THURSDAY JUNIOR RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 8

THURSDAY JUNIOR RUGBY

MATCHES FULL OF INTEREST. LEADERS HAVE CLOSE CALLS. The two leading teams in the central division first junior Rugby Union matches yesterday had narrow escapes. Midhirst outplayed Celtic for the greater part of the game, and a second-half effort against Inglewood gave Cardiff the I lead till shortly before time. Stratford secured a narrow win against Pukengahu, but it is contended Pukengahu was not awarded a valid drop-kick which would have given the team a win. Only one game was played in the third grade competition. The weather was overcast ahd drizzly rain fell during the early afternoon. Detailed results are:— First Junior. Celtic 6 v. Midhirst 3. Inglewood 13 v. Cardiff 12. Stratford 3 v. Pukengahu 0. Toko 20 v. Tariki 3. Third Grade. School 27 v. Inglewood 0. CELTIC GIVEN FRIGHT. Celtic had a very close call against a solid Midhirst team at Midhirst and until within a quarter of an hour of time looked as if it would be lucky to force a scoreless draw. Then the backs, who had given a shocking exhibition, warmed to their work and scored one try, and when Midhirst equalised, produced another to win by 6 to 3. The Celtic back line for most of the game was slow, heavy handed and aimless. The Midhirst pack, playing a wingforward and led superbly by Clarke, the 16-year-old brother of the Okaiawa All BJack, smashed incipient movements and fought their way to the Celtic line four times, where a little luck gave the defenders a force down on each occasion. Adlam was an exceedingly strong fullback and drove Celtic back repeatedly with long line kicks when the Celtic backs persisted in short punts in front of him or into his arms. It was only until the position became desperate in the second spell that the Celtic winning form displayed itself and then the line swung into action with . straight running and speed. Besides Adlam and Clarke, Jakes on the wing for Midhirst played well. McCluggage was good for Celtic although the greasy ball may have made him a little slow and Bonner played well. Carryer was handicapped by an ugly scalp wound. McGrath and Bonner scored for Celtic and Jakes for Midhirst. The refereeing was hard to follow. • INGLEWOOD HARD PRESSED. While Celtic was having a hard battle at Midhirst Inglewood was having an equally difficult time at Cardiff. Inglewood led by 10 to nil at half time but with the aid of penalty kicks Cardiff took the lead and the score was 12—10 tfil within a few minutes of time, when Inglewood scored. Cardiff was without Babbington, Lehmann and Redshaw and played an Inglewood man to make up the fifteen.

Stratford and Pukengahu played at Victoria Park, Stratford winning by three points to nil. There was some argument on the sideline concerning a drop-kick by a Pukengahu player which it is stated was not seen by the referee to go over.

Tariki played Toko, which, playing at home after a recent good display against Stratford, won easily by 20 points to 3. In spite of the fact that two boys were ; carried off, one with a broken collarbone and another with an injury to his thigh, Stratford Technical High School first fifteen beat Inglewood third grade team at Inglewood by 27 points to nil.