Union Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 764, 10 September 1929, Page 14

Union Rugby

DARGAVILLE. Otamatea senior representatives visited Dargaville on Saturday and defeated Northern Wairoa by 9 to 6. The visiting players were:—Fullback: N. Matthews; threequarters: L. Connell, A. Sterling, A. Fenwick; fiveeighths: W. Sutherland, J. Mouatt; half: D. Fenwick; rover: D. Neil; forwards: J. Fenwick, Robertson, J. Donaldson, Harvey, Bull, Reid and Snelling. Otamatea proved the better team in every department of the game, their backs, especially, showing to great advantage in combined work. M. Reid scored the first six points for the visitors, his powerful and welljudged kicks being a feature of the match. The only try for Otamatea was notched by J. Fenwick. The side as a whole played well, and the victory was well deserved. Northern Wairoa appeared to be suffering from “sleeping sickness,” and lacked its usual dash. The side’s com-* bined work was weak and only cne or two flashes of good passing resulted. From one of these Ferguson scored the most spectacular try of the match, the leather travelling through the backs' hands, after being taken from a scrum in midfield, ending with a fine dash to corner by this brilliant forward . Most of the local work was of an individual nature, and Wells, Gould and Jones showed up in the forwards, while Wade, at fullback, played a safe :ame. Wells scored the remaining try lor Wairoa. The Dargaville juniors defeated Northern Star (holders.) in a match for he Harding Cup, played at Tangieroria. Gould scored two tries for he winners, while T. Tito kicked a penalty goal for Star. BAY OF ISLANDS The Kawakawa senior team jouri eyed to Rawene on Saturday to carry ut its challenge to the Omanaia Club ior the Jackson trophy. It was not successful in its quest, being deeated by 9 points to B—three8 —three tries to two—one converted. The game was full of thrills throughout, and the result was In suspense intil time was called. Okaihau are the next challengers on ihe Ust. The Ngawha Club travelled to Waima on Saturday to play a return match, .n which Waima had a narrow victory. It was also successful on Saturday, winning by 9 points to nil. The home forwards were the masters of the visitors, the backs being fairly >quak MERCURY BAY Saturday’s game resulted, Mercury Bay 50, Thames 111., 13. Playing at Mercury Bay on Saturday afternoon, tho Thames thirdgrade representatives had a cricket score registered against them by the Bay juniors. The visitors were hopelessly outclassed, and the Mercury Bay team ran up 50 points to Thames’s 11. TE AWAMUTU Two matches were played at Te Awamutu on Saturday for the Balistite Cup (knock-out). Waikeria met Pirongia, which it defeated by 20 points to 3. During the first half play was even, the only score being three points in favour of Pirongia. On resuming, Waikeria gave of its best, and outclassed its opponents in all departments. Its handling was a treat to witness, and goals from difficult angles were registered. The game between Rovers and United was evenly contested, the former winning by five points, a try scored by Thomson and converted by Pollard, to 3, a penalty goal kicked by Grace. HAURAKI PLAINS The Sharebrokers' Cup competition Saturday resulted, Hauraki Plains 0, Piako 9. H- Kirkman kicked three penalty goals for Hauraki Plains at Ngatea on Saturday last, but he failed with the fourth and the Sharebrokers’ Cup competition match against Piako ended in a draw, 9 —9. Gibbs, an outstanding Piako threequarter, opened the score with a try from a neat run started at half-way, and in the last spell Piako was heartened when Baker kicked a penalty goal. McGurr cut in and evened the score with a try. Piako had the best set of backs, and at times the game was open and interesting. Hauraki Plains’ forwards working in close formation repeatedly carried play to the visitors’ end, but there was no ability to finish off and infringements caused the loss of the ground won. THAMES Seven tries, two of which were converted. making a total of 25 points, was the score put up by the Auckland third grade representatives playThames juniors at Thames on Saturday afternoon. Mr. E. Griffin refereed. The Thames junior representative team to play Tauranga at that place ©n Saturday is:—Fullback, S. Inglis; threequarters, A. Hothara, A. Boyle, G. Wenylich; five-eighths, R. Morgan, C. Billings (captain); halfback, A. Phillips; rover, C. Trapski: forwards, A. Cameron, G. Thompson, A. Lefevre, R. Morrison, C. Darrah. R. Darrah and B. Clark. The possession of three trophies depended on the result of the College Old Boys-Physical Training clash on the Thames High School ground last Saturday. The Stewart Cup for the premier club in the championship ladder, the Knockout Cup, and the White Shield were the honours played for. With so much at stake, interest in the match was more than ordinary, and judging by the encouragement voiced by the respective club's followers, the crowd was equally divided. The game was a gruelling forward combat, in which, if anything, the Old Boys were slightly superior. The Percy brothers, Newland and Clarke, ably assisted Brunton to check the advances of Strange, the Pollock brothers and Phillips, who battled hard in the Physical Training pack. Rain fell steadily in the first half of the game, and the greasy ball made back play faulty. The P.T.’s were the first to score, Harrison being the try-get-ter after Cameron had carried play to near the line. Strange failed to convert from the side-line. Cameron, Harrison, Isaacs and McMahon endeavoured to make play open, but Brunton and his pack were hard tacklers. Toward the end of the final quarter the Old Boys made a great effort to score, Dobson and Buchan being held up on the line. At the call of time, playing the man gave Old Boys a penalty and a sigh of relief went up for P.T.’s barrackers when Buchan kicked a poster. The game ended three points each.

}U B. 6. Brownlee wee the referee.

WAIUKU Waiuku was successful in withstanding the third challenge for the Massey Cup at Waiuku on Saturday, when the Manukau representatives were defeated by eight points to three after a very close contest. The Waiuku forwards did not produce the excellent form .shown on the previous Saturday, and the tackling was much below standard. The winners’ first points were secured in the first quarter, when the backs took part in in-and-out passing for Bishop to dive over the line in a handy position, from which he converted. A great effort by Pleydell secured Waiuku its other points. With Waiuku defending in its own twentyfive, B. James took the ball to run down the side-line before crosskicking. Pleydell followed up fast to snap up the ball from a fumbling back and set sail for the line to manage to diver over. Eight points down at half-time Maftukau made great efforts to avert defeat, and from the ruck Stanford got across. Manukau still hammered away, and the Waiuku defence was sorelv tested to keep its line intact. During the game Manukau had two golden opportunities to kick penalty goals, but they were not accepted. TAURANGA Glorious weather, keen interest, and firm determination by holders and. challengers to win the desired prize, was the means of drawing a very large gathering to the Hurinui- Apanui Shield Rugby match on Saturday. Trains and cars brought crowds from all parts of the Bay from as far as Opotiki. Tauranga Club won the shield from Opotiki early in the season and lias retained it against challenges by Rotorua and Taupo. Opotiki had the right to challenge the holders for the final match of the season. The following were the teams: Opotiki.—Fullback, Macky; threequarters, T. Black, Temple. E. Kelly; five-eighths, Hawkins, O’Sullivan; halfback, Harrison; rover, C. Black; forwards, Craig, S. Kelly, Hunt, Parkinson, Edwards, Metai, Marjoribanks. Tauranga. —Fullback, R. Phelan; threequarters, R. McLeod, E. lies, H. Jolly; five-eighths, G. lies, G. Farmer; halfback, R. Merrielees; rover, W. Turner; forwards, C. Cameron, S. Mount joy, Tu-Tangitu, H. E. Polley, I. Tangitu, C. Haua, F. Bickers. The game proved to be one of the most exciting ever played in the Bay of Plenty, the result being a draw, each side scoring six points. Opotiki held the lead right up to the close of the game, which had a sensational ending. The score was Opotiki 6, Tauranga 3. Tauranga was allowed a free kick, and just as tho kick was made the bell rang. The kick went home, and so brought the scores equal, causing tremendous excitement. MATAMATA The Matamata juniors successfully withstood the final challenge by Morrinsville for the Bryce Cup, and are now entitled to hold it till next season. They have played consistently good football through this series of matches, and their combination has been superior to that of the teams they met. Credit is due to Messrs. R. McCready and W. Hollis, the selector and coach respectively, and the final between Matamata and Hamilton for the Waikato junior championship, which takes place shortly, should produce some good football. By beating Morrinsville by 11 points to 0, the superior combination of the home backs was the deciding factor. The three tries scored were all the result of fine movements. Sutherland, at half, and Sheat, on local boys, the former’s defensive work the wing, played fine games for the being a feature of the play. Sheat gave a good all-round display both on attack and defence. The forwards backs were badly hampered by the were evenly matched, but the visiting weakness of the first five-eighth. Bodmin was the best of their backs, and Major at rover played a great spoiling game. Oates (2) and Sheat scored tries for the winners, and Fitzgerald converted one try. TE AROHA Piako beat Hauraki Plains at the Herries Memorial Park by 11 —0 on Saturday. Plains, which fielded half a team of juniors, played a great game under the circumstances, but were up against a strong combination. Scorers for Piako were F. Goldsbury, P. McLaren, and K. Ifwersen, the last of which Munro converted. Mr. W. Jonas acted as referee. HAMILTON Hamilton withstood the third challenge match it has received for the Peace Cup (since it wrested it from Morrinsville this season), when it met Cambridge on Saturday, the final score being 21—3. In the first half the visiting side put up a grim battle and had the best of things, both from the territorial and attacking aspects. Their forwards were particularly aggressive. Near the end of the first quarter Hamilton worked within striking distance, Halstead securing a penalty. Plamilton kept up the pace in the second spell, and had the Cambridge backs worked to a standstill. The forwards contended well, but failed to break through. Everest, who received a bad knock which forced him to retire, was one of the best of the home backs, Fitzgerald and Buckingham coming out well in the loose. Delaney was magnificent as fullback, especially in the first half, when he kept the attackers off time and again. Halstead was, perhaps, the best forward, although all the van were prominent in tight and loose. Of the Cambridge clan. Baker and Byrne, the fiveeighths, were sound backs and Hollier, the half, put in a lot of hard work. Robertsion, D. Bourke and J. Dagg shone out in both loose rushes and tight work in the vanguard. Auckland University defeated Hamilton Old Boys B by 12 —6 in a short sharp game. The visitors had the best of the first half, but the home side picked up six points in the latter half. Auckland Post and Telegraph visited Hamilton and was defeated by a Hamilton Post and Telegraph team by 3 6 points to 15. Mr. T. A. Cooper has chosen the following players to represent Waikato ; against Wellington tomorrow:—Fullback, Skeet; threequarters. Holmes, Kemp, Anderson; five-eighths. St. George, Fitzgerald; half, Buckingham: rover, Bayley; forwards. J. Hooper, J. Dagg, Simpson, A. Cameron, P. Courtenay, J. Kelk, W. Bourke. Reserves: Backs, J. Vosper, Hawke; forward, Frear. PUKEKOHE The South Auckland Rugby team to play Auckland B at Pukekohe on Saturday is as follows: Fullback, J. Hira (Franklin); threequarters, S. Crotty (Pukekohe), G. Brownlee (Pukekohe), M. Stephens (Manukau), i five-eighth*, & .Wood

(Pukekohe), Conte ( Waikare); halfback, L. Lindberg (Franklin); rover, Stanford (Manukau) ; forwards, R. Fulton (Pukekohe), A. Atchison (Manukau), ICerebs (Waiuku). Kelsey (Manukau), M. Lawa CFranklin). J. R. Massey (Pukekohe), R. Mills (Pukekohe). Reserves: Backs, J. Bishop (Waiuku), E. Bush (Franklin). W. Pleydell (Waiuku), Lee (Franklin). After a particularly fast game, in which several pretty passing bouts were seen, the Pukekohe senior representatives were defeated on Saturday by a team chosen from the four senior clubs. Tho score was 17-12. For the winning fifteen Hintz, Stoupe. Cronin and Whelan (2), scored tries, Fallowes converting one. Golding, Massey, Crotty and Lawrie each scored unconverted tries for the reps. ROTORUA The competitions arranged by the Rotorua Rugby Union concluded on Saturday, when Kahukura annexed the Mitchell Shield by defeating Waikiti by 6 points to 3. It was a keenly-con-tested game, as evidenced by the scores, every player being out to win. The game was more of a forward tussle, the backs getting few opportunities. The tackling, though determined, lacked first-class effect. For the winners. Bradshaw and Simmonds in tho backs, and Pollard and Keke in the forwards, played sterling games, while Gugu Mitchells, Allen and Ironmonger tried hard for the lasers to avert defeat. Mr. Webb had control of the game. TAUMARUNUI An interesting match for the Pukuweka Shield took place at Taumarunui on Saturday, when Athletic held the trophy against Taumarunui by the narrow margin of a potted goal. In tho first half the play was of a back and forward nature, both sides failing to score. Wade, in the forwards for Taumarunui, and Schmidt, at fullback for Athletic, did excellent work. Play was very lively in the second half, both sides making strenuous but futile efforts to score. A few minutes before time Logan dropped a flashing kick at goal, and registered the only score of the contest, giving Athletic the right to retain the shield for another season. Mr. R. Hawke held the whistle.