SOUTH LEADERS WIN AGAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 4

SOUTH LEADERS WIN AGAIN

KAPONGA BEATEN BY 10 POINTS.

KEEN, SOLID GAME AT OKAIAWA.

There was not so much difference between Okaiawa and Kaponga at Okaiawa on Saturday as the score of 16 points to nil in favour of Okaiawa would indicate. Although Okaiawa deserved their win, Kaponga were unlucky, more particularly in the first spell, not to record points. Territorially Okaiawa had the better of the second spell, showing also to better advantage in the run of play. Gargan and Free demonstrated what a great combination they are by. obtaining the ball in all but a few scrums. The inefficiency of the Kaponga backs and the -deadly tackling .of Okaiawa effectively. stemmed a number of promising Kaponga movements. Johnston and R. Clarke were outstanding in Okaiawa’s. ranks. Although the game' was not a brilliant exposition there were many bright patches .in- a keenly-contested 'match. The teams were: —

Okaiawa: Murdoch; McCallum, Ngaia, Chas. Blair; Awahou, Johnston; M. Clarke; Guy, Ike, Scott, Grecnough, R. Clarke, Preston, Tippett; Crawford. Kaponga: Paterson: C 1 iff’, C. VY'halcn, Williams; L. Whalen, Dawson; Hammcrsley; Sutton, Thouminc, Espin, Murphy, Gardner. Free, Gargan; Twist Kaponga opened with the sun in their favour with a couple of back ru'shes. Although losing the ball in the scrums Okaiawa’s forwards were dangerous in loose rushes. Johnston secured in midfield,' and passed to Ngaia,. who ran through the opposition 'until smothered in the corner. Johnston broke away a second time, blit Kaponga returned play Jo - Okaiawa’s territory, a force resulting. Twist sent L. Whalen away; but : the movement broke down. Okaiawa's backs broke,away, but Awuhon’s pass went astray. Dawson made a good run, the movement ending with an infringement near Okaiawa’s line. When Okaiawa for the first time hooked cleanly, the backs went away in line, but Awahou dropped hie pass. Kaponga were penalised at half-way and with a magnificent kick Murdoch‘ lined a few yards inside Kaponga’s line. From the twenty-five Johnston had an unsuccessful .“pot.” Kaponga broke away, but McCallum intercepted, lining at half-way. Okaiawa pressed, forcing Paterson out at the corner. From ensuing play Blair secured, transferring to Johnston, Awahou and Ngaia, who Crawford converted. Kaponga carried play to Okaiawa’s line,' an infringement and then a force giving the home team relief.■ From a scrum infringement at Okaiawa’s twenty-five Murdoch with another magnificent kick lined a few. yards inside Kaponga’s line. Kaponga cleared, Ngaia Laving a ‘'pot” which just missed. Crawford had a long penalty shot which fell short,' the two Whalens and Cuff carrying play back to half-way. Hooper replaced Awahou on the wing for Okaiawa in the ' second spell, Blair going in to second five-eighths. Two good line-kicks, by Murdoch drove back Kaponga'. rashes. There was. excite.m.ent when . Murdoch kicked high, retrieved and passed to Ike, who missed the pass. In midfield Twist was offside and Crawford kicked a penalty goal. From scrambling play near Kaponga’s. line Johnston secured and passed to Blair, who transferred to McCallum, the winger making a determined run through the opposition to score. Murdoch .converted. Tippett and Crawford led a solid Okaiawa forward rush, causing C. Whalen to force. Hariimersley sent his backs away, but McCal--Ipm intercepted at the twenty-five and made a swerving run'. Okaiawa kept Kaponga in their own- territory for a time. Crawford marked in a handy position, but his kick went astray. From a. kick out at the twenty-five Kaponga. set up an attack, Cuff failing to take a low pass at the end of a back movement. Okaiawa forwards with R. Clarke prominent changed the venue of play to half-way, from where Crawford landed a beautiful goal from well out. Back came Kaponga, Hammersley going through, from a scrum,, but a forward pass checked play. From the ensuing scrum Williams made a bid for the line, the ball going into toueh-in-goal. Okaiawa 16 Kaponga 0 Mr. A. E. Spratt Was referee.

HAWERA TURN TABLES

ATHLETIC BEATEN SIX TO FIVE,

DETERMINED FORWARD PLAY Rugged and deten- aed forward play which gained possession of the ball from most of the ecrums was the main, factor in Hawera’s win over Athletic by six points (two unconverted trice) to five (one converted try). The Athletic backs were superior on attack and time after time launched sparkling movements which were held only by determined tackling. Had they received more of the ball from the set serums the result may have been different. Although Hawera deserved their win Athletic might easily have scored, on several occasions in the second half. The teams were:—

Hawera; Raweliffe; Cambie, Lendrum, Ekdahl; Hunter, Hammond; Moloney; Clements, Malcolm; Rangiwahia, Murphy, Skelton; Riley,. L. Robinson; Beauchamp. • Athletic: Guise; Young, Morrissey, Dowdle, Dymond; Gudgeon; Reeves, Garvie; Ritter, Dickson, Phillips; Tippett, Herbert; Sutherland. Tippetts and Ritter broke away and relieved early pressure on Athletic’s line. Gudgeon received from a scrum but ran too far and Hunter intercepted his pass to make a great run from twentyfive to twenty-five, where Guise Cackled him perfectly. Morrissey came round and cleared but Hawera continued to exert pressure on Athletic’s line. From a scrum Moloney and Hammond worked Cambie into position and the winger scored in the corner. The kick missed. The Athletic forwards attacked and Ekdahl fielded a low kick to break through and again place Hawera in a jgoed. position. Athletic hooked and the backs had a run, McLean finishing the movement with a strong riin which gained considerable ground. .Athletic received again and McLean handed on, but Dymond missed the pass Dowdle snapped up the bounce, drew several men and shot the ball out to Morrissey, who slipped throuoli to run round behind the . posts and convert his own try. Riley and L. Robinson led the Hawera .pack in. a rush down the line and scrambling ensued near Athletic’s goal line. The ball trickled out

and Beauchamp dived over to 'Score. Riley missed with the kick. Reeves dashed through but Raweliffe lined. Hawera worked back, but Gudgeon slipped round , a scrum and placed Athletic in an attacking position. /Hawera were soon back, but the Athletic backs went away and Morrissey kicked to the open field. Moloney anil Hammond handed on to Hunter, who burst through, but sent a bad pass to Ekdahl. Hawera continued to attack, and, just on halftime, L. Robinson missed with a penalty.

Gudgeon came round the blind and passed to McLean, who forced his. way infield and sent Morrissey away, but the movement ended at midfield. Murphy and Robinson broke away, and Young was called oil to find touch. Moloney sent a pass to Hammond, who cut through. His pass went astray and Morrissey was away with only the fullback to pass and a man outside. Rawcliffc lowered him and spoilt his pass and Athletic lost a scoring chance. Morrissey had a shot from a penalty but the ball went wide, f’ndgeon cut. in and Reeves picked up his pass tc send Dowdle, Morrissey and Young streaking for the line, the winger crossing with a bunch of Hawera players. He was recalled for a scrum and Hawera cleared. Hawera kicked through and Guise waited for McLean to come up and take the ball; Three Hawera players were on to him and Dowdle got' back just in time to force, Moloney, Hammond, Hunter and Lendrum handled for Gamble to cut through and race for the corner. Guise tackled him and Dowdle cleared. Gudgeon opened up the game and both set’s of forwards began to play with renewed life. Athletic held on near the Hawera line and indecision lost them points on two occasions. The Athletic backs were going hard whenever they got the ball. Morrissey potted, but"the kick went \yijde and time sounded immediately. ■ Hawera ........... O' Athletic ■■■■:< Mr. L. 11. Claphain waS ! the referee.; ELTHAM BEAT WAIMATE SCORE TWENTY-ONE TO ELEVEN. DULL AND LIFELESS GAME. lifter one of the dullest and most lifeless games of the season, Eltham de l feated Waimate by 2'l to 11 at Manaia. Waimate fielded a . scratch fifteen, and thus earned the lowest position on the ladder in the southern competition. The Eltham team did not play a very spirited game, but in the first spell they maintained territorial advantage. In the second half Waimate improved. The poor play demonstrated the waning of interest in the game at the end of the football season. The teams were:—

Eltham: Bourke; Knuckey, D. Gower, Prince; Townsend/ Groves; Casey; F. Bocoek, Potts, Stockman, R. Bocoek, Campbell, Elliott, Martin; Fage. Waimate: Langford; Hill, Mura, C. Bourke; J. Rei, D. Shaw; Paterson; Morgan, Hansen, Hickey, RuakeTe, E. Edwards, Payne, Ran; Hikaka. Two tries came easily to Eltham, Martin .scoring one and Potts the other.. R. Bocoek failed to convert. Prince scored the next try after receiving a pass; from Townsend and Bourke' failed co convert. Knuckey added ' another try after taking the ball from Groves and making a good ran. R. Bocoek failed with the kick. Gower scored immediately afterwards after a passing turn from himself to Knuckey and back again. Casey was unable to goal. Waimate’s first onslaught was made when Shaw and J. Rei got away, but the latter failed to hold the ball when near the line. From a line-out near the corner Edwards cut in and scored. Edwards missed with the- kick. Shaw broke away once more and made a good run but was unable to score. At half-time the score was Eltham 15, Waimate 3. For a time Waimate held play ia their opponents’ 25 and were eventually given a penalty kick in front of the posts, but Edwards could not goal. Hikaka secured a try for "Waimate and Paterson added the goal. Page scored from a pass by Townsend, but Martin failed to goal. Gower and Prince got away in a passing rush but an interception stopped them. Prince again went away but tripped and fell. ,Ruake; - e broke away down ‘he side-line, Bourke intercepting as he passed. Knuckey reached the corner but was well collared by Langford and put into touch. Awarded a free kick, Hikaka was unable to goal. Hill broke away and made a good run and scored. Paterson failed to convert. Gower made a likely run and passed to Martin, but the latter was held a few yards off the line. Another likely run was initiated by Gowe v , but Payne intercepted the passing and marked. Martin intercepted a pass and scored. Prince failed with the kick. The final scores were: Eltham 21 Waimate 11 Mr. T. Glentworth refereed.

THIRD GRADE FINAL

STAR DEFEATED BY OPUNAKE.

POTTED GOAL ONLY SCORE MADE

Opunake secured the Taranaki third grade title: when they defeated Star by four points (a field goal); to nil at Opunake on'Saturday. Opunake thoioughly merited their win, which was due entirely to the superiority- of their forwards. Opunake were content to rely on their forwards, though their backs, whose defence was very sound, showed that they could be a powerful attacking force. Star forwards stood up well to° the heavier pack and in the first spell,* when they had the advantage of the wind, the visitors held the territorial advantage, but their backs found the defence very solid. In the second jKiell Opunake had much the better of mffairs and were somewhat unlucky in not scoring at least one try. The Star team showed sterfi defence, however. Star in attack were not decisive enough though they tried to open out on every occasion. A penchant for delaying their passes meant failure on several occasions. The teams were: —

Opunake: Robinson; Humphries, Richards, Ngeru; Donnelly, H. Wilson (captain); Tamatea; Hammond, A. Wilson, Harvey, Murfitt, Dobbin, Bayliss, Barton; Holland. Star: Rlumtrec; South, Kerr, McFarlane; Webber, Sampson; Kinsella (captain);-,Gore, Bowen, Manning, Web'; her,. Craw, Page,. Sykes; Henderson: ~ Star■ at .Qiicp tried <to open out,but found the' Oppnake forwards’ bustling play and solid, tackling disconcerting.

Over-eagerness saw Opunake infringe on two or three occasions, Sampson just failing to goal with a good shot. Kinsella set his backs moving; all handled perfectly but were tackled as soon as they received the ball, South being collared within yards of the line. A penalty gave Opunake relief. Judicious punting followed lip by the Opunake pack led by Wilson and Burgess was not checked till close to Star’s line, but Kinsella saved. Matters looked 'black for Star when Plum tree was smothered with ihe nail in front of his own goal, but he shook himself clear and lined, in neutral territory. Opunake forwards kept play on Stars twenty-five for several minutes, but did not seem anxious to set their backs moving. Robinson, the Opunake fullback, lined at the corner flag but they were unable to press home the advantage. When for the first time Opunake backs were moving Ngeru was well tackled after a fast bout. Halftime came with no score.

There was exciting play on Star’s line and after a series of line-outs and scrums,. Wilson sent a good pass to Ngeru, who had only to hold the ball to run in unopposed. He failed and Star was saved. Opunake forwards were putting plenty of dash into their work but Star stood up to them well. Star backs were handling well when Kerr held on too long and Opunake swarmed b;?ek again for H. Wilson to essay a pot which just missed. From scrambling play on the twenty-five line Tamatea kicked a great field goal just half-way through the spell. Opunake swept downfield, brushing the opposition aside for Tamatea to have another pot. The ball went under the bar. A perfect line kick by Dobbin had Opunake lined out on the Star goal line. Tamatea made a splendid, opening for his backs, who sent the ball along , the chain. Ngeru sent the bh.ll infield, to Richards, who' was well tickled'. Star ■forwards .worked play to midfield, where Kinsella"set his backs moving but agaip a delayed pass by Sampson' let Opunake turn-defence' into hot attack, and when Star did break away Robinson drove them back.' Play - was in neutral territory when time 'sounded. • Mr. Frost was referee. Subsequently the teams were the guests of the Opunake Football Club | at tea at the Waratah.' FOUIRTH GRADE SEMI-FINAL TUKAPA DEFEAT WAIMATE. GAME WON BY 14 POINTS TO 5. Tukapa (northern winners), by defeating Waimate (southern) .by 14 to 5 at Eltham on Saturday, won the right to play .Toko (central winners) for the fourth' grade championship of Taranaki. Four tries were registered by the winners, one being converted. The scorers were Adlam (2), Innes and Murdoch. Newell kicked the goal. For Waimate Budd scored and Riley converted. POSITION OF THE TEAMS.

■’Star A, Old Boys; -Tukapa and Urenui have had one win each by default, Okato one Ids J by default. tStar B have had two wins by default and Old Boys two losses and CliL ton three losses by default. KAPONGA JUST BEAT PATEA. SPLENDID GAME AT HAWERA. The divisional, junior final between Kaponga, winners of the Western Division and Patea, winners of the Southera Division, was played at Hawera on Saturday and resulted in a win foi Kaponga by 10 point to 9. The game was fast and exciting, both teams givin" fine exhibitions of the code. of ° the back movements were splendid and roused the spectators more than any incidents of the senior game whidh followed. , For Kaponga, Alty and Williams scored, YVest converting both tries.Paterson kicked two penalties for Patea and Adams scored a great try after Maul© had brushed aside several tackles aud raced half ilia length of the field. Adams ranged up and took his infield pass to beat the • full-back • and score. '• THE RUGBY SCORE BOARD. RESULTS AT A GLANCE International. Otago 3 v. Australia 3. Interprovincial. Canterbury 8 v. Wellington 6. Auckland 19 v. Hawke’s Bay 14. Tnter-Collegiate. Auckland Grammar 24 v. New Plymouth High School 3. Primary Schools. Hutt Valley 6 v. Horowhenua ft Taranaki 0 v. Rangitikci 3. Third Grade Championship. Opunake 4 v. Star 0. Second Grade Semi-final. > Kaponga 10 v. Patea 9. Fourth Grade Semi-finaL Tukapa 14 v. Waimate 5. Second Grade Competition; Star A 24 v. Star B 10. ■■•■ !'■■" Urenui won , from Old Boye •by default.

Northern Division. ■' ■ !■ Pointe P. W. D. L.ifor. ag. ■Ch: pts. Stratford .... 11 9 1 1 Ml 31 19 Star .... ... 10 fl — 4 69 07 12 Inglewood ....10 4 3 3 38 54 11 Clifton . 10 4 2 4 78 74 10 Celtic.... ..... 11 4 — 7 93 125 8 Tukapa . 10 4 — 0 50 67 8 Old Boys .... 10 2 — 8 65 1£M5 4 Southern Division. Okaiawa .... 14 12 — 2 223 26 24 Opunake ... 14 9* 1 4 87 53 19 Patea ... .... 13 7 1 *5 115 77 15 Kaponga .... 13 7 — 6 H7 88 14 Athletic .... 13 6 1 6 110 98 13 .. 13 6 1 6 84 80 13 Elthain . .... 13 3—10 84 170 6 Waimate ... 1-3 1 — 12 85 273 2 ♦Opunake won by default from Patea.

SECOND GRADE. Northern Division. Star A . Il 9* 1 1 159 44 19 Tukapa . 10 8* 1 1 94 39 17 11 8* 0 3 82 58 16 Old, Boys .... 12 3* 1 8f. 47 107 T Okato ... 10 Z 2 6* 39 '80 6 Star B . 11 3+ 0 8. 30 113' ' 6' Clifton .. ,11. 2 1 St, 57. 67 5