Sport in the Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 396, 3 July 1928, Page 14

Sport in the Province

From THE SUN’S Corespondents

RUGBY WAIUKU The Waiuku Rugby Union senior competition was concluded on Saturday, when Aka Aka defeated Waipipi by 12 points to three, and City drew with Otaua, three all. Both games, although fairly evenly contested, were marred by faulty handling and many golden opportunities of scoring were lost. The Aka Aka team, by defeating Otaua, has won the championship by two clear points from City. For Aka Aka, Wright and Hoar scored tries and Keary and George each kicked a penalty goal. The Waipipi score came from a penalty goal by Malloy. The City score was the result of a try by B. Jones. Shukes crossed the line for Otaua. The following have been selected to represent the Waiuku Rugby Union against Manukau, at Waiuku, next Saturday, July 7:—A. Honey (Waipipi); A. James (City), A. Wright (Aka Aka), Malloy (Waipipi), B. Jones (City), McGarvey (City), G. Hickey (Otaua), T. Hickey (Otaua), B. Keary (Aka Aka), A. Kerebs (Waipipi), F. Harvey (City), Reg. McNaughton (City), I. Muir (Aka Aka), A. Ballantine (Otaua), rover, B. Flavell (Waipipi). Emergencies: I. McDonald, G. Frear, Ray McNaughton, G. Muir. HUNTLY The Gordonton team retained its unbeaten record when it defeated the Huntly fifteen by 8 points to nil. It was a fast and interesting game. Huntly backs were patchy, and though its forwards did splendidly and hooked better, Welch’s play behind was not convincing, and he went on his own too much and his selfish play cost Huntly a few points. On the other side Peach’s play was exactly the opposite to that of Welch, and to this in a large measure can be attributed Gordonton’s success. His generalship was that of an experienced player, and had he been behind Huntly’s pack a different tale might have to be told. The Gordonton half was in good form and he also converted the solo score and kicked the penalty goal. Satherswaite and Yates combined well in the front row, and had the best of the argument in the hooking department.

They were unfortunate to have a set of patchy backs to hook for. and their efforts consequently were futile. It was a clean game and leaves Gordonton in the lead for the premiership. Huntly juniors defeated Te Hoe on the latter’s ground on Saturday. Springbok formation—3-2-3—is the style adopted by the Huntly boys, and it certainly has worked well; Arthur Harris consistently hooking throughout. Powell, Hill, A. and V. Harris, with one apiece, were the go-getters, Singer booting one over the bar for a penalty against a duck by Te Hoe. Te Hoe battled it out well, but the winners were a bit too good. For the former, D. Carter and Thompson (2) in the backs, Welch, A. Carter and Wira were the pick, and for Huntly Burgess, Hill and E. Harris, behind, Stevenson, A. Garoway and Arthur Harris in front, stood out. THAMES The senior cup games were resumed last Saturday. College Old Boys and Physical Training met at Rhodes Park, th© former taking the field with

-12 men. The game at times was uninteresting and was confined to the forwards. There was very little back play. Only twice during the afternoon did the backs raise any enthusiasm by their play, and on each occasion tries resulted. Physical Training scored 14 points per medium of a penalty goal by C. Cameron and tries by G. Pollock, McMahon and T. Wolff. Edwards converted the last try. Old Boys’ score was three—a try by Harrison after a line passing bout. Mr. H. Brownlee had charge of the whistle. At Wharepoa Road th© two leading teams faced each other, and a hard game resulted. Within ten minutes of starting Ramblers put on 9 points, “Jimmy” Winder kicking a couple of penalties and W. Savage one. McCollum scored for Ramblers and Moran for City. The game ended with the score: Ramblers 12, City three. Mr. J. Buchan controlled the game. Th© result of the match puts Ramblers and City equal with 8 points each, Physical Training come next and Old Boys at the bottom of the ladder. WHANGAREI In the senior grade competitions on Saturday, Old Boys beat City, B—3, and Hikurangi beat Maungakaramea, 3—o. For City A. Waterman, McDonald and Shortland were solid. There was no brilliance shown throughout the game. For the opposing side, M. Sherriff, Tiplady and J. Britland were outstanding. In the Hikurangi v. Maungakaramea match, the score was the result of a penalty at an early stage. Maungakaramea was solid, but could not overcome its opponent’s lead. This isHikurangi’s first game since its withdrawal from the competition about six weeks ago. The players had intended taking up League, but this scheme had lapsed. DARGAVILLE Owing to the dull showery weather the attendance at Rugby Park, Dargaville, on Saturday was only moderate. The games resulted:—Pukehuia, 24, v. Southern, 0; Dargaville, 23, v. Tangawahine, 8. The Pukehuia-Southern match was a disappointing exhibition in many ways and became farcical at times. Pukehuia gave a ragged exhibition of passing. Harris, th© five-eighth, was a weak link in the backs, missing several good passes when the game was heavy. Hayward, Simmons, Stanaway and Wilson were the outstanding forwards, while both the Sowters, Hollows and Wilson showed to advantage in the backs. Southern began the gam© with two men short. Watson and Somers were conspicuous in the forwards. Sellars, Bird, Topia and Nathan were the best of the backs. ROTORUA Rotorua, 35, defeated Perpetual Forests, 8, at Rotorua on Saturday. It was considered a test for the Rotorua team, which plays a challenge for the Hurinui Apanui Shield very shortly. The game opened briskly, both sides putting plenty of vim into the play and opening the game up in good style. Forests’ pack pushed the Rotorua forwards in the scrums, giving their backs more opportunities. For Rotorua, Simmonds, Pollard and Thomson were the best of the back division. Simmonds, after removal from fullback, improved his game. Sheaf, Keepa, Shaw and Bradshaw played well in the forwards. For Forestry, Morrison (2) and Papuni were the pick of the backs. Waretini and J. Keepa and Pirika were the best of the forwards. PUTARURU The first meeting this season between the Putaruru and Matamata representatives provided a scrappy game under ideal conditions. Matamata won by 15 points to 6. There was a record crowd and the best team won on the day. Tries were scored for Matamata by Storey (2), Ensor and Brown, Stewart kicking a penalty goal. For Putaruru, Belcher and Bullot kicked penalty goals. Score: Matamata, 1 penalty goal, 4 tries, 15 points; Putaruru, 2 penalty goals, 6 points. Judging by Saturday’s match against Putaruru, Matamata should have a good chance of defeating Morrinsville in the Findlay Cup competition., With coaching such as is only obtainable in the training shed, the blacks are more likely to secure and hold the shield, on this season's form, than any challenger in the Waikato. Stewart (fullback) gives the impression of being able to rise to heights. However, at the moment he slightly overdoes the modern stunt of joining' in with the threequarters. He must also cut out his lectures (to his own side). Storey, at right wing-threequarter, is in his right place, and on Saturday he ran with determination and fended strongly, scoring two tries in a game in which little play came his way. Of the home side little can be said. Too many changes have been made to give the side a chance in the Findlay Cup. Against Matamata, Bullot and Wharetine (Pacific) were the most outstanding, but the team as a whole did not impress, and a lack of good “insides” makes the Putaruru side very weak. FRANKLIN One of the best and keenest games of the season was witnessed at Pokeno on Saturday, when the leading teams in the Franklin Sub-Union’s competitions, Pukekawa and Pokeno, clashed, the former emerging the victors by 11 points to 3. The Pukekawa forwards dominated play, and in addition to completely outclassing their opponents of the same division, they smothered the backs. Pokeno’s forwards have been weak throughout the season, but this club possesses a set of first-class

backs, equal to any in much larger clubs. The scoring was opened by Brown, of Pokeno, with an unconverted try. Pukekawa replied immediately, and G. Bell evened the score with a try. In subsequent play T. Brownlee and Bell scored again, L. Lindberg converting one. The junior champonship was won by Onewhero, which team passed through without a defeat. Te Kohanga was the runner-up. KING COUNTRY A large attendance of enthusiasts were somewhat disappointed at the Rugby display between North and South King Country at Taumarunui on Saturday. It was a one-sided game all through, the South team being superior in every department to the Northerners, who went down with a score against them of 19 to three. The King Country will be represented by the following team in the match against Waikato, at Te Kuiti, on Saturday, July 14:—Fullback, Weo (Maniapoto); threequarters, Bedell (Ohura), Carlson (Taumarunui), Jones (Taumarunui); five-eighths, Haddon (Taumarunui), Weinberg (Ohura); halfback, Nichols (Ohura); wing-for-ward, Walker (Maniapoto); front row, Cavanagh (Ruapehu), Eden (Taumaranui); middle row, Hislop (Taumarunui), Wetere (Maniapoto), Skilton Taumarunui); back row, Lusby (Maniapoto), Jones (Ohura). Emergencies: Brown (Otorohanga), Faulke, Gilbert, Wallace (Maniapoto). At a meeting of the King Country Rugby Union on Saturday night, Mr. G. Steadman, president, in the chair, three players, Whare Tainui, Kino Tewhare and Pautu Tewhare, attended to appeal against disqualifications imposed on them by the Otorohanga sub-Union and confirmed by the King Country Union. Disqualification was imposed for infringement of boundary rules, and after lengthy discussion the meeting resolved to alter the penalty to disqualification for six playing Saturdays, and that the men eventually play for the Otiwa Club in the Otorohanga sub-Union’s territory. BAY OF ISLANDS The glorious uncertainty of all games was again exemplified on Saturday, when Okaihau, the assumed winners of the senior competition, visited Kaikohe, and were decisively beaten by the home team, 8 points to nil. The position is now that Okaihau is leading in the championship with 10 points, and one match to play, while Kaikohe are 8 points, with two matches to play. Kawakawa are 9 points, but they have fulfilled all their fixtures. The following players have been selected to represent the Bay of Islands against Whangaroa at Kaeo on July 14 inst.: Fullback, J. Clark (Kawakawa) ; threequarters, J. Repia (Okaihau), Paki Matene (Kaikohe), C. Brown (Waihou); five-eighths, B. Davies (Okaihau), L. Amos (Kaikohe); half, T. Spring (Okaihau); rover. Parata C. Cherrington (Kawakawa); hookers. E. Cook (Okaihau), R. Edmonds ''Kaikohe); lock, W. Rogers (Ohaeawai); wings, G. King (Okaihau), W. Knight (Ohaeawai); back row, Tom Tai (Kaikohe), J. Whittaker (Waihou). Emergencies: Backs, L. Te Haara (Okaihau), T. Wilson (Kawakawa); forwards, Maera Edwards (Kaikohe), R. Watling (Ohaeawai). LEAGUE HUNTLY The Huntly senior Leaguers visited Hamilton on Saturday and met a much improved thirteen, and incidentally suffered defeat by 16 points to 0. The winners being undoubtedly the better team on the day. Paki, G. Rayner and Smith were absent in the visiting team, the latter not having yet recovered from injuries received in the Auckland match. The losing backs would not go down to the strong rushes of the Hamilton vanguard and were repeatedly in trouble under that head. In securing the oval on a 50-50 basis, Huntly should have done better, but the half and five-eighth line did not function with the clockwork precision necessary to finalise the advantage gained. There was altogether too much slowness in hopping into it, but perhaps this was pardonable, as several were out of their usual positions. Everest and Hill were perhaps the pick of the winners, whose forwards all played well, and there were no passengers among them. S. Rayner, Walters, Timms and Stephenson toiled hard for the losers. The Huntly juniors defeated Taupiri by 27 points to 6 after a clean and spectacular game in which the ball was freely thrown about and the quick, short passing of Huntly completely beat its opponents. Seven tries and three converted was the score sheet against two tries by the losers, who put up a hopeless fight. Hill was their best back, and Ed. Farrell was steady, though his collaring was weak. Shaw was the outstanding forward, and Harry York© was perhaps the next best. For the winners, Grewar and Geary, with Broughton and Knight, worked well in the rearguard, Baker, Bozzard, McNeil and Knapper doing the better work in front. Ngaruawahia schoolboys had the better of Huntly, running out comfortable winners by 12 points to 0, in which Tittleton, Berryman and Mcßurnie were best for the winners, and Ralph and Payne for Huntly. HAMILTON. Superior backs and forwards, and sounder combination, resulted in Hamilton accounting for Huntly in the senior League match at Hinemoa Park on Saturday by 16 points to nil. The scorers for Hamilton were Everest (2), Hines, and Taylor, who gained tries, and Hill, who converted two of the tries. Most of the way the play was fast and willing, but the local men were in splendid form, and avoided the opposition pack, who tackled well at times. Timmins, the Huntly wing, made good progress for his side, while Raynor and Miki showed the local side some tricks. Everest played a wonderful game, and was always ahead of the pack. Taylor backed him up well. O’Halloran made a number of saves for the visitors. SOCCER HAMILTON Hoping to compensate for the several hundred miles they journeyed by carrying back the Brown Shield, a combined eleven from Hawke’s Bay were disappointed but not defeated. In an interesting contest at Seddon Park on Saturday they drew with the South Auckland reps., one all. Most of the last half saw the East Coasters getting the best of the play. They made several formidable at-

tacks and were frustrated rather by bad luck than by faulty football. D. Penman was always on the alert and one of the best of the visitors. It was he who evened up the score by completely beating the home custodian with a pretty shot. J. Butcher, a visiting half, was always in place and possesses a strong kick. Tasker played a great game, although he was passed by T. Penman when the ball entered the net near the end. The referee, however, signalled Latimer off-side and the goal was disallowed. WAIHI What can safely be described as the finest game of Soccer seen on the Waihi Recreation Ground this season was served up by Waihi Rovers and Waihou on Saturday. Four points were at stake on this occasion (the association having given the teams permission to settle the issue of a disputed game played at the beginning of the season in conjunction with Saturday s fixture), and Rovers needed only two points to make the championship safe for another year. The result, one all, just about represented the merits of the teams. Coward, the Rovers’ outside right, was perhaps the most outstanding player on the field, his excellent dribbling and well-timed passes being delightful to watch. Robertson, G. Seath and Roberts were also in great form for Rovers. For Waihou, Clark was the shining light, while Andrews, Smith and Richie were also prominent. Rovers have two more games to play, but whatever the result, the championship is theirs, as the two points gained on Saturday put the issue beyond doubt. The following team has been chosen to represent Goldfields Association against South Auckland at Te Aroha on Saturday, July 14: Roberts (Waihi). McKinstry (Waihou), Garrett (Keripeehi), Ferguson (Keripeehi), Robertson (Waihi), D. Seath (Waihi), Sealey (Waihou), Jackson (Keripeehi). G. Seath (Waihi), Hitchins (Waihi), T. Andrews (Waihou). Reserves: Gadsby (Waihou), Richie (Waihou), Welsh (Waihi), Paton (Waihou), Handy (Keripeehi), Andrews (Waihou).

PLAYING THEIR OWN GAME IT sometimes does happen in school football, and it happened in the Mt. Albert GrammarHigh School match at Hamilton on Saturday. Two Grammar forwards and a local back received the ball between them and fought it out, oblivious of the remainder of both teams, who were lined out for a throw-in. Roars of laughter arose when the boys “woke up” and ruefully joined the ranks.

WAIKATO’S LUCKY DAY AT HOME 'T'HE Hamilton footballers in all codes made up for the loss sustained in the Auckland-Waikato representative match on Saturday. In the League game, the local seniors beat Huntly; in Soccer, many of the local men in the representative team kept their end up against Hawke’s Bay; and in Rugby, the Hamilton representatives defeated Cambridge, while the High School boys were successful in their match with Mount Albert Grammar School.