NAPIER JUNIOR REPS.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 11

NAPIER JUNIOR REPS.

WIN OVER HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ GOOD. PERFORMANCE Napier 2 goals High School . 1 Although beaten by two goals lo one, the Gisborne Hiah School frr‘ levon put up an excellent performance against bigger and more experienced opponents in ‘he Napier junior representatives in Gisborne on Saturday. The schoolboys had the torritorial advantage, as a result of effective team work, but the Napier defence was too sound and their forward breakaways very dangerous. More than usual interest was take', in this game, because *his was the first occasion that the High School boys had played an outside team and aim because, the, boys are entered in the secondary schools’ tournament in Wanganui late in the month. School’s Team Work High School played splcndxllv as a team. There was no individualist, apart from the. goalkeeper, who is a unit of his own. P. Cnssin filled th : s position splendidly, and although he had two strong full-backs in front of him, in Hewitson and Pohatu, he had plenty of work to do. The halves sometimes found difficulty in stopping the long clearing hits from the Napier backs, but were solid in the tight work, Walsh, at centre, showing sound judgment in feeding his forwards. The forward line combined well. Cassey was much improved on recent form, making some good runs on the left wing. Most of the inside work wis again done by Roderick. The Napier players relied mainly on speed and long hitting, although the forwards indulged in short passing occasionally. West gave an excellent performance between the sticks, while Williams proved a good hard-hitting full-back. Jeffries was a solid half. ICessell’s speed made him the 'most dangerous forward, while Barlow played a well-judged right wing game. A Whirlwind Pace The game started at a whirlwind pace, the Napier juniors using their speed in breakaways, but the Gisborne boys, relying on short passing, countered the visitors’ efforts. On several occasions P. Cassin, Hie Gisborne goalkeeper, came out of his goal to stop Kessell, the big centre forward from Napier, in fast soio efforts, the custodian saving nicely each time. The Gisborne boys retaliated, West, the Napier goalie, preventing the Gisborne movements from being finished off. Eventually, with a long hit, Napier were sent to the attack, and a long pass from Chambers .went across to Barlow, the right wing, who had only the goalkeeper to beat with a long shot, which found the net. Napier did not stay in the lend for long. Cassey took the ball down the Gisborne left wing and centred, the inside men bustling the goalkeeper for Roderick to put on the finishing touches from close quarters. There was a little too much bunching on the part of the Gisborne backs at this stage, but eventually Gisborne got the upper hand and forced Napier back to

their 25. Half-time, however, arrived with the scores still even. Play continued in favour of High School after the interval, but the Napier defence was too sound. Towards the close of the game, Eddy was sent away down the Napier left v/ing, and Kessell, gaining possession at the 25, ran through to scoop the ball over the goalie’s head into the net, putting Napier ahead. High School continued on the attack to the close, several shots narrowly missing the goal, but the game ended with Napier still one up. The umpires were Messrs. R. Mardon, Napier, and C. Birkenshaw.