THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1938, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

WAIRARAPA COMPETITION MATCHES CARTERTON AND GREYTOWN WIN MASTERTON BEAT GLADSTONE The 1938 Rugby season was ushered in in the Wairarapa on Saturday in fine, but cold weather. The attendances were fairly good, .while for so early in the season the standard of play in the senior grade was sufficiently high as to give promise of a general allround improvement this season. Carterton, Masterton and Greytown all scored wins. RESULTS AT A GLANCE SENIORS Carterton, 14; Red Star, 9. Greytown, 23; Martinborough, 0. Masterton, 8; Gladstone 7. JUNIOR Old Boys, 25; Red Star, 0. THIRDS Masterton, 8; Carterton, 0. Greytown, 15; Dalefield, 0. College, 8; Red Star 6. Martinborough 9, Old Boys 0. WON ON TIME CARTERTON DEFEAT STARS A converted try on the call of time gave Carterton a win 14-9 over Red Stars at the Carterton Showgrounds. Stars dominated play throughout the first spell, and at the interval held a 9-3 lead, but Carterton saw out the distance better and for practically the whole of the second session were storming the Star line. With a few minutes to go and the score at 9-all, Stars broke deep in Carterton territory, and just when a try seemed likely the Carterton forwards took quick advantage of a lapse in the Star attack and, in a flash, turned defence into attack with a movement which culminated in Crawley scoring in a handy position. The final whistle sounded as Crawley goaled. Although the Star pack worked well throughout, the Carterton vanguard had the edge on them nearly all the way, particularly when play opened up and the forwards, led by Rosyth and D. Smith, were given a chance to shine in swift loose rushes. Neither sets of backs showed up to advantage, and there were few bright concerted movements. Stars’ weakness lay with their inside backs, who stood flat-footed and definitely lacked penetrative ability. Had they been able to straighten up the attack early and give their speedy three-quarter line a chance to show their paces it would probably have been a different story. The Carterton backs were a more solid lot, but they lacked the speed of their opponents. With their forwards breaking away smartly, Stars immediately assumed command, and they opened their account when Smith threw a long pass out to Peterson, who raced 10 yards to score. The kick was disallowed. One of the few bright back movements of the day resulted in Johnston scoring a second try for Stars. McCullough missed the kick. Then the Carterton forwards took a hand and, when a Star back failed to get away with a clearing kick, Crawley snapped up the ball to score. He missed a kick. The highlight of the match followed. Carterton were hot on attack and looked like going across when Paterson nipped in, intercepted a pass and flashed through a gap to show a clean pair of heels to the opposition to score a brilliant run-away try. McCullough missed the kick. Carterton showed up in a much better light after the interval and Stars .were soon in trouble. A penalty kick right in front of the posts saw Crawley put Carterton within three points of their opponents’ tally. Carterton continued to attack. The Star defence stood the test well until D. Smith followed up a high kick, secured and went through a gap to score a good try. Walker missed the kick. -Stars then took a new lease of life and after Howard threw away a great scoring chance Carterton broke clear and Crawley finished off a hot rush with a try, which he also converted. Mr J. Blake was the referee. AN EASY WIN GREYTOWN BEAT MARTINBOROUGH Greytown experienced little difficulty in defeating Martinborough at Greytown, the final score being 23-0. It was a fast, bright game with plenty of incident. On their form, Greytown look like having a big say in the decision of this year’s championship. With play in progress about five minutes, Brunton put Greytown three points to the good with a penalty goal and shortly afterwards the same player, who is at the top of his form, cut through nicely to score between the posts. He converted his try. Martinborough took a turn at attack, but their efforts were unsuccessful and half time sounded, with Greytown leading 8-0.

Martinborough again took the offensive on resumption, but they failed to pierce the Greytown defence. Greytown turned the tide and from a scrum Parker secured and handed on to Heinz, who sent Nix away for a try, which Brunton converted. The Martinborough forwards, working like Trojans, had Greytown in trouble, but they lacked the necessary polish to successfully round off their movements and

the tri-colours were soon back on attack again. Greytown further improved their position when Brunton collected a kick-through by Parker, to score a try which he also converted. Fortunes fluctuated until just before time when Brunton again scored a converted try, making the score Greytown 23-0. Mr H. Matson was the referee. WIN FOR MASTTERTON A RAGGED GAME In spite of a lead of seven points to nil a half-time, Gladstone went under to Masterton at Memorial Park by 8 points to 7, after a ragged and uninteresting game. Neither set of backs got going and the play was confined for the most part to half-hearted forward melees, with the balance slightly in favour of Masterton. Following an infringement, in Masterton territory, J. Roach landed a penalty and gave Gladstone a lead of three points after ten minutes’ play. Scrums followed in swift succession, with Gladstone on top. Just before half-time Roach added four points to Gladstone’s total with a neat field goal from 25 yards out. Aided by a strong northerly wind. Maste’rton’s forwards, led by Long and Percy, rallied, and had Gladstone penned in their own twenty-five for some time before Dickason, the Masterton full-back, was given an easy shot at goal, and opened Masterton's account. Masterton made desperate efforts to overtake their deficit. After a rough-and-tumble near the Gladstone line Long scored a lucky try near the posts. Roach converted to give Masterton a win by 8 points to 7. Mr W. Grantham was the referee. IN OTHER CENTRES WELLINGTON. First Division.—Athletic 3, Marist Brothers 0.8. 3; Poneke 4, Hutt 3; Petone 19, Wellington 8; Johnsonville 18, College Old Boys 6. Second Division. —University 11. Miramar 6; Eastbourne 9. St. Patrick’s Old Boys 3; Oriental 16, Athletic 3; Pirates 12, Wellington 9. AUCKLAND. Grafton 12, Ponsonby 11; North Shore 17, University 4; Grammar 14. Manukau 8; Marist 28, Otahuhu 6. DUNEDIN. Southern 11. University A 6; Pirates 6, Alhambra 6; Taieri 3, Union 0; Kaikorai 4, beat Zingari 3; University B 18, Dunedin 6.