OPOTIKI NEWS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 283, 25 July 1932, Page 7

OPOTIKI NEWS

RUGBY FOOTBALL O.M.P. BEAT CITY Chief interest on Saturday focussed upon the meeting of the O.M.P. and City but the game proved rather one- . sided and ended in a runaway victory for O.M.P. by 33-3. From the kick-off, the ball was carried to City's 25 line where O.M.P. were given a free kick and City liad | to force. Fast play followed, Abbott finding toueh but City followed fast and Black saved for O.M.P. O.M.P. ncarly scored shortly aftel* this, but were pushed out before their wing could cross the line. City, gaining possession from the line-out, pushed the play back to half-way but the respite was only temporary, and Walker gaining possession, scored for ■ O.M.P. The kick failed and left the seore 3-nil in favour of O.M.P. Abbott was playing* well and making consistent saves for City. The play remained in City's 25 and following a line out O.M.P. scored again making the score 6-nil in their favour. Play was delayed shortly after this owing to Catchwell being injured and fmally he was forced to retire. When play was resumed Paul soon set the O.M.P. backs going, from a scrum and Pitirua scored for Jones to eonvert making the score O.M.P. 11, City nil.

From the half-way kick, City took the play into the O.M.P. 25 where they were granted a kick, but Mortensen failed to turn it to account. The O.M.P. backs, taking* possession of the ball, took play back to City's half °but J. Parkinson secured possession and made a great run, streaking along the wing and passing three men to score a brilliant try under the O.M.P. posts. The kick failed leaving the score O.M.P. 11, City 3. O.M.P. followed the kick with a forward rush to score again but without eonverting. Half-time was called with the sore 14 to 3 in O.M.P.'s favour. Second Spell After half-time, play opened .with a rush by the O.M.P. backs, but Abbott saved the situation, and Mortensen found toueh from a penalty. From the line out, Mulhern made a great dribbling rush to the O.M.P. 25, but O.M.P. returned to City's territory where Black securing the ball from a scrum passed to Hata, who scored. Black again failed to eonvert. On resumption O.M.P. secured the ball from a forward scramble and scored onee more in spite of the City full back's splendid effort to check the rush. From a free-kiek, City found the line, but Paul gained possession to score once more for O.M.P. Black added points with the kick. J. Parkinson continued to play a gcod game and Abbott made a splendid tnckle when Paul broke away once mere, but the forwards made a dribbling rush and scored again. Brown took the kick but failed to score. City pushed the game to the O.M.P. territory after the kick, but failed to turn a penalty to account and O.M.P. forced. Following the kick, however, Edwards dashed down the wing to score again for O.M.P. and Jones converted. The final seores were O.M.P. 33, City 3.