OPUNAKE WINS AGAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 4

OPUNAKE WINS AGAIN

WAIMATE’S FINE SHOWING MURFITT OUTSTANDING PLAYER. FIELD RESEMBLES QUAGMIRE. With the ground a sOa of mud soon after the commencement of play, good football was not to be expected when Opunake and Waimate met at Opunake. Nevertheless a game full of incident was provided by both teams. Opunake won by eight to nil. Shortly after the commencement of play both sets of players were not to be recognised because of their ample covering of mud. The efforts of both back divisions to handle the ball, which was like a cake of soap, led to many humorous episodes. \ . Opunake scored two tries, one converted to Waimate’s nil, but this score is not a fair indication of the run of'the game, as, territorially, Waimate had as much of the play as its opponents. The outstanding player on tlie field wis Murfltt, the Waimate forward, who was in the thick of everything throughout and led his Side in all its forward sorties. The teams wore:— . Waimate: Wiheera; Wann, Baldwin, Masters; Surgenor, Tamu; Paterson; Burke; Bourke, Coull, Murfltt; Sutton, Hikaka.

Opunake: Richards; R. Malcolm, C. Hohaia, J. Malcolm; R. Hohaia, Langton; King; O’Shannessy; Upson, Ruakere, Smith, Fevre; Gadsby, Taylor, Mabey. Smith, Fevre and Mabey led the Opunake forwards in a rush which covered half the field, a five yard scrum being ordered, from which Waimate forced. Richards gained ground for Opunake with long kicks, but Waimate worked back. An interception by Langton caught Waimate napping and play went to .the Waimate line where Ruakere obtained from a scrum to dive 1 over. Richards converted with a great kick. A Waimate forward sortie carried play deep into Opunake’s twenty-five, but with a solo burst O’Shannessy placed Opunake. out of danger, and Mabey carried on to score near the posts. Richards’ kick failed. A high kick by Waimate had Opunake in trouble, Ruakere and Smith affording relief. Hansen and Murfltt returned play to the Opunake twenty-five where Bourke took an unsuccessful penalty. A brilliant forward burst by Murfltt carried play over the Opunake line but Richards, coming across fast, won the race to the touch-down. Waimate, throwing the ball round with abandon, ’ set up a spirited attack, play beipg confined to the vicinity of Opunake’s line till the game ended with the. scores:— Opunako 8 Waimate ....................... 0 Mr. H. A. K. McNae refereed.