FOOTBALL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 546, 6 July 1920, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SECOND ROUND COMMENCED.

Results At a Glance: Senior: Waiuku 20 v. Pukekohe 10. Onewhero 8 v. Bombay 6. Mercer forfeited to Clevedon. Junior: Waiuku forfeited to Pukekohe. Bombay S v. Onewhero ?>. Patumahoe 9 v. Clevedon i.

Ideal weather prevailed for the continuation of the Franklin Rugby Union's competitions on Saturday. The various playing grounds vvere in tip-top condition. In the senior championship Mercer forfeited to Clevedon, and this puts the Clevedon team three points in the lead for the senior championship. The are now almost assured of annexing the caps.

At Waiuku the home seniors defeated Pukekohe by 2i> points to 10, after a fairly good and fast exhibition of Rugby. Onewhero defeated Bombay by eight points to six after an even game.

In flie junior championship Pukekohe won by default from Waiuku, and B unbay romped home in front of Onewhero by eight points to Lhree. Patumuhoe proved too superior for Clevedon on the former's ground. Pukekohe juniors are now leading for the junior competition by one point, Bombay acting as runners up.

THE GAMES

Waiuku 20 v. Pukekohe 10.

Pukekohe seniors travelled to Waiuku and met a strong home team. From the kick-off the game was highly interesting, and two or three times in the first quarter Pukekohe were almost over the Waiuku line. The home -»team, which was by far the heavier, retaliated, and in quick success'on rattled on 14 points in the second quarter. Half-time sounded with the score: Waiuku 14, Pukekohe 0.

Upon lesuming Pukekohe attacked, and Jack Adams and C. Wilson each scored a try, which were improved on by \. L. Higginson and C. Wilson. Waiuku added six more"points, and th" game, a fairly good one, ended in favour of Waiuku by 20 points \n 10. Mr. Christiansen rcfereed.

Onewhero 8 v. Bombay G. The match, Onewhero v. Bombay, was pl-iyed at Onewhero on Saturday under perfect weather i onditions, md alter a hard, close game resulted in a win for the home team by 8 points (a converted try and a penalty goal) to (i points (two penalty go.ds). Onewhero had much the better of the game in the final quarter, and had hard luck in not putting up a fir bigger score. On the day's play tha better team won. The same was controlled by Mr. Bert Clarke, whose decisions gave satisfaction to both te.ims, who heartily cheered him at the conclusion of the match. The \isitors, who were given a cup of hot tea at half-time and tea and cakes, etc., at the end of the game, expressed hearty appreciation of the home t■iaiii's thoughtfulness.

The Game.

Onewhero won the toss, and elected to d if end the northern goal. Bombay kicked off shortly after 3 p.m., f ; «d thj ball way returned by Kihi, and after an exchange of kicks the Bombay backs essayed a passing rush, A. Wray being prominent, but the Onowhero backs tackled solidly, and a promising attack was nullified by a forward pass. The home team was shortly afterwards penalised for a breach, and Tongs kicked a splendid goal. Bombay 3, Onewhero 0. Onowhero was playing up well, rnd holding their opponents who, though making several attempts, were p/evented from scoring, chiefly by deadly tackling. From a loose rush near the Onewhero line a Bombay pi; ver snapped up the ball and dashed over, but was collared and prevented from grounding the ball. The referee ordered a five yards' scrum. Had Bombay been able to secure the ball they had ;: line chance of scoring, but their opponents had too much weight, and pushed them over the ball, which shortly after went into touch, and the first quarter ended: Bombay 3, Onev hero 0.

Onewhero attacked from the kickout, and rushed the ball to Bombay', s line, where tight play was the order. The home team made desperate efforts to score, and the visitors made an equally desperate defence. For T>ff-side play Bombay was penalised, and Toko Hira kicked a beautiful goal: Bombay, 3, Onewhero 3. During this quarter the play was mostly in Bombay's twenty-five, and their line was crossed several times. From a loose rush W. Logan secured the ball and dashed across, but was brought back for a breach. Onewhero kept up the pressure, but could noCadd to their score, chiefly owing to the sound defence of the Bombay backs, the fullback in particular, and A. Wray getting their sida out of several scrapes. Halftime sounded with the scores unchanged. Bombay 3, Onewhero 3. In the third quarter the game was fast and furious, several players receiving knocks. The Onewhero rover, T. Hira, got a nasty knock in the eye, and had to retire. Both teams attacked alternately, and Bombay had hard luck in not scoring two "dropped"' goals, one shot by A. Wray and the other by the Bombay halfback. Both shots went unpleasantly close. Onewhero defended just as well, in this quarter as Bombay had done in the previous spell, and kept their opponents at bay, the quarter ending with the score as before: Bombay 3, Onewhero 3. Playing downhill in the final quarter the Onewhero forwards, headed by A. Geraghty, Crawford and Co., dashed across, where the former scored a well-deserved try under the posts. Potini made no mistake with the kick: Onewhero 8, Bombay 3.' : Bombay 3. Bombay kicked out, and F. Logan kicked high, the Bombay' backs fumbling. The ball was once again rushed over the line, where A. Geraghty and the Bombay tailback both raced for the leather. A Geraghty undoubtedly steadied the ball, but ihe referee ruled the ball "dead" -hard luck for Onewhero. The Bombay forwards, who were putting up a great fight with their heavier and faster opponents, now rushed the ball upfield, and A. Wray, making aj beautiful opening, kicked over the defending backs, and Bombay looked

T.;e scoring, but L. Cathcart and A. Logan spoiled their chancej 'fight play now occurred near Onewhero's goal, and Bombay was awarded a free-kick near the goal. Tongs once more piloted the ball over: One* j whero 8, Bombay 6. This was Bom-1 bay's dying effort, for the ball did not cross the half-way line again. The Onewhero forwards initiated attack after attack, but Bombay, by good tackling and forcing, prevented further score. In the final few minutes a Bombay player received a nasty knock on the neck, and had to retire. The game was fast and furious during the last two or three minutes, arid from a line-out right on Bombay's line the ball shot out, and Potini snapping it jtp : dashed over in the corner. The referetf i-ofed, him off-side, and shortly iafter the game ended: Onewhero'B, Bombay 6. The game was hard and fast from start to iinish, but play was clean and free from those" objectionable tactics which spoil good Rugby. Bombay was fairly beaten, mainly through the efforts of the Onewhero forwards, those to catch the eye most being A. Geraghty, R. Crawford, and Potini; but the rest played so well that it is unfair to single out any for special praise. The Onewhero backs played their best game so far this season, and showed that with confidence they are capable of doing good work. The half-back, L. Cathcart, played a sterling game, while A. Logan on the threequarter line played well, saving his side on several occasions. The visiting forwards played hard, but more than met their match. A. Wray was the best back on the ground, while the fullbacks and halfbacks played well.