RUGBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 378, 12 June 1928, Page 14

RUGBY

HAMILTON Both senior games at Rugby Park on Saturday provided the spectators with a round of thrills, the play being well up to standard. . . . In the City v. Old Boys game, which the latter won 9—S, the ball was in the possession of the Old Boys most of the time but the superior weight of the opposition often checked progress. Kemp, first five-eighth for Old Boys, played a splendid game, feeding the backs m fine style and dodging the backs in a manner which roused the crowd to cheers. Tuck supported him ably. The City backs were less nippy, but Brown and Buckingham shone among the forwards. The last spell was particularly exciting when City attacked strongly, gaining two tries, one of which was converted. Accurate kicking when free kicks were awarded won the game for Marist against Technical Old Boys (16 —14). In the first half Technical had it all its own way, but in the last spell Marist rallied strongly and the game became fast and open. Clarkin kicked like a Trojan for Marist and made up for the deficiency he and the remaining backs were responsible for in combination. Technical, on the other hand, made some fine passing rushes. rarely mishandling the leather. Results of junior Rugby games were as follow;—Junior A: City 9 v. Frankton l); Old Boys 20 v. Horotiu 0; Technical Old Boys 12 v. Te Kowhai 6. Junior Li: High School 11 v. Ruakura 8; Newstead 11 v. Old Boys 6. Third Grade: High School 9 v. Frankton 0; Technical Old Boys 9 v. City 6. Fourth grade: Frankton 0 v. High School 0 Fifth grade: Marist 12 v. Technical Old Boys 0. HUNTLY' Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday last for the winter games. In accordance with an arrangement between the Taupiri Coal Company and the Town Board the League and Rugby codes will, in future, have the use of the Recreation Ground on alternate Saturdays, the Soccer fixtures to be played on the old Thistle ground, except in the case of big matches when the recreation ground could be used. Renown (13) (principally due to improved back play), had a comfortable win over Orini (3) at Huntly West. Neither side was at full strength and the losers got into a heap of trouble with offside play. C. Tapp and A. Wilson scored, O’Sullivan kicking a penalty, and dropping a beauty between the posts as well. In fact, potting at goal was quite fashionable on Saturday, several attempts being made, but only one bore fruit. Orini’s 3 points were represented by one penalty goal. The outstanding forward for the winners was Cecil Tapp. He was always on the ball. Kirkwood and Graham were good supporters too, and of a consistent rear division, Wilson and O’Sullivan were perhaps the best. For Orini, Penny was noted for steady play and Laidlaw played his consistent good game. O’Connor was the best of the remainder.

Adopting the three-two-three formation (for even the juniors must be in the fashion), Huntly juniors gained superiority over Ngaruawahia by 11 to 0. Referee Reston had a nice clean game to control and it was not so exciting as the previous game when the winners triumphed by 14 to 10. The innovation was a marked success and the locals hooked the bag of wind 90 per cent., and, despite the prejudice against the packing, in practice it worked well. C. Hill (2), E. Harris (1), were the scorers Burgess converting one. F. Garroway, Hill and Burgess were consistent for the rear division, and Ralph, A. Harris and J. Garroway were about the pick of the front rankers. Huntly owed their success to their forwards, and when they failed to hook instantly, put their weight in and nullified their opponents’ advantage. TE AWAMUTU The following team has been selected to represent Waipa in a match against Putaruru representatives at To Awamutu on Saturday next;—Fullback, P. Quin (Te Awamutu); threequarters, D. Ellicott (United), W. M. Winter (Te Awamutu), L. Young (Karamu); five-eighths, J. Davis (Te Awamutu), E. Bell (Karamu); halfback, H. Wilkes (United); rover, L. Kay (Te Awamutu); forwards, G. Thomson (Rovers), R. Head (United). G. Walker (Rovers), R. Fowler (Te Awamutu), L. Kerr (Karamu), W. Bayne (Te Awamutu). E. Holmes (Te Awamutu). Emergencies: L. Shepherd, R. Willcox (backs); Cairns, B. Elliott, McCarthy (forwards). The following will represent the Waipa juniors in a match at Cambridge on Saturday next: Full-back, Batty (United); three-quarters. L. Spiers (Te Awamutu), G. Balme (United), R. Jackson (Mangahoe); five-eighths, R. Sinclair (Te Awamutu), C. Johnson (United); halfback, A. Jackson (Mangahoe); rover, C. Parish (Mangahoe); forwards, W. Pollard (Korakonui), F. Hogen (Korakonui), Murray (United), Askew (Korokenui), P. Grace (Korakonui), J. Turvey (Te Awamutu), N. Cruickshank (Korakonui). Emergencies: Backs, A. Brill; forwards, T. Wenham. The senior match, Rovers v. United, played at Te Awamutu on Saturday, lacked anything of a brilliant nature. Rovers were minus several of its best players, and failed to show anything like their usual dashing play. United backs combined better, and on the day were a much superior team, eventually winning by 17 points to 8. From a penalty, Shepherd kicked a goal early in the game. In the second quarter, Wilkes secured the ball from the scrum and raced to Rovers’ full-back, when he handed the ball to Elliott, who scored behind the posts. Shepherd’s kick at goal failed. Rovers attacked, and Narbey scored in a good position. Kendall goaled. Elliott was responsible for another fine effort in the second half, which ended in a score. From a free kick Rovers increased their score to B—9. United gradually assumed command. Shepherd making an opening from which Elliott scored. The kick at goal was successful. Shepherd shortly after got across in the corner. Mr. Callis refereed. The other senior match, Te Awamutu v. Karamu, proved an easy win for the former by 20 points to 3. Play was at times of an interesting kind, and some good individual play was shown. For Karamu L. Young kicked a penalty goal. Te Awamutu’s score was made up of tries by Kay, Bayne and Winter (2), the latter converting all four tries. Mr. E. Pooley had charge of the game. An attractive junior match was that between Te Awamutu and Mangahoe. Early in the game R. Jackson kicked a penalty goal for Mangahoe, while Spiers got across the line for Te Awamutu. A good game ended in a draw. Mr. Mclntyre refereed. In the third-grade game, Mangahoe beat High School by 8 points to 3. MANUKAU On Saturday the Manukau Rugby Sub-union’s inter-club competitions were advanced a further stage. Nonspectacular football was witnessed m the Hunua-Papakura senior fixture, the former winning with ease by 13 points to 6. Papakura’s senior teams are exceptionally weak this season, and at the outset it appeared as though Hunua would register a billiard score. Had the visitors, Hunua. trained this might have been accomplished, as they had plenty of dash, made good solo efforts, but displayed little combina-

tion. As a result many probable tries went a-begging. In the back divisions some good work was performed by A. Matheson, S. and M. Wilson (Hunua), and Rowe, Clark, Buckley, Peebles and Searell (Papakura). Other results were: Senior: Drury 11, Clevedon 5. Juniors: Papakura 33, Hunua 3; Clevedon, 9, Drury 0. THAMES At Rhodes Park on Saturday the City fifteen defeated College Old Boys in the Rugby football cup competitions by 14 points to 3. For the winners tries were scored by A. Campbell, T. Henderson, T. Abraham, and “Blackie” Abraham Henderson converted the latter try. For Old Boys, B. Harrison scored by a tricky piece of play, and touched down between the posts. Adams failed to convert. Mr. G. Buchan controlled the game. Rain and a greasy ground prevailed at Wharepoa, where the Ramblers defeated Physical Training by 3 points to 0. McCallum scored Rambler’s try. Mr. Henderson was referee. The position of the teams in the cup competition is:—City, 6 points; Ramblers, 4; Physical Training, 4; Old Boys, 2. Selector A. Fleming has chosen the following team to represent Thames in the representative match against a combined team from Coromandel and Mercury Bay at Thames next Saturday:—Full, A. Winder; threequarters. A. L. White, B. Harrison, F. Moran; five-eighths, A. Gorby and T. Dufty: half-backs, W. Savage; rover, J Strange; forwards, A. Smith, D. Abraham, W. Brunton, J. Pollock, M. Hayward (captain), W. Pollock, and Percy. WAIHI Two senior games were played in the Waihi Cup competitions on Saturday, Mataura defeating Waikino by 6 points to 3, and Katikati disposing of Athletics by 9 points to 6. The Mata-ura-Waikino game was played at Waikino in drizzling rain, and, although Mataura maintained its unbeaten record in the competition, it had to fight hard to beat its lowly-placed opponents. Within two minutes of the start Thornton cross-kicked and Furey beat the Waikino back, to score wide out. Johns failed to convert. No further score resulted until five minutes before full-time, when Merino scored a try for Waikino. This kick was also missed. Mataura kept the ball in its opponents’ territory from then until the end of the game. Within a minute of time Garvey secured from a scrummage near the line to score a splendid try, leaving Mataura still the unbeaten team. Mr. Norman Emmett was referee. Athletics entertained Katikati on the Waihi recreation reserve, but had to bow the knee to the visitors in a fast and interesting game. Soaking rain fell throughout the game, making the ball difficult to handle at times, but in spite of this handicap a fair standard of play was maintained. For Katikati Polley, who played a splendid game, scored two tries, and Borrell one. For Athletics Fry scored a try, McDermott converting. Mr. J. Mannix refereed the game.

The following players have been chosen to represent Waihi in the match against Piako for the Poland Cup, to be played at Waihi on Saturday next: Warne, Falkiner, Thornton, McDermott, Dillamore, Saunders, Snodgrass, Price, Polley, Craig, Walters, Rolleston. Robinson, Agnew, Pankhurst. Reserves: Garvey, Gilpin, Johns, Faulkner, Radford, Peacock. ROTORUA Rotorua had a feast of good Rugby matches on Saturday, when three visiting teams engaged with local combinations. The weather was fine, but a chilly wind was in evidence late in the afternoon. There was a good attendance of spectators, who witnessed good games. The afternoon opened with: High School B 17 v. Hamilton Technical B o.—This was a runaway victory for the Rotorua team, which continually forced its opponents, winning comfortably by 17 points. Bright passing movements by the local boys were a feature of the game. High School A 5 v. Hamilton Technical A 6. As can be seen by the scores, this was an evenly contested game, but the luck was against the local boys, who scored a try (converted) to their opponents’ penalty goal and a goal from a mark. Rotorua had the better of the play, but rather selfish play on several occasions robbed them of victory. The inside backs failed to handle the ball cleanly, the first five-eighth also being slow off the mark. Lewis, for Hamilton, was a tower of strength to his team, gaining nearly half the length of the field by well-judged line kicks. He also scored the whole six points for his team. For Rotorua, Griffiths at full was very safe. Randerson scored a fine try by a tricky run. Kingi had five easy kicks at goal, but failed to put one between the posts. Rotorya 14, Matamata 11. —The senior match between these two teams was a stirring contest. At the outset it looked a foregone conclusion for the visitors to have an esay victory, but after the first quarter Rotorua’s forwards dominated the play. Matamata had easily the best of the back play. Vosper showed that he has a great turn of speed, as also did Egan. __ For Matamata, Storey, Vosper, Egan and Kneebone all played sterling games in the back division. Robertson was the best of an even pack. For Rotorua, Barker at full played a safe game. Donnolly was the best back, while Scott blossomed forth as a fine half. In the forwards, Sharpe, Shaw, and Dixon were the pick, though to the pack Rotorua must gave credit for victory. Pollard had no chances, but showed ,he had a good defence getting his man every time. HAURAKI PLAINS In the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s senior grade inter-club competition on Saturday last the Ngatea team brought its championship points to eleven by defeating Kerepeehi by 14 points to 9, and the Turua team brought its to nine by drawing with Waitakaruru. Turua and Ngatea both have one more match to play, and a play-off seerps probable. Kerepeehi has six championship points, Waitakaruru five and Hauraki Plains West one, and each team has two games yet to play. In the match at Kerepeehi W. Williams opened the scoring with a fine try just before half time. Shortly afterwards Rapana scored for Kerepeehi and Adlum added another three points. A kick from a mark by J. McPherson evened the score. A try by S. Dalgety, converted by J. McPherson, brought Ngatea’s total to 14, and a goal from a free-kick by R. Fisher raised the home team’s total to nine. A penalty kick to each team were the only scores in the Turua-Waitakaruru match.

In the junior competition Ngatea beat Kerepeehi by five to nil, a try by H. Mayne being converted by S. McKerchar. This match completed the competition, which has been won by the Turua Club. Ngatea third grade team beat Turua by 16 points to 3, and in the first matches of the season in the interschool competition for the Terrill Cup Kerepeehi beat Ngatea by 29 points to S, and Turua beat Kopuarahi by 3S points to 0. The following team has been selected to represent Hauraki Plains seniors against Paeroa at Ngatea on Saturday next in the first Poland Cup match of the season:—Fullback, J. Hedley (Patetonga); threequarters, F. Costello (Patetonga), L. Harefield (Kerepeehi), L. Clotworthy (Turua); five-eighths, J. McPherson (Ngatea), H. Wright

(Kerepeehi); half, J. Catlin (Turua); rover, K Fox (Turua); forwards, L. Kilgour (Patetonga), A. Kelk (Turua), R. C. Abel (Ngatea), P. Clark (Waitakaruru), F. Mulgrew (Kerepeehi), A. Courtney (Kerepeehi), A. Fisher (Turua). Emergencies: Backs, C. Stretton (Waitakaruru), M. Madgwick (Turua), P. Reti (Ngatea); forwards, R. Hutchinson (Turua), J. Dobbs (Waitakaruru), R. Benny (Patetonga). The following team has been selected to represent Hauraki Plains Juniors in the Sharebrokers' Cup competition match at Paeroa on Saturday next: Fullback, F. Scott (Turua) ; threequarters, Donaghy (Ngatea), H. Mayne (Ngatea), S. Rangi (Kerepeehi); fiveeighths, Marshall (Turua), J. Thompson (Kerepeehi); half-back, H. Spinks (Ngatea); rover, S. McKerchar (Ngatea) ; forwards, T. White (Turua), Masters (Ngatea), S. Nicholson (Kerepeehi), F. Hamilton (Kerepeehi), J. Hartley (Ngatea), W. Elvin (Turua). Hutchinson (Turua). Emergencies: McCormick and Long (Turua), A. Nicholson (Kerepeehi) and H. Barriball (Ngatea). Connell’s bus will leave Ngatea at 1 p.m., Turua 1.20, Kerepeehi corner 1.4 Q. DARGAVILLE The weather was dull and showery for the continuation of the Rugby competitions in this district on Saturday. Results:—■ Seniors: Pukehuia defeated Tangowahine by three to nil at Rugby Park, Dargaville, before a moderate attendance of spectators. Dargaville and Southern met at Te Kopuru, the former winning by 12 to nil. Juniors. —Dargaville and Southern played a drawn game at Rugby Park, the score being three each. Ruawai and Maropiu also drew on the same ground, neither side scoring. Pukehuia 3 was defeated by Tangowahine 11, on the latter’s ground. Third grade.—Southern 6 defeated Dargaville 3, at Rugby Park; and Ruawai 20 beat Hign School 0.