THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1938, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

WAIRARAPA JUNIOR REPS. WIN HAWKE’S BAY BEATEN IN KEEN CONTEST. MATCH AT CARTERTON. A sounder defence enabled the Wairarapa junior Rugby representatives to defeat Hawke’s Bay 9 —B in an exciting match at the Carterton Showgrounds on Saturday. Wairarapa were a ten point better team in the first spell but the Bay’s superiority in the second session represented a margin of fifteen points. It was keen, hard football all the way with plenty of bright and exciting incident. Judged by their two displays against Hawke’s Bay this season Wairarapa have a wellbalanced side, and their knowledge of tactics and solid tackling were tributes to the skill of their selector and coach. Mr K. Reid, the ex-All Black hooker. Securing a plentiful supply of the ball from the scrums and line-outs, Wairarapa had all the better of the opening stages and were unfortunate in not scoring on a number of occasions. The quick breaking up of their forwards upset the combination of the visitors, who did not shape at all well until towards the close of the spell. When they did come into their own in the second session, the Bay backs showed themselves to be a rattling good combination, and both individually and collectively were superior to the Wairarapa rearguard. The tackling of the home backs, however, was excellent and, in fact, was a feature of the game. The forwards were fairly evenly matched, though Wairarapa definitely had the better of matters in the loose. The outstanding player on the field was Taite, the Bay Maori right winger. His play at times was little short of brilliant. A powerful runner, with a deceptive swerve, he represented danger whenever in possession. He beat practically the whole Wairarapa team in one great run only to be brought down by Alexander in one of the finest tackles seen this season.

"Wairarapa opened their account early when following good play by Tukere, Meurk won a race for possession to score an easy try. Rayner missed the kick. Workman improved their tally when he landed a fine penalty goal but near the interval Taite came to light with a great solo effort that resulted in a try between the posts. Hickey converted. The Bay shaped like a different team on resumption. They saw considerably more of the ball and young Paewai gave his- backs every chance to show their paces. The visitors took the lead when Paewai made a beautiful opening to send Stanford across. Hickey missed the kick. Fortunes fluctuated until near time when Foreman won the game for Wairarapa with a splendid penalty goal. Mr E. Grantham was the referee. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Senior. Red Star 11, Gladstone 3. Carterton 10, Greytowh 9. Old Boys 28, Martinborough 8. Third Grade. Red Star 13, Greytown 6. Old Boys 0, College 0. Masterton won by default from Dalefield. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. CARTERTON y/IN PREMIERSHIP. By defeating Greytown 10 —9, Carterton won the Wairarapa senior championship for 1938. They were a trifle lucky to come out on top on Saturday and had the Greytown backs been prepared to give it a go instead of repeatedly losing possession by overkicking the result might have gone the other way. It was a keen, hard-fought game, which Loader won for Carterton when he potted a fine field goal. At the interval the score was 6 —all. The Greytown forwards played solid football and gave their backs a ready supply of the ball, which unfortunately they did not use to full advantage. The game was remarkable for the number of stoppages for injuries and it was rather unfortunate that there was no ambulance man on the ground. RED STAR BEAT GLADSTONE. Playing at Memorial Park, Red Star defeated Gladstone 11 —3 after a hardfought, interesting match. Practically throughout, the Gladstone forwards had the better of matters but they did not receive a great deal of support from their backs. The Star backs suffered for want of the ball but they, nevertheless, made the most of their chances. Duff and Johnston scored for Stars and Ewington converted one of the tries and also kicked a penalty. Walker scored an unconverted try for Gladstone. AN EASY WIN. Old Boys had too much speed and combination for Martinborough, winning 28 —8. The Martinborough forwards played fairly well, but their backs had no effective counter for the speedy Old Boys rearguard. WAIRARAPA UNION. REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. The following are the fixtures and referees for next Saturday:— •. Seniors. Wairarapa v Manawatu, at Carterton No 1, at 2.30. H. J. McKenzie. Curtain raiser: Carterton Primary Schools. Junior (Pearson Cup). Carterton v Old Boys, Memorial No 1, at 2.30. W. Grantham. Red Star v Opaki, Memorial No 2, at 2.30. H. Evans. Masterton v Greytown, at Greytown No 1, at 2.30. P. Reid. Third Grade. Dalefield v Carterton, at Carterton No 2, at 1.30. H. Matson. Greytown v Old Boys, at Greytown No 2, at 2.30. W. Spooner.

Masterton v Red Star, at Memorial No 1, at 1.30. A. McWhinnie. College v Martinborough, at Martinborough, at 2.30. J. Blake. Fourth Grade. Carterton v Masterton, at Memorial No 2, at 1.30. W. Percy. In view of the number of games still to be played in the lower grades the Wairarapa Rugby Union has decided not to postpone these games as formerly stated. RANFURLY SHIELD. LOST BY SOUTHLAND TO OTAGO. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, July 30. Otago beat Southland in the first Ranfurly Shield match of the season today' by seven points (an unconverted try and a potted goal) to six (two penalty goals). The weather was calm and sunny and the ground was heavy. There was an attendance of about 16,000. Southland gained possession far more often than Otago, but lacked force in the backs. Both sides went close to scoring on several occasions, but the defence was very sound. At a crucial stage Otago employed another move —the use of Trevathan’s boot. Apparently discarding an attempt to break through and score, a carefully engineered plan was put into execution* and regained the shield for Otago. The half-back, Campbell, sent the ball back to Gillies, who swung round and threw it to the waiting Trevathan, who made no mistake with his kick. Southland’s points were scored by Barrett, who kicked two penalty goals and Otago’s by Black, who scored a try, and Trevathan’s potted goal. WIN FOR NELSON. NELSON, July 30. Nelson beat Golden Bay-Motueka at Rugby by 13 points to 5. SEDDON SHIELD. CHALLENGE FAILS. WESTPORT, July 30. In beautiful weather, following a stormy night with snow low down on the ranges, Buller, the holders of the Seddon Shield, withstood the first challenge of the season this afternoon by defeating Marlborough 13 —6. IN OTHER CENTRES. Wellington: First Division: Petone 6 Athletic 3; Wellington College 0.8. 0, Eastbourne 0; Hutt 17, Poneke 10; Hutt 17, Poneke 10; Marist Brothers 0.8. 8, Johnsonville 6; Wellington 18, St Patrick’s 0.8. 3. Second Division: Wellington 18, Pirates 3; University 23, Athletic 13; Miramar 12, Onslow 6; Oriental 10, Marist Brothers 0.8. 6. Auckland: Grammar 13 beat Grafton 9; Marist 13 beat Training College 0; Ponsonby 6 beat North Shore 5; Manukau 17 beat Technical 10. Christchurch: Varsity 22 beat Christchurch 8; Albion 22 drew with Sunnyside 22; Linwood 7 beat Air Force 3; Athletic 3 drew with Sydenham 3; Old Boys 9 beat Technical 3. Linwood retains a lead of two points. Horowhenua: Kuku-Manukau 14 beat Athletic 13 for the Easton Cup; Rahui 15, Wanderers 9; Foxton defaulted to Shannon.