FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 653, 26 July 1921, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

' F.R.U. COMPETITIONS. TIE FOR SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. BETWEEN ONEWHERO AND PUKEKOHE. PUkJkOHE JUNIOR CHAMPIONS. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Seniors: Onewhero 5 v. Pukekohe 3. Bombay s,'v Patumahoe 5. Juniors (Final) rPukekohe 12 v. Onewhero 3, Patumahoe and Bombay drew. The Franklin Rugby competitions were concluded on Saturday last in* unfavourable climatic conditions, Pukekohe, who were leading in the senior championship were defeated by Onewhero by 5 points to 3. The teams are now level, for premier honours and a play-off to decide the winner is necessary, but owing to representative matches it will be at least three weeks before the decidingmatch is played. The final for the junior championship between Pukekohe and Onewhera resulted in a victory for the Pukekohe team THE JUNIOR GAME PUKEKOHE 12. V., ONEWHERO 3. Great interest was taken in the game between Onewhero and Pukekohe Juniors,' played at Pukekohe on Saturday. There was a large attendance notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, and considering the ■ conditions the spectators were treated to an excellent game of Rugby. As the teams lined out on the field, the visitors appeared heavier than the home boys. Pukekohe won the toss and elected to play against a strong wind. Onewhero set the oval in motion and at once set up a vigorous. attack, immediately taking play to Pukekohe territory, but Olphert and Marcroft transferred play to Onewhero side of the half-way line. The visitors returned but Jack Adams proved equal to the effort and brought off a good save by finding the line, The Onewhero forwards headed by Whiskey set off again, but Roy Fulton, R. Perkins and B. Hart stemmed the rush and by a beautiful dribbling rush shifted the scene of operations to the Onewhero 25. From the throw in the home forwards bul-loc-ked their way over the line, but .Onewhero forced. The blues followed the drop out and the forwards took play to Pukekohe 25. The red forwards broke away with Fisher and B. Hart in the W.n. This pair assisted by Perkins, Fulton and Pleydell continued the effort and Hart booting past the visiting full back, sprinted and drew first blood. The kick failed.

Pukekohe .. • * 3 Onewhero .. .. • • b

Clarke returned the ldck-off and following his kick compelled Onewhero to force.' The reds continued to press, but Cole Baker (Onwhero) proved a thorn in the side of Fukekohe and repeatedly stopped determined forward rushes. Only for his fine defensive play they were in the soup. The home forwards maintained the pressure, but Cole Baker was always on the spot ready to put an end to it. The first quarter ended with the score:

Pukekohe .. .. ». 3 Onevvhero .. .. .. 0

Onewhero pressed at the commencement of the second quarter and once or twice in rapid succession -were nearly over. Whisky and Co. strained every nerve to get through, but the reds cleared well and took the ball down field and over the line, but it went into touch in goal. The visitors, determined to score, came again and momentarily had the reels defending hard, but Olphert and Hart (started away on a passing rush. Marcroft obtained and fed Jas.i Adams, who inpassed to Mareroft and the latter centred beautifully. Pleydeli, - who was handy, dribbled the greasy j, ball to within five yards of the line, iand snapping it up. cleverly dived | ever. His kick failed to rise. Pukekohe .. • • - • S) Onewhero ~ - • . . 0 From a scrum near half way, Cole Baker obtained and set his backs in motion, but wild passing spoiled any chance’ they had of getting near the line. However the blues were not yet defeated and made many determined efforts to get through, but support was badly needed and it proved again the necessity of combination. Hail time sounded with Onewhero attacking and the score: Pukekohe . . .. • • Onewhero . . • • '■ Reds in winning mood. Shortly after the resumption the | blues commenced a great rush, but a knock on stopped the onslaught and a scrum resulted. Through overeagerness the reds were frequently penalised and when near Pukexohe

line one of the juayers infringed and Cooper (Onewhero) kicked a splendid goal.

Pukekohe .. . .. f> Onewhero .. .. ..3

This reverse put fresh life into the reds and a mighty forward rush saw them almost over, but Cole Baker saved an ugly situation by a timely mark. He found the line near halfway. From the throw in Roy Fulton broke away and he, Fisher and B. Hart raced up the field with the ball at toe. Hart and Fisher raced to touch down. Hart beating his colleague by the narrowest of margins, scoring his second try. The kick failed. j Pukekohe .. .. .. D) Onewhero .. .. .. <• Shortly after Pukekohe attacked again and Pleydell also scored his second try from another forward lush, making the score: Onewhero .. ... .. 3 H The final quarter saw Onewhero attacking for all they knew how, but the home defence was unpenetrable and an excellent game ended with the score: Pukekohe .. .. .. 12 Onewhero .. .. .. 3 Mr E. Pollock proved an excellent and impartial referee. The game from a spectator's point of view was excellent and the players on both sides are to be congratulated on the spirit in which they contested it. There was nothing in the nature of rough play from start to finish. The only “bump” received was that when Onewhero’s half, Cole Baker, was knocked on the nose when tackling- a home player low, and Marcroft (Pukekohe) who injured his shoulder. The Pukekohe for,wards played as they have never played before, and besides obtaining the ball from the scrums, simply bustled the visiting backs and spoiled any chances they may have had. The home backs were decidedly safe and never let an opportunity pass. The team as a whole played well, and outclassed Onewhero as fari as team work was concerned, all departments. To select any home player for particular! mention would be unfair, as every member of the team played well. For Onewhero, the forwards shaped creditably but the backs, with the exception of Cole Baker and Clarke, were a disappointment. The full back, Taylor, was not as safe as he was when Pukekohe met Onewhero at Onewhero and were defeated by 9 points to 5. Saturday’s result just about indicates the merits of the respective teams, but had it been a dry ball, no doubt Pukekohe’s nippy' backs would have been seen to greater advantage.

A RECORD TO BE PROUD rOF. By winning the championship on Saturday, the Pukekohe juniors established a record any club may well feel proud of. It was their third successive championship win. In 1919 the team played ll games, won 10 and drew 1. They scored 121 points, while only 28 registered against them. In 1920 they played 12 games, won 11 ami drew 1. Points for .119, points against 40. In 1920 they played 8, won 7 and lost 1. joints for 148, points against 30.

The total for three years is:— Played 31 games, won 28, lost 1, and drew 2. Points for 388, points against 93.

Nine of last year’s team took the field on Saturday. *

After the match on Saturday, both teams were entertained at dinner in the carnival tea rooms by Mr Robt. Fulton and the Pukekohe Club. On behalf of the junior fifteen Mr Fulton c.ongratulatedvOnewhero on their fine clean game, and hoped that many more games such as had taken place that dav would eventuate

Mr, A. JB. Floyd, manager of the Or.ewhero team, returned thanks, and. said he was pleased to see Pukekohs juniors at the top of the tree because thev were good sports. Ho congratulated them on their success and added he was* satisfied the better team won.

Cheers were then given for the respective teams, after which a number of vocal items were rendered. Several hakas by- the Maori members of the Onewhero team were grjeatly enjoved by the Pukekohe boys. Onewhere subsequently departed for home amidst deaftening cheers. %, patumahoe juniors drew with Borahay at Patumahoe. THE SENIOR GAMES. ONEWHERO 5 V. PUKEKOHE 3. The above game tobb place at Onewhero and resulted in a win for the heme team by 5 points to ■% a converted try to a c: ah Mr V>\ J- Tay-. lor refereed, BOMBAY 5 V. PATUMAHOE. 5. The above teams played a. drawn came at Bombay. Mr Jce Reynolds controlled the game.

TUAKAU V. RANGIRIPJ

Tuakau defeated Rapgiriri. by G points.

CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER,

SENIOR

JUNIOR.

REPRESENTATIVE GAME.

MANUKAU V. FRANKLIN.

SATURDAY NEXT vfc

The 'Manukau v Franklin senior rep. match wiii take place at Papakura en Saturday next, July 30. The Manukau team is i—Full back, J. Alexander; threequarters, H. Matheson, H. Robinson, H. Alexander; fiveeighths, S. Wilson, C. Bobinson; half back, G. Wilson; rover, J. Baton; forwards, Kinlock, Palmer, Graham. Dawe, Batkin, Osbourne,. Johnstone. Reserves: Backs, Henrys, O’Neill, Murray; forwards, Gallagher, Bray, Sutherland and Sunich. The match takes place at 2.30 p.m. sharp. Mr D. Baird will referee.

MANUKAU RUGBY UNION.

'• JUNIOR CUP FINAL.

As a cui-tain raiser to the ManukauFranklin senior representative game on Saturday next, Papakura and Hunua (Valley- Borers) juniors will meet in the final for the junior championship, \ THE FRANKLIN TEAM. The Franklin team is as follows:Full back, Wj Crum (Pukekohe); threequarters, Jas. Blake (Pukekohe., R- Smeed J. Syzemote (Pukekohe); * five-eighths, C. DromS'col (Tuakau), J. 7 Hire, (Gnewhero); half back, J. Roger /(Tuakau); rover, Ji Markham (Bombay); forwards. L. Baltne (Bombay); J. Droingbol (Onevvhero): Roa Hira (Onewhere); M. Needham (Pukekohe), J. Dromgood (Tuakau), C. Wilson (Patumahoe), My Wray (Bombay). Reserves: Backs, W. Biikey (Tuakau) and C, Noble (Pukekohe); forwards, €. Dazeiey (Pukekohe) and F. Golding j Bombay). The team will leave Pukekohe by the 12:45 p.m. train, returning bv the Waikato train. - Anyone unable to trafel should notify the secretary at once.

P. W. L. D. For Ag. Pts. Pukekohe 8 5 2 1 52 •is 11 One where S 5 2 1 61 51 11 Tuakau S 4 3 1 57 5(5 9 Bombay 8 O 4 1 ,41 4S 7 Pa turnahoe S 0 6 2 22 81 2

Pukekohe 8 7 1 0 14S 30 14 Onewhero 8 V 6 2 0 98 39 12 Bombay 8 4 3 1 93 57 9 Patumahoe 8 1 6 1 26 115 O Tuakau '8 1 7 0 CO 104 2