SCHOOL RUGBY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1939, Page 8

SCHOOL RUGBY

0 I TOURNAMENT OPENED I — i WIN FOR WAIRARAPA. MANAWATU BEATEN BY 11 TO 5. Fielding a team which comprised solid, hard-working forwards, and a fast, nippy | rearguard, Wairarapa deI feated 31ana\vatu by 11 points to 5 in (he opening game of the annual Primary Schools’ h’ugby quadrangular tournament at Memorial Park, Masterion, today. Wairarapa were also unfortunate in that they lost five of their crack players through overweight. The Manawatu team played good hard football, but lacked the finish of the Wairarapa side. A feature of each side’s play was the determined tackling, all of which was around the ankles. Manawatu gained an advantage in t.he line-outs, but Wairarapa were far superior in the scrums and loose rushes. In the ' Wairarapa pack, O'Keefe, Capps and Gill were the pick, although the rest toiled hard. For ManaWatu, Kelly was the outstanding forward being particularly brilliant in the lineouts. He was closely followed by Mitchell and Kensington. Of the Wairarapa backs. Baird at half, Bird, first five-eighths, and Goodwin, second fiveeighths, impressed most, Lee, on the Wing, made several good*- runs. For Manawatu Hart at centre, Hill on the wing and O'Connell, second fiveeighths, did good work.

Manawatu dreW first blood when M. Hill kicking along the. ground snapped up, drew the full-back and passed to' Hunt who crossed under the posts. Kelly converted. Manawatu 5, Wairarapa 0. Even play continued for some time. Eventually the Wairarapa pack gained the upper hand, and following a hot attack on the Manawatu line, Bird intercepted nicely to score. He converted with a good kick, making the scores equal. A slashing run from inside the Wairarapa twenty-five saw Goodwin take play into Manawatu's territory, but a dropped pass spoilt a definite chance to score. Half-time sounded sholtly after Wards with Wairarapa on the attack. On resuming, Wairarapa attacked and a pehiilty in front of the goal posts saw O'Keefe put Wairarapa ahead. Wairarapa 8, Manawatu 5. Rucking hard the MailaWatu pack took play to Wairarapa’s line, where a penalty brought relief to the home side. Taking ,the r ball at toe the Wairarapa forwards repeatedly launched attacks on the Manawatu line, where only grim tackling kept them at bay. With only a few minutes to go Bird kicked through from his own twenty-five. He picked up nicely and short-punted past the Manawatu full-back. In the race for the line Bird arrived first to score the best try of the day. The kick failed. The final score being: Wairarapa 11, Manawatu 5. Mr H. Matson Was the referee.

WANGANUI SCORES WIN. WELLINGTON GO DOWN 6—o, With a more evenly balanced side, Wanganui defeated Wellington by six points to nil in the second game at Memorial Park. Wanganui thoroughly deserved their win as on the day they were the better team. A noticeable feature of the game was_the manner in which the Wanganui forwards packed, speaking volumes for their coaching. The tackling of both sides was excellent. Wanganui secured the ball the majority of times in the loose rucks and set scrums, blit the taller Wellington forwards had an advantage in the lineouts. Fob Wellington, Gunn and Lewis were the pick of the forwards, while in the backs Page. Mahoney and Hart impressed most. In the Wanganui pack there Was not to be found a single slacker, but Cargill, Bebarford and Anderson stood out. Of the Wanganui rearguard, Webby, at half, played a rattling good game. Takarangi, at first five-eighth, played outstanding football, while Price, at second fiveeighth, was sound. Wanganui opened their account when their forwards took play to the Wellington lihe. From a penalty. Takarangi, with a beautiful kick, goaled. Wanganui 3, Wellington 0.

In the second spell Wanganui did most of the attacking, and near the end of the game a scrum on the Wellington line saw Takarangi cut the Wellington defence to ribbons to cross in a handy position. The kick failed. Wanganui 6, Wellington. Time sounded shortly afterwards. Mr H. Matson refereed.