THE RUGBY GAME.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 34, 5 June 1924, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME.

SOME CLOSE CONTESTS. Rovers and United Draw. Selwyn beats Tokoroa. Waotu defeats Puketurua. Football in the Putaruru district last Saturday was again played in wet weather, heavy rain beforehand having made the ground sodden, which fact, added to heavy showers during the play, made the ball greasy and difficult to handle. Under these circumstances it was kept mostly on the ground and in charge of the forwards. With this kind of play all three matches proved close contests, At Putaruru Rovers and United drew with a score of three points’ each, while Selwyn beat Tokoroa by the narrow margin of three points to nil. At Puketurua Waotu defeated Puketurua by eight points to nil. ROVERS 3, UNITED 3. The Rovers-United match was a hard tussle throughout and was either side’s game right to the finish. A period of play between the 25 lines followed the kick off, and then when United were approaching Rovers’ territory, from an infringement Gasparich (United) kicked a fine goal. United 3, Rovers 0. On changing round Rovers opened the game up, backs and forwards participating, but United forwards beat them back to neutral territory two or three times. But again the red (Rovers) backs started up a passing rush about midfield and then punted over the heads of the United backs. Woolliams, wing three-quarter for Rovers, just beat the opposition, touching the ball down. No goal resulted. Rovers 3, United 3.

In the third quarter offside play by a United forward in United’s 25 gave Rovers another very favourable kick at goal, but the ball went over the post. United forwards were now playing with much dash and persistency and rushed play in the loose a couple of times right down against Rovers’ goal line and tries seemed imminent. But the reds proved clever and nippy defenders when hard pressed and managed to clear each time by kicking the ball forward and out of touch. In the final spell the reds by their open work gave United some further anxious moments, Avhich. however, were relieved by counter-attacks by United forwards, and the game ended with the score still three all. Mr. S. C. Snell was the referee. SELWYN 3, TOKOROA 0. The Selwyn-Tokoroa match was very much after the style of the Rovers-United contest, being mostly a hard struggle between the forwards, finished back play being almost impossible owing to the greasy state of the ball. Selwyn were not up to their standard of the previous Saturday and the fortune of the game was divided fairly evenly by both sides right to the last. Selwyn, however, secured a try in the second spell. They had reached Tokoroa’s 25 when the leather came out of the ruck. A Tokoroa player found it too greasy to manage and it shot out towards the corner. Three blues (Selwyn) were hard on it, and picking it up London was tackled on the goal line, but went over his opponent’s back to score a try, which was not converted, and was the only score of the game. Mr. F. Snell was the referee. WAOTU S, PUKETURUA 0. The Waotu-Puketurua match, at Puketurua, was practically a hard forward tussle throughout. Puketurua showed further improvement on previous play and Waotu was hard put to it to win, especially, too, as in the second quarter their best back, Kite, had to retire owing to injury to his ankle. However, Tua opened the score for them in this quarter by kicking a penalty goal, while in the final quarter a scrum five yards out from Puketurua’s goal line saw the Waotu pack force the Puketurua forwards light back to the line and go down on the ball about fifteen feet from the goal posts. Tua converted this try, making the score for the match: Waotu 8, Puketurua nil. Mr. G. P. Portas refereed. WAIKATO SELECTORS’ OPINION. The selectors for the Waikato Rugby Union, Messrs. C. McDavitt and W. C. Coote, were present at the matches on the Putaruru ground. Afterwards they expressed the opinion that considering the wet conditions the play was of a fairly good standard, and some of the players certainly showed talent that entitled (Continued in Next Column.)

them for consideration when the Waikato representative team was being* picked. However, Messrs. McDavitt and Coote intimated that they would come again to Putaruru, when the weather was fine, and they could thus judge the play under better conditions. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Last week’s meeting of the management committee of the Putaruru Union was a short one. There were present: Messrs. J. Barr Brown (chairman), F. Phillips (executive),. M. Henderson (Rovers), (Selwyn), and Dodd (Waotu). The registration of several further players was accepted. Intimation was received that the Cambridge union desired a representative match with the Putaruru union on the King’s Birthday, June 3. Members said they thought it would be difficult to assemble the Putaruru union’s rep. team for that day. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman. SCHOOLS COMPETITION. A meeting to form a union to conduct a Rugby competition among the various schools in the Putaruru district was held in the Putaruru school on Saturday mornnig. There were present: Messrs. F. C. Barnett and J. Gasparich (Putaruru school), Staff-Captain Fitness and Mr. Sealy (Patetcre school), Mr. Black (Selwyn school) afid Mr. J. Barr Brown (Putaruru Rugby Union). Mr. Barnett was appointed chairman and Mr. Gasparich secretary. It was agreed that a Schools’ Rugby Union be formed; that it affiliate with the Putaruru Rugby Union; and that it hold a competition for which the Patetere school and the Putaruru school should each individually enter a team while the country schools should be allowed to form groups to enter teams. it was suggested that one group might comprise the Puketuvn, Waoutu and Tokoroa schools, and another the Ta Papa, Selwyn and Te Whctu schools. i 11 was agreed that the competition should start in a fortnight’s time.