RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

REPRESENTATIVE GAME AT MASTERTON

IN OTHER CENTRES

Marlborough Defeats Wairarapa

HOME TEAM’S POOR SHOWING

Saturday marked the fiftieth anniversary of representative football matches between Wairarapa and Marlborough, the first game having been played at Blenheim on September 9, 1889, v/hen Wairarapa won by seven points ’(two goals and a try) to thiee points (a goal). It was a disastrous and most inglorious celebration for Wairarapa, which lacked in its ranks on Saturday players of the calibre of Harry Perry, Billy Watson (later an All Black), the late Jacob Baumber, the late Walter Welch, Joe Perry, the late Frank Pelling, the late Hughie Mitchell, the late Os. Percy, Charlie Bannister, Bill Day, Jack Beard and Bill Eagle, who made that initial trip to Blenheim. Marlborough in those days had such prominent players as Charlie Ball (who for many years has resided in Masterton, and whose son Fred played for Wairarapa against Marlborough in 1913), W. Redwood, Nesbitt, F. Dodson, Hale, Mowatt, Speed and Greig. Marlborough on Saturday demonstrated that players can still be produced capable of upholding the good name of the province on the football field.

In a Rugby match that was by no means up to rep standard, the touring Marlborough side defeated Wairarapa by 21 points to 8 at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday. During the first five minutes the game promised to be a good one, but it was only a flash in the pan, and the majority of the match was dull and uninteresting. Wairarapa have only themselves to blame. The Marlborough pack played better Rugby than did the Wairarapa yanguard, and the Marlborough backs were too nippy and fast for the slow lumbering Wairarapa backs. Fast off the mark the Marlborough backs gave the Wairarapa backs no room to move in, with the result that when the Wairarapa forwards did hook the ball, which was very seldom, ground was lost; certainly none was gained. The only time that the'Wairarapa backs did gain ground was when Marlborough made mistakes and even when they did, Wairarapa were too slow to take advantage of it. Except for isolated times when they took complete charge the Wairarapa forwards were outplayed in every department of the game. This was indeed surprising in view of their recent display against the Bay. Forsyth, who filled the first-five-eighths berth for Marlborough, was the outstanding back on the field. He made Fitzgerald look a schoolboy right from the word “go” to “no time.” Forsyth handled perfectly throughout the entire game and his stab kicks repeatedly found gaps in the Wairarapa defence. His tackling was all that was to be desired. G. Ireland at half was the next best of the Marlborough backs, while Mellish, a Maori All Black in 1936, at centre, and Jackson, the last line of defence, came next in order of merit. For Wairarapa, E. Denbee played an outstanding game behind the pack, while W. Peterson, who was not included in the original selection, did something useful every time the ball chanced his way. His two tries were real gems. In the forwards Brown, the Marlborough “swinger,” played a slashing game. Not only did he hook with remarkable success but his play in the line-outs and loose was outstanding. D. Mason and Woolly appeared the best of a hard working and fast set of forwards. R. Mitchell, the Maori All Black of 1936, fully justified his inclusion, and along with H. Mathieson, L. Mason and Stringfellow impressed mostly in the pack. - The teams were:—-Wairarapa: R. O'Callaghan; W. Peterson. J. Hensen, G. Brown; R. Brunton, F. Fitzgerald; E. Denbee; W. Stringfellow; H. Mathieson, A. Arniour, M. Trass, I. Percy, R. Mitchell, G. Humphries, L. Mason. Marlborough: Jackson; Love. C. Mellish, I. Ireland; Forsyth, Neal; G. Ireland; McLennen; Gibb, Hammond, Rainburn, Woolly; Mason, Brown, Hoare. Wairarapa kicked off into the sun and for a few minutes Marlborough were pressed but a free kick relieved the position. Marlborough attacked and I. Ireland just missed with a “pot.” Denbee swung the Wairarapa backs into action and they attacked for some time. From a scrum, the Wairarapa backs handled and Peterson topped a grand move with a try under the posts. Brunton had no difficulty in adding the extra points. Wairarapa 5. Marlborough 0. The Marlborough forwards pressed hard and on two occasions O’Callaghan was caught on the wrong foot. Forsyth headed a rush to the Wairarapa goal line and was unlucky not to score. Wairarapa returned to the offensive, Mathieson and Mitchell going to the Marlborough line, but they were beaten to the touch down. Marlborough were not to be denied and from a scramble on the Wairarapa line Hammond forced his way over. Mellish converted. Wairarapa 5. Marlborough 5. A few moments later Brown, receiving the ball on the halfway line, cut the Marlborough defence to ribbons, and drawing the full-back, sent Peter, son over in the corner. The kick, striking the upright, bounced infield. Wairarapa'B, Marlborough 5. Half time sounded with no alteration in the score.

On resuming Marlborough attacked and obtaining the ball from a scrum on the Wairarapa line. Forsyth essayed a "pot." The kick was charged down but from the resulting scramble Gibb snapped up and crossed near the posts. Mellish goalcd. Marlborough 10. Wairarapa 8.

Mitchell went into the centre of the front row and Wairarapa obtained the ball from three successive scrums. The Marlborough rearguard was now functioning better and an exchange of passing saw Forsyth dummy past O'Callaghan and score well out. The kick failed. Marlborough 13. Wairarapa 8. Marlborough returned to the attack, the forwards carrying all before them, and Forsyth coming up fast dived over. Jackson converted making the score Marlborough 18, Wairarapa 8. Marlborough continued to attack. Brunton retired and was replaced by F. Henson. A penalty against Wairarapa under the posts saws Jackson increase Marlborough's lead. Marlborough 21. Wairarapa 8.

The Wairarapa backs came to life. Biown going straight through, and Peterson, with a brilliant run, was pushed out when in a handy position.

Denbee went round the side of the scrum nicely, drew the full-back and sent Peterson streaking for home, but when about ten yards away he was laid low by Mellish. Wairarapa continued to attack but the tackling was too solid. Time sounded soon after with the score, Marlborough 21, Wairarapa 18. Mr H. J. McKenzie was the referee. WAIRARAPA GAMES LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Juniors. Old Boys 14, Red Star 0. Opaki 20, Masterton 6. Third Grade. Red Star 5, Martinborough 0. College 5, Masterton 0. Fourth Grade. Masterton 15, Featherston 5. College 53, Martinborough 0.

Wellington—A first-class upset was provided in Wellington senior Rugby on Saturday, when Oriental downed Marist Bros. Old Boys. Wellington had a hard struggle to overcome the spirited opposition of the greatly-im-proved Johnsonville team. Results were: —Wellington 19, Johnsonville 12; Oriental 17, Marist Bros. Old Boys 11; Athletic 35, Eastbourne 6; Petone 18, St Patrick’s College Old Boys 5; University 19, Hutt 9; Poneke 6, College Old Boys 6. Auckland. —Suburbs 15,* Grammar 13; Marist 8, Ponsonby 0; Otahuhu 19, North Shore 11; Grafton 25, Training College 5. Christchurch. —Varsity 30, Air- Force 6; Albion 10, Christchurch 6; Old Boys 13. Southern 0; i Technical 13, Merivale 12; Sunnyside 22, Linwood 15. Dunedin. —University A 19, Pirates 12; Southern 13, Dunedin 6; Union 16, Taieri 0; Kaikorai 5, University B 3; Alhambra 8, Zingari 6. New?) Plymouth.—Old Boys 4, Stratford 3; Tukapa 34, Okato 0; Inglewood 9. Star 0; Clifton 19; Eltham 0; Athletic 8, Kaponga 7; Okaiawa 9, Kaponga 3; Hawera 25, Pa tea 6. Invercargill.—lnvercargill 19, Pirates 11; Bluff 16. Star 11;.Old Bros 12, Marist 6. Hawke’s Bay.—Pitates 6, beat Hastings High School Old Boys 5; Hastings 10, Beat Technical Old Boys 6;,Celtic 19, beat Marist Brothers Old Boys 8; Maori Agricultural College 36, beat Napier High School Old Boys 10. Central Hawke’s Bay.—Otane 13, beat Old Boys 3; Takapau 20, beat Waipawa 3. Wanganui.—Collegiate School 8, drew with Technical College 8; City Clubs 18, beat Wainui-a-Rua, 3. Horowhenua. —Foxton 8, beat Athletic 6; Kuku-Manakau 21, beat Wanderers 0; Shannon 15, beat Rahui 5. WIN FOR WANGANUI. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N„ June 17. Playing much the better football, back and forward, Wanganui beat Manawatu today by 14 points to 11. CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY BEATEN. DANNEVIRKE, June 17. In perfect weather and on a ground which showed no signs of the recent heavy rains, Central Hawke’s Bay representatives were decisively beaten by Dannevirke by 26 points to 6 today.