Union Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 770, 17 September 1929, Page 14

Union Rugby

WHANGAREI A closely-contested match was played on Saturday between Otamatea « challenger) and Whangarei (holder ), for possession of the Harding Shield. Whangarei was successful in retaining the trophy by 14 points to 11. A strong southerly breeze gave Whangarei an advantage, the home side piling on 14 points to the visitors’ 3. In the second half the visitors had the. • ind behind them, but failed to reach the home side’s total by three points. The Whangarei forwards dominated ie loose play and the scrums, always having a monopoly of the ball from The latter. Waterman and Webster, the previous wingers, were replaced by Hemi and Beehre. The latter gave a great exhibition of deadly tackling, while Hemi was certainly an improvement on either Waterman or Webster. McLennan, replacing Britland, missed a good number of passes, but compensated for that by scoring two brilliant tries. Ryan played his usual safe defensive game, but was a trifle slow on attack. McDonald, at half, kept his backs well supplied with the ball. The forwards were a hard working lot, and it would be unfair to single any out, but prominent among an excellent pack were W. Rika, M. Rika and Finlayson. The visitors had a nippy set of backs. Had their pack been a little stronger, in all probability they would have more than held their own. The fullback, Matthews, was safe, but c ould not compare with the Whangarei man. Kerr. Smith and Connell, the wingers, were sound, and only excellent tackling kept them from scoring. Sterling, at centre, was safe. P. Connell, at half, took risks, and did not get the ball out to his backs quickly enough. Finlay, the rover, was a good match for the local man, McQueen. The forwards were a good lot, but rlieir lack of weight soon told its tale against the heavier home side. Harvey was outstanding. Scorers for Whangarei were McQueen, McLennan (2), Ryan. One try was converted. Otamatea’s tries were scored by Mouatt and Harvey (2). the latter converting the last try. TAURANGA Thames sent three teams to Tauranga on Saturday to play Tauranga teams. The weather was good and the attendance excellent. The Thames Peace Cup team played Tauranga t winn,r of the Hurunui Shield) and suffered a big defeat. 33 to 8. It could not be called a good exhibition of football. The Thames juniors were more successful. beating the Tauranga juniors by 3 points to 0. In the District High Schools’ match, the Tauranga team won by 15 points to 3. HAURAKI PLAINS In the Thames Valley Rugby Union’s senior grade competition for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup, the Waihi Union’s team, by beating Hauraki Plains at Ngatea on Saturday by 11 points to 6, drew even with the Piako Union’s score, necessitating a play-off. The game was not so uneven as the score indicates, though the Waihi back division was much superior and gave some spectacular displays. The Haurakl Plains forwards proved hard to pass, and Waihi’s tries by Dillamore, McNamara and Jennings were largely due to seizing opportunities when the defenders were out of position- One try was converted by Johnjt Blacklaws kicked a penalty goal for Plains and P. Clark scored a try from a.n opening made by McCowatt. The game was not an interesting one, and the late start, due to mishaps to the visitors on the road, resulted in a “gate” of £3, a state of affairs which, by its frequency, is bankrupting the IXauraki Plains Rugby Union. WAIHI Waihi B team wound up a successful season on Saturday by defeating Ngatea B at Waihi by 17 points to 3, thus retaining possession of the Sharebrokers’ Cup for a further 12 months. Waihi had an easy task and outclassed its opponents all along the line. The visiting backs were weak, compared with those of Waihi. Only the hard work of the Ngatea forwards saved the game from being a completely one-sided affair. Ludwig, Johns, Warne, Weedon, Steele and Campbell each gave a sound display for Waihi. while Coxhead, Ryan, McPherson, Kirkman and Murray were the pick of Ngatea’s players. HUNTLY With a view to encouraging the Rugby code at Pukemiro, Mr. William Ingram has donated a gold medal, to bo given to the most improved young player at the mining township. The medal is of splendid design, depicting a player holding a football, and is a carefully selected specimen of the jeweller's art. The Huntly junior fifteen was beaten by Oordonton on Saturday by 12 points to 0. The winning team had the better of the argument throughout, and was never seriously troubled. MATAMATA In a hard-fought game, Matamata won by 20 points to 0 in the final for the Waikato junior championship against Hamilton at Matamata. Smith. Sutherland. Sheat and Carroll scored tries, Fitzgerald kicked two penalties and a conversion. For the losers. Clough, Lee and Tombs scored tries. The outstanding feature of the game was the fine display given by the Matamata forwards, who. aided' by solid defensive work by the backs, smashed their way to victory. It was early apparent that the tussle lay between the Matamata scrummers and the visiting backs. The score at half-time was 9-all. but from then on the Hamilton men fell away. When the teams changed round for the last quarter. Matamata had th • advantage of the wind and it was only a question of how many points it would put up. Barlow, Lee and Tombs were good backs for the losers. Whittaker (rover), Clough, Howe and Thomas battled hard in the forwards. The Matamata forwards excelled themselves, and it would be unfair to individualise. Hawke played a fine spoiling game on the side of he scrum Sutherland at first five-eighth was the outstanding back. Brown Ford and Sheat being the most noticeable of the others. Matamata now holds the Boyce and Clarke cups for the season. The team is to be complimented on capturing both trophies. The men are scattered oyer a wide area from Tirau to Wardville, and most of them are working on farms. Their enthusiasm has been unbounded, and the coach and selector could always depend on a full muster on practice nights. Messrs. W. Hollis (coach) and R. McCready (selector) ar« to bo congratulated on* so successfully carrying out their duties.

MANUKAU REPS. The following players will represent Manukau in the match against the Auckland junior representatives at Papakura on Saturday:—Fullback, I. Wilson; threequarters, Stephens, Cossey, Duder; five-eighths, Cossey, Morrow; halfback. N. Munro; rover, Heard; forwards, Morrow, Atchison, Scott, Kelsey, Stokes, Alexander, H. Munro. Reserves: Waterhouse, Clarke. RATANA CHALLENGE The following Rugby* players will represent the Ngaiterangi Ranginui Tribe, Tauranga, against the Maniapoto Tainui Club, for the Ratana Challenge Cup, in a match to be played at Te Kuiti, on September 19:—Fullback, P. Ngatai; threequarters, R. Ainsley, D. Borell, T. Faulkner; fiveeighths, K. McLeod, Ikanui; halfback, Motutere; rover, C. McCausland; forwards, J. Kohu, C. Haua, R. Leaf, I. Tangitu, T. Tangitu, C. Faulkner, R. Ngatai. Emergencies: R. Gear H. Ngatai, Moiri, E. Heke, J. Bidois.

HAMILTON The senior championship in Hamilton Rugby has fallen this year to Marist, as the result of its win over Old Boys A by 9 points to 8 on Saturday. The weather was fine but a high wind affected kicking, and passing also, to a certain extent. Marist opened up with a brisk rally which, although a good precursor of its attacking strength, was spoilt by overeagerness. The match was a fitting conclusion to a season which has proved unusually interesting and exciting. \t the close of the fourth quarter, both teams were level; but additional time was allowed, during which the Marist ' forwards demoralised their adversaries. In fact, throughout the last quarter, Marist was definitely the aggressor and Old Boys, despite the fact that its backs were more finished, were unablo to recover from the whirlwind onslaughts. Old Boys’ efforts to penetrate the defence were frequently frustrated by the sound tackling of its opponents. : star players for the champion team were Mills, the half, and C. McCormick. Other impressive work can be credited to J. Fitzgerald and P. Clarkin. The pack "was a very powerful combination, Reynolds, Waters and T. Cassidy shining out in attack and defence. Kemp, McDell and Gilling were the pick of the loser’s backs, all standing their ground well. Hawke, as custodian, cleared effectually in tight corners and kicked well. Bonham, Wilson, Carter and Fleming may* be singled out as the forwards responsible for the most strenuous performances. Frankton and Old Boys A have to play off in the final of the knock-out ; competition for the Clarke Cup before ■ the season ends. i TAUMARUNUI Athletic had a close call in its second match for the Pukuweka Shield, when it drew with United at the Taumarunui Domain *on Saturday*. The challengers opened the score by passing between Smith Haddon and Rod dick, the latter converting his own try. A little later, from a scrum, Edwards evened for Athletic, and play went fairly evenly till half-time, when the figures were Athletic 13, United 8. The Athletic forwards were vigorous in attack, and kept the challengers moving. Finally, from a scrum in Athletic’s twenty-five, Roddick secured and scored, again converting the try. He had the unique distinction of scoring all the points for his side. The final figures were 13-all. i I j j ! ! | 1