Opotiki News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 573, 3 July 1933, Page 3

Opotiki News

HURUNUI SHIELD APANUI BEATEN AFTER CLOSELY FOUGHT GAMJB CHALLENGE DEFENDED The first Hurunui-Apanui Shield match of the season was played here in beauitiful weather on Saturday when Opotiki were successful in rctaining the trophy against a strong Apanui fifteen. The visitors played jgreat Rugby and the issue was in douht right to the final bell. At half tlme the score was 3-all and Apanui had Opotiki defending hard for a great part of the second spell. Towards the end of the game, however, Opot.ki turned a penalty kick to good account and managed to hold this advantajge to the end. Play in Detail Apanui sent the hall away and hard forward play followed in mid-field. From a penalty kick, L. Kelly lined well in the vistors' twenty-five where from a scrum R. Jone& w^s nearly over for a try. Fox received from an Apanui penalty kick and opened up j a passing rush' which hroke down j when Black knocked on. Opotiki missed from a penalty and Apanui forcedThe hall was rushed to Opotiki's l.ne for Hunia to clear with a good run. Fox was smothered hy the opposing , forwards but Black was handy to save. Apanui had an unsutecessful shot ' when Opotiki were psnalised and a force down resulted. From the drop out, Opotiki worked back to mid-field (where Fox attempted a shot, heing unsuccessful with a good effort. Craig came through fast to hustle the opposing hacks who eventually lined just outside their twenty-five. Opotiki kept hammering on Apanui's line and were nearly over on several occasions. From a seriim, Jones whdpped thei hall out smartly for Kingi to go over for a good try near the corner. Fox's attempt at goal was good hut not successful. Opotiki 3, Apanui 0. Apanui immediately rushed play to Opotiki territory where a penalty gave relief to the defenders. The visiting half -back went through to gain much ground and lined 'in Opotiki's twentyfive. Here Apanui were frequently penalised and Opotiki eventually cleared to h'alf-way. Hard play followed right on the goal line, Jones eventually getting his side oult of trouhle iwith a good line kick. The visiting vanguard was playing 'great football and again Fox was smothered hy them hut Hunia saved. Apanui kept play right on Opotiki's line and twice their winger was almost over. Then Apanui were awarded a penalty and turning it to account, they made the score three all with a good kick. Apanui 3, Opotiki 3. After the half way kick the hall went to Fox who returned it for Apanui to rush play to Opotiki territory. A visiting forward went over the line but was hrought back for a knockon and a good opportunity was lost. Sonny Kelly raised the seige and handed it on to Kingi who lined just outside his twenty-five. Again Opotiki were heing hard pressed to keep their line intact, Grace getting his side out of difficulties with a good line kick. Jones was doing great work for his side and got them out of trouble on many occasions. Th'e visiting forwards were out playing Opotiki with their bustling tactics and never seemed to tire. Again play travelled to Opotiki's line, a try heing •lost when the hall was knocked-on. Kelly clear ed with a good kick after ha received from a scrum under the posts and Apanui s full hack marked to kick out in his opponent's twentyfive. Again the visiting forwards rushed play to Fox who put it out as the hell sounded for half time. Apanui 3, Opotiki 3. Second Spell From thei Opotiki kick th'e visitors rushed to the Opotiki twenty-five for Kelly to find touch with a good kick near half-way. Temple received and put in a good kick to go through and nearly score, a scrum being ordered right on the Apanui goal-line. The Opotiki forwards hooked and Jones opened up a passing rush for a visiting hack to intercept and carry play to F.ox who fielded well and lined nea.r half-way. Black followed a kick through fast and pieked up to give a fonward pass and spoil a good opportunity. Apanui carried the hall behind from a scrum and later caught Jones in possession when his team had hooked the hall. Again the black and white went away in a good movement hut a good tackle saw Kingi pushed out when nearly across. A penalty kitk gave Apanui much needed relief and Fox received this to find ' touch at his opponent's twenty-five. The sanne player narrowly missed from a shot at goal and Apanui forced. Anotber promising hack rush was nuillified when Temple kicked instead of passing and the visitors cleared to half-way. Black attempted to pot a field goal and the hall went dead. Opotiki were continuously on the ■atitack for several minutes. Apanui eventually clearing to half-way. The visitors now took a turn at aJttack and rushed play to Opotiki's territory to be •hrought hack for .a forward pass. The visitors came away in a great forward rush and were nearly over again. First Jones cleared with a timely kick and then Temple saved well. Apanui kept play near their opponents' posts and were nearly over on ssveral occasions. A penalty awarded to them and Opotiki cleared to their twenty-five. An Opotiki rush hroke down when Temple gave a wretched pass and Apanui received from Hunia and gained ground for his side before putting it out in his opponents' quarter. Then Apanui were penalised and Fox raised the flags with. a beautiful kick. Opotiki 6, Apanui 3. Apanui rushed play to Opotiki territory for Fox to clear well. The visitors were making desperate efforts to reduce Opotiki's lead and had the hest of the play for some time. They missed with a pot at goal and the hall roll ed into the dead-area. Kingi was ■bustled hy the opposing vanguard hut just imanaged to clear. From a penalty Ananui found touch near Opotiki's

8*. - j goal-line where hard play followed. 1 Time and again the visitors stormed ' their opponents' line hut the defence [ held them out. Just as the hell rang . for time, Apanui were awarded a j .penalty kick, which they put up and | under for Jones to receive and kick ; into touch', the final score heing. j Opotiki 6, Apanui 3. The referee was Mr. G. Peebles, of Whakatane.