RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 193, 12 June 1939, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

O.M.P. DEFEATED GOOD CURTAIN-RAISER GAME Spectators at the. Reserve on Saturday were treated to- two good football matches. The third grade match proved to he a very interesting .one, and the standard of Hug by was exceptionally good for a third grade team and was better than the usual game put on by the senior teams. To the delight of many onlookers, the High School team got the upper hand and won by 13 points to 9. This was the first defeat of the City team and the winners were elated at their victory.

lihe curtain-raiser was played 1 well beyond the time for the commencement of the senior match and then a further long wait for the seniors to take the field resulted in the match not commencing until thirty minutes after the advertised time. The Union will have toi take a firm stand in the matter ci l starting times, .and in this respect it- will be necessary - to see that there is a definite time for the finish of the first game. Late starting is beopming such a habit that a few of the senior players are not bothering to he on the ground at the proper time, feeling certain that- the game will be late in .starting. The spectators will not be encouraged to attend) matches if they have to wait unduly for the start of a. game and the resultant- late finish. Other districts see that games start to time, even if teams are short. The local teams have more or loss adopted the plan of not taking the field until a full team is available. It is up to the Opotiki Union to have the matter root i tied.

Ths Senior Came. O.M.P. had difficulty in fielding a team owing to casualties and other reasons. Toni Black took his place in the team as full-back and showed that he can still kick the half well up the field. The team lacked weight in the forwards but the hacks gave quite a good! display. r J|ie game was not sc-one-sided as usual and the losers took their defeat in the right spirit, while the game throughout was played very cleanly. A feature was the large number of penalties against tlie City team. The winners saw plenty of the ball from the scrums but the O.M.U. defence was very solid m the centre and the City backs found it very hard to find openings. A very line game was played by Lendrum for City, and it was a treat on one occasion to watch the manner in which he dribbled! the ball past- several opponents. showing fine control of the ball and body balance. The other backs also handled the ball much better than in previous games, but will have to show further improvement to beat O.M.P. at full strength. There was a noticeable improvement in the tackling on both sides, and the match was quite; a good, one to watch. The heavy rain on the- previous night did not appear to affect the ground to any extent! and the ball was handled well at all times. City kicked off against the sun. A minute or two after starting, O.M.P. kicked too hard and City forced. J. Walker had a snap .shot at the goal and was hurt at the same time and the game was held up for some time. After O.M.P. had been down in the City 25. play went- to- the other end of the field and a line-out- resulted. A free kick, to City for offside play in the tight saw Le Pine put the ball over. City :i Of Mi.!’ 0 J. Walker put in a long kick and gained a lot of ground. O.M.P. kicked too hard over the line and Le Pine forced. From a scrum, Lendrum .secured and running towards liis wing, gave a short kick. Starkey ran up end took a difficult- ball andl sidestepping Black, raced round behind the posts and touched down. Le Pine converted. City 8 O.M.P u Tight- play followed and a- free kick was given to O.M.P. Shalfoon put in a nice run, eluding several men before passing, but the effort- broke down. A free’kick to O.M.P. in their own 25 saw Black gain half the length of the field to find the fine. City were penalised for an offence in the scrum andi Black had a shot at goal and missed by a narrow margin. 0.31 .P. got down near the line and from a scrum Black kicked down to the corner. City extricated themselves from a bad position and play wont to midfield. From a lineout- J- Walker found the line further down. O.M.P.

continued to press and got down near City’s goal-line again. An infringement by City gave Black another shot at goal but he missed again. City kicked up to half-way, and then attacked, but wild passes spoilt the effort. City were penalised again and half-time was called without further score. After a short interval t-lie game was resumed with plenty of vim, City being on the attack and a passing rush went to the O.M.P. 25. A serum was given and a. hard kick saw the ball go over the line and a City man was very lucky to touch down. Le Pino missed with the kick. City 11 o.Lii.p o The O.M.P. forward's swept down the field into City’s 25 and the defenders were penalised. Although in a handy position Black kicked to the corner instead of trying for a goal. A force resulted from the line-out. City then went to the O'.M.P. line and a force resulted. Two mere penalties were given against City. Exciting play followed near the City line but a counter-attack saw ploy go to the O.M.P. 25. A penalty against City was not of much assistance. Maui\sell kicked into the O.M.P. 25 but Shalloon passed! off the ground and City were penalised. Soon afterwards U. 31. P. secured their only try, but Herron failed with the kick. City 11 O.M.P .' 3 Penalties against City followed in monotonous succession. J. Walker put in a good line kick. City uorked up tc. t-lie O.M.P. 25, but were penalised. A; serum took place on the O. M P. line but the game ended soon afterwards without further score. Mr. W. T. Burrett was referee of the third grade match, and Mr. R. Hawkins was in control of the senior game.