UNITED SAVES PLACE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1934, Page 10

UNITED SAVES PLACE

RANKS WITH TOKO IN LEAD TARIKI DEFEATS PUKENGAHU. CENTRAL RUGBY COMPETITION. As Toko had the bye in the central division junior Rugby competition yesterday, United Old Boys, which was running second to Toko, was able to draw level after a close game with Cardiff. Toko has the advantage of a match in hand. Tariki displaced Pukengahu for third place and Eltham, lowest on the ladder last week, trounced Stratford at Eltham. As Stratford has won the Third grade and School the fourth there were no competition games in those sections. Results are:— Junior. Tariki 11 v. Pukengahu 8. Old Boys 11 v. Cardiff 9. Eltham 15 v. Stratford 6. Midhirst 6 v. Inglewood 3. ELTHAM BEATS STRATFORD. SCORE OF 15 POINTS TO SIX. By 15 points to six Eltham beat Stratford at Eltham, the home team wining through its solid forward rallies which went through the opposing pack to give five tries. Leatham missed every kick. The game was fast and bright, particularly towards the end, and Stratford was seen in some clever work, especially among the backs, who frequently handled in good style, only to be robbed of possession by the hard tackling, interception and bustling of Eltham’s forwards. The Eltham backs lacked finish to their attacks or they would have added to the score. Stratford was unfortunate in not completing movements on several occasions. Scrum work was good but poor handling was too frequent. Both teams took chances and kept the game fast and open most of the time. Stratford had to force after Leatham sent a long kick, but Eltham was soon in trouble as the result of poor defence in front of an attack by Stratford. Leatham missed a penalty kick. Eltham began an attack and Walker ran through and handed to W. Glentworth to score. A bustling attack was made by Eltham forwards but when Stratford made a counter-move it was only failure to handle that spoiled its prospect of a try. Eltham made a promising run but Stratford, was penalised for off-side in front of the posts, Leatham being unable to goal. Leatham made a blundering effort to field the ball over the line and See rushed in to score. McGrath missed the posts. Gower completed Eltham’s next attack, Leatham missing the conversion. At half-time the score was Eltham 6, Stratford 3. Glentworth led a solid attack until Stratford made a clever save. The next score was a gift to Eltham, it being thought that the ball went into touch. Actually the ball was in play rolling to the goal line and Morgan and Groves chased it to score without opposition. Leatham again missed the posts. In another attack Sheehy scored at the corner after a line-out. Leatham again missed. A sharp thrust by Stratford forwards cut through Eltham’s defence until Leatham made a gallant recovery. A neat interception by Walker and a good pass to Groves helped Eltham and Brennan took the ball to score. Cowell missed the kick. Eltham again rattled through and play became fast and exciting, both sides being seen in lively interchanges. Leatham ran up fast to save Stratford’s most dangerous rally. From a smart attack Stevens scored for Stratford but McGrath missed the kick. Eltham 15 Stratford 6 Mr. Robson refereed. CARDIFF NEARLY THE WINNER. UNITED’S TWO-POINT MARGIN. . Had Cardiff backs showed throughout th j game the soundness on attack which stamped a few of their efforts during the last ten minutes, United would not have won by 11 points to nine for it was in the backs that United excelled, though

the forwards held their own against the sturdy Cardiff pack. United forwards, unassisted by the backs, could not have made headway. The two packs were well matched, for while at times one could command the play momentarily neither was able to maintain a steady advantage in the open. Line-outs were evenly divided but United hooked more often from the scrums. United backs outclassed Cardiff’s on attack. The Cardiff ‘handling was very poor till the closing stages when the line nearly scored, the three-quarters showing a handy turn of speed. Properly fed they could have worried United. Breakdowns at the inside positions were the trouble and the five-eighths did not compare with their opposites, Wilmshurst and Calcott. The latter, who used to play full-back, . and McCready were noticeable in a good line, while McCluggage’s good clearances from the scrums gave the backs every chance. The teams were: — Old Boys: Vincent; "Elgar, McCready, Irving; Calcott, Wilmshurst; McCluggage; Mills, Bonner, Thomson, Kofoed, Eagar, Cannon, Ryan, Salisbury. Cardiff: Redshaw; Turner, Davidson, McMillan; Spencer, Price; Babington; Dempsey, Petersen, Pattendon, Bennett, Huckstep (2), Kemsley, Neal. McCready’s kick through was obtained by Elgar and Calcott, who came round outside, took the exchange and scored in the comer after a well conceived and polished movement. Vincent converted. Cardiff forwards dribbled deep into the United twenty-five. Spencer missed his pass on the .attack from the scrum, Calcott intercepted and sent on to McCready who raced clear. Again Cardiff smashed a United back attack and punted. Vincent waited for the second bounce and Price kicked on, picked up and tore away. McCready came across and lowered him but Cardiff forwards forced United to the line, where Davidson scored. Bennett converted. United forwards opened the second half with a more intensive type of play and held Cardiff in its half. Much ineffectual scrambling by both sides was finally turned to advantage by United. The backs handled admirably from a scrum and McCready scored near the corner. Vincent failed from well out. McCluggage was the inspiration of the next try. He went round the blind side and gave to Elgar, who showed commendable en terprise in passing infield to Eagar. He ran over untroubled. Vincent missed. Davidson intercepted in his own twenty - five and dribbled past Vincent with his backs in support. They were stopped but Redshaw collected a clearing' punt and dropped a goal from well out, making the scores only 11 to 9 in United’s favour. Bennett had an easy chance to put Cardiff’ ahead from a penalty close in but the ball flew.wide. United ... 11 Cardiff . 9 Mr. G. Carter refereed. MATIERE WINS JUNIOR GAME. Matiere beat Niho Niho in a junior Rugby match at Matiere on Saturday. The game was fast and interesting but was mostly confined to the forwards. M. Kelly scored Niho Niho’s only try and J. Morgan failed to convert. Marshall scored Matiere’s first try, which was converted by Turner. Geisler also scored but Baker failed to add the minor points. Mr. C. Burton controlled the game.