JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 12

JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL

CITY DEFEATS STRATFORD. UNINT ER ESTING EXH IBFl’l ON As a curtain-raiser to the representative match at Stratford yesterday, City (Hawera) and Stratford contested the eemi-final of the first juniorchampionship. It was not an inspiring game and City’s 12 to 5 win indicated fairly the respective strengths of the teams. Not one brilliant movement lifted the game out of the commonplace. The players seemed languid or indifferent and the game assumed’ the same aspect. City has to thank its backs for the win, as the forwards worked weakly for the greater part of the game and were bested in the majority of eases by the Stratford pack. One redeeming feature of tho play was Morrissey’s magnificent field goal. From the start City assumed the aggressive and, utilising the rearguard to advantage, invaded Stratford territory, Norris and Dowdle being associated in a dashing movement which was nullified only when Noris was tackled on the line and a conglomeration of players caused the referee to award a force to Stratford. The kick-off saw the Stratford forwards follow up to secure possession and after a rapid exchange the ball was shot out to T. Collins, whose weaving* run and final pass enabled F. Collins to score near’ the corner. He added the extra points with a brilliant kick. Fluctuating play ensued until the City forwards worked up the field into a strategic position, where a punt wan pursued by the pack, which conveyed the ball to Barlow, who had run across the field and continued hies course to finish in the corner with a score. E. Hart's kick went wide. Lacking in interest and productive of no advantage to either side, the next 15 minutes was occupied by a succession of line-outs, scrums and scrambles, the spell ending with the scores: Stratford 5, City 3. Little improvement occurred in the opening stages of the second half. The name indecisiveness characterised the play, City having a slight advantage .territorially. It was this predominance that gave*City its chance. In a lineout between the Stratford twenty-five and half-way the City forwards secured and the ball was passed back to Morrissey, who drop-kicked a perfect goat that gave City a two-point lead. Stratford made several spasmodic efforts to reduce the overdraft and gradually worked into the Hawera end, but did not stay there long, for Mcßeth instituted a*. solo run that transferred the scene of activity to Sratford territory. It was there that S- Collins was tackled in possession and his wild pass to P. Collins was intercepted by Morissey, who ran over unopposed. He converted his try. The game ended:

City 12 Stratford 5 Mr. A. O’Sullivan refereed. JUNIOR RUGBY REFEREES. Referees to control the Central Division junior Rugby games to-day have been appointed as follows: — (Third Grade) Semi-final. —Stratford v. Inglewood, at Tariki, 2.45 p.m. —Mr. J. Carlson. (Fourth Grade) Stratford v. Eltham, at Elthamj 2.45.— Mr. T. Glentworth. School A v. School B, at School. —Mr. A. W. White. The Stratford third grade team will be picked from the following: R. Collins, Harkness, Western, Butcher, Wellington, I. Bamford, Sullivan, Donnelly, See, Verney, Huckstep, T. Death, Vincent, Fawcett, O’Shannassey, Harper, Vivian, and Vincent. ELTHAM THEATRE. 'THE ’BROADWAY MELODY."’ Featuring all the lilting laughter, daring dancers and mood-moving music of a re. gular New York revue, 'The Broadway Melody,” which screens at the Eltham Theatre to-night, may probably be called the screen’s first musical drama. It is an eye-filling, heart-tugging, fascinating entertainment. It is a show within a show, for a complete musical comedy is enacted in the story which is very dramatic in its unfolding, and it is the most vividly portrayed drama of back stage life to reach the screen with all the glamour, tinsel and clatter for which life behind the scenes Is famous, reproduced in truthful and vivid manner. It is doubtful if any show has ever produced a more glorious galaxy of beautiful chorus girls. The dramatic climax is a most heart-gripping episode, with a humanly interesting love theme throughout. One of the most gorgeous and colourful sets will be seen in technicolour. A specially written theme song is heard throughout the production. It is augmented by several novelty numbers among them ‘The Wedding of the Painted Dolls,” “Love Boat,” and others. These catchy songs create the musical background for the technicolour sequence in which a chorus of more than sixty "specialty dancers appear in one of the most sensational dance creations ever attempted for the screen. PERSONAL ITEMS. Reference to the death of Mr. If. E. Abraham, who was vice-president of the Stratford Racing Club, was made at the annual meeting of the club last -night, when members paid tribulte to Mr. Abraham’s services in connection with the club and to his keen interest and sound judgment in all matters relating to racing.