RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 235, 18 September 1939, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

senior competition AVON BY 0.A1.P.' The final of the senior Rugby competition was played on the reserve on Saturday, .before'*a, small attendance of spectators. Tlie game re,suited in a win for the Q.M.P. team by a fairly narrow margin, after a really good game of football. 'The winners will be the first- bolder,s of the Dennis Hickey Memorial Cuip which has been presented for senior competition. A few minutes after the commencement of play, City opened accounts with a try by Starkey, converted by Leudniin. City 5, 0.A1.P. 0. It, was only. a matter of a minute or two before 0.A1.P. equalised .with a converted try. City 5, O.M.P. 5. City went clown into the, 0.A1.P. 23, where Tairua received a gash over, the eye and letiicxl for a few minutes. Play went up and down the field with neither side getting the upper lianili.'-0.A1.P. then pressed and there was a fight for the ball near the line. -City infringed and O.M.P. had a penalty kick in’ a good position. Alilihero goaled easily. 0.A1.P. 8, City o. 0.A1.P. had llie upper hand at this stage of the game and .the 0.A1.P. backs nearly got over in the corner. Mortoiisen then kicked up the field and finally sent the ball over the line for a force down. O.M.P. continued to keep City penned! up in their own territory, but City broke away finally and swept half the length of the field but the attack broke down. Half-time was called balf-a-niimite later. Soon after resuming City were penalised for offside play and Aliha.ere had a kick at goal from well out but the ball went wide. Lendfum put in a good run handed to Shalloon but the latter’s pass went astray. 0.A1.P. secured from a scrum and the backs bandied! well and ran down into City’s 23. Offside play gave City a free kick. 0.A1.P. forced. The whites (0.A1.P.) were soon on attack and City forced in turn. .Lendrum gained a lot of ground with a free kick. Tlio whites broke away and t!u> ball was passed out to Beech who scored unopposed near the corner. C. Walker put a good kick over. 0.A1.P. 13. City .1. Freni play i:t the City half, the latter’s backs got moving and Starkey took a good l pass anil scored -a real!.' line try. beating bis man down the line anil running around to the posts and touching down for an easy kick, which Lendrum made no mistake with. 0.A3.'.P. 13. City 30. Lc Pino was Juirt scon alter resuming and wa s taken off with a. damaged foot, his place being taken by C. Smith.. From a scrum near the Hue the white hacks handled. nicely and sent out to Beech who scored well out. The kick missed. Offside* play by City gave O.ALP. a penalty kick. Good play by City saw play go well into the white territory and City were unfortunate not to score. City* continued to press and Lendrum finally got over well out. Ihe Icicle at, goal missed. The final whistle blew soon afterwards with the final scores: 0.A1.P ,(i City j; 3