FOOTBALL IN OHURA

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 13

FOOTBALL IN OHURA

REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT

SOME BRILLIANT PLAYERS.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF GAME.

T.B.R.J.)

(Bj

Football was first played in the Ohura district about 1907 or 1908, when friendly matches were played between teams representing Ohura and Matiere townships. There was no sub-union in those days, and football was played under difficulties, the 12-mile journey between Ohura and Matiere having to be done on horseback. Some of the prominent players of those days were L. S. Fauchelle, Matiere, half-back, Brooks (now at Okahukura) forward, W. Kelly, Matiere, forward, Hammond, Ohura (then in the Bank of New Zealand), forward, and Simpson (Ohura), forward. Some years later a sub-union was formed, which later on, though really in the boundary of the Taranaki Rugby Union, was given permission to j’oin up with the King Country Rugby Union, Owilier 'to the difficulties and excessive travel that would be involved m playintr with the Taranaki sub-unions. Four teams played in the first competitions— Ohura, Tokirima, Matiere and Egmont Box Company. Riffht from the early days of the subunioii Mr. J. L. Robinson, of Ohura, has taken a very prominent part in the management of its affairs, and has for many° years been president. A banner was presented for competition by Mrs. A. H. Hyde, and ever since this had been played for annually. During the early days of the sub-union no junior football was played. Practically all the refereeing in these days was done by Mr. L. S. Fauchelle, of Matiere, and Mr. Tom Healey, of Ohura. On occasions Mr. Fauchelle had to ride as much as 26 miles (to Tokirima) in order to referee. During these early years the banner was usually won by the Ohura club team, but was won once each by Elmont Box Company and Tokirima. Representative matches were played against the Taumarunui sub-union, wins being fairly evenly distributed between the two teams. Round about 1924 or 192 c Niho Niho entered into the competitions, and about 1927 and 1928 a team from Ohura called the “United Club” played in the competition, but soon disbanded again. In the meantime the Tokirima club had also withdrawn from the competition, owing to lack of players, but as a junior competition had by now been started, in order to encourage younger players, teams from Matiere, Ohura, 'Tokirima and Niho Niho were entered for this competition. When the Publie Works camp was moved to Heao, a team from there was entered in the senior competition, so of late years there have been four senior and four junior teams playing .football. Winners of the senior banner in recent years have been: 1938, Niho Niho; 1929, Niho Niho; 1930, Oliura; 1931, Matiere; 1932, Heao. . Winners of the junior competition have been: 1929, Ohura; 1930, Ohura; 1931, Matiere; 1932, Matiere. Of late years, when competitions for the senior and junior banners have been finished, matches have been played for a cup donated by Mr. G. Baker for the seniors and Mr. Monsoor for the juniors. For 1932 the Baker Cup was won by Heao, and the Monsoor Cup by Tokirima. ■Since the formation of the King Country Rugby Union representative teams from the Ohuna have travelled much further afield ’than in earlier days. Matches are now played against all the sub-unions of the King Country, mainly against Ohura, Ruapehu, Otorohangia and Maniapoto. The Carlson Cup, for competition among the sub-unions of the King Country, lias been won many times by the Ohura sub-union representatives. It was held at the end of the 1934 season, but was lost to Otorohanga this season by the narrow margin of seven points to . six. In a match played in teeming rain and in a sea of mud, the visiting team secured a dropped goal in the last minute of the game to give them possession of the emblem of supremacy among King Country sub-unions.

VISIT TO TARANAKI. In 1921 a representative team visited Taranaki and played a series of three matches. Members of the northern end of the Ohura went by coach to Okahukura, by slow train to Taumarunui and then to Taranaki by way of Marton. These players travelled under the charge of Mr. L. S. Fauchelle. Those from the southern end rode through the Tangarakau Gorge and caught the Public’ Works Department train to Stratford. The first game was played at Okaiawa, against the"okaiawa club, Ohura losing by 11 pointskto nil. Playing for Ohura in this match was Dick Roberts, of Taranaki and All Black fame. The second match was played against Taranaki B at Eltham, Ohura losing by six points to nil. The third and final match was played against the Kaponga club, at Kaponga. The game ended in a 9-points draw, though ten minutes before the end of the game Ohura were pleading by nine points to nil. Prom Kaponga tlie whole team journeyed on to New Plymouth and witnessed the drawn o’ame between Taranaki and the Springboks. While in New Plymouth the manager of the team, Mr. J. D. Robinson, travelled to Mount Egmont with the Springbok team as a guest of the Taranaki Rugby Union. Undoubtedly the. best player of the Ohura team on this tour was Jimmy Peebles, of Ohura, who played threequarters and was the greatest tackler ever seen in the Ohura. Other members of this team included Bartholemew (Matiere) forward, Brennen (Egmont Box Company) full-back, S. Jones, three-quarter, Boswell (Tokirima) rover (a school teacher), Graham, a school teacher of Waitewhenua, forward (who later became a Taranaki B representative), C. Young (Matiere) forward, Stewart (Matiere) forward, H. and R. Robinson (Ohura) forwards. Of these Jimmy Peebles and Hughie Robinson are both still taking a prominent part in football for the Ohura club, and were both selected to represent the sub-union during the last season. R. Robinson has for the last few years been the energetic secretary of the sub-union, as well as selector for the representatives and the leading referee of the district. Both H. and R. Robinson are sons of the president, Mr. J. L. Robinson. PROMINENT PLAYERS. Jack Galbraith, school teacher. Has represented both Canterbury and Taranaki as five-eighths. Plays for the Ohura club. Captain of the Ohura representatives and captain of the King Country representatives. The best and most classical player that has ever been in the Ohura. When playing for King Country against Thames, by far the best player on the field. Had the misfortune to break a bone in his ankle when

playing against the Taumarunui subunion tliis season.

Clarrie Nicholls, school teacher. Halfback for the Ohura representatives for seven or eight years and captain also, up till leaving the district at the beginning of.tlie 1932 season. A great leader and player, and the best halfback Ohura has had. Has been very hard to replace. Also best tennis player of the Ohura and one of the best golfers. A great all round sport. Noel Morgan. Plays for Matiere club, and has represented Ohura sub-union for the last four or five years, as well as the King Country throughout the last season. A great forward who is always fit and always on the ball. Bob Weinberg. Plays for Niho Niho club, end has represented Ohura for a number of years, and has also been in the King Country team. Plays fiveeighths or three-quarters. Very speedy with a great swerve and side-step, and very difficult to stop. Was just the nian to play next to Jack Galbraith, and combined well with him. Has been very unfortunate during the last few seasons with injuries while playing. A Jorgensen. Plays for Niho Niho. An Ohura representative for the last two or three years. Also King Country representative in 1931. A good forward, and a tiger for work. His brother Percy has also represented Oliura frequently. Another good forward. Other good players who have represented Ohura during the last season are A. Williams (Ohura) forward, Loft (Ohura) forward, H. Robinson (Ohura) forward, Nelson (Matiere) forward, Morton (Heao) forward, F. Julian (Niho Niho) forward, Manning (Ohura) back, Watson (Matiere) three-quarters, J. Turner (Matiere) and M. Phillips (Heao) three-quarters, A. Ross (Matiere) three-quarters, Retene (Heao) halfback. F. Glasgow, the famous All Black of the 1905 New Zealand team, for many years coached the Ohura club team for football. REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION. In the early days all refereeing practically w r as done by Mr. L. S. lauchelle and Mr. T. Healey, but of late years, with four senior and four junior teams, more referees have been needed, and a referees’ association has been formed for three or four years. Among the referees of the last few seasons are Messrs. R. Robinson, Leathart, R. Julian, H. Gibson, R. Sinclair, Cole, Duggan, P. McDougall and Nicholson. These men have all done their best by giving of their services to help along football in the Ohura.