FOOTBALL.

Otaki Mail, 9 August 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

y 0. TOKOMARU WINS CHAMPiONCHIP. EXCITING GAME IN JUNIOR PINAL. 'the junior championship lor the 1022 season was decided in Levin on Saturday between the winners ol the noi then? and southern divisions. The leading team in me. south was Parupuraumu, die champions ol T.)2t, whilst in the north Tokomaru was in die premier position. Tokomaru, for a young team, has done surprisingly well in the competitions, and then games right through the season bore evidence ol consistent training- and good coaching. 'This stood to diem tit ■'Saturday's game, lor while die play was lusi and furious trom tlie whistle, Tokomaru stood the strain better than their opponents, ,uni were still going great guns at tlie liuish. on die day s play Tokomaru deserved lu win, but die margin oi ill to U is, perhaps a generous - one considering that Paruparaumu hud Hie hardest of luck in missing at least two tries, Whilst die game was hard, clean and exciting lrum start I io finish, the quality oi tire play might have been improved upon, under the perfect, conditions that prevailed, more of the passing game might have been reasonably expected- What there was of it, however, Tokomaru gave the better display, the individual work of their backs being very creditable. The Paraparaumu rearguard suffered severely by comparison, I heir attempts at passing and fielding the ball being lamentably weak. The advantage gained by their forwards was lost time and again by the faulty work of the hacks. Though lighter (ban,the opposing pack, the northern forwards stuck to their task like veterans, and it is to them a great deal of the credit of winning is due. From ilit* spectators' point of view the match was among the best of the season, ami the large crowd present continually cheered and applauded both teams. THE I'LAY. The play opened test and exciting, and after a bout in midliehl Tukoninru red; became very aggressive, and made furious onslaughts on the I’a i apu i aumti blue; line. Ii was not long before the northerners' efforts were rewarded, biggins taking nicely

| and going "ii gamely, drew first, bloo £ just inside the corner (lug. 1 tie kic | was a dillicuU one, but .V. Howland I .sent tlia bail across the bar in fin | style .and I'oko led a—o. Tlie lied I continued the attack, and from sum | loose play the lml! oa.nie out to Todd who put in u gical run and scored : I low lands was again successtiil w ill the kick Toko 10—0. 'ldle game wa i ,by no means one-sided, and Parupa ! / ra.uniu took up the offensive. A pass j mg rush went straight across tied j I and was smothered without gaininj. ; any ndavniuge. flic blue forward, made the play lively by charging inn j l'oko ground. Here lollowed excitinj. ! play, the lilu.es making great efforts i! to get over, Cluney just missing ; jj score owing to receiving a bad pass ij i Passing by the Lilne nacks ended in 8 fa lit re, but their Towards stuck tc | their task. They blocked a penalty I' kit'k by Toko, and tiie rebound nearly 1 brouglit a score for Parnparainni: j l'oko jusi forcing in time. Howell, jjjot die Hides, and M. Pare, ol Toko, j were conspicuous in the succeeding j ■ play. The -southern pack returned to ( die attack, and came up-lield with the ball. Exciting work on the line saw die Blues rewarded at last. McLean ■ touching down after a. great si ruggle. j The attempt, at goal tailed—Toko 10. Paiuparaunm 3. I The second half opened with more ■ exciting play in the middle area. ; Long kicks by the hacks saw Cluney collared before lie could get rid ol rne I ball, which placed Toko in a good i attacking position. The southern forwards were again equal to the occasion. and cleared their line, but A. - Rowlands broke dear away, and going on. crossed die Blue line, but was brought hack for an infringement. The Blue forwards, who were getting (nearly all die ball from the scrums, I niad- another offensive movement ! against the Beds, and when in a , good position sent the hall out to j their hacks, who threw away tin chance and lost all the adavntage gained. Play followed in the Toko • 25, and a free kick to the Blues saw

j Hie ball go wide, but Cluney ran up. ! secured and o,imbed down, amidst l applause. Toko 10, Para 6. Toko i now put in one ol the nicest pieces 1 of passing of the day, and tiie nippy Lemberg was only hauled down when • within an ace oi scoring. The pace I was still a cracker, but the Blue forwards were tiring. Play returned momentarily to midfield, where Rowlands, who was playing a dashing game .took the ball and cross-kicked. Bacon, getting possession, went on ttpfield. Meantime Rowlands hail got up to the fighting line, and taking a pirns trom Bacon, scored a capital try l'oko 13, Para 6. This -purred on the northerners, who, still playing j with splendid dash. got. another try. Simpson going over at the corner alter a great tussle—Toko 16—6. Although the play remained full of excitement to the end. there was no further scoring, and ended with Toko winning the championship. Mr J. Sciascia gave every satisfaction with with the whistle. f producing plants to largely overcome Parr, the Toko full back, was In- , jured on the head during the game. | and bad to leiiie. Hi, injuries, however. were not serious, j An Association game between Paij merston North and Levin teams was I , played during the afternoon, the visi- . tors winning by three goals to on*.