DEFEAT OF ATHLETIC

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 10

DEFEAT OF ATHLETIC

CLIFTON’S SECOND SPELL EARLY PROMISE OF HOME TEAM. HARD GAME PLAYED AT HAWERA, After each Side had played a scoreless first Spell Clifton defeated. Athletic at Hawera On Saturday by eight points (two tfiee, Oiie converted) to nil. Although neither Side at any time rose to heights Of , brilliance, there, were a number ,of bright movements, more particularly among the forwards, who staged some splendid open rushes, and among Clifton’S backs late in the game. 'Die movements of both teams lacked finish, both of Clifton’s tries coming from loose play hear the line rather than from any well-defined and well-planned efforts. Athletic, playing against the sun, gave a much improved exhibition in- the first spell, and it looked as if the Side would register its first win'. Both divisions- played well, and it was bften only by stout efforts that Clifton, kept its line intact. The backs, with Rawcliffe playing well at half-back, and Smith as. their inspiration, continually harassed their opponents. .

It was anybody’s game .in the early stages of the second spell.- Even after Clifton .'scored it seemed as if Athletic,, by virtue of its‘earlier efforts, had every chance of doing likewise, but the visitors ■ took the upper hand and Only solid defence kept them from higher scoring. Clifton’s backs gave a much better display in the closing stages of- the game, which were played in Athletic’s territory. Athletic packed a 2—3—2 scrum, with the fast: Bublitz as wing-forward, and received a larger share of the ball, while' Bublita often harassed the opposition. Clifton played the usual 3- 4—l scrum, but the different not seem to greatly influence the trend of play. The teams were:— , Clifton;—Edwiri; Jones, Wilson, Robson; L. Cole, Simonsen; Fenton; A. Cole, Tate, Major, Wells, Happi, Olsson, Armstrong, Longstaff. Athletic:—Gorrlnge; Herbert, Smith, White; Campbell, Beaven; Rawcliffe; Bublitz, Shirtcliffe, Kerrisk, Reid, Scott, George, McKay, McDonald. After a period of play in Clifton territory with . Athletic playing against the sun, having the-bettor of play, the visitors indulged in. a back movement which had possibilities until. Robson dropped his pa&s. The same player had a shot St goal from a penalty but missed. CUf-’ ton pressed the advantage until Smith' cleared to halfway from a penalty kick. Gotringe and Herbert were associated in a passing rush, which Smith carried on. He cut in and Clifton . forced just in time. Clifton was attacking when , a back tried a pot which; rebounded from an Athletic man. The home team came through and Herbert gained ground to Clifton’s twenty-five. Athletic was showing more aggression than. Clifton, .but solid tackling upset a couple of likely back- -movements. • • ■

Clifton nearly scored when Fenton kicked from-a scrum at-his own twentyfive; and Gorringe, with the sun in his eyes,- missed ■ the ■ ball; • ■ Clifton followed up, but the leather went dead.- Robson tried a pot in a good position, but missed; and Smith cleared past his own twentyfive with fine',free-kick, and to Clifton’s with another.’ ' A Clifton rush carried play to Athletic’s twenty-fiye, but with a free-kick Smith found the twentyfive flag. Gorringe lined at half-way, but Clifton was again hammering Athletic’s line and Edwin had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty.

There were some stern forward struggles early in the second spell, Athletic excelling in the loose. Dull play was relieved when Gorringe started a passing rush which ended at half-way, and later- when Smith stopped a handling movement in which Robson and Simonsen were prominent. The first score in the match came when Simonsen broke away from loose play at Athletic’s twenty-five and-raced over at the corner. Edwin’s kick missed. Athletic carried play to Clifton’s line, was driven back and came again, but by lineouts Clifton carried play to half-way. Jones raced for the corner, but just failed to touch down. A forward pass spoilt a promising Clifton back movement, but the ball was soon out at ; the corner. Smith cleared beyond the twenty-five from a frfee-kick, but Clifton persistently directed back and forward rushes to Athletic’s line. Success came when Tate dived over and Robson converted. In the final stages Clifton’s backs attacked vigorously, but could not score. , Clifton 8 Athletic ■ • 0 Mr. A. R. Harrison was referee. 1