Rugby. CENTRAL H.B. GAMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 136, 25 June 1937, Page 15

Rugby. CENTRAL H.B. GAMES

' ' Referee. ' ')

Takapau Too Good For Otane COUNTRY PERSEVERES

(By

Last Saturday '& senior resuits an (jeutral Hawke's Jbay were as follows: 'i'aKapau (24) beai Otane (6;. Old Boys (12) beat Tikokino (3). Waipukurau (24) beat Ongaonga (3;. Omakere beat Te Aute by default. The excitement expeeted at Otane iast Satur.day failed to materialise. as t'akapau quickly made themselves saie from defeat. The quickness of their aiisiUe backe was too mucn for the Otane rearguard. In rousing forward oatuee tne utane XJack di(l vveli, and obtained a fair share of the ball; Burgess was the best line-out forwar.d in the game. At the present time Takapau are in great form, and local Rugoy followers are still wondering how they lost to Old Boys a fortnigut ago. 'The Takapau-Otane match drew a racord crowd to the Otane ground. In Waipukurau Tikokino put up a good showing against Old Boys. Although Jthe Tu.ikoidno and Ongaonga clubs cannot at present field strong teams, by fulfilling all their engagements they have shown a commendable spirit. Out for a game of football their players care little how large the score against them may be. While this writer considers that Onga-Tikokino should join forees as one club, as long as they can field separate senior teams they will always be popular opponents. Only six years ago Takapau were in a similar position; in 1930 they lost one game 0 — 63. At that time the Takapau players were admired for their sportsmanship in taking the field against euch odds, and no one has grudged them their recent striking suecess©3. • The next few years may see a similar revereal of fortune with some of the other clubs. Next week should see Te Aute again in action. This tfeam has aetually played only six inatches this winter, wmumg three and losing three, When tho quarantine is lifted the College seniors, uone of whom has been dll, will no doubt be keener than ever, and when at full strength will provi.de lively oppiosition for the local clubs. The Te Aute wing, Northcroft, who injured an ankle at Porangahau a month ago, will eoon be fit again. Next Saturday the much-improved Porangahau team will meet Otane. In the first round this fixture provided an easy win for Otane, but next Saturday's game should be very close. With a sound organisation behind them, the Otane players will in no way be cast down over last week's defeat; they are still level with Waipukurau in eecond place on the competition lauder. The junior competition is practically won by Waipukurau, who need to wtin only one more match to put themselves in an unassailable position. As this competition will end shortly, ■ a further round, as a distinct competition, will be played.