HONOURS TO COAST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 6

HONOURS TO COAST

GISBORNE GO DOWN HALL SHINES FOR COUNTY \ PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY Honours in, the second day of play in the primary schools Rugby tournament an the Oval- this morning went to (the East Coast fifteen, which created: .a surprise by defeating the favoured Gisborne team, by 12 points to three. The dew on the grass .made the ball difficult to handle and the game was a forward 1 one in chief, although the Coast backs shewed better handling ability. Gisborne .lost a key back through injuries, but, despite this, the Coast were clearly the better team. The visitors opened the scoring when Waikare dribbled the ball from half-way and: Karaka, a Coast back, won a race for the ball to score a good try. Gisborne - were quick to retaliate and made the tallies even when Henderson crossed the line for an unconverted try. Just before half-time the Coast looked like scoring again, but Tureia saved well. Coast on the Attack

East Coast swung into the attack on the resumption of play, but .the home defence was standing up to the strain very well. Coast were not to be denied', however,' and added to their tally when Kururangi, who was playing an outstanding game at lull-back, came up behind his pack to pot a neat goal, the score then reading East Coast 7, Gisibarne 3.

In the closing stages of the game McCosh went over for a good try after the Coast had been unlucky on several occasions. Karaka goaled the kick from this try and the final score was Eadt Coast 12, Gisborne 3. In the second fixture, that between Cook County and Waikohu-Motu, the latter had a hard task, in -bottling up the combined team’s scoring threat, I-lall, who was again outstanding on the!wing. Mall is fast and a strong runner amd is perhaps the best winger in the tournament. Hail Outstanding Swan opened the scoring for the Counfyy Hall adding the .extras to give the' side an early lead of five polrtf.sMo nil. County kept up the pressure, • only the good defensive work oj: the combined 1 backs keeping the .leaders at bay. Waikohu scored a> popular try when. Ilaronga placed the side on attack and iMoore went over for a try which was unconverted. Right on half-time Hamilton added further to the County score, which at

half-time was County 8, Waikohu Mo.tu 3.

Early in the second spell -one of the Counify forwards went lover in a ruck, Ha'll, in bare feet, going very close with a kick from- an acute angle. Hall scored the last try -of the game when he ran VOydsi to outpace the opposition amdl (cross -the line for an unconverted fry to make the final tallies Counify 14, Waikohu-Motu 3. A feature of this game was the display given by Hall andi 'also the excellent play of -the Maori forwards iri the losing pack, which was a little superior to the County octet. Fixtures lor To-morrow To-morr-ow the unbeaten. County team will meet Gisborne and East Coast will -play the Waikohu-Motu team. County were lucky to strike the Coast team before -the players had found their feet. The Coast players are perhaps the best side in the tournament and are always sure to provide a good display.