RUGBY FOOTBAIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1940, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBAIL

WAIRARAPA BEAT BUSH MATCH AT MASTERTON. TWO PLAYERS ORDERED OFF. Wairarapa beat Bush by 6 points io 4 in a representative Rugby football match played before a good attendance at Memorial Park on Saturday. The weather was threatening, with occasional showers and the ground was very heavy. Play in the circumstances was chiefly combined to the forwards. Wairarapa saw plenty of the ball from the set scrums and line outs, and some very bright back movements were witnessed. Bush fielded a much lighter pack and their back line, although brilliant in patches, did not see enough of the ball to force the pace. Until well into the second spell the game could not be called a clean one. Smith, a Bush forward, was cautioned for striking a Wairarapa player. The crowd subjected the offending player to considerable hooting. Later Smith became involved in a fracas with I. Percy, a Wairarapa forward, in front of the stand, and both men were ordered off. The teams were as follow: —Wairarapa: E. Thompson, D. Faulknor, G. Brown, W. Peterson, T. Wilton, R. Brunton, L. Reiri, W. Stringfellow, I. Percy, J. Fitzpatrick, G. Humphries, I. Mason, T. Hood, H. Ewington, R. Howard (captain). Bush: F. Rossitter, W. Twentyman, D. Fulton, C. Eddie, S. Staples, D. Hunt, E. Lett, L. Wenham, C. Rosyth, D. Welch, T. Berry, B. Thomas, B. Smith, E. Widdell, J. Walker. Bush won the toss and elected to play with the wind at their backs. Play ranged up and down field, and after a bright Bush back movement in which Staples, Walker and Hunt were associated Eddie was pushed out near the Wairarapa goal line after a good run down the sideline. The Wairarapa forwards were breaking fast and soon carried play down into Bush territory, where Brunton missed a penalty. Both sides were awarded a series of free kicks. The first points of the match came when the Bush forwards dribbled the ball back towards Wairarapa territory, and passed to Staples who kicked a beautiful field goal a few yards inside the halfway line, making the score Bush 4, Wairarapa 0. Half-time sounded soon after without any alteration to the score. On resuming Wairarapa took the offensive and dominated play. Wairarapa’s first score came soon after the start of the spell when Stringfellow followed up a kick to score well out. Brunton missed the kick. Bush 4, Wairarapa 3. Wairarapa’s second score followed in quick succession when G. Brown secured to make a brilliant run with Brunton down the sideline for the former to score a beautiful try. The kick missed, making the score Wairarapa 6, Bush 4. Bush made several attempts to penetrate Wairarapa’s defence, but Thompson was able to clear very well at full back and ease the pressure. Time sounded soon after, leaving the final score Wairarapa 6, Bush 4. Mr E. Grantham conducted the game in an efficient manner. As a whole the Wairarapa team functioned particularly well. Their display was well worth seeing. L. Reiri was excellent at half, and gave his backs the ball from nearly all scrummages. G. Brown, Brunton, Faulknor, Peterson and Wilton all went well and made the most of their opportunities. E. Thompson was very safe at full back. In the forwards Stringfellow, J. Fitzpatrick and H. Ewington were outstanding in the loose for solid toil. R. Howard, Mason, Humphries, Percy and Hood packed well in the tight.

In the Bush team Rossitter was a very handy man with his boot and saved his side time after time. Hunt and Staples, five-eighths, were veryfast and combined well with Lett. Twentyman, Fulton and Eddie, comprising the three-quarter line shaped well. Rosyth .and Thomas worked very hard in the forward pack. OTHER GAMES THIRD GRADE. Red Star 18. College 6. Carterton 14, Featherston 3. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. The following are the Wairarapa Rugby Union’s championship fixtures for Saturday:— SENIOR. Carterton v. Gladstone, at Memorial Park No. 1, at 2.30 p.m., H. McMenamin. JUNIOR PEARSON CUP. Carterton v. Martinborough, at Carterton, at 2.30 p.m., B. Hurley. THIRD GRADE. Red Star v. Gladstone, at Memorial Park No 1, at 1.30 p.m., W. Grantham. College v. Masterton, at College, at 1.30 p.m., R. Dawson. Carterton v. Greytown, at Greytown, at 2.30 p.m., C. Kendall. Featherston v. Dalefield, at Carterton No. 2, at 2.30 p.m., W. Spooner. FOURTH GRADE. Carterton v. College, at Rugby Park No. 1, at 1.30 p.m., H. Reid. Red Star forfeited to Martinborough. IN OTHER CENTRES Wellington.—Wellington and Athletic emerged from Saturday’s Rugby senior championship matches in Wellington as. the logical contenders for the 19-10 honours. They are level, three points ahead of the next team. Results;— Athletic 11, Eastbourne 0; Wellington 17, Poneke 6: Petone 16, Johnsonville 3; Marist Bros. 0.8. 6, Hutt 3; St. Pat’s. College 0.8. 8. University 8; College Old Boys 14, Oriental 4. Senior second division: Miramar 14, Petone 6; Athletic 3, Onslow 3: Pirates 15. Poneke 7; Marist Bros. 0.8. a bye. Three teams, Marist Bros. Old Boys, St. Patrick’s College Old Boys and College Old Boys, are fighting out the Hardham Cup. which is as interesting a contest as the senior championship. Auckland.—Auckland colts defeated Thames Valley, 14-9. at Eden Park; Auckland B representatives beat South Auckland, at Pukckohe, 26-20. Christchurch. —Ashburton 21, Canterbury B 14; Canterbury College 26. Otago University 3; Metropolitan 15, Combined Services 6. Dunedin. —Union 18, Zingari-Rich-mond 16; Southern 11, Alhambra 0; Taieri 16, Kaikorai 6; Pirates 19, Dunedin 7. I Manawatu. —At Palmerston North on Saturday the Trentham Army team beat the Manawatu representatives by 18-14.