RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE OTAKI CUP.

RETAINED BY SHIPPING OFFICES.

THE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT.

During the dark days of the war the steamer Otaki, a unit of the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s fleet, was sunk by enemy gunfire after putting up a fight which will forever remain a sea epic. Memories of the ship and her gallant company were revived at the ShowGrounds on Saturday, when the annual Otaki Cup tournament was held. All three games of the series were strenuously contested, the Shipping Offices fifteen, who relieved the Harbour Board of the trophy last year, coming out on top.

His Majesty's Customs and the Shippin? Offices had a merry affair on No. 1 ground in the initial round. First one team and then the other would strike heavy ■weather, but little damage was done. There were shouts from the Shipping Offices' typistes when Dixon and Davis led their pack to Customs' harbour, but the pair met head seas before reaching an anchorage and had to heave-to. Customs then took a turn nn<i went downfield under a full head of steam and got well among the local shipping. All signals were against the Customs men, and the going was decidedly choppy, but Thom, doing about nine knots, kept his telegraph at • "Full ahead!" and went right through to drop his pick near the posts. He landed the cargo himself, and Customs were five points up. Shipping offices rallied soon after, and Latta weighed anchor from the full-back position and went right through to reach haven safely, despite several shots across his bow. Aitken finalised the berthing, and the _ scores were even. Customs 5, Shipping 5. Over the remainder of the voyage Customs got the heavier buffeting. Davis was at the helm when the Shipping clerks got their next outward clearance, and he was still in command when they reached port. Chief Officer Aitken missed. The Shipping Offices thus won by a ship's length. Shipping Offices 8, Customs 5.

.. Customs agents and Board kicked up the spray on No. 2 ground. Harbour Board were shorthanded and their crew had to knuckle down to a lot of overtime. Twice Nicholson steered the Customs boat through the shoals to the harbour side's anchorage, Graham converting one of the tries. Harbour Board showed good seamanship when Beattie bustled into the agent's haven and McCarthy converted, but they were still behind at the end. Customs agents 8, Harbour Board 5. The FinaL The first round results brought the Customs agents and shipping offices, together for the final. Shipping offices had the smoother sailing at the start and the agents had to muster all hands on deck to keep their port clear. Engine trouble -to "Doc" Aitken, caused the shipping clerks to drop andior i » repairs but they were soon at it again. Stuart clapped on a full spread of canvas but Saxon torpedoed him amidships and he sank bow first at midfield. Against the tide the shipping offices did better and Fletcher hoisted the flag on the Union Co.'s building when he sailed through to score. A dash by OTjeary saw the shipping offices pitching and tossing dangerously. However they weathered the storm and the agents were still three points astern at half-time.

Both teams loaded full cargoes of oranges during the breather. Shipping offices got a favourable slant and Stuart, changing his course a couple of times, darted through—three all. Thence to the end the shipping offices representatives showed themselves slightly the better crew and first Angell and then Jalfon got through and landed their cargo, the game ending: Shipping Offices 9 Customs Agents 3

FOURTH GRADE FINAL. MARISTS BEAT PONSONBY. One of the fastest exhibitions of Rugby seen at tbe Showgrounds this year resulted from the meeting of Marist Old Boys and Ponsonby in the first game of the fourth grade final series on Saturday. Both teams played the bright open game, throwing the ball about in great style, at times , even recklessly, but it was not until within a few minutes of time that Pope, the Marist half-back, potted a neat goal. With a couple of minutes to go, Marist came again, and Blood scored an unconverted try, the final score being:— Marists 7 Ponsonby ................... 0 ▲ feature of the game was the number of casualties, although none of them was serious. If Marists win the second match next Saturday a third will be unnecessary. BAPTIST BIBLE CLASSES. A highly successful seyen-a-side Rugby tournament was held by the Baptist Union Bible classes at the showgrounds on Saturday afternoon. In the junior division the Shackleton Road seven came, out on top, while Edendale beat Orange Road in the final of the senior section.

HOUSE MATCHES. Vacuum Oil 3, drew with Winstone's 3. Manukan Cruising Club 26, beat Manukau Yachting Club 25. > POLAND CUP. WAIHI BEAT PAEROA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ; WAIHI, Saturday. The play-off for the Poland Memorial Cup between Waihi (holders) and Paeroa. attracted a large attendance to the Recreation Reserve this afternoon. Shortly after the play commenced Delamore registered a penalty goal for Waihi. In the second quarter Waihi more than held their own against the strong .wind. Wane, the local full-back, retired hurt. No further score was made, daring the second half, the play remaining very even-ly-balanced between the two The final score was:— '» .. . •>•.«....« .. .••• S Paeroa ;/£* ' q ; ] U TAUSAN6A WIN. '1. * CLOSE GAME WITH MORRINSVIIXE. —In a keenly-contested game, Tanranea beat Morrinsvffle by 14 points to 7. Morrinsville led at half-time by 7 points to 3, but Tauranga added eight points in the second half, during which Martinsville failed to score. For MorrinsviUe, Mulcahy potted a goal and F. Thomas scored a try, which was not . converted. The'scorers for Taurahga ■w Sural, Tu Tangitn and W. Turner. One try was converted by Tu Tangitn.