RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3810, 26 June 1928, Page 1

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AUSTIN BANNER COMPETITION FOXTON (54) v. OTAKI (NIL). At the local racecourse on Saturday the Foxton primary school met Otaki and had a runaway victory, scoring- 51 points to Otaki's nil. From the commencement of the game the play was mostly in the Otaki half, and in the first ten minutes Otaki forced twice. From a line out the Foxton backs obtained possession of the ball and B. Coley scored. Try not converted. Foxton 3—Otaki nil. The play from the kick off was all in Foxton’s favour and R. Coley got possession from the scrum and played B. Coley in the blind side. He scored in the corner. Foxton fi —Otaki nil. Foxton again continued the offensive, and from a line out near the Otaki goal line, N. Wlalls scored. Kura made a good attempt with the kick but unfortunately missed —Foxton 9 Otaki nil. A reversion in the play took place after this kick off. Otaki seemed to have warmed up. It was only a spasm however, for though Otaki prevented the Foxton backs getting- the ball for a time, a line out eventually gave the ball to Kura who scored under the posts and converted —Foxton A 4 Otaki nil. The play for a time proved very even, but from a scrummage R. Coley gave an exhibition of his rolling'the hall through his legs to Kura who passed to B. Coley. The atter scoring—Foxton 17 —Otaki nil.

From the kick off the local backs again took the offensive and B. Coley scored—Foxton 20—Otaki nil. Shortly after the kick off from a serum near Otaki line 1’ oxton hooked the ball, the.blind side was useful and B. Coley scored. Foxton 23—Otaki nil. It was after the above points had been put up that Otaki, roused by its loyal barrockers’, whose enthusiasm had not been outstanding, Jacob, from the kick off took the ball and was within five yards uf drawing Foxton’s blood when lowered by Kura, and Foxton managed to clear, but not. for long. The last few minutes of this half may have proved fatal to Foxton’s yet uncrossed line had not the referee had to penalise B. Coley for playing the ball on the ground. During the second half the ton hacks continued their passing rushes and two tries were scored in fairly quick succession. B. Coley after a passing rush scored in tiie corner —Foxton 2fi —Otaki nil. Kura made a run, scored under the posts and converted Fox ton 31—Otaki nil. From this kick off R. Coley made a run across field and B. Coley’s long stride allowed him to reach the Otaki goal line and Kura converted—Foxton 3(i —Olaki nil. The next try was perhaps the most spectacular of the day, when Kura with a series ol swerves and side-steps passed many of the Otaki backs and placed the hall between the posts. B. Coley converted —Foxton 41— Otaki nil. For a time " the play slowed up with Otaki marking the ball, but the play repeated itself once more when, from the line out Kura received the ball, scored, and converted—Foxton 46—Otaki nil. Once again did Otaki make a determined effort to draw blood, but once more Kura came to the rescue and cleared. Foxton followed up and R. Coley having made a run, gave the ball to B. Coley to take over the liiije —Foxton 49 Otaki nil. The remainder of the game was notable only for two runs made by Kura and N. Walls, the latter ending in a line out and a try being scored by Symes and converted by Kura. Foxton 54 —Otaki nil. The game was one in which great spirit was shown’ by both sides. The Otaki boys although playing a losing game stuck hard on the ball but were decidedly out-classed in weight, passing rushes and forward packing; and though the score implies a very one-sided game yet Otaki was the first team to seriously threaten the Foxton goal line. . .

After the match the visitors were entertained at the High School, where morning tea had been prepared by Miss Holst and the girls of the upper standards. Mr. Mason, headmaster, on behalf of the Foxton scliiol expressed thanks to Otaki for the game they had offered the local boys, and voiced the hope that later in the season Foxton would have the pleasure of again meeting Otala * Mr. Buchanan replied on beliail of Otaki and stated that it was the intention of the Otald boys to reduce the score and give a more even game when the schools nex met on the heldw ( Mrs. Thompson, an Otaki supporter, made reference to the re-

feree (Mr. 11. Taylor), ns being i the best that Otaki had had since j their entrance into the Austin Ban- | licr competition. i The morning tea was concluded with cheers of gratitude to those who had arranged it and to the referee. j