RUGBY FOOTBALL

Chronicle (Levin), 30 September 1946, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PETONE WIN A DOUBLE MATCHES AGAINST OTAKI Two teams from the Petone Club visited Otaki on Saturday to meet the Otaki teams. The day was fine, the grounds in fair order and the attendance good. The public generally enjoyed both games, which proved of an interesting nature. In the first game the teams were:— Petone: Marvelly, Cookson, McGregor, Prendergast, Baumber, Swaysland, Candy, Kerr, Martin, Eiffe, Millward, Nicholson, Morrison, Gibson and Couchman. Otaki: Connor, Hakaraia, Cook, Guyton, Webster, Hakaraia, Royal, Smith, Hohipuha, Mudgway, Taratoa, Rikihana, Bennett, Gray and Lumsden. This was a clash between Otaki juniors and Petone thirds. Both sides played good, sound football, passing, kicking and tackling being of a high standard, while the forward rushes were pleasing. The game see-sawed, being first in one half and then the other, but it was by better combined play that Petone snatched the victory. Baumber was the first to cross the line, and then followed a try by Millward, which was converted by McGregor. • Juju scored for Otaki and Taratoa converted with a good kick. The half-time score was 8 — 5 in favour of the visitors. The second spell saw even brighter play than in the preceding half. Petone immediately went on attack and continued with the pressure for some time. Then came a forward rush that did credit to the home team, carrying the ball well into Petone territory and finally giving Rikihana a chance to score. The try remained unconverted. With scores even play became exciting, but McGregor later left the opposition standing to secure a runaway try, which Millward failed to convert. The final score was 11 — 8 in Petone's favour. Mr. Mita Johnson was referee. The Second Game Following were the teams: — Petone: Price, Rile, Logan, Robinson, McGurk, Dougan, Smith, Bly, Shannon, Lane, Westerbury, Laird, Street, Nicholls and Crump. Otaki: Puti, Davis, Phillips, Web-

ster, Hakaraia, Enoka (2), Gray, Engel, Brough, Nicholls, Henare, Price, Hakaraia and Roiri. Otaki set the' ball in motion and went on attack, but Petone, by crisp, clean passing more than equalised and for a time the Otaki line was in danger. Then came a reverse and Otaki forwards headed up the field at a fast elip. While "in Petone's territory Otaki were awarded a free kick, but Tom Gray failed to pilot the ball between the posts. Otaki kept up the attack, ip.ainly by solid forward play with occasional help from the backs, who indulged in nice passing. Up and down play followed, and once Otaki was hard put to it until Puti relieved the tension with a judi- 1 cious line kick. Otaki followed with | some good rearguard movements j till Petone retaliated, Smith send- j ing his backs away in good style. | The ball quickly passed through the liands oi Dougan and McGurk, who finally got the three-quarter line in action. There was some weak tackling by Otaki backs, the "dummy" scoring on several j occasions. However, the forwards \ took a hand in some fast play and ! were awarded a free kick, but Gray misscd the bar, although his kick was a good one. • Some hard play followed, and then Hakaraia, by a smart piece of work, raced for the corner, getting over the line as he iwas grounded. Gray missed with ! the kick. Otaki 3, Petone nil. Petone were then seen in more | passing rushes, the backs handling I the ball. in fine style, while "dummies" oftimes left Otaki lamenting. [On several occasions Petone were near scoring. P. Hakaraia and Webster were noticeable and placed Petone on defence, the latter just missing a score. After give-and-take play, Petone went on attack and Robinson scored a good try, which Nicholls failed to convert. Petone continued on attack and oftimes the clever little half set his back line in action, when all. handled the ball in masterly manner. Rile, Logan and Robinson showed their paces, enabling the former to cross the line. It was a well-earned try, scored as the result of splendid play. Nicholls

icLiieu cuiu t/ie wiik>ujlc sounded half-time, with the score 6 — 3 in the visitors' favour. After an attack by Otaki, Dougan i made an excellent run and handed i on to Logan, who, after a fifty yard dash, scored. Nicholls failed to convert. Petone 9, Otaki 3. Shortly after Stackhouse, who replaced Davis (injured) dashed over for a well-earned try at the corner. Gray failed to convert. Petone '9, Otaki 6. Spurred on with this success, both forwards and backs played a hard game and passing was neat although the tackling of some of the Otaki backs was weak. A free kick saw Gray have another unsuccessful shot at goal, while in turn, for off-side play, Logan had a shot at goal for Petone. The flags were not hoisted. Westerbury finally eluded the ! opposing backs and went across for a try, which Dougan failed to convert. Petone 14, Otaki 6. The final whistle sounded without further play. Mr. Les. Smith was the referee. In the evening the visitors were entertained by members of the Otaki Club when a convivial time was spent. Mr. Dickinson, manager of the Petone teams, expressed apprecialion of the treatment received from members of the Otaki Club.