SATURDAY'S PROVINCIAL RUGBY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 2

SATURDAY'S PROVINCIAL RUGBY

UNITED’S DEFEAT OF OLD BOYS STRATFORD'S POINT MARGIN OVER CLIFTON Kaponga Defeated By Opunake The positions of the teams in the northern division of the championship table are unaltered with the exception that United Old Boys by their victory 'over New Plymouth Old Boys go up one from the bottom of the ladder. The order is: Stratford 15 points, Tukapa 14, Inglewood 11, Clifton 10, New Plymouth Old Boys 7, United 5, Star 4. In the southern division, the clash between Kaponga and Opunake resulted in a win for the latter by 12 to 6, and as Hawera defeated Patea the order is: Opunake and Hawera 20 points each, Kaponga 18, Athletic 10, Eltham and Okaiawa 8 each, Patea and Waimate 2 each. Detailed results: Northern Division Southern Division Tukapa 39 v. Star 1 1 Opunake 1 2 v. Kaponga 6 United 1 4 v. Old Boys 9 Okaiawa 1 2 v. Eltham 3. Stratford 6 v. Clifton 5. Hawera 20 v. Patea 8 A.thletic 1 1 v. Waimate 8.

STRATFORD BEAT CLIFTON Two Tries To One By two tries <o one converted try Stratford defeated Clifton at Waitara in a game that produced good Rugby. The home team was strong in the forward division, lend Stratford was hard pressed on many occasions. The winners’ backs played well, and were equal to the opposing division, which included A. Collins, the wellknown full-back, who played l his first game after an illness'. The teams were: — S<rt3tford: Dodd; Robson, Ross, Rowlands; Lehmann, P. Collins; Cruickshank; Butcher; R. Young, R. Clarke, Davey, Smith; L. Clarke, Hinton, Bird. Clifton: A. Collins; Puke, Fenton’. Wetton; Wallace, G. Sangster; Po_ taka; Page, Olston, Hamilton, Major» Arms,. Longg'Lff, Fowler, Longa'aff. Fowler, Armstrong.

Though there was no scoring in the first half it was by no means lull, both sets, of backs being seen in attacking movements, Si‘. rat ford’s more or hodox but Clifton’s more dangerous. Clifton nearly scored twice, once again when the ball just beat Puke -to the ddad-ball line. Clifton’s try was a thrilling affair, the backs handling neatly from the scrum for Wetton to begin a great run between half_way and the twen-ty-five. Potakfa’s. kick hit an upright and bounced l through. Stratford then attacked hotly brjt with cool efficiency. Suddenly Lehmann slipped inside two defenders before sending Ross over in the corner. Next time Lehmann beat only one man, but that was sufficient to enable Robson to score with a determined run. Both kicks were too long for Ross. Clifton almost pulled the game out of the fire when Wallace ; :>ut in a good run, but. he and Weit. ton were cornered* by the defence. Stratford 6, Clifton 5. Mr C. Evans refereed.