RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1939, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR COMPETITION DRAWING TO CLOSE ALL THREE LEADING TEAMS SCORE WINS CARTERTON LOOK LIKE BEING CHAMPIONS Wairarapa's three leading Rugby teams all scored wins on Saturday and with only one more series of games left to play Carterton look to be in a handy position. The leaders easily accounted for Masterton and Greytown will have to improve out of all sight if they are to give the leaders anything like a game in the last of the series. Gladstone and Red Star turned on the best game of the day and had the latter team been at full strength the result might well have been different. Old Boys had no difficulty in obtaining a decision over Greytown who were very poor. On Saturday, August 5, Wairarapa will play Nelson at Mastei’tcn.. It is to be hoped that the form shown in Saturday's matches is not a criterion of that of the representative team, otherwise Nelson should win.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

OLD BOYS v. GREYTOWN

LOCAL TEAM’S EASY WIN. Obtaining the majority of the ball in the scrums and line-outs Old Boys had no difficulty in defeating Greytown at Memorial Park, Masterton. on Saturday by 21 points to 3. Although the Old Boys backs ' gained considerably more of the ball than did Greytown they did not make the best possible use of the advantage. They were inclined to run straight across with the result that several movements lost ground instead of gaining. The tackling of the Grey town backs was excellent, Old Boys finding it difficult to break through. The Greytown pack was far superior, in the loose rushes and also held their own in the tight. For Old Boys Armour and Mitchell were the two outstanding forwards, while for Greytown, Stringfellow appeared the best of an even pack. In the backs, Faulk - nor at centre and Bedingfield at first five-eighths were the pick of the Old Boys side. For Greytown Sugrue at half and at times the first five-eighths were the best.

Greytown drew first blood when Brunton landed a good penalty goal. Shortly afterwards O'Callaghan evened the score with a penalty. Greytown attacked and from a scrum on the Old Boys’ line Greytown heeled. The ball shot through the backs where it was dropped and Hatton flashing through picked up and sent on ter Eastwood who with a clear field raced away for a try which O'Callaghan converted. On resuming Bedingfield cut out three Greytown backs and sent Hatton over. O’Callaghan converted. Old Boys were now having by far the better of the game and their backs flashed into ac-

tion for Parsonson to top a grand movement with a try well out. The kick failed. Old Boys further increased their lead when Dwyer scored from a line-out on the Greytown line. O’Callaghan converted leaving the final score Old Boys 21, Grey town 3. GLADTONE v. RED STARS. f HARD FOUGHT GAME. Although sadly weakened through the absence of several regular players, Red Star went well against Gladstone at Memorial Park, No. 2, and were in many respects unlucky to lose by 11 points to 5. Both scrums and line-outs were even, but Gladstone had the better of play in the tight. Stars countered this by overwhelming the opposition in the loose rushes. Prominent in the Gladstone pack were Mason, Joblin and Ross, while Harding and Howard wore the pick of the Red Star vanguard. Nunn, who scored two tries for Gladstone, was the pick of that team’s rearguard. O'Kane, making an appearance in the Red Star] side after an absence of some weeks, was in top form, but retired with an injury to his leg. The injury is, however. not serious and he will bo readj' for the next series. Ross scored Gladstone's other try, j and Foreman converted one. Rod Star's try was scored by Harding. Osborne converting. MASTERTON v. CARTERTON. MASTERTON OUTCLASSED. . Playing on their home ground. Carterton retained their lead in the competition by defeating Masterton by 23 points to 6. Carterton were on top right from the word 'go" giving the opposition no show whatsoever. Master- * ton played well but were definitely outclassed. ' 1

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

SENIOR. Gladstone 11, Red Star 5. Old Boys 21, Grey town 3. Carterton 23, Masterton 6. Masterton 14, Featherston 3. JUNIOR. Martinborcugh 13, Red Star 8. Opaki 9, Old Boys 0. Carterton 11, Greytown 0. THIRD GRADE. College 8, Red Star 6. Gladstone 5, Carterton 3. Martinborough 16, Dalefield 14. FOURTH GRADE. Masterton 6, Featherston nil. IN OTHER CENTRES Christchurch: University won the 1939 senior Rugby championship by beating Athletic 14-8 at Lancaster Park. Other results: Albion 26. Air Force 3; Old Boys 16. Christchurch 9: Technical 16. Southern 11; Sunnyside 9. Merivale 6.

Taranaki: Tukapa 16. Stratford 16; Old Boys 5. Okato 0; Clifton 9. Star 3; Inglewood 6. Eltham 0; Hawera 11, Waimatc 8; Athletic 5. Kaponga 5; Okaiawa 12, Patea 5.

Hawke’s Bay: Maori Agricultural College 11. beat Marist 3; Hastings 16 beat Havelock North 3; Technical Old Boys 18 beat Hastings School Old Boys 11; Pirates 25 boat Napier High School Old Boys 11. M.A.C. and Celtic now share the lead with Technical Old Boys and Hastings one point behind with a game in hand.

Dannevirke: Dannevirke 12 beat the challengers, Oroua, in a match for the Bebbington Shield. Southern Hawke’s Bay Saracens 11 beat Athletic seniors 3.

Central Hawke’s Bay: Takapau 9 beat Porangahau 3; Old Boys 6, bent Waipukurau 5; Omakere 12 beat Waipawa 6.

Horowhenua: Athletic 37 beat Shannon 11; Foxton 12 beat Kuku-Manakau 0; Wanderers 14 beat Rahui 13.

Wellington: Saturday results were: — Athletic 12, Wellington 8: Petone 19, Poncke 6; Marist Bros Old Boys 6. Johnsonville 3.

REPRESENTATIVE GAMES Ashburton 24, Manawatu 10. Buller 8, Marlborough 0. North Auckland 14. Auckland 9. WAIRARAPA GAMES REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. The following are the games and referees for Saturday next: — SENIOR. Wairarapa v Nelson, at Masterton. JUNIOR. North v South at Masterton. at 1.30 p.m. THIRD GRADE. Carterton v Dalefield, at Carterton, at 2.30. J. Johnson. Martinborough v College, at College at 2.30. E. Grantham. Masterton v Gladstone, at Gladstone, at 2.30. A. McKay. Featherston v Red Star, at Rugby Park. No. 1. at 2.30. H. Tinsley. FOURTH GRADE. Carterton v Masterton. Rugby Park. No. 1. at 1.30. W. Spooner. Marlinborough v Featherston, at Martinborough. J. Power.