FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 639, 7 June 1921, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. COMPETITIONS CONTINUED. PUKEKOHE TEAMS' STILL UNDEFEATED. Results at a glance: - Senior: Pukekohe 9 v. Patumahoe 0. Onewhero 9 v. Tuaknu 3. Junior: Pukekohe 26 v. Patumahoe 3 Onewhero 6 v. Tuakau 3. The Franklin Rugby Union's competitions were advanced a further stage on Saturday in threatening weather. ' Most of the games were fairly well contested, but the slippery nature of the ball prevented brilliant play. SENIOR. PUKEKOHE 9 V. PATUMAHOE 0. With a number of the Pukekohe senior fifteen missing, it was expected that Patumahoe would give the reds all they wanted, and perhaps leave the field victors. Pukekohe won the toss and C. Yiison set the ball in motion. The home team immediately set up a vigorous attack which the greens repelled, but the reds commenced a passing bout and Noble w-as almost over. Patumahoe cleared, but J. Blake cleverly marked and Walker’s kick went wide. The reds kept up a strong attack and a score seemed imminent but. the visitors diovc them away. For off-side play a Patumahoe player was penalised and Walker had another unsuccessful shot at goal, Patumahoe forcing. Play hovered in midfield for a while until the visiting forwards broke away and tcok the leather to the home territory, but Campbell secured and set backs in motion. A pretty passing rush transferred play to the visitors’ end, where Pukekohe were penalised. Soon after Howse marked and saved an almost moral score. The kick found the line near half-way. A Pretty Try. From the subsequent line out Blake obtained and passed to Campbell, who cleverly cut in, and transfeirecl to Tonkin who beat his man. He pasesd to Syzemore who in turn gave “it to Noble and the speedy tlueequarter scored a brilliant try. Walker’s kick wont wide. Pukekohe .. .. 3 Patumahoe .. . . 0 A Try Not Awarded. The home forwards returned the bail and Roy Fulton bustling the visiting full back dribbled the ball over the line and touched clown. He stood up and a Patumahoe man fell on it. It was a fair try and it was a surprise to many when Patumahoe dropped out. The greens took play to past half-way, where Campbell marked in face of the visiting forwards. He returned the leather to the Patumahoe 25 flag, but a subsequent infringement on the part ,of a home player, a free kick was awarded Patumahoe and this gave temporary relief. Patumahoe now set up a determined attack and took play to Pukekohe’s 25, but Short obtained possession of the ball and broke away. He passed to Tonkin and the latter booted hard and following up caught Dale napping. To save the Patumahoe full back swung round and touched down, A scrum was ordered and for an infringement Patumahoe were penalised and Walker enhanced making the scores: Pukekohe .. .. 6 Patumahoe .. .. 0

The greens attacked and the reds retreated to their own 25, where Crum cleared. It was the first time he had handled the bail and the only time in the first quarter which ended when he found the line. The home forwards livened up after turning over and pressed and had Frtumahoe defending right on their goal line. Here the Wilson brothers and Schlaepfer shone out in the tight and broke away and by a beautiful effort transferred play to Pukekohe territory. Campbell saved, but Tonkin was offside and C. Wilson had a shot at goal. The kick went straight .but fell short and Syzemore securing found the line near half way. From a line out L. Yilson broke away but Syzemore stopped the rush and came through on his own. He was instrumental in transferring play to Patumahoe territory. From a throw-in Blake set his rearguard in motion and a beautiful passing bout saw Noble pushed out at the comer. Patumahoe secured and booted down field, but Syzemore returned, the ball being taken by Davey. The Patumahoe skipper marked and thus saved. Soon after when Patumahoe were defending hard, Wattam took a brilliant mark from the feet of the home forwards. The Wilson brothers and SchUiepfei were again seen to advantage in a forward rush but the home forwards stemmed the onslaught and Fulton. Dazeley, Short and Reynolds swooped up field in a fine dribble. Short snapped the ball up and could have

dived across but he transferred to Fulton and the latter knocked on just as he was about to step across. A certain try was thus spoiled. Patunn’lioe secured from the scrum and Wc-.ttam found the line. The home backs set up another attack on the blind side. Tonkin passed to Brown and back to Tonkin. The latter had a clear run but he dropped the slippery ball and another sure opportunity was lost. Soon after Perry was nearly over. Palumahoe were row being - outclassed, but fortune smiled on them while the luck was against the home team, several opportunities to score being missed through the slippery ball. Half time was ssounded with the score unaltered.

The third quarter was fast, the ball travelling up and down the field rapidly. Patumahoe's five-eighths pioved themselves good defensive players, their tackling was excellent, but Campbell and Tonkin proved the superior by cleverly cutting in and side-stepping. It was the visitors’ five-eighths who saved time after time. Twice in succession during the third quarter Short, for Pukekohe, missed two moral tries by losing the ball as he was about to touch down, for an infringement Patumahoe were penalised and Walker’s kick hit the upright, rebounding infield. From a scrum in Patumahoe’s 25 Blake secured and cut in on the blind side. He beat Hedley, who was very weak, and passed to Brown who dived over. Walker failed with the kick. Pukekohe .. .. 9 Patumahoe .. .. 0 Patumahoe attacked and went as far as the home full back. Crum picked up near his 25 and ducked through the opposition and, running and fending oIF opponents for about 50 years, passed to Brown, but the latter failed to hold the leather and another try was lost. The final quarter saw Patumnlne hard on attack and on two occasions C. Wilson and House should have got across. They also lost the ball at a critical stage. The game ended without additional score. Pukekohe .. .. 9 Patumahoe . . .. 0

Mr Bert Clarke refereed. For the losers. L. and 0. Wilson, If. Schlaepfer and McMahon in the forwards and Watt am. House and Dr.vey (backs) played well. They shone out at times but never received sufficient support from the remainder. This is only a new team and up to the present have performed with credit, not only to themselves but to the district to which they belong. They need coaching and a little more experience. Quite a number have a tendency to remain offside. This is a bad habit and will very often land a team in difficulties, especially if an opposing team has a good goal kicker, and there are two or three in the Franklin district. A bit more combination and Patumahoe has a team that will defeat more than beats it. On Saturday’s game they exhibited a wonderful improvement as compared with their first match against Onewhero, which was very rough. Patumahoe should be hard to beat in the- second round. For the winners, Fulton, Reynolds, and Dazeley were the pick of the forwards, while S.yzemore, Noble, Blake and Campbell were the shining lights of the back division. If the team desires to win the competition more practice is required and, last but not least; a team should not go on to the field with the understand.Tlie supposed “softy” often proves to Ing that they have a “soft thing’’ on. be a hard nut to crack.

JUNIOR. PATUMAHOE 3 V. PUKEKOHE 26. ' The above teams met in Mr Henrv’h paddock at Patumahoe on Saturday, Pukekohe winning by 26 points to 3. The game was fairly even in the forward division, the heavy home forwards more ’ than held their own in the scrum work, but once the ball came out into the open, the visitors gave a great exhibition of fast work. The ball was wet and, greasy, nevertheless the Pukekohe boys threw it about to some tune, knock-on’s only saving, Patumahoe from a bigger defeat. For the winners’” tries were scored by Fisher (3), Parker (2) and Reynolds. N> Blake was in great kicking form, converting four of the tries. Coutts scored for the losers. Mr A. Cornthwaite refereed in his usual capable manner and gave satisfaction to all concerned.

CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER. ' SENIOR.

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. PUKEKOHE V. ONEWHERO. Seniors, at Pukekohe, at 3 p.m.t Crum, Parker, Tonkin, Blake, Syzemore, Campbell, Perry, Higgmson, P.agnall, Short, Marshall, Needhajn, Dazeley, Reynolds, flilkey. Reserves! Goldsworthy, Pitman, W.-uker. Juniors, at Onewhero. i.ea/e Arni«strong’s billiard . oom at 1.15 sharp! N. Blake, Jas. Adams, C. H. Joe Clarke, J. Olphert? L. Hart. Roberts, Pleydell, R. Fulton, Reynolds, Stewart, Fisher, Middlemiss, D. Blake, Clews. Reserves: Wright, Smith, P. Ryan.

Points. Ch. Team. P. W. L. For Ag. Pts Tukekohe 3 3 0 29 11 6 Bombay 3 O 1 24 9 4 Onewhero 3 2 1 11 14 4 TXiakau 4 i 3 24 39 2 Patumahoe 3 0 3 S 2G 0 JUNIOR. Pukekohe 3 3 0 59 12 6 Bombay 3 2 1 45 25 4 Onewhero 3 2 1 52 17 4 Tuafcau 4 1 3 25 62 2 Patumahoe 3 0 3 12 77 0