FOOTBALL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 23 July 1920, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

(Notes by “Scrum”)

The second round of the fixtures under the control of the Waipawa Sub-union will be completed to-mor-row, when the Waipawa and Otane seniors try conclusions on the latter’s ground, and Onga Onga and Tikokino meet at Onga Onga.

Following are the positions of the clubs:—

“Spectator” forwards the following comments on the Onga-Waipawa junior game played on Saturday last: “The game was of an interesting character and great keenness was shown by both’teams, who were ‘all out’- to win. Good individual form was shown by players and the majority would do well to bear in mind that it is only concerted play that jpulls a team through. Get together and practice and learn each other’s style of play. Of the individual players Cahill at full-back was not at all safe and wants to put a little more ‘ginger’ into his work. He should be played closer up to the pack. Rathbone is improving every game and' does not hang on to the oval so much as earlier in the season. His try was the outcome of some fine play. The remainder of the backs put in good work, especially Dug. Smith and A. Avison. The forwards all played a solid game, noticeable among whom were Harman, Bloor, Ayres and Mawson. Of the Onga Onga team, who appeared to have the advantage in weight, Grenside as full-back was particularly safe, whilst Wilson and Moran were the best of the other backs. Amongst the forwards Fletcher was ‘out on his own,’ and was well supported by Middleton, McNamara, and Burney. B. Bibby, as wing, was prominent in all the loose play.”

The Onga Onga-Waipawa senior game provided some 90 minutes of interesting football and up to the time of the whistle sounding it was anybody’s game, the score at the conclusion showing a difference of only three points. Probably the winners were the greatest sufferers in what looked like certain scores just being missed, but Onga Onga also suffered in the same manner. To the writer

their weakness appeared to be the passing among the backs. They have a good set, but unfortunately owing to them being scattered they have little chance of practice and this was evident on Saturday, when their forwards repeatedly got the ball in the scrum, but the advantage was nullified by slow and low passes. With a few days’ practice. they would bold their own with, any backs in the

union. Lowe played a fine game both in attack and defence, as also did Murphy, whose pnnts got his side out of several tight corners. They were ably supported by Stewart, Grenside and Bridge. For the winners Anstis played one of his best, games. His kicking and following up was of a high order. This player’s work in robbing Onga of a certain score was a fine effort. Benson played his usual steady game. Limbrick, a promoted junior, put in some good work, but was inclined to be a little wild in his passing. Wynn, behind the pack, did not lmve a great deal to do, but showed considerably improved form. The forwards, who bore the brunt of the work, were an even set, and put in a lot of combined play. This combination was noticeable on several occasions, notably when Rose, King and Grant broke away and carried the ball from midfield over their opponents’ line,, a score only being averted by smart play on the part of an Onga back. Harman, as usual, played a solid game. In view of the early completion of the Sub-union’s competitions it would, perhaps, be advisable for that body to consider the arranging of further fixtures with other Sub-unions, more particularly with the juniors. At a recent meeting of the Dannevirke Sub-union this matter was brought up and it was thought that if more junior fixtures were arranged it would create, greater enthusiasm, amongst the younger players. Interest among the schoolboy players is now centred on the Ransom Cup contest, in which competition the Waipawa High School’s, team is competing. Though defeated by Te Aute College (who are always a hard team to beat on their own ground) the local boys put up a good fight. Their next game is against Hastings High School, which will be played at Waipawa to-morrow'. TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW. The following players will represent Otane in their match against Waipawa seniors to-morrow: —Stone; Page, Dalgleish, Interest, Graham, Ellison, Teheka, Summarsell, Pilcher, Irwin (2), Peter Nepia, Louie and Lange; emergencies, King, Martin and Tucker. The following will represent the Waipawa seniors against Otane:— Backs, Wynn, Schley, Limbrick, Hutana, Benson, Pteru, Anstis; forwards, Allen, Whyman, Ireland, Harman, Nielsen, Rose, King, Grant. Players to meet at Mr Maher’s at 2 o’clock sharp.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEATS TARANAKI. AFTER HARD FOUGHT GAME. (Per Press Association). NEW PLYMOUTH, Last night. The representative match between Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay took place here to-day in the presence of 4000 spectators under ideal weather conditions. The ground was in perfect order. The game was hard fought, fast and open, there being some fine bouts of back play. The visiting backs were nippier and showed more combination than the local team, and to this they owe their victory, as the Taranaki forwards more than held their own. In the first spell Batchelor scored for the visitors as the outcome of a passing bout, whilst towards the end of the spell Robertson did likewise for Taranaki. In the second spell King (Taranaki) and Northe (Hawke’s Bay) scored from forward rushes and O’Donoghue converted, the latter giving Hawke’s Bay the victory by 8 points to 6.

SENIORS. P. W. L. D. Pts. Waipawa .. 7-6 0 1 13 Waipukurau .... 8 5 2 1 11 Tikokino 7 2 4 1 5 Onga Onga 5 0 4 Otane 7 1 JUNIORS. 5 1 3 P. W. L. D. Pts. Waipawa . 8 6 2 0 12 Waipukurau 7 4 1 2 10 Onga Onga Tikokino 8 3* 4 2 8 8 3 5 0 6 Otane 5 0 • 4 ‘’'One game protest. against Otane won oil