Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 562, 20 June 1933, Page 3

Opotiki News

RUGBY FOOTBALL . O.M-P. AGAIN SUFFElRi DEFEAT BY HICH SCHOOL. , LINE UM-PIRE REPLACED. The O.M.P. team had its second loss of the season when it was defeated by Hijgh School on Saturday by 9 points to 8. The game was evenly contested throughout but several ug'ly incidents occurred which spoiled wh'at would have otherwise heen a good-, game. The weather was fine and th'e ground in good conditkm. The teams lined out as follows: — OvM.P. (White). — Williams, Kingi, Temple, Hata, Paul ,Israe', Maunsell Edwards (2), Terito, Clay, Makao, Shadow, Jones, Blackie. Hig-h School (Black). — Wolfenden, Braae, Mansill, Kelly, Hickey, Brown, Kelly, Crace, Smith, Armstrong, Mulh'erne, Couch, Thompson, Kemp. From the kick-off, High School immediately rushed play to O.M.P. territory, where they were awarded a penalty kick for offside play. Fox took the shot and put his side three points up with a good kick. High School, 3; O.M.P., 0. O.M.P. took play to High-. School's twenty-five but the Blacks cleared and came away in a good passing movemenit. This O.M.P. relieved, atnd booted out at half-way. The Whites broke away to their oppo.nents' twen-ity-five but were here penalised for Fox to line again at half-way. After a spell of hard play in midfield, an O.M.P. player was injured and had to lea.ve the field, his position beinig1 filled 'by an emergency. The game was marked by hard forward j play, both ,packs putting every ounce of energy into the game Again O.M.P. invaded High School's territory when Fox was caught in possession, Mansill was handy to sa.ve his side. From a scrum at the black twehty-five, O.M.P. v?ient away in a pretty movement and were unlucky not to score, Hata being pushed out near the High School goal line. Line Umpire Replaced. | Play came back to midfield, but

O.M.P. again went to the attack, Hata running strongly At this stage of the game, the referee questioned a decision of the line umpire, ultimately taking his flag from him and lianding it to another. From the line-out O.M.P. rushed play to the High School line but th'e ball went dead and saved the blacks. High School opened up play and went awa.y in a good rush but Williams, for O.M.P., saved with a good mark. High School were not to be denied and had O.M.P. hard pressed to keep their line intaot, C. Wolfenden and Sonny Kelly being most prominent fo'r the invaders. Player Ordered Off. The referee was again called upon to show his authority when he ordered off Maunsill for making insulting ,remarks to him. O.M.P. now took a turh at attack but :a penalty to High School relieved. Shadow fielded well, and after running pnt in a good line kick to gain considerable ground for his side, the ball going into touch at High School twenty-five. The whites received from this lineout and a good*' scoring- opportunity was lost when Rangi Paul dropped his p-ass and the ball went into touch again. O.M.P., however, again sent the ball away- in a pretty back rush and Kingi, running with great determination, went over for a good try. | The kick failed and half-time came with the scores: ! High School, 3; O.M.P., 3-. Second Spell. j During the interval speeulation was rife as to whether the O.M.P. team would take the field for the second spell and for a while it looked as if there would he no further play. I The High School team went out for the kick-off again but play was held up for several minutes until O.M.P. eventually decided to play on. O.M.P. sent the ball away and'G.

Edwards picked up and went over the line to score an excellent try for his side. Williams made. noj mistake with the- kick a(nd the s'core-board read — O.M.P., 8; High School, 3. The whites again took charge and hard play followed right on High ffphrml's lirie. Good defensive work

by the 'blacks kept O.M.P. out, Brown, for High School, giving relief to his side when he broke away and took the ball into O.M.P. territory. Excit. ing- play followed here for some time, dead hall giving relief to the whites. For an infriiugement near the O.M.P. twenty-five High School were awarded a penalty kick and again Fox raised the flags with a good effort. — O.M.P., 8; High School, 6. The whites immediately rushed play to High School line, where L. Kelly saved with a good kick. O.M.P. went to the attack again and High School's defence was being severely tested. Fox ,again got his side out of trouble when he received and booted to go through fast and catch his man in possession. High School endeavoured to open up the game for Jones to intercept and put in a igood run for O.M.P. Wolfenden again received for High School and put in a good run but was foreed out. O.M.P. were penalised but Fox .missed the shot and O.M.P, foreed. Fast following up by Clay saw Fox beaten by the bounce of the ball and O.M.P. very nearly scored. Kingi gave it a go for his side and was also unfortunate not to score. _ P. Brown eased the situation for High School when he put in a good run and lined at half-way. Shadow kicked to Hickey, who xnis-fielded, for the hall to roll out at High School's twenty-five. A little later Hickey received again and tried. a pot at goal but missed. With play in O.M.P. territory, Hata saved his side- by marking. j The Final Try. !

| Mansill fielded the kick and put in a tricky run for High School, Braae al'so showing up for his side. A likely High School movement was nullified by a player hanging on but when their backs again opened up the game the j ball travelled to Wolfenden, who went over for a good try. F'ox missed at goal and High School were one point up.— Hiigih School, 9; O.M.P., 8. Tepiple broke away for O.M.P. but had no support. 'High School returned to O.M.P. territory, where Hickey again attempted an unsuceessful pot at goal and made it dead ball. Grace, for High School, was showing up by good forward play, the game soon afterward being held up while this pia.yer was being attended to for an injury.

The whites were by no means a beaten side and came away with a great rush to the High School twenty-five. From a scrum here, they hooked the ball and the backs were sent away. A wonderful opportunity was lost when an O.M.P. player knocked on when he had two men in support and the defence beaten. O.M.P. were awarded a penalty kick and Hata attempted to pull his side out of the fire hut his kick missed and High School booted | out for the' bell to ring for time. High School, 9; O.M.P., 8. The referee was Mr. Mclntosh. | Other Games-. The other games played on Saturday resulted as follows: — Seniors. Country 6, defeated City, 0. i Juniors. ' O.M.P., 18 v. City, 3. High School, 9 v. Country, 0.