TAKAPAU STILL LEADS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 154, 9 July 1934, Page 7

TAKAPAU STILL LEADS

Central H.B. Rugby WAIPAWA SECOND PLACE PLAY ON SATURDAY Takapau still leads Waipawa bj -one point in the Central Hawke’s Bay senior Rugby championship. On the junior ladder Te Ante is only one point up on Waipukurau, •with two other teams within good striking distance. SENIOR GRADE. TAKAPAU (17) v. H. 5.0.8. (0). Any hopes that may have been entertained in Waipukurau of H. 5.0.8. upsetting the order of the Central Hawke’s Bay senior Rugby competition by beating Takapau, were doomed to disappointment, when the villagers turned round and defeated the visitors 17 to nil. The game was fast and evenly fought out, the first

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TAKAPAU IN THE LEAD 'The following are the championship points gained by the various senior and junior teams at the end of last Saturday’s play:— -*-> *

half ending without any points being notched by either side. Old Boys were right out to score and during the first spell were well on top. The pace became very fast, the match quickly evolving itself into one of the hardest, tightest and most exciting games witnessed at Takapau for many years, and had the crowd on its toes all the way. Though the final scores showed 17 points’ difference between the teams, this was no indication of the merits of the game, which was played out to the finish. For Takapau tries were scored by Tremewan (2), and L. Thompson, A. Aldrich converting two and R. Aldrich landing a field, goal. Mr. D. P- Dinnan was referee. WAIPAWA (16) v ONGA ONGA (5) Through being unable to take ad-

vantage of and drive home their opportunities, Onga Onga went down to Waipawa on the former team’s ground by 16 points to five. Waipawa seized every chance and gave no quarter. Onga Onga s weak link was its lack of fast backs, McPherson, the Waipawa winger, taking advantage of this to run round his opponents for three tries. Mr. T. Spencer had charge of the game. JUNIOR GRADE. WAIPUKURAU 3 v. TAKAPAU 3 Waipukurau took the offensive and early in the game L. Chapman lined right in the corner. The ball flashed out along the backs, from Smales, to Carney, to Scott, to C. Watson who was neatly grassed when only a yard or so from his objective. Spotswood, however, snapped up tne ball and dived over for the first try of the game. Ross failed with the kick. Waipukurau 3 Takapau 0 The Blue backs got going again but Chapman’s pass went astray and Takapau broke through. Ross was on the alert, however, and returned with a snappy line kick. Waipukurau forwards swept downfield and Durno got away with the ball at his feet, but kicked too far, Takapau forcing. Smales and Frew were associated in another promising sally, a score being narrowly averted. Blue penetrated Red defences again and from a scrum near the line Smales made a dash for it but was quickly downed. A free kick eased the position for Takapau.

Spotswood broke away and made a great run but his pass infield was forward. The Red forwards got going, Hirini, Halliday and Rukotua handling nicely, but the movement broke down when B. Savage knocked on. Rukotua initiated another promising rush, when he snapped up the ball and whipped it out to B. Savage, to Griffin. A score seemed likely, but Griffin’s pass back to Savage failed to connect. C. Watson got possession and made ground before passsing to A. Watson, who was pushed out. Another dangerous rush was smartly stemmed by Olsen. At half-time the score was still Waipukurau • 3 Takapau 0 Play in the second spell was of a most uneventful nature, until Takapau were awarded a penalty in a handy position, Haeremai raising the flags. Waipukurau 3—Takapau 3. A. Watson, who was playing a keen and aggressive game, took the ball through and lined in the Red 25. Waipukurau put up a hard fight to regain their lost advantage, but were unable to penetrate the defence, the game ending-— Waipukurau 3—Takapau 3. Mr C. M. Williamson was the referee. TIKOKINO (8) v. H. 5.0.8. (3) Hard, solid going, with neither team conceding an inch to its oppon-

ent, characterised the meeting of H. 5.0.8. and Tikokino at Tikokino. The game was one of the hardest and most exciting contests played this year. Playing two men short H.S.0.8. put up a great battle and were all over the homesters in the first spell and gave a really fine display. In the second spell, however, the heavy Tikokino pack and the sodden ground forced Old Boys to give ground while the shortage of two men made itself sorely felt. Tikokino hammered the visitors’ line foi nearly 15 minutes after the beginning of the second half, but found the defence too solid, H. 5.0.8. forcing down no fewer than seven times. J. Anderson at full-back played a brilliant game for Old Boys. Tikokino’s points came from a converted try and a penalty goal kicked by Wood, Taylor scoring for Old Boys. Mr. A. Rasmussen cgpably controlled the game. WAIPAWA (11) v. ARGYLL (5) At Coronation Park, Waipawa, the home team beat Argyll by 11 to 5, after a solidly-contested game, in which the heavy Argyll pack found the sodden ground a severe handicap. Mr. G. H' Voyce controlled the game.

02 —* o tJO ® 'O Ea <1 a a cS Z >» aJ £ £ o £ 01 o J CQ £ £ .a o SENIORS Takapau 10 7 3 112 78 14 ♦Waipawa , 10 6 0 93 75 13 ♦H.S.O.B. 10 4 5 94 93 9 **Onga Onga 10 1 7 61 114 4 ♦Denotes a Draw. JUNIORS *Te Ante 8 6 1 121 22 13 **Waipukurau 8 5 1 61. 35 12 ***Tikokino 8 4 1 66 29 11 ♦Waipawa 9 5 3 56 77 11 ♦Takapau 9 3 5 43 43 7 ♦H.S.O.B. 9 1 7 32 105 3 ♦Argyll . • • • 9 1 7 44 115 3 ♦Denotes a Draw.