Union Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 15

Union Rugby

HAMILTON Until 2.30 on Saturday it was intended to proceed with the senior Rugby matches in Hamilton, when the first round of the Clarke Cup was scheduled, but the heavy rain and soaking grounds induced the officials to postpone the fixtures. Several junior matches were played in trying conditions. High School beat Technical (fifth grade) 6—o, and Te Kowhai defeated Ruakura 9—o. In a fourth grade match Technical Old Boys, 9. accounted for High School, 0. All other sports were postponed. WHANGAREI Just prior to the time set down for football to commence on Saturday j afternoon, one of the heaviest downpours experienced for a long time converted the playing areas into a sea of slush. As might be expected, this did not mako for good football, but the antics of the players highly amused the spectators. Players ankle deep in water and a sodden ball resolved the game into a succession of forward rushes, the rearguard of each team never being prominent at any stage of the game. Infringements were frequent, especially on the losing side. City was always superior to Portland and with a dry ball would have compiled a cricket score, the greasy ball just robbing it of that extra finish it is noted for. Griffin, City’s fullback, was very erratic. The wingers, Hemi and Jones, both played correct football when they had an opportunity, which was seldom. Ryan and Xicholls played up to their usual good form, the latter finding the line to advantage on many occasions. McDonald, at half, was in great trim. D. Wilson, second five-eighth, gave some wild passes, but this was counteracted by his sound tackling. ■ ■■ ■■■■■—■ ■ “Bunny” Finlayson and Morrison were a great combination in the City forwards, the former often forcing his way through the opposition w i t h apparent case. Of the Portland backs, little can be snid. Paki was inclined to give it a flutter until he met Finlayson forcibly on several occasions, after which he resorted to kicking. Rata gave an exhibition of off-side play, seldom equalled in Whangarei football. The outstanding back was Griffiths, who followed up fast and gained a lot of ground. Ridings was fair until half-time, when his form gave out.

Edge. Mackie and Morrison all played their best in the forward division. The final whistle sounded with the score 6-3 in City’s favour. THAMES Football at Thames on Saturday was played under adverse weather conditions. Rhodes Park was practically a quagmire. Nevertheless the City and Physical Training Clubs played their cup fixture. The game was practically a scramble, and under such conditions either team could have won. City was the lucky one, and put on eight points. T. Dufty scored and “Ned" Winder goaled. T. Henderson also scored. Physical Training failed to score. The Physical Training junior fifteen, defeated College Old Boys by 5 points to nil. In the third grade match, College Old Boys was three points too good for Physical Training. Scores were. College Old Boys, 3; Physical Training The Thames junior representatives to play Hauraki Plains at Thames next Saturday are:—Fullback, A. Boyle; tlircequarters, R. Dowell, A. Hotham, O. Wonzbek: five-eighths, C. Skelley, C. Billings; half, R. Vedder; rover, W. Skelley (captain); forwards, C. Trapeski, L. Daniell, A. Darragh. J. Edwards, K. Strange, R. Darragh, B. Olsen. Emergencies:—Backs, C. Hill, S. Inglis, R. Morgan: forwards, T. Costar, A. Cameron, G. Thomson. DARGAVILLE United retained its unbeaten record when it defeated Ruawai on Saturday by 8 to 6. A sloppy ground and a greasy ball made handling difficult, but the match was a willing one throughout. Ruawai played the better forward game, but found the defence of the opposing backs very strong. Billy Anderson, Ruawai’s second five-eighth, was a “shining star" for this side. He was always in the picture and plaved a well-judged game. Nesbitt, first five-eighth, played a good all-round game. A first-year senior, gave a splendid exhibition at half. The Neill brothers and C. Webb were the pick of the forwards. Stan Stewart again played a splendid game at fullback for United. Safe and fast, Stan made a number of good saves. Pocklington replaced Topia. owing to an injury to the latter, just on half time. He made his presence felt in the five-eighth line. “Pock" was only recently elevated to senior rank. He promises to be one of the most outstanding men in this district. Thornton and Jimmy White were effective men in the forwards, while Somers and T. Nathan also played well. Nathan was wing-threequarter. D. Neill and Frean. both Ruawai men. met with accidents requiring medical attention during the progress of the match. Replaving the match which was a few weeks ago declared void owing to an error of judgment admitted by the referee. Dargaville again defeated Northern Star. 9 —6. The win places Dargaville equal with United in championship points to date, viz.. 16. While United did not lose a match, it has drawn on two occasions, Dargaville having lost a game. Among those prominent on the winning side were Davies, Ferguson and Munro in the backs, and Ken Watson.

Wells, Jones and Clement in the forwards. For Northern Star, Bob Wilson and I C. Hall were easily the best of the | backs. J. Morunga, E. Wilson and j Mackey were prominent in the for- j wards. Davies met with a slight , injury. WAIHI When the state of the ground and weather is taken into consideration, the game between Waihi and Paeroa representatives in the Poland Cup competition at Waihi on Saturday, was well up to the standard of previous encounters between these two rivals. Many hours’ rain had made the ground heavy and greasy, but during the game rain fell in torrents and added further to the discomforts of the players. Waihi won by 11 points to nil, but the disparity in the scores is not a fair reflex of the merits of the two teams. On the run of the play, Pueroa was worthy of a draw, but overanxiety on the part of its forwards nullified several promising efforts. Rare, the nuggety Maori fullback for Paeroa, gave the most polished display of any player seen on the Waihi ground this season. He was the outstanding playei* on the field. McCollom, Moore and Swan also played well for Paeroa. Saunders and Snodgrass were the pick of the Waihi backs and had much to do with their team’s success. Of the Waihi forwards, Walters, Mathers, Hearn and Radford rendered yeoman service. Waihi’s points were scored by Walters, Price and Johns (a try each) and one conversion by Johns. HAURAKI PLAINS With half the field under water and cold rain pelting down without intermission, Rugby was well nigh impossible at Ngatea on Saturday, when the Hauraki Plains and the Piako Union’s senior representatives met in the second Poland Cup competition match of the season. Both teams endeavoured to keep the ball at their feet, but both sides erred in kicking too far and in failing to go down to stop rushes. Piako won, 6 —U. There was little between the two sides, and both Piako’s tries were due to good luck coming at the right moment. P. McLaren opened the score with a smart dash from a lineout, and later Ruckham and D. McLaren were able to get a second try. These players, and Payne, were the pick of the Piako side, while in the homo fifteen M. Martin, Beasley and Fraser were the pick of the forwards, and Graham and Catlin of the backs. The spectators did not encroach on the playing field as they so often do on Hauraki Plains—the ten of them endeavoured to shelter under a tree! The following teams have been selected to represent Hauraki Plains on Saturday next in the match at Thames: Seniors.—Fullback, J. Hodley (Patetonga); threequarters, F. Costello (Patetonga), W. Costello (Patetonga), K. S. Graham (Turua)); five-eighths, H. Wright (Kerepeehi), E. Tierney (Ngatea); half, N. Marshall (Waitakaruru); rover, J. McPherson (Ngatea); forwards, A- Fisher (Ngatea), P. Clark (Ngatea), M. Hill (Waitakaruru), E. Gill (Turua), M. Martin (Waitakaruru), W. Clark (Turua), R. Beasley (Waitakaruru). Emergencies:—Backs, J. Catlin (Turua). G. Birkenhead (Ngatea); forwards, W. Smith (Kerepeehi), K. McCollum (Waitakaruru), G. McCowatt (Turua). WAIUKU The first challenge for the Massey Cup was played at Massey Park on Saturday, when Waiuku, first holder of the cup, successfully withstood a challenge from the Waikere team. Heavy rain fell nearly all the morning and until nearly 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The football area was a sea of water. By opening up drains a considerable amount of water was got rid of, but there was still a good deal on the ground when play commenced, although it remained fine overhead. Not long after the game commenced the ground worked into a quagmire. It was nearly impossible to handle the sodden ball. The game resolved itself into a duel between the forwards. Waiuku won by 14 points to 3. Out of a very even lot of forwards Atgar, Pleydell, Harvey and Kerebs stood out for Waiuku, while Bishop at half played well. Mays, as fullback, was sound. For Waikere Nikora, Browne and Gordon worked well, while Austin was the best back. PAPAKURA On Saturday, at Papakura, the Ponsonbv junior A team played the Manukau Rugby Sub-Union’s senior representatives. After a real good game on a very wet ground, Ponsonby won, 15 —9. In the second half, Mr. L. Mclnnes, of Herne Bay, was severely injured, and was sent to the Auckland Hospital in the ambulance. It was found he had suffered a severe dislocation of the neck. This player was very unfortunate, as he had only just returned from Sydney a few days ago, and had come along with the Ponsonby team as a spectator, but, finding they were a man short, he donned the jersey. The sympathy of all the local supporters of the game, and wishes for a speedy recovery, were extended to him. Atcheson, Stamford, Geraghty, and Kelsey were the pick of the local forwards, being in the van all the time. In the backs, G. Hamilton, I. Wilson, and F. Duder were the pick. For Ponsonby, T. Conway, son of the wellknown veteran, Buff Conway, was the star. Tie made some beautiful openings, badly beating the local boys. P. Platt, an old Drury player, played well for the visitors. Had the ground and ball been dry, a great game would have been witnessed, but the wet state of both spoiled the play to a great extent. BAY OF ISLANDS At a meeting of the Bay of Islands Rugby Union, it was decided to visit Kaitaia on July 20. Mr. Dunlop was appointed manager for both matches. The president congratulated the Okaihau delegates upon the successful performance of their senior team in being unbeaten during the season and retaining possession of the championship shield. Messrs. W. Davies and C. Wells replied to the compliments. The Kaikohe Club drew the date for the first match for the Jerkovich Cup (seniors), Kawakawa to meet the winners. For the Pearson Cup (juniors), Kaikohe Club were again successful, Okaihau being next. The first match for this cup will take place on July 20. Mr. W. O. Smith, Ngawha, donated a gold trophy annually to the best forward in the art of dribbling. The offer was accepte-d with thanks. TE AWAMUTU The senior contest between Korakonui and Mangahoe was played in a veritable downpour, and the playing area was dotted with pools of water. Good football was not to be expected under these conditions. Korakonui proved better mudlarks, and handled

the wet ball better than Mangahoe, eventually winning by 12 points to 5. Play was confined mostly to the for- I ' wards, the backs not being able to i indulge in passing. Ngutunui was unable to field a team and defaulted to Rovers. To Awamutu journeyed to Waikeria, the game ending in favour of Waikeria by 3 points to nil. The Pironsia-United match ended in a draw, neither side scoring. HUNTLY In the senior competition for the Taupiri Union supremacy last Saturday, To Akau defaulted to Ngaruawahia, Huntly trounced Te Hoe, 15 points to 6, and Taupiri beat Gordonton by 3 points. Huntly, playing only 13 men, deserved its comfortable win, but took no chances by letting up when in the lead. Te Hoe fielded its strongest team to date, but let its supporters down badly by not going down to the determined rushes of the Huntly vanguard. Parrot, who scored both tries for the losers, was the one redeeming exception and he was easily the best To Hoe player behind, while Staunton and Abraham were on their own in front. Welch, Simcock and Pitt, a try apiece, and Wilcox, two penalties, were the winners’ scorers, and for them Caleb Tapp at fullback did his work well, but Pitt at half was the only back who went down to the Te Hoe pack’s rushes, and he was a stumbling block all the afternoon. In front K. Welch, Simcock and Gerrand had a solid afternoon’s work and did their job well against heavy odds. OPOTIKI The fourth challenge match for the Hurinui-Apanui Memorial Shield was played at Opotiki on Saturday, under trying weather conditions. Despite the wet, heavy ground, a very good game resulted. The heavy going suited the Apanui (challengers) forwards, who more than held their own against the pack of Opotiki (holders). Although Opotiki won by 14 to 5, the play was very even. Opotiki’s score was made up of three tries, scored by Parkinson, T. Black, and Fox, a conversion by Foy, and a penalty goal by C. Black. Apanui scored one try, which was converted. Opotiki scored a lucky try as soon as the game started, the ball going over the line, and Parkinson beating the opposition for the ball. The backs of both sides tried too many passing rushes, which were spoiled by the wet ball being too slippery to take on the run. T. Kelly, the Opotiki winger, tried hard all day to score, and despite several good dashes had to leave the field unrewarded for his efforts. Walker, the visitors’ rover, played a great game, and had plenty of speed. “Shadow," the visitors’ half, and Callaghan, five-eighth, were outstanding. The fullback was also very safe. Fox, who played a representative game for the first time, distinguished himself by scoring a good try. C. Black, the Opotiki captain, played well, and by placing the ball more upright has vastly improved his kicking. ITe is quite capable of landing a goal from over halfway. Taking things all round, the Opotiki representatives do not appear to be playing with the dash they had at the beginning of the season, and it is certain that Tauranga will give them a hard game in the next challenge shield. MATAMATA Played in drenching rain, the match at. Matamata between the Hamilton junior representatives and the local juniors was, because of the closeness of the scores, quite interesting to the few enthusiasts who braved the elements. The outstanding feature of the game was the fine goal-kicking of Fitzgerald, the local custodian, who on three occasions piloted the sopping ball squarely between the posts. Two of the shots were from close to the sideline, and were particularly fine efforts. The Hamilton backs, Barlow, McDell, Westmatu and Toms, in particular, handled surprisingly well, and on the run of the play Matamata was fortunate to win. Prominent players for the visitors were the backs mentioned and McKinnon, Clough and Mayston in the forwards. Sutherland, Janko and Gray (backs), Smith, S. Hill and Simpson (forwards), played well for Matamata. Matamata won by 12 points to 11. PUKEKOHE The first matches in the Pollock Cup knock-out competition were played on Saturday under adverse conditions. Ramblers beat White Star by 20 points to nil, and United defeated Patumahoe 6-0. As the competition is being played on the sudden-death system, Ramblers and United will meet in the final next Saturday. Stars fielded a depleted team, and the result was not unexpected. One portion of the ground was fairly dry, o.nd on this Ramblers’ backs threw the ball about and gave glimpses of play that won it the championship. Only for such instances of concerted play, the game would have been a drab exhibition. At Patumahoe the playing conditions were much the same as those at Pukekohe. In consequence, neither the United nor the home team was seen to advantage. SOUTH AUCKLAND The first round of the South Auckland Rugby Union’s inter-sub-union senior competition will be commenced on Saturday. The Manukau and the Waiuku fifteens will meet at Papakura and Waikare and Franklin will play at Rangiriri. SUB-UNION AFFAIRS At a meeting of the management committee of the South Auckland Sub-Union yesterday the Franklin sub-union was granted permission to play a Peace Cup match with Morrinsville on August 31. Affiliated sub-unions are to be asked to consider whether South Auckland should play under the New Zealand rules or the Auckland amended rules next season. It was decided to recommend the Franklin Union to place the control of school football in that union's area under the jurisdiction of a primary schools’ union. TAUMARUNUI The Taumarunui Rugby Sub-Union representatives to play Ohura on Saturday next have been chosen by the selector, Mr. A. E. Rice, as follows: Fullback, Schmidt: threequarters, Coogan, Carlson, Lees; five-eighths, W. Jones, C. Haddon; halfback, D. Finlay; rover, T. Jones; forwards, Beattie. Eden, Casey, Edwards, Skilton, Roddick, Wackrow; -eserves, forwards, Edey and Bennett; backs, Hill and I> Haddon. The Athletic Club (Taumarunui) has made an acquisition in Durbridge (late of Taihape), who is credited with being the best threequarter playing along the Main Trunk Line. At Owhango on Saturday Taumarunui juniors defeated United by six to nil. Robinson scored a try. and Lawler kicked a penalty goal. Mr. E. Murrow refereed. j Inter-town third grade had a good try out at Taumarunui on Saturday, despite the wet day. Te Xuiti sent two teams. Results: Te Kuiti High School, 3, beat Taumarunui, 0: a real good game. Taumarunui Primary i School, 12, beat Te Kuiti, nil. i All senior games were postponed on j account of the weather.