SOUTHERN LEADER BEATEN

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 4

SOUTHERN LEADER BEATEN

DOCK STRUGGLE. BETWEEN- -PACKS GREAT DISPLAY BY S. WILLIAMS. Though fairly low down on the scale of points, Kaponga rather upset the southern division competition by defeating the leader, Ilawera, by three to nil on th© Kaponga ground. Kaponga owes its win to its splendid pack, which harassed Hawera incessantly. Gargan, D. Murphy and Espin led the home forwards in raid after raid, and they all defended so energetically when called on to do 60 that the Hawera backs were not given an opportunity to break away. Gargan particularly was a tiger tor work. In the loose Twist was very useful, and fast following up gave him the only try of the match. As an attacking machine the Kaponga backs did not function at all, but their forwards spared them the trouble, and the backs tackled relentlessly when required. The outstanding player on the. field was S. Williams, the Kaponga full-back. Sturdy and sure he went down gamely to every rush, frequently clearing-in the nick of time, and his liue-kicking was magnificent. Hawera fielded a doughty pack, R. Williams, Robinson, Malcolm and Pokau in the van, but they met their match in the inspired play of the Kaponga forwards. The Hawera backs were much more able and enterprising than Ka-nonga’s, and launched attack after attack'’-in the last quarter of the game, but though they frequently came within an ace of scaring, the defence held on every occasion. Taking everything into consideration Hawera was rather unlucky to lose. In the first spell territorial advantage was evenly distributed, but in the great part of the second spell Hawera had the home team penned into a desperate defence, and it was from one of the comparatively few counter-attacks that J. wist s try turned a drawn game into victory tor Kaponga. Ilawera secured the ball from most of the scrums, but possession, it was soon discovered, did not necessarily mean points. An otherwise epic forward struggle was marred by too much illegal play. Tackling players after they had got rid of the ball, unnecessary bumping of an opponent after he had kicked the ball, and hard play in the tight work robbed the game of some of its pleasure from the spectators’ point of view, and the cause of Espin being hors de combat towards the end of the game was not the playing of Rugby football. The teams took a long time to settle down to anything like good football. Within the first ten minutes Hammond was injured, and the Ilawera team had to be re-arranged. Pokau came on into the pack, K. Riley went from wingforward to wing three-quarter, and I. Robinson went out of the pack to wring forward. After half an hour’s play Ilawera began to press, led by the torwards, and from a scrum, Bishop, the Hawera first five-eighths, received to kick through with a short, punt. Kaponga . was in danger, but Williams saved with a quick line-kick. Kaponga ’ was penalised for offside, but Cheevers, taking careful measurement, was unable to goal. Twist caught the Ilawera backs 'in possession and led Kaponga in a whirlwind rush down the field. Gargan broke away a - moment later and Kaponga was : nearly over! Hawera was penalised, but Patersons kick missed by inches. Play grew more willing as the game progressed, and Hawera burst away down. the field, but an attack in the flank was pushed out at the corner. Frequent Hawera attacks found Williams very safe at fullback. A free-kick to Kaponga for offside v found Cheevers caught with the ball and Kaponga bustled its opponents for a brief period. The spell came with no score to either side and honours about even.

Both teams sprang to it at the blowing of the whistle, and things were willing for a while. - Paterson was kicking well for Kaponga, but his fielding of the ball was very uncertain, and gave Kaponga some anxious moments. Bishop, was inclined to spoil the Hawera rearguard attacks by exploiting too often the short kick through. Suddenly Hawera was away, Malcolm breaking through for a devastating rush with ball at toe. W. Robinson carried on, and had only Williams to beat for an almost certain try when he kicked into touch instead of kicking or passing infield. For quarter of an hour Hawera hammered away mercilessly at the Kaponga corner, Jefcote effecting relief with a lucky speculator. Hammersley offended in an awkward position by picking the ’ all out of the serum, but Cheevers could not goal. The only tr*y of the match was niore -or.- less given away to the Kapouga team by Chcev-

ere, Battling down the field Hawera kicked through, but Williams was not wanting, and returned the ball far down the touch-line. The ball bounced infield and Cheevers fielded it, but instead of finding the line he attempted to open up a passing rush across field. He was caught in possession, and Gargan rushplay to the corner, where he sent Twist across. The kick failed. Kaponga was driven back to the other end and had to force, but soon they returned, and Cheevers saved with a speculator. A sweeping passing rush in which Hunter, W. Robinson and all the backs participated ended in Hunter almost scoring near the corner, but he was recalled for a knock-on. Time and again Hawera attacked the Kaponga line, but the home forwards kept the attackers out. In the closing stages Espin received a kick on the spine that temporarily incapacitated him, and time was called without further score: Kaponga .. 3 Hawera 0 Mr. F. Atkins referee;.].