RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1940, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIRARAPA UNION GAMES SEASON OPENED ON SATURDAY. FAIR STANDARD OF PLAY. I The Wairarapa Rugby Union comi menced its championship matches on Saturday in fine weather and on good grounds. A fair standard of play was in evidence. At Masterton the Glad- ' stone team defeated Old Boys by 14 to 8. At Carterton the local team eas- ■ ily defeated Red Star and at Grey- • town the Masterton team accounted ■ for Greytown. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. > Senior. Gladstone 14 v Old Boys 8. ’ Carterton 30 v Red Star 8. , Masterton 12 v Greytown 8. Junior. Carterton 31 v Masterton 0. Featherston 17 v Old Boys 6. Martinborough won by default from Red Star. Thirds. Gladstone 27 v Dalefield 3. Carterton 8 v Masterton 3. College 40 v Featherston 0. Red jStar beat Greytown by default. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP OLD BOYS v GLADSTONE. WIN FOR VISITING TEAM. The Old Boys and Gladstone teams met at Memorial Park and in an evenly contested game Gladstone were victorious by 14 points to 8. The play in the game was of a fair standard only and very few good rallies were witnessed. The Gladstone team made more use of their back division despite the fact that the Old Boys secured most of the ball from the scrums. However the back efforts on either side were generally ragged and there was little of an inspiring nature in the play. Gladstone had more form on than their opponents and this contributed largely to their success. In the closing stages of the game both sides threw the ball about and play became of a brighter character. The only score in the first spell was a good try scorecj by Colquhoun which Reiri was unable to convert. In the second spell Stewart opened the Old Boys’ scoring account with a try which O'Callaghan converted. A few minutes later Colquhoun smartly potted a goal, putting Gladstone ahead again. After give and take play Henderson potted a goal for the visitors, making the scores Gladstone 11, Old Boys 5. Then Bradnock scored an unconverted try for Gladstone. Just on time, Polson scored for Old Boys after a good passing bout with Morton, but the try was not converted, the final score being Gladstone 14, Old Boys 8. Mr E. Grantham was referee. CARTERTON V. RED STAR EASY WIN FOR MAROONS. On the Carterton Showgrounds the senior grade game between Carterton and Red Star seniors was played. The weather was excellent with the exception that a strong nor’-west wind prevailed. Before the game had progressed far it was seen it was going to be an interesting one. Despite the fact that most of the players were not in the best of form the match was a very fast and open one. Carterton showed more initiative than their opponents and this was particularly noticeable in the play of Frank Fitzgerald (captain), and with C. Jensen. The Carterton forwards as a whole played well, and they never let up throughout. In the line outs they were superior to their opponents, but the scrums were evenly divided, the Stars playing well in this department. Although the visitors battled hard they were not equal to the task set them. Lamb, Howard, Orsborn, Henson, Peterson and Rippon all played well. The game was clean throughout and the referee remarked that it was one of the fastest opening games he had controlled. For Carterton F. Fitzgerald potted a goal and scored a try under the goal posts. Tries were also scored by C. Jensen, D. Alexander, D. Smith, Thompson and Tunnicliffe. Jackson, a last year’s junior player, who filled the full back position, did all the goal kicking and accounted for four goals from the six tries scored. For Red Star Peterson scored from a passing rush, Lamb converting, and near the end of the game Rippon crossed the line. The final result was Carterton 30, Red Star 8.

Mr W. Grantham controlled the game in an efficient manner.

MASTERTON V. GREYTOWN WELL DESERVED WIN. Masterton beat Grey town by 12 points to 8 in an even game at Greytown. Good form was shown for the first match of the season, and both sides were very fit. For Masterton V. Gray (one unconverted try), W. Barnett (a field goal and a try, converted by H. Ewington) were the scorers, and for Greytown, Stringfellow crossed the line twice. Greytown were without the services of four of last season’s players, Rex Brunton, Stewart Brunton and Brian Skeet being among the absentees. The vacancies in the team were filled by juniors and thirds. Mr C. Kendall was referee. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY GAMES AT MASTERTON. The following are the fixtures for Saturday next: — SENIOR. Greytown v. Old Boys, at Greytown. Carterton v. Gladstone, at Gladstone. Red Star v. Masterton, at Memorial Park No. 1. JUNIOR. Red Star v. Masterton, at Rugby Park No. 1. Old Boys v. Martinborough, at Memorial. Park No. 2. Carterton v. Featherston, at Carterton No. 1 ground. THIRD GRADE. Masterton v. Featherston, at Featherston. Gladstone v. College, at Memorial Park No. 1, at 1.30 p.m.

Red Star v. Carterton, at Carterton No. 2, at 2.30 p.m. Greytown v. Dalefield, at Greytown No. 2, at 2.30 p.m.

IN OTHER CENTRES

Wellington.—Better team work enable Wellington, last season's champions, to secure a convincing win against Marist Bros Old Boys in the main Rugby attraction in Wellington on Saturday. The weather was tine but cold. Detailed resulted are: Wellington 20. Marist Bros 0.8., 8: Johnsonville 13/Petone 6; Athletic 14. Oriental 0; Ponekc 16. Eastbourne 3: St Patrick's Coll. 0.8. 21. Hutt 16; College 0.8. 6, University 6. Dunedin: Southern 18, Pirates 6; University A 11. Kaikorai 8; ZingariRichmond 0, Dunedin 0; Union 11, Alhambra 0; Taieri 19. University B 8. Christchurch: Christchurch 13, Southern 9; New Brighton 14, Sunnyside 9; Linwood 20. Merivale 10; Old Boys 13. Athletic 8; Varsity 29, Albion 3; Air Force 13, Army 5.