FOOTBALL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 94, 16 May 1938, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

CENTRAL H.B. SUB-UNION SATURDAY COMPETITION. TAKAPAU’S SECOND DEFEAT. Weather conditions were ideal on Saturday for the continuation of the Central H.B. Sub-union’s competitions, a cloudless sky and not a breath of wind. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Takapau by Te Aute, this making last season’s champions’ second loss, they having been beaten by AVaipukurau in their first match. Otane secured a well-merited will by 18 points to eight against AA’aipawa. The winners definitely had the advantage in combination. AVaipukurau had to go all out to defeat Omakere, only three points separating them at the linish. Old Boys had an easy win over Porangahau. SENIORS. OTANE HAVE GOOD WIN OVER WAIPAWA. Playing on Coronation Park the Otane seniors defeated the Waipawa first team by 18 points to eight. Whilst Waipawa held the scrums Otane were much the better team in the loose, the handling of their backs lining very smart. The game produced good, clean football, and xvas played in the best possible spirit. The teams were as folloxv:—■ Waipawa.—Collett, Orr, F. Bond, Eru, Hart, Gair, Stephenson, Lovatt, .T. Bond, August, Davy, Carne, Hendry, Hopkins, Medeary. Otane.—Pearce, A. AA’illiams, Higgs, T. AVilliams, Smith, Kaukau, Phillips, Green, Beale, Hislop, Burgess, Kane, Stephens, R. Scrimgeour, J. Scrimgeour. Otane lost the toss and had to play against a bright sun in the first spell, and Waipawa did not make the best use of this advantage. The Blues pressed and AA’aipawa had to force within five minutes of the commencement of play. Shortly afterwards A. AA’illiams put in a great run for Otane and crossed the line, but xvas called back. Yelloxx’s gradually worked play down the line and Blues xvere penalised within easy range, but Hopkins failed to pilot the ball over the bar. Fast following up by Kane after the kick-off took play into Waipawa’s territory, and mishandling gave him a chance to score alongside the post. Greene had no difficulty in converting. Otane 5, AA’aipawa nil. Waipawa forwards pressed on the resumption of play, and xvere awarded a free kick, from xvhich J. Bond landed a nice goal. Otane 5, AA’aipawa 3.

Stung by this reverse Otane rushed play down to AVaipaxva’s 25, and the position xvas dangerous until McCleary relieved xvith a nice kick into touch. Shortly afterwards Greene had a shot at goal from a penalty, but the ball xvent xvide. At this stage the Otane hacks xvere definitely on top, and they produced some very nice concerted movements. A fine run by Hopkins doxx'n the line took play into Otane's 25, and Ern had hard luck in not getting over, being held up on the line. From a long kick by an Otane forward the hall was nieely taken by Medeary and he put the leather out at the corner. AA r aipaxxm were attacking in great style, xvhen an infringement gave Otane relief. At this stage play xvas suspended for a brief period oxving to an injury to Eru, but he xxms able to resume. Play centred in Waipaxva territory and Greene took a mark, from xvhieh he landed a goal, making the score— Otane 8, Waipaxva 3. Half-time sounded immediately afterwards. AA’hen the teams changed over the sun had dipped behind the hills and AA’aipawa xvere not at the same disadvantage as Otane in the first spell. Shortly after the game had been set in motion the Otane forwards bustled their way through, and Stephens, picking up the ball forced his way over to score in a bandy position, and Greene converted. Otane 15, Waipawa 3. AA T aipawa came xvith a dash and carried play to Otane territory, but the Blues gradually worked it back xvith a series of line kicks and the position looked dangerous for the local team until Hopkins relieved xvith a kick xx-hich found the line xvell down field. Mishandling by the AVaipaxva backs gave Otane another chance, and Greene had a shot at goal from a penalty, but just missed. Fumbling by the Otane backs gave AA’aipaxva a chance, and they carried play to Otane’s line but could not finalise. Then the Blues came axvay and a fine passing bout amongst the backs saxv A. AA’iliiams run round and score under the bar. Greene added the major points, making the total Otane 18, AVaipawa 3. Otane continued to press hotly, and AA’aipaxva xvere penalised on two occasion-. Green failing to convert each time. In the closing stages oi. play AA’aipaxva made strenuous efforts to reduce the margin of points, and from a serum near the line Bond passed out to McC'leav.v, who' succeeded in crossing the line, anil Hopkins improved with a good kick. The whistle souinded almost immediately afterwards xvith the score — Otane 18 AA’aipaxva 8 Mr McKennie refereed. GOOD AA’IN FOR OLD BOYS. ALL OVER PORANGAHAU. Playing at Central Park Old Boys put it- all over the boys from Porangahau, winning by 26 points to three. Tries for the xvinners xvere scored by D. Jamieson. C. Wilson (3), Monteith, and Stapleton. J. Jamieson converted three. Palri kicked a penalty goal for Porangahau, their only score. Jlr T. Spencer was in charge. TAKAPAU DEFEATED. AN INTERESTING GAME AT PUKEHOU. Last season’s champions, Takapau, suffered their second defeat of the season at the hands of Te Aute, in the match played at Pukehou on

Saturday. It xvas a keenly fought game, College xvinning by 11 points to eight. Mr Sorensen xvas in charge. A CLOSE CALL. AA’AIPUKURAU BEAT OMAKERE BY THREE POINTS. Playing at Omakere AVaipukurau just managed to get home, defeating the home team by the narrow margin of three points, the final scores being AVaipukurau 6, Omakere 3. The. country club showed much improved form. Mr A. Smales refereed. JUNIORS. MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO TIME. Oxving to a misunderstanding as to the time of commencing' play the junior match Takapau v. Waipaxva, scheduled to be played on Coronation Park at 1.30 p.m. did nqt eventuate, but the players had half an hour’s friendly bout. Some of the Takapau juniors arrived in time to start at 1.30 and AA’aipaxva xvere ready to take the field, but the remainder of the visitors xvere under the impression that the match xvould commence at 2.45. As, hoxvever, there is only one ground marked off on the park this was impossible. The position will come before the Sub-union as its next meeting. The Otane juniors, though playing short on Saturday afternoon, succeeded in defeating the Rangers by 11 points to nil after a very interesting game. Mr F. Mint© acted as referee. NAPIER-HASTINGS v. CENTRAL H.B. MATCH POSTPONED. At the request of the Haxvke’s Bay Rugby Union the representative match Napier-Hastings v. Central Hawke’s Bay, xvhich was to have been played at AVaipukurau next Wednesday, has been postponed for a xveek. CENTRAL’S TOUR. APPLICATION FOR A GRANT. At Friday’s meeting of'the H.B. Rugby Union an application xvas received from the Central H.B. Subunion for permission to undertake a tour of the North Island, playing three matches —Taupo July 30th, Bay of Plenty August 3rd, and Thames Valley August 6th. Application xvas also made for a grant-in-aid of £SO. It xvas estimated that the cost of the tour xvould he at least £l5O. It xvas decided to forxvard the application on to the New Zealand Rugby Union, xvith a favorable recommendation.