TUKAPA BACKS PREVAIL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 4

TUKAPA BACKS PREVAIL

-SUPERIORITY TO OKATO TEAM.

MARGIN OF 16 POINTS TO THREE. By four tries, two converted, to an unconverted try Tukapa defeated Okato at Pukekura Park. The game was full of incident, the Tukapa backs opening ■out on all possible occasions, and it was their pace that gave the team the victory, though Okato stood up well to the attack. Facing a strong sun Tukapa kicked off and at once attacked. From a penalty Boswell failed to goal. Tukapa received from the scrum and Boswell set his backs moving. Dickson did not hold a pass and Okato forced. F. Goodwin taking the ball on his boot in soccer style gained ground for Okato, whose forwards were doing better. Armstrong received on the blind’ and burst through to Tukapa’s twenty-five. The Okato forwards, attacked till an infringement let A. Petty line near half way. Fumbling by Wyatt let Moorhead and Wells through, but A.. Petty was safe. The next five minutes saw Okato battling hard on the twenty-five. O. Evans (cleared. Okato pressed to the goal line but could not penetrate.and gradually Tukapa drove back. Useful kick's by J. Goodwin had Okato again attacking. Worming his way through half the Tukapa team Mcßoberts sent the ball out but Dickson intercepted. A miskick by L. Goodwin saw play at Okato’s twenty-five, where Boswell sent out a wide pass. The backs handled well and Sullivan streaked for the line to be taken on the corner.'ln a flash the scene changed. Mcßoberts intercepted a Tukapa pass, burst through and punted over Petty’s head. John Goodwin, Taylor and Armstrong joined, in a piece oi play that allowed Armstrong to score near the posts. Okeroa failed to goal. The Tukapa forwards attacked but Okeroa, Wells, McLean and Moorhead drove the team back. Tukapa came again and close to tlie line Collins gathered.in the ball and dived over. Boswell failed to goal. Exhilarating play on the part, of Tukapa backs followed but the tackling was sound and Tukapa could not penetrate. Mcßoberts cleared but A. Petty flashed through and tried to pot.. Okato forced. Half time sounded with the score three all. During the interval Okato altered its pack formation, J. Goodwin going to first five-eighth, Armstrong to centre and Taylor on the wing. The Tukapa backs attacked and with a man outside him and only the full back to beat a. score looked certain when L. Petty tried to pot. Tukapa was throwing the ball about with abandon, using the reverse pass with effect, but the tackling, was solid. Wells was caught offside, giving Boswell a penalty shot that rebounded from the marksman. L. Goodwin was collared in possession close to his line and matters looked black for Okato, but the forwards, led by Okeroa, McLean and Moorhead, rushed past half way. The Tukapa backs swung into line for Wyatt to dash oyer and score in the corner as he was’ tackled. Petty just failed to goal. Dickson marked and sent his backs away and Okato had a turn at defence until L. Goodwin burst through and found an open space in midfield. °L. Petty was given little chance to get rid of the ball. Mcßoberts came up fast and sent Armstrong away. Phen the ball flashed out to the other wing, Carter sending Taylor away to be held up on the line. Tight play saw an Okato man offside and following up the kick Tukapa was very aggressive but L. Goodwin' went down gamely. Play was in neutral territory for a while, each set of backs trying to open out. Gradually Tukapa prevailed. L, Goodwin was compelled to kick to save. Dickson fielded and burst through the centre to score near the posts. A. Petty goaled. The Tukapa backs came back again, John Goodwin being injured in stemming n rush. A penalty let Okato clear and tne Tukapa forwards rushed the ball oyer the tine. McNeill fell on it close to the dead-ball line. A. Petty goaled. Time was sounded with the score: — ■Tukapa Okato ’ Mr. F. J. Egglcton refereed.