ELTHAM’S NARROW WIN

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 12

ELTHAM’S NARROW WIN

HAWERA TEAM’S LOSS 6 TO 5

RAIN SPOILS PROMISING GAME.

HAWERA’S GRANDSTAND FINISH.

Eltham beat Hawera by six points to five at Hawera in a game that might have been brilliant had it not been for rain, which fell almost incessantly. Though Eltham’s margin, the difference between a penalty goal and a conversion, appears a lucky one, there was no doubt that the better team won. Both teams gave splendid exhibitions of wetweather Rugby, and there was a surprising amount of back play. There was a thrilling finale. After a slow Start Eltham dominated the game until the last five minutes, when Hawera launched a terrific attack before which the visitors wilted. A series of smashing blows were dealt by the Hawera forwards, who rose to unexpected heights, but somehow or other they could not score. Hawera’s grandstand finish was deserving of better luck, but Eltham actually, on the whole run of play, fully deserved its win.

A splendid display by the Eltham forwards in the tight paved the way for the visitors’ win. Packing in almost perfectly, they completely dominated this aspect, which was of great importance in the conditions. In the loose Penniail, S. White and Potts showed out well, but' the cohesion shown in the tight was lacking, the forwards working as individuals and not as a pack. The Hawera forwards, on the other hand, did great things in t' 5 loose, with W. Robinson always in the lead, and they kept together well in big territory-winning footrushes. Their work looked better than it was, however, . because the Eltham backs did not shine at stopping rushes. The Eltham backs, with Townsend and Whiting always dangerous, gave the impression that on a dry day they would have scored freely, their h. idling of the greasy ball being remarkably good. The Hawera Racks, particularly Dowdle, did really fine defensive work, but did not show the enterprise of their opponents when attacking.

The teams were:— Eltham: M. Paterson; Worthington, Whiting, Smith; Townsend, E. Hughes; Maslin; R. Burke; L. White, Campbell, R. Bocock, Penniail; F. Bocock, S. White, Potts. Burke played wingforward.

Hawera: Nowell; McDonald, N. Hunter, J. Hunter; Hammond, Dowdle; Dymond; McLean; Holloway, E. Murphy, Brown, Rangiwahia; Butchart, W. Robinson, L. Robinson. Eltham made an early start but could not withstand the Hawera pack, in the van of which the Robinsons were playing very vigorously. The first piece of play to enliven the monotony of forward rucks was Dymond anticipating that the ball would come from the side of the scrum. He dashed round to be clear away before the defence woke up. He ..went right to the line before he was forced to pass to Holloway, who was well smothered by Townsend. Almost imMurphy took the ball in a line-out, ran through the defence and gave W. Robinson a walk-in. Nowell kicked a goal. Hawera started a passing rush which might have been good had J. Hunter taken his pass. He did not, however, Eltham streaming through to give Hawera some anxious moments. Townsend threw away a try by not rising his feet when within a short distance of the line, and the scramble that followed gave Dymond a chance to clear had he not suddenly thought he could run faster than Whiting, who caught him in possession. Hawera, penalised for the fifth time for scrum infringements, gave Eltham three points, Potts landing a splendid goal from near the sideline. Eltham looked the more dangerous ia the following rallies, with more enterprising play in which Whiting took a prominent part, but the Hawera forwards’ footwork was better. Maslin threw out a bad pass from the scrum, which was good enough for Townsend to make an opening for Whiting, who tore through the gap. Half the Eltham team handled before an infringement stopped them. An unpleasant incident occurred when the referee warned W. Robinson for his tactics. There was a hostile demonstration from the stand. Hawera was in trouble when Worthington charged down a clearing kick from Nowell. In the wild rush that followed a Hawera man just got there first. Eltham, using the backs to advantage, threw the. ball about in great style, and were all over Hawera at one stage. A touch of variety was provided by Dowdle breaking away and passing back to his forwards. The respite was only short-lived, Paterson sending Eltham right to the comer with a splendid touch-kick. Hammond showed up in the last piece of open play that preceded a spell of mis-handling, which was only to be expected with the greasy ball. Half-time found Hawera holding its lead, which had at times looked precarious.

Back play was almost impossible after half-time, the second half being a solid forward battle. Hawera started brightJy with a passing rush as a prelude to punts by Hunter and Hammond. The visiting team became a trifle disorganised, Paterson failing badly at times, but Townsend was -wherever he was wanted, while Whiting also did good work. Paterson through not going down on the ball let Hawera through to the posts, where a scrum was formed. Eltham heeled to Maslin, who made a splendid clearance. A lucky speculator by Faterson again saved Eltham whin the Hawera forwards came tearing through. Then Eltham delivered a smashing blow which N. Hunter just failed to stop. Nowell was caught in possession and the forwards tore past him, with S. White showing a great turn of pace to score in the comer. Potts’ kick was just under the bar.

While Hawera had the better of play for a while the team did not advance far, feet up in the scrum letting Paterson bite off 60 yards of touch. W. Robinson headed a forward rush whicn Townsend stopped after Paterson had speculated. The Hawera forward attacks were not as virile as they had been, but still Eltham was gradually rolled back. Dowdle received a bad knock which necessitated his replacement by Clapham. The Eltham pack came again, L. White dribbling beautifully to the line, but ground and ball were so greasy that the visitors’ attempts to score failed. Back and forward Eltham came again, giving the Hawera defence plenty to do. As the rain came on more heavily Hawera commenced its last push. First the ball reached the dead-ball line. Then N. Hunter made a bold solo dash behind which the Hawera forwards massed in a seemingly irresistible rush. Somehow Eltham stopped it until overkeenness brought a penalty. Back came Hawera in a great rally just under the posts. With a sudden change of fortune play swung to the other end of the field, Townsend leading Eltham to the attack as the game ended. Eltham 6 Hawera 5 Mr. A. Sullivan refereed.