burst over, but could not ground the ball owing'to being held up, and from the scrum following the ensuing whirlpool Tukapa were able to force. Star forwards continued to assert their superiority both in. the set scrums and the . loose, but the Tukapa inside backs werecleverer. Boswell pleased the spectators with some pretty cutting-in, which open: cd the way to-two or three spectacular passing rushes.. The line kicking by both teams was remarkably good. R. Oliver, the Tukapa full-back, being particularly strong and accurate., Sullivan broke away on a solo dribbling rush for Star, as he was destined to do several • more' times before the game was over, and an exciting duel for possession took place between him and Hunt. Following up fast, he tackled Hunt, but the latter, saved with a clever grubber kick . as he was lying on the ground. As the first spell was nearing its end the Tu- ’ kapa forwards began to hold their own, and their team had a territorial advan- • tage. Billing cut sharply through the Star line, and Tukapa were in dire straits for a time, but the movement broke up in a succession of forward passes and knocks-on by both sides. In the dying stages, of the spell Hunt was . the shining star in the .firmament, givm ing a great'exhibition of full-back play, w. There was a considerable amount of. obstructional play by members of both teams, but it passed unpunished. The ;interval icame with noi score.' .. Within two minutes of the opening of the new spell Star opened their scoring account in a sensational manner. Called upon to defend, Oliver failed to find the line. Fielding the ball cleanly, Kinsella paused, dummied a couple of • opponents, and after a sharp stab run punted to the corner. Unluckily for Tukapa the ball bounced infield, and .. Pepperell, following up fast, was able to gather it up in his stride, handing in to Billing for the latter to run over unopposed. Harvey’s kick struck the upright and bounced over the bar. McNeill was injured in the leg and had to retire. Dickey replaced him. After Tukapa had been hemmed into their own territory Brittenden sprinted away down the touch line, curved infield, passed out to Thomson, took Thomson’s infield pass, and was away again, being tackled after covering three-quarters the length of the field. Tukapa began to feel the strain first, and Star gained a definite ascendancy. On one occasion half the team handled, the ball travelling to and fro across the field a yard or two from the Tukapa line. • Time and again a try seemed almost certain, but - always something happened to prevent it. Then the Star forwards, headed by Clarke, swarmed over the line, but a drop-out was ordered. The handling •> grew ' very patchy, -but happily the crowd, basking in the warm sunshine, were amusedly tolerant rather than cynically ■ disappointed. The game ended without further score:;:— Star 5 Tukapa 0 t Mr. F. J. Eggleton refereed.

THE CARBINE SHIELD. WIN FOR TUKAPA JUNIORS. VICTORY BY 17 POINTS TO. 3. By a margin of 17 points (five tries, one converted) to 3 points (a penalty goal) Tukapa juniors comfortably retained the Carbine Shield against Star’s challenge. The winners owe their victory to the speed . and combination of their backs. Play in the first spell was even, each side .notching three points, but in the second spell Tukapa had much the better of the game. Star opened against the sun and at once attacked, but Tukapa cleared and their backs opened out, compelling Star to run . behind to save. Again Tukapa got going, , Papps sending Wyatt away to be tackled. R. Sampson with a long kick relieved and, the forwards carrying on, Ninkie was caught o:-side, leaving Harvey to add three points from the resultant penalty. The Tukapa pack dribbled to Star’s line before being held up, and from the serum Papps again set his chain moving for Wyatt to in-pass when held up. Godfrey later cut through, but a penalty let Star move past half-way. McLeod followed up smartly and Ninkie was off-side. Harvey’s kick struck the post. Playing, close up, Star smothered the Tukapa backs, but the latter’s forwards took a'hand, removing the scene to Star’s territory, where Harvey saved by lining twice in succession. Again Papps swung his line into action, a touch in goal resulting. Another penalty from a long way out saw Harvey’s shot fall short. Lobb sprinted for the line but was over- • hauled by O'Bryne, who secured the ball ' and streaked to mid-field, where Fitzpatrick essayed a pot that went wide and was forced. The Star backs ' got' moving with precision, the chain handling nicely for Fitzpatrick to be well.tackled by Wyatt. < Play "hung for a <while m mid-field until an infringement' let Tukapa invade. Loose

and sent Wyatt away to. score behind the posts. His kick struck the post. This heartened Tukapa and they came back, at once with a great burst but met very determined defence, the spell ending, with easy and the scores three all. The Star forwards took play to Tukapa’s line on resumption, but from a line-out Spedding secured and galloped to Star’s twenty-five, where the defenders infringed, giving Morris > a shot that went just wide. Spedding cut through prettily and sent McLean away, the latter handing to Knott, who dashed over with several opponents hanging to him. His kick was charged down. Again Spedding and Lobb were prominent, sweeping the ball over the line, where Burliss forced just in time. The Star backs kept going until R. Sampson gave a wild pass which Wyatt snapped up to send Morris over to score. His attempt to convert failed. These two reverses roused Star, whose forwards attacked and from a penalty Hoskin had a pot that went wide Fast play followed but Tukapa gradually worked down • and were looking dangerous when Hoskin cleverly evaded three opponents to get Star out of a corner. The Star pack, led by McLeod, were very aggressive. The Star backs took a turn but their passing lacked snap. McLeod, following up fast, secured and sent Moorhead streaking for the line, but Wyatt accounted for him. Star pressed hotly till overeagerncss caused an infringement that let Tukapa away. Spedding and Knott started a rush that ended in Spedding scoring, and Knott goaling. A Star back was beaten by the bounce and Wyatt, snapping up, streaked across to score. Ninkie failed to. goal. Fourteen points in arrears, Star did: not give up but attacked and, aided by a penalty, took play to within five yards of Tukapa’s line, where from a scrum Hoskin flashed the ball to his backs. Lewis was able to clear. Again Spedding and Knott swept over the line, but Burliss forced, being temporarily incapacitated in the effort. Star were the attackers as time was called with the score: — Tukapa 17 Star 3 Mr. L. Bryant was the referee. TUKAPA CLUB DINNER. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. Om Saturday evening an enjoyable function was held a.t the Imperial Hotel, where the Tukapa Club held its annual dinner. Mr. A. R. Standish, president of the club, occupied the chair, there being an attendance of over 50, including representatives of local clubs. After full justice had been done to the good fare provided by Host J. L. Power, a short toast list was discussed, opening with the loyal toast. The chairman proposed ‘‘The Taranaki Rugby Union,” coupled with the name of Mr. J. Garcia. Mr. Standish referred to the vast amount of administrative work carried out by the officials, all of whom were busy men. In view of the visit of the British team next season, Mr. Standish stressed the need for players getting into form as early as possible. In his response Mr. Garcia apologised for the absence; of Messrs J. McLeod, E. S. Neilson and S. G. Smith, M.P. Mr. Garcia pointed out that the union, though there was evidently a certain amount of dissatisfaction in the southern, division, was doing its best ‘for the province as a whole without preference for any particular section or locality. He did not think separate committees for the two divisions necessary, but stated that the whole matter would be .carefully considered. Mr. Garcia pointed out that the union, owing to the cost of administering such a big district, was not a wealthy body -and had not even a ground of its own. Steps were being taken, however, to remedy that state of affairs. He had no doubt the union would see to it that the Taranaki team was selected in plenty of time to meet the very strong British side expected next season, and was confident Taranaki would again uphold its traditions. Mr. Garcia complimented the Tukapa Club on the very fine standard of play maintained, a feature common to the New Plymouth clubs. Mr. Jackson proposed ‘‘The. Tukapa Chib,” Mr. Sullivan responding. The medal for the most improved player was presented by the chairman to O’Dowda, the medal for the best back to 0. Evans, and the western division shield to Knott, the captain of the juniors. In proposing “Kindred Clubs,” Mr. C. Brown complimented the Star Club on its win in the northern division and the Opuhake Chib on winning, the. Taranaki championship. Messrs ,J. S. McLean (Star) and Howell (Old Boys), responded on behalf of their respective. clubs. Other toasts included “I'lie Referees” (Mr. Corkill), rcspondeded .to by Mr. Scriingeour; “The Press” (Mr. Evans), responded to by Mr. McLean; “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr. Lepine and responded to by Mr. Thompson. The toast of “The Host and Hostess” was proposed by Mr. Standish, Mr. Power responding. The toast of “The Chef” was also honoured.

THE ALL BLACK TEAM. STAR PLAYER SELECTED. Enthusiasts throughout Tai'anaki will congratulate H. McLean, the well-known Star and Taranaki forward, on his inclusion in the All Black team to meet the New Zealand Maoris on Wednesday. Chosen as an emergency for the North Island team, McLean was given his chance by the defection of one of the Auckland players. As was expected he rose to the occasion, and by the brilliance and honesty of his play gained his inclusion. A young player who takes the game seriously, he has only to keep going to gain further honours. At the Tukapa dinner on Saturday evening, the president of the club (Mr. A. R. Standish) took occasion to congratulate, Mr. J. G. McLean and the Star Club on the inclusion of McLean in’the New Zealand team. INTERPROVINCIAL LEAGUE GAME OTAGO BEAT CANTERBURY TEAMS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The Otago League football team defeated Canterbury on the Caledonian grounds to-day by 24 points to 15. The weather was glorious, the attendance being between 2000 and 3000. The Otago juniors defeated the Canterbury juniors by 19 points to nine. AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE BEATEN. By Telegraph—Press • Assn. —Copyright. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. United Service. London, Sept. 28. The Australian Rugby League tourists - ' 1- . ... i- -1,., Tkn.