FOOTBALL DE LUXE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 07, Issue 93, 25 July 1944, Page 5

FOOTBALL DE LUXE

HAIRY FAIRIES DEFEAT HILLY BILLIES Enthusiastic crowds surged into the Domain on Saturday to jeer on their respective teams when the Hairy Fairies met the Hilly Billies in a terrific tussle for supremacy on the Rugby field. Cheers,, groans, yodells, howls and catcalls mingled with showers of peanut shells hurled viciously at the players to make the once quiet and serene, field a bloody battleground unequalled in the history of Rugby football.

Immense was the enthusiasm which greeted the Hilly Billies when they cantered on to the field. Not so: with the Hairy Fairies who seeped on to the ground flashing glowering grimaces in all directions, and a foreboding atmosphere surrounding them. After a short spell in which to recuperate from the effort of strolling on to. the field both sides took up their positions and the Hairy Fairies set the ball in motion with a vicious kick. Play immediately swept to the opposing 25, the Hairy Fairy back line, doing some dazzling work. Unfortunately they committed a bloomer and Bill Henderson, weilding the whistle with great effect, had no hesitation in awarding the Hillies a free kick. The sphere sailed through the air finally coming to rest at midfield. Both packs ambled after it. The Hairy Fairies got there first, and calmly jsent it back down to itlV} cowboys 25. Burstall, the Hillies star winger collared it and returned it. Not to be outdone, the. Fairies did likewise, but this time followed up arriving in the opposing quarter not many minutes after the leather. Gallantly Brassey swooped on it, and fixed it with an eagle eye. Apparently this was not sufficient as the Hairy Fairies with a dazzling exhibition of speed sent it rolling over the line where McLean fell on it with great effect. Much jeering, flag-wagging and hat-raising greeted the ref's decision, and the Hairies strolled back down field three points to the good. The kick was a miserable fizzle.

With renewed determination the Hillies laced their opponents once more. The ball was in play; so were the Hillies. With a tremendous gait they absolutely swept the game to the Hairy Fairies 25. The Fairies simply sizzled. At all costs they must be stopped Immediately. Their efforts, we regret to state resulted in a penalty kick against them. With deliberate thoroughness Burstall dug a hole in the ground and placed the ball. The kick was excellent, the ball missing the goal by no more than 15 feet.

Back in play, the ball was maltreated by both sides for a period till the Hilly Billips once more, succeeled in capturing it and rushing it to the Hairies' quarter. A lierce scrum followed. Out rolled the ball and over the line." Both teams dived on it. When finally they were sorted out, the underneath man was identified by the referee as Merito, and a 25 resulted. A period

of loose play followed till the. whistle called half time, whereupon both teams collapsed and refreshed themselves with slices of citrus fruit.

The change-over saw the Hillies well to the fore again. After the style of American football they found a little gentle obstruction here and there together with the odd case or two of tackling no ball very helpful in. furthering their cause. After a time they bccame quite adept at this method of attack and defence and were entirely successful in that the ref failed to see their efforts in this direction at all.

At midfield a set scrum was ordered. The Hilly Billies hooked and the leather went out to the backs. Right across to the wing it went. A Hairy attempt was made to check the rush but the Hilly pack took control again. On it sw.ept with grandiose ferocity right to the. Fairies' goal line where Beaumont, snatching it in tottered on over the line to score an impressive try. Bill McKenzie's kick,, which was from a difficult angle was low. Hilly Billies 3, Hairy Fairies 3 At centre the teams once more faced each other. Neck and neck they intended fighting it out to a supreme finish. In consequence play assumer a much tighter nature, the Hilly Billies throwing in more weight, and the Hairy Fairies steeling themselves against impending attacks. Suddenly Beaumont initiated a good back movement which took play down field some distance where a knock-on resulted in a scrum. The Hillies hooked but the opposing pack was right on to the ball. Owen Bridger, dashing the fore, led a Hairy rush towards the Hilly Billy goal line. Staggering aong at quite a pleasing pacc, he was doing quite well, when suddenly Hurndell gathered in, raced forward, and dived over the line to score wide out for the Hairies.

The kick was but a poor imitation of the previous one. Followed a period of loose play during which time two Hilly Billies, Stan Beaumont and Bill McKcnzie were unfortunately injured and were forced to leave the field.

The Hairy Fairy pack bustled the Hillies many times but the Hillies sternly repelled every attack, and the final whistle blew shortly after, declaring the linal score to be Hairy Fairies 6, HilSy Billies 3. PUKEKOS CHALLENGE HAIRY FAIRIES As a result of the initial success of the Hairy Fairies on the Rugby field on Saturday, the Rangitaiki Pukckos have issued a challenge and intend mopping up the liairie.s this coming Saturday at the Domain. The Pukekos. will be selected from the following: Dick McDonald; L. Anderson; A. Ilaushan; T. Edwards; J. Charlie; J. Thomas; W. Goldsmith;, E. Rogers; E. List; R. E. Blair; P. Tama; O. Lord; J. Hignett; B. Magee; A. Magee; F. Burt; H. Webby; B. Ferguson; Mac Davis; J. Colebrook; F. Olding; P. Howell and M. HoXvell. Further details wMI be published in. Friday's issue.