RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5312, 13 August 1928, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. INTER-UNION MATCHES. SENIORS : Thames 16, v. Hauraki Plains 6. JUNIORS. Thames 16, v. Ha.uraki Plains 9. CLUB COMPETITIONS. SENIORS: West 6, v. Suburbs 3. THIRD-GRADE. Kerepeehi 5, y. Ngatea 3.’ SENIOR CLUB COMPETITION. CHAMPIONSHIP TO WEST TEAM. By defeating the Suburbs fifteen al the local domain by 6 points to 3 01 Saturday a.fteriioon the West senio) team has won tlie McCullay Shicli for the second season in succession.

One of the largest crowds of spectators at tlie doiinain this season kssembled to witness the final match for the senior championship, prior to the match tlie two teams were level in competition points, and .a.dded interest was given by reason of -the fact that the two teams lia,d played drawn games on two previous occasions this year.

lueal playing conditions prevailed on Saturday, and the public was treated to an interesting period of football. Throughout the contest play was fast and open, and the cracking pace set at the commencement was ma.intained right through the g,a,me. The flnAl quarter opened -with the scores three aU, apd it looked very much as if another dra<wn game would result, but at the. lest moment Knight scored! a try for West, and Suburbs once again had to acknowledge, defeat and be content with being runners-up. The following were the teams : — West.— FrAser, Wells, McQuatters, J. Verran, R. Swann, JJ- NieJd, L. C. Masters, W. .Taylor,, A. Hamilton, M. Sweeney, W. Southby, V. Carnick, M. Poland, F. Knight, C. Snqw. Suburbs.—R. Rare, J. Maloney, W. Bennett, E. Bennett, L. McLae, J. McKarhey, J. Watene, C. Meredith, J. Duncan, M. Brown, T. Killgour, C. Murphy, A. Morrison, B. Tabu, A. Bennett.

West wan the tosS; and Mcßae kicked off. Play was patchy for several minutes,, until Taylor tocjc an -unsuccessful penalty kick from the halfway line’ and Suburbs forced. From a serum near Suburbs’ line the West backs commenced a passing bout, but it ‘broke down. With a great rush ■the Suburbs forwards made down the Held-, -and passng between W. Bennett and Maloney broke down on the line. A penality was awarded tq Suburbs., but Taylor, fielded the ball and the West for.wards worked play ip to nieutral territory. Mcßae failed with a long penalty kick, and shoiiQy afterwards Fraser cleared in hard play. Suburbs, in close formation, agqin. -attacked. Niehl failed' to go- down to the rush, but Swann cleared with a nice line kick. Suburbs kept up the pressure-, tl nd play was very hard. The game opened up, and after an interchange: of kicks Rare sent out near his own corner Hag. West then pressed and compelled Suburbs to force Just as the quarter ended. Shortly after commencing the second round Taylor failed with a penalty kick, and play returned to neutral territory. From a -line-put Suburbs forwards broke .away, and faulty handling by the West backs allowed them tq -carry on to the line, but Fraser was first to the ball. E. Bennett returned the drop-out, the baill going out. near the corner. West Worked up the field, but following a •line-out Mcßa ; e failed with a dropkick at goal tinll Vei’ran forced. Parsing by the West backs went across the field, gaining some ground, but a breach immediately afterwards negatived 'tlie advantage. After iloqse play Swann made a bad kick which put his sidte into difficulties, and sharp struggle ensued near.the posts. Taylor a.ml Knight broke through in the thick of the melee- and kicked up the field. McQuarters, who folio,wed up fa t ‘:t, caught Rare with the: ball and pushed him out. at the halfway flag. Passing by the West backs failed through McQuarters 'holding on too long, but immediately afterwards Swann picked up in the loois'e, and sent out to McQuarters for him to score a try. Swann’s kick hit the bar. West 3, Suburbs 0.

On resuming- after half-time W-ect went on the attack, but a penalty to Suburbs cleared to halfway. Willing play ensued in neutraf territory u-nti l the West forwards wen-t down, the field in a loose rush, only to be penalised on Suburb’s- line. Sw,apn fielded tlffi kick and 1 had an -unsuccessful dropkick at goal. A lengthy period of open play in midfield terminated- with Taylor pitting the corner flag with a penalty kick. For the remaincler of the quarter, play was very willing, with no .advantage to either side. Commencing tlie final quarter. Suburbs attacked and Mcßae, failed with a penalty kick. Suburbs kept up the pressure, and a.s the neSult of offside play gained a penalty under the posits which Mcßa.e easily converted. Wc>?t 3, Suburbs 3. Play then became exciting, and 'the ball travelled rapidly up and down the field!. Suburbs attacked, but Verran cleared from behind his own line- and the West forwards worked out into midfield. Just on time, with play very willing, the West forwards initiated an advance. The ball shot out to Knight, who made an irresjstible rush through the ruck and crossed the- line to register a good try. Taylor failed 1 with the kick, and time was called with the scores West 6, Suburbs; 3.

Mr R. Walsh, of Waihi, was referee

PRIMARY SCHOOL TRIAL MATCH.

The Thames Valley A and B trial match, played as a curtain-raiser on Saturday, proved that there is no lack of football ability in the schools. In fact, the standard of play was such that the selectors were faced with a difficult problem in eliminating .a, dozen boys frojm the 30-odd taking part. Many of the lads, showed remarkable knowledge: of the game, and

demonstrated- that they could take a ball well, stop rushes, and knew what to dk> with the bajl when they got it. Mr T. C. Arnold was referee.

The following twenty-one piayers were- chosen to represent the Thames Valley Primary Schools in the forthcoming competition for tlie Northern Roller Mills Shield, to be played in this district cojnimeneing on Tuesday, August 21 :—

G. Coxhead. M. Curtis, W. Fu | lton,.G. Avery, W. Welch, D. Welch, R. Campbell. A. Hiiicheo, of Paeroa; M. Berryman. C. Fox, P. gjtace, H. Munro,e, J. Belton, A. Ardern, J. Cqrnthwaite, of "Waihi ; Tilsley, Lewis, Pilkington, Bennett, Borrie, Currie, of Pia,ko. THE THAMES VALLEY UNION. MEETING AT PAEROA. The Thames Valley Rugby Union met at Paeroa on Friday evening, tlie president, Mr J. W. Silcock presiding. There were present delegates from a,ll affiliated sub-unions, the Referees’ Association, and the Primary Schools’ Union, and tlie’ secretary, Mr W. D. Nicholas. DISQUALIFICATION. The N.Z. Rugby Union wrote approving of the lifting of the disqualification of O. H. Cleave, Piako, and the re-instatement of J. Donalld, Piako. B UNION’S MATCH. - Mr Lockyer asked why Robinson and Price, the Waihi players who had been selected to play in the North v. South Island B Union’s match at Palmerston North, hadi not-made the trip. Mr Mulling explained .that the men could not get leave from their employers. Mr, Paul contended that insufficient notice of tlie match had been received'. At least a fornight’s notice should have, been given. The secretary mentioned that on account of a mistake by the N.Z. Rugby Union, Robinson’s; notification had been delayed. Mr Lockyer moved that the selectors be instructed not to nominate players until they had ascertained if they were available to travel. Tdiis was agreed to, and it was also decided to bring undter the notice' of tlie N.Z. Rugby Union the short notice given to country players.

SCHOOLS COMPETITION. The chairman brought up the matter of billeting the school teams that would be visiting Paeroa .shortly to play in tlie Northern Rc-ller Mills Shield competition. It was that the billeting could be done in Paeroa if one team was, cared for in Te Aroha, one team in Waihi, and one team in Hikutaia. ■Mr Taylor, vice-president of the Thames Valley Primary Schools’ Rugby Union, explained that the holdijig of the competition in Paeroa- was forced on tlie 'local union. There would be, qt least six, and possibly eight teams, and very satisfactory arrangements could be made if the teams were billeted as had been suggested., t Mr Aitken, Piako, a member of the Schools’ Union, explained that his union had no finance whatever. The great problem would be the entertainment of the boys when they were not playing, and also the financing of the transportation. Mr Lockyer said .that two teams could be billeted in Te Aroha. The chairman mentioned that the annual gra.nt of £l5 from the N.Z. Rugby Union had been received, and couflfl possibly be used-. Mr Mullins said that two teams co.ulcl be billeted .in Waihi. Father Taylor moved that the Paeroa delegates plfefig® themselves to billet four teams, Waihi two teams, and Te Arohq two teams. Seconded by Mr Dent, and carried. THIRD GRADE. - The Piako Rugby Union wrote urging that a uniform weight limit, for the third grade: players should be adopted-. It was suggested that it should be 9st BJb,8 J b, rising to. 9st 121 b. The matter was' deferred until the annual meeting, ivhen a r,ul ! e. would be adopted covering the point. THE TARANAKI MATCH. On the motion of the Waihi delegates- it w.as agreed that the, match wit if Taranaki on' Wednesday, September 19, be played at Te Arolia, OTHER MATCHES. The president and secretary were deputed to make arrangements for the match with Waikato at Hamilton on September 22 and the, match with Auckland on September' 15.

• Mi- H. Dent was appointed manager ; for the Auckland match, Mr Silcock for the Waikato match, and the president of th'e. Piako Rugby Union for the match at. Te Aroha. on September 19. REFEREES. In connection with forthcomiig I matches, the Thames Valley Referees’ J Association submitted referees as' follows :— August 18: Paeroa v. Waihi, -at Waihi, Mr T. Turner.; Piako v. Plain?, at Ngatoa, Mr F. T. V. Johnson. 1 September 1 : Plains v. Waihi. at Waihi, Mr A. Wafford; Paeroa v. Piako, at Te Aroha, Mr G. T. Davidson. The names of Messrs Turner (Te Aroha), A. W. Dunstan (Waihi), and R. Walsh (Waihi) were: submitted for the Taranaki match at Te Aroha on September 19. A. AND B. MATCH. It was a.greted that for the purpose of selecting the representative fam a match be played at'Paefqa on September 8 between a team seated! from Paeroa and Waihi apd a team selected from Plains and Piako. Mr T. C.

Arnold. Paeroa, will referee. VOTE OF SYMPATHY. A vote of sympathy was accorded ■Mr E. Smith, the referee, who had his leg broken in q motor-cycle accident on Saturday, August. 4. AN OUTSIDE MATCH. Permission to play Tauranga at Tauranga was granted tq tlie Waihi Rugby Union. AFFILIATION FEES. Mr F. Lockyer, in whose hands the matter of dealing with th'e demands of the N.Z. Referees’ Association for affiliation fees was left, sa jd Ke had

written to the association explaining the position. The Thame's Valley Union was formed in 1922, and the affiliation fee for that year, and also for 1923, was pa,id by the then secretary, Mr J. Walmsley. Hfe had paid in 1925, when lie was secretary of the union, and £3 3s had been paid- by the union this year, -which brought tlie dues up-to-date. He thought that there must be some mistake in the association’s books. He was confident of the amount paid while he was secretary in 1925. KARANGAHAKE PLAYERS. Mr Mullins, said that tlie Wajklno club bad made it quite ekear to, his union tliat the three players Lee, O’Brien, and Rackham possessed t'he residential qualifications to play under the Waihi Union. In order to qualify Rackham had, prior to the commencement of the season, lived at Waikino, while Lee had resided At Rackham had played only one gaine. The chairmAn said that he had made inquiries and was satisfied that Rackhum's residential qualifications placed him within the Paeroa Union’s boundaries. He moved that no action be taken with reference to Lee and O’Brien, but that Rackahm be recognised .a,s a player within the PaeroA Union’s a.rea. Seconded by Mr W. C. Kennedy and carried! SCHOOL GRANT. It was decided to divide tlie £l5 grajit between the four school sub-, unions. The Waihi,- Piako, and Plains subuiiio,ns intimated that they would hand their share, £3 15s each, over to the Primary Schools’ Union to assist that body in entertaining the visiting teams. REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION. On the motion of the chairmaji it was decided to ask all sub-unions to admit members of the Thames Valley Referees’ Association to, all matches free. Representatives from Waihi, Plains, and Piako sub-unions agreed to this