GOOD GAME AT PATEA

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 4

GOOD GAME AT PATEA

9KAIAVA BEATEN FIGHT TO NIL; SECOND SPELL BRILLIANCE. In what proved one of the most exciting games seen at Pa tea this season Patea defeated Okaiawa by eight points to nil. By continually harassing their opponents in the first spell the Patea forwards swung the game in their favour but during the second session Okaiawa threw the ball about with abandon and initiated passing rush after passing rush in an endeavour to sway the balance. Murdoch, usually Okaiawa’s fullback, was brought to centre-three-quar-ters in the absence of. D. Johnston and played a brilliant game. Patea was without th© services of J. Crawford. For some time play was even but eventually the Patea forwards forced the visitors back until from a scrum near Okaiawa’s twenty-five Cameron sent his backs away in a pretty movement which ended when Spooner knoeked-on. An Okaiawa infringement gave Peterson an opportunity of adding a penalty but his kick went wide. Richards, Wells and Baldwin became associated in another great rush which carried play to Okinawa's line. The defence was found wanting and Ngaia, by-intercepting, put in a great run to be well-tackled by Peterson near half-way. Again the Patea forwards returned play to Okaiawa’s twenty-five and Peterson missed narrowly from a penalty kick. From a loose forward scramble Burke kicked through and, following up fast, touched down between the posts. Peterson converted and half-time sounded shortly afterwards. i Immediately upon the resumption of play the Okaiawa vanguard dribbed through to Patea territory and matters looked dangerous for the home team until Richards speeded up th© side line in a solo dash and kicked into touch beyond half-way. A passing rush was initiated and the ball travelled along the chain to Jackson, an Okaiawa junior, who put in a thrilling run to be forced out near the corner flag. From the lineout Patea secured and kicked into Murdoch’s arms, a mark being claimed by that player in a good position. His kick at goal missed by a narrow margin. Patea went back. Harley beating two opponents and kicking to Cameron, who ran to the full-back but threw a wild pass to Richards who had come up fast on the outside. Tippets put in a great run and led Okaiawa to in front of Palea’s goal, where Murdoch secured and fished round the opposition to cross the line. Ho, was held up, however, and

five yards scrum was ordered, from which Patea was enabled to clear a dangerous position. Assault after assault by Murdoch and his backs and the solid scrummaging of the Okaiawa forwards placed a different complexion on the game, Patea, for a long period, being compelled to defend strenuously. Then a fine solo effort by C. Wills resulted, in Patea’s second try being scored. Wills dribbled through the Okaiawa backs and picked up to score in the corner. Peterson could not convert. With every Okaiawa man doing his utmost several good passing bouts developed but the defence was sound and time sounded with Patea still defending. hTc final score was: — Patea 8 Okaiawa 0 Mr. A. Spratt refereed.