FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 58, 18 July 1938, Page 3

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S MATCHES POOP GAMES ON BESEBVE ’1 lie junior game on the reserve, on Saturday was a.. Possibles v. Probables ; match and as an aid to the selectors was pretty hopeless. With the manycoloured jerseys on'both sides players and referee alike found it difficult to tell which-side the players were ou, and the. matek. developed into a farce. The referee, who wore a broad-rimmed hat, bleu” his whistle at rare intervals and players did just about anything they liked, as the'game was kept going with as few' stops as possible. It appears that tlie Union will have to drop such games for selection purposes. the club games appearing to be the only 'reliable indication of form.' The Senior Came. The senior match was between P. W.D. and O.M'.P. and started off at a very dead pace. The former team played very lmuji below farm and had they produced anything like normal play could have won. .- Neither team played good football and players had usually to make their .own openings. Tackling and passing were poor and it was only occasionally that the players put any dash into their play. Watenf played well throughout for his side and practically) played the opposition on bis own, being in the thick of everything and showing no signs of being disheartened by the. O. M'.P. score.

O.M.P. kicked off against the' sun and had the better oil play right from the start. Tnirua. scored a fairly easy try. running around and touching down behind the posts. The kick was successful. O.M.P. ,5. P.W.D. 0.

Soon after N. kSiialfoon scored an* other try. He secured the. ball, and ran a short distance and,then kicked 'infield. The opposing fullback failed to take the ball and Shalfoon ran over t 0 touch dawn. The kick, from a good position, went over.; O.M.P. 10, PiW.iD. 0. , ./ Apanui had a good shot at goal for P.W.D. the hall falling short after a rather long kick. The P.W. D. team remained near the O.M'.P.. line for some time, and then with a quick rush, O.M.P. broke away into the opposition’s half. Shalfoon was prominent in a solo effort but ran into a hunch of players when lie had a chance to pass out and a good chance was lost. There was no further score in the first half. On resuming P.W.D. had a narrow escape when a promising passing rush by the opposing backs was spoilt by . a kneek-on. Play then went to O.M. P. territory and the attackers nearly reached the line. Brown secured from the scrum near the line hut was held up. The P.W.D. men tried hard to score hut O.M.P. cleared to half-way. From a scrum near the line Shalfoon secured his second try, 'this also being converted. '

O.M.P. 15, P.W.D. 0. Scon afterwards O.M'.P. forced and then a hard kick saw thorn force again. Brown kicked well to the line, but from the line-out- near the goalline, O.M'.P. started a passing rush but this was spoilt by a knock-on. P.W.D. forced the opposition hack and Apanui had another shot at goal, lint the ball went wide. A rush by, O.M.P. saw Walker take an easy pass and score well out. The kick at goal went wide.

O.M.P. 18, IMY.I). 0. The leader broke away sooni afterwards and Tnirua scored his second try in a good position,' hut the kick missed. O.M.P. f?l. P.W.D. 0.

The final try of the game was secured bv Tucker. The attempt at

» ygo.al ..again, ]sajdng .;jtlie. final 01M.P. 24, P.W.JD. o'. CITY V.. TB .HUIA Only a few ' speclatoi;s | watched the senior match on ‘ tlie showgrounds but’ they witnessed a very, good game. Play was fast' and' at times a little furious, two men being sent to the side-line. After a really good exhibition by both sides, City ran out winners by a potted goal (by Te Pine) to opponents’ nil. > THIRD GRADE MATCH IN N GISBORNE The Opotiki third grade team journeyed to Gisborne on Saturday morning and . met : the Gisborne representative team. The Opotiki side was much lighter than their opponents, and put up a very creditable showing to make a draw of the game, 6 all. For Opotiki Thompson scored an unconverted try and Brown kicked a penalty goal. The enthusiasm of the Opotiki third grade players should be an object-lessen to the older players, more especially some of the senior players, who are very casual in supporting their teams. JUNIOR RE P 3 ECE'NT AT? VES The following players have been selected to represent Opotiki as junior representatives and will play at the reserve on Saturday next: — Full-back, G. Tai. Three-quarters. Tawhara, B. Anderson, W. M’oore. Five-eighths, S. Fleming, L. Connor. Half. Debrcceny. Forwards, Amokura Te Puna. J. Kurei; Broardley, Roach, Hij RamV pin, Lc Pine; de Montalk.' Reserves. —Forwards, Gus. Karikari, McKay, Nika; backs, F. King, P. King, M. Apanui. Practice to be held at the reserve on Thursday at 7 p.m. All players , must attend.