DEFEAT OF HAWERA

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 19 June 1933, Page 6

DEFEAT OF HAWERA

ELTHAM SPRINGS SURPRISE. FORWARD SUPERIORITY.

Spectators were not treated to an f exhilarating exhibition of the Rugby code in the match played at Eltham, when Hawera had to concede a five point victory to the magpie fifteen. Eltham (two tries-, one converted) fully deserved the win, and only once or twice did the Hawera representatives look like scoring. sole score was a penalty kicked by Nowell, who exceot for one misunderstanding from which Eltham gained their-second try, played liis -usual resourceful game, but was -severely troubled by the speedy Eltham inside backs, whose ■spoiling tactics were a feature of a rather scrambling match. The Hawera backs were not particularly inspiring, but-, as they included two' juniors, put up as good an exhibition as was expected under the circumstances. The honours of the day were easily with the Eltham forwards, who were energetic and fast- both on attack and defence. The cold southerly wind which blew from end to end of the ground was not taken full advantage of bv either team, and the great deal of mishandling, which was particularly noticeable on both sides, was due in. great measure to foolish endeavours to pick up the ball in a tricky wind. H-unter. Loader. West and Lendrum were the best of Hawera’s backs. Ekdahl was noticeably off colour and was relieved by Harrington. Holloway, both Murphys and Rangiwahia were the nick of the forwards. For Eltham Worthington. Whiting, Red Bourke and Trass proved a fast and resourceful quartet, ready to take full advantage of any mistakes of their opponents. White, Ray Bourke. Bo’cock and Potts were shining lights in a- particularly fast and hard working pack which,' at times, made the Hawera vanguard do their l>est to combat. Barker, playing on the left wing for Eltham, was much too good for Crotty, but showed a tendency to play too far forward and was frequently found offside. Had this player kept his place he would have been, perhaps, the pick of the field. The teams lined out as follows: Eltham (black and white)- —R. Paterson -. Worthington, Manning, Barker; Whiting. Red Bourke; Trass; White, Rav Bourke. Bocock, L. White, Potts, Cambbell, Kennedy, ’ Glentworth. Hawera (amber and black). —Nowell ; Ekdahl, Hunter. Crotty; Lendrum, Loader; West; Rangiwahia, Holloway, M. Joyce. E. Murphy. B. Murphy, Clement, Butehart, T. Joyce. Eltham lost the toss and kicked off facing a strong southerly wind, and got within the yellow twenty-five with a. rush following the kick-off. Hawera booked from a scrum and Loader sent Ekdahl away, but he was'unsupported land a long kick saw Eltham force. I Mishandling by the Hawera backs let the magpie forward-s through to the twenty-five, but the effort was short-1 lived and from a line-out Rangiwahia | handed to West for the latter to send, Loader. Lendrum and Hunter away in the first back passing rush, the ball i going out at the Eltham twenty-five. ! Give and take play followed and E-l-! t.Lnm were forced from a- forward' .melee near the line and, a moment I later, Nowell had an ineffective shot! at goal from a- penalty near half-wav. - Hawera continued to press and El-' tham were forced from a long kick by I Hunter. Eltham then indulged in a passing rush from half-way to' within! a few yards of the Hawera line, where.j off-side plnv .spoilt a likely movement | and. the yellows relieved. j Not to be denied Eltham came again i and Worth in gt-*>n, fielding a '‘short! mint, ran Ray Bourke into position for the latter to -score near the posts. '

Paterson converted. —Eltham 5, Hawera 0. _ _ Immediately following the kick-out Eltham infringed in an easy position for Nowell to convert the penalty. Eltham o, Hawera 3.

The Eltham forwards were putting more devil into their work than Hawera and were distinctly dominating the loose play. Harrington replaced Ekdahl, who was obviously off colour, but the change had no immediate effect and, except for an occasional burst of passing, scrambling play gave little of interest until half-time sounded.—Eltham 5, Hawera 3. The Hawera forwards were up with the kick-off for the second .spell, but again mishandling .spoilt a good movement and Eltham cleareej. to half-way. Here Nowell, thinking the ball was out of play, hesitated to pick -it up and Barker, snapping up the leather like a flash, paced his way over for a try which Paterson could not convert. Eltham 8, Hawera 3. - Spurred on by this reverse the yellow forwards made determined efforts to score, hut. could not break through the Eltham defence and the magpies took a hand at attack, but mishandling spoilt the - effort and a succession of scrambles ensued until a miskick by Paterson let Loader and Crotty through, and Eltham were lucky when a scrum was ordered on their line, where an infringement gave Nowell another chance, but his kick was wide and Eltham cleared to force Hawera with a long kick a moment later. Keeping the yellows penned in their twenty-five, Eltham made strenuous efforts to increase their score and*Red Bourke almost got across, when a five yard scrum was ordered from which Hawera cleared and a forward rush was stopped by off-side play, Red Bourke clearing from his twenty-five to past half-way. Back came Hawera and were on the magpie twenty-five when full time was sounded with the scores: Eltham 8, Hawera- 3. Mr L. Wells was referee.