TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 116, 18 May 1937, Page 3

TAIHAPE

WRESTLING NOTES. The amateur bouts arranged for to morrow (Wednesday) should be very good, and some new talAt will be on view. Sam Beard and Jack Gabolincy will try conclusions over three threeminute rounds, and both these boys are very fit and strong. Tommy Thompson and Paul Carroll will clash in a light-heavy bout, and if Carroll can reproduce his 1935 form he should get the decision. Jack Cooper will meet Alec Cameron, of Hunterville. whilst it is hoped to match Jimmy Quillinan with Bert Brown. Quillinan has done a lot of wrestling in the South Island last season and has improved out of sight. Bruce Paynter and Jack Gilchrist are also on the board and altogether the amateur programme is a good one. Mr. J. D. Willis, president, A. G. Washer, secretary of the Dominion Wrestling Union, and Walter Millar, manager, will be at the match. Booking is very brisk and intending patrons are requested to make early application to O. Johnson, ’phone 209, Taihape. The amateur bouts will be followed by the professional contest between Blomfield and McKenzie. RUGBY FOOTBALL The second round of the senior competition commenced on Saturday, when Huia trounced Hautapu to the tune of 22 points to nil, while Utiku beat Pirates by 9 points to 6, after a hard fought game. Huia’s big win over the blue and blacks was totally unexpected, but nevertheless well deserved. Huia v. Hautapu. This match was a triumph for Rangi and Tommy Chase, who played with perfect understanding and were always a thorn in the side of the opposition. Rangi rose to great heights and played a most prominent part in the Maori team’s victory. Payne, the Huia half-back, also went well. The whole team played an inspired game, especially the backs, and if’ the form displayed on Saturday against Hautapu is maintained, Huia should have an excellent chance of carrying off the honours for 1937. The match was not a; one-sided as the score suggests, but brilliant play amongst the riuia backs, at intervals, left the opposition standing. Gavin Spooner hooked well for Hautapu, but Huia were as good on defence as they were brilliant on attack, and ran out the winners by the big margin o. as points.

Huia kicked off and immediately rushed play into Hautapu’s twentyfive, where a scrum was ordered. Hautapu infringed, but T. Chase s kick fell short. The Huia backs moved into action from a scrum near their own twenty-five, and the Chase brothers looked like scoring, but McLennan saved the situation for Hautapu with a well judged kick into touch. Huia pressed hard following the line-out and Kotua opened the red and blacks’ scoring account by potting a great goal.—Huia 4, Hautapu 0. Brilliant passing amongst the Huia backs, amongst which Kotua, Chase (2), ana Hexenui figured prominently, saw Hautapu forced to play the role ot defenders. The blue and blacks eventually turned defence into attack, Thompson, Hall, McLennan and Nicholson being associated m a bright passing rusn. Nicholson punted high out Stevens, the Huia custodian, was equal to the occasion, ana sent the invaders back with a hefty punt. Bayne gained possession and initiated one ot the brightest passing movements of the whole match. All the Huia backs handled, but the movement broke down when R. Chase dropped his pass, and tne ball rollea into touch. Gavin opooner was hooking well, with the result that Hautapu gained possession from most of tne set scrums. McLennan sent his backs away in line style, and is fast improving as a halt-oaek, but Huia proved to be as good on defence as they were on attack. Huia were hammering away at their opponents’ line, when Moore relieved tne pressure witn a mark, when a try lor the Maoris seemed to be only a matter of time. Half-time soundeo with Huia still four points in the lead.

Soon after the resumption of activities, Huia scored their first try. Tommy and Rangi chase carried play into Hautapu’s twenty-five. Rangi was tackled by McKee and play moved across tne field, and T. Chase gained possession and put in a run that left the opposition standing, to score a brillia: . try which Payne converted.—Huia 9, Hautapu I). Rangi Chase was in the limelight again a few minutes later when he caught the blues out of position, and set sail for the line witn five of his team mates in support. Rangi passed to Wereta near the line, and that fine forward raced over and touched down. R. Chase converted.—Huia 14, Hautapu 0. Hautapu retaliated and succeeded in crossing their opponents’ line, but in a scramble for the bail, Stevens beat Keats for the touch down. Hautapu were awarded a free-kick, but Gregory’s shot at goal fell short. Another attempt at goal by the same played a few minutes later was also a failure. The Huia backs broke away again, a snappy movement ending in Payne scoring unopposed under the posts, after the ball had been passed infield Irom the wing. Payne was in the right position to gain possession, and cap the movement with a try. T. Chase converted.—Huia 19, Hautapu

The Maori custodian infringed and Wally Thompson kicked a poster. Rangi Chase was the hero (or shall we say one of the heroes) of the Huia team, and played brilliantly throughout the match. Accepting a pass from Payne he badly beat the opposition to score under the posts, but failed to convert his try.—Huia 22, Hatapu 0. Mr J, Graham was referee. The teams lined out as follows: Huia (red and black); Stevens, Hemingson, T. Chase, Hekenui, R. Chase, Kotua, Payne, McCarthy, Walker, King, Wheti, Spooner, Murgh.ie, Wereta, Takarei. Hautapu (blue and black): Whiteman, Nicholson, Hall, Moore, Gregory, Forbes, Findlay, McLennan, Thomp-’ son, Spooner, McKee, O’Brien, O’Callaghan, Purvis, Sisson. Pirates v. Utiku. Utiku beat Pirates on No. 2 field by 9 points to 6, after a keen contest. There was little to choose between the two teams, but on the general run of piay Utiku deserved their win. The

greens scored two tries and a penalty goal, to one try and a penalty goal registered by Pirates. C. Dickson played an outstanding game in the Utiku pack and was always on the ball. R. Johnston, Hagan and McGonagle put in some excellent work lor Pirates and were a dangerous trio at times, but through over-eagerness, mistake were made at critical moments when a try seemed imminent. Hagan is fast off the mark, while McGonagle possesses a rare turn of speed. R. Johnston is very sound, and is perhaps the most reliable of the Pirate backs. He and McGonagle were responsible for Pirates’ only try. ’’Alby” Kilkolly emerged from retirement to fill a vacancy in the blacks' team, and showed glimpses of his old dribbling ability. Pirates have been a great disappointment to their supporters so far this season, but it is not too late yet to stage a recovery. They have begun inauspiciously in previous years and then finished up by winning the cup, but will have to improve a great deal before they can expect to be in the running. Their vanguard on Saturday worked hard, but applied to lack knowledge ot the finer points of forward play. The teams lined out as follows: Pirates (black): Dick, Bonner, McGonagle, Graham, J. Johnston, Hagan, Lloyd, Tasker, Lee, Sisson, W. Robinson, Robertshaw, Thurston, Bagley, Kilkolly. Utiku (green): P. Marshall, O. Johansen, J. Marshall, Ashton, Barrell, Follas, Chisnail, J. Gabolinscy, H. Henery, J. Henery, R. Gabolinscy, C. Dickson, A. Deadman, T. Potaka, A. Clinton.

The game had only been in progress a few minutes when McGonagle deeply penetrated the defence and kicked to O. Johansen, who found touch in Utiku's twenty-live. Following the resultant line-out, Harry Henery broke away with the ball at his toe, but Graham stopped the rush in brilliant style and found touch. Hagan brought the crowd to their feet wnen he broke clean away with McGonagle in support, and only the Huia custodian to pass. Hagan drew the green full-back before transferring to McGonagle, but the Pirate skipper knocked on wnen he had a clear iield ahead, and a golden opportunity was lost. McGonagle made amends a tew minutes later when he put in a great run before passing to R. Johriston, wno set sail for the line witn R. Gabolinscy in hot pursuit. Johnston reached nis objective before Gabolinscy could overtake him, and scored Pirates’ first and only try. Hagan missed an easy kicx. -pirates o, L.iKU 0. Utiku retaliated and their backs were seen to advantage in a delightful passing rush that broke down when Ashton failed to take a pass irom J. Marshall. Tne greens Kept up the pressure, and were rewarded wnen C. Dickson scored irom a scramble near tne line. o. Johansen failed to convert.—Pirates 3, Utiku 3. A free-kick to Utiku in a handy position saw J. Marshall's snot at goal fall short. The greens returned lo the attack and were hammering away at the balck's line when Pirates infringed right in front of the goal, and Barrell had no dillicuity in sending the ball over the cross bar, to place his team three points in the lead.,—Utiku 6, Pirates 3. Half-time sounded with tlie scores unchanged. Utiku were penalised immediately after the resumption of activities, but Hagan’s kick failed to reach its objective. Dickson was playing a great game for Utiku and dribbled to Pirates twenty-five, where ’’Ponty” Lloyd stopped him. The greens returned to the attack, and Clinton scored following a scrum near Pirates line. Barrell failed with the kick.—

Utiku 9, Pirates 3. The blacks made a determined effort to score, and Hagan got as far as the Utiku line, where he was held up near the goal-posts. Robertshaw was handy and tried to force his way over for a try, but a live-yard scrum was ordered. Utiku infringed and Pirates were awarded a free-kick right in front of the posts, and Hagan made no mistake with the kick—utiku 9, Pirates Hagan, McGonagle and Johnston figured prominently in a passing rush’ that gained a lot of ground. Thev were an impressive trio, but the Utiku defence was sound. Chisnall was hurt at this stage and had to be carried off the field. All the greens handled in a bright passing bout, the ball travel-

ling from the half-back to Ashton on the wing and then infield to J. Marshall, who threw Follas a forward pass right on the line. Pirates managed to extricate themselves from a precarious position, and then made a last determined effort to score, but were unsuccessful, and the match ended—Utiku 9, Pirates 6. Mr C. H. Transom was retereo.

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