WAIMATE WINNER

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 8

WAIMATE WINNER

SOUTHERN FOURTH GRADE. KAPONGA BEATEN IN PLAY-OFF. By 10 points to nil Waimate beat Kaponga in the play-off to decide the southern division fourth grade Rugby championship at Okaiawa yesterday. The winning team was superior in combination and weight, but its finish was far from perfect, a great number of chances being unsuccessfully followed up. The Waimate backs were much better than those of Kaponga, the latter s combination being scraggy by comparison. The defence of Kaponga, however, was good, and this kept the score to small figures. Playing against the wind Waimate soon opened the score with a splendid field goal by N. Whalen. There was no further score until the second spell, when E. Burke scored a try after a good movement by Waimate’s backs which enabled Brown to make a good run and hand on to Burke. Near the end Manu scored another try. Both kicks missed. Burke, Brown and Manu make a good three-quarter line with far more penetration than that possessed by Kaponga s backs. N. Whalen and Crompton were also enterprising and Duncan at fullback gave a safe and sound display. J. Burke, Borrie and Edwards were solid workers in the forwards. M. Gargan played a solid defensive game as fullback for Kaponga, and B. Gargan behind the scrum also played well. The pack played stubbornly, McCook, Edgecombe, Alty and Voullaire being in the thick of it Waimate held the territorial advantage in both spells, but the first spell was the more even, Kaponga having a good breeze with it. After Whalen’s opening goal J. McCook and Edgecombe missed penalty kicks for Kaponga. Waimate went to the attack and the Kaponga full-back failed to handle and Crompton came up to dive over but was well collared on the line. On the other wing a chance came to Manu, but he was unable to beat through and the Kaponga forwards dribbled away to give Duncan trouble at the other end. Borrie led a snappy attack to recover the lost ground. J. Bourke ’ received an injury to his ankle but was able to resume after a short spell. Crompton, Brown and E. Burke combined but the latter failed to complete and Kaponga responded with hard forward attacks. Crompton again snapped up the ball to dash away but he failed to break through. Gaining ground from the opening of the second spell Kaponga held Waimate in trouble but Waimate finally broke through and found touch well up. From the ruck Waimate backs took possession and sent well judged passes along the backs for E. Burke to score at the corner. Edwards missed with the kick. Whalen, working a dummy, was unsuccessful and Kaponga swept forward with raking loose rushes. N. Whalen finished a burst of kicking by sending the ball over the line for Kaponga to force. Another opportunity was lost when Brown tried to dummy his way through, instead of passing to the wing, and Silby fail pH with a “pot.” Brown and Manu combined promisingly but their effort could not penetrate the sound defence. There was a keen tussle in Kaponga’s twenty-five for a time. The final stages were fast and willing. E. Burke kicked too hard and Kaponga forced. _ Whalen passed to Manu on the blind side from a scrum and the latter was collared when almost over. M. Gargan came in with a good save, but finally Manu scored after two good attempts. • Whalen missed with the kick. The teams were: —

Waimate: J. Duncan; E. Burke, Brown, Manu; Crompton, Silby; N. Whalen; Willis, Trott, Stewart, Edwards, Borrie, Vemor, Bourke (2). Kaponga: M. Gargan; Davies, Donoghue, Schuler; Southern, Edgecombe; B. Gargan; Donald, Voullaire, Gardner, Edgecombe, McCook, Alty, Behl, Bolger. Mr. D. Blair refereed.