RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1941, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIRARAPA UNION

SEASON OPENED. RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S GAMES.

The Wairarapa Rugby Union opened the season on Saturday with championship fixtures at Masterton, Carterton and Featherston. Gid Boys failed to field a team owing to practically all its members being away with the forces. Players from Martinborough and Featherston amalgamated and fielded a promising senior team.

In general the standard of play was not high as many teams lacked fitness, Despite conditions arising from the war, prospects for the season are quite good. Carterton is the only team in the competition with almost 100 per cent of its former players and has another very strong combination.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

SENIOR. Carterton 35, Red Star 3. | Gladstone 11, Masterton 6. Greytown 14, Featherston 9. THIRD GRADE. I Martinborough 18, Dalefield 6. | Carterton 6, Wairarapa College 6. Red Star 23, Featherston 3. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP I CARTERTON v. RED STAR. EASY WIN FOR HOME TEAM. At Carterton the local fifteen beat Red Stars by 35 points to 3. The visitors won the toss and defended the northern goal. Soon after the commencement of the game Stars forced Carterton, but from then on the play was fairly even, during the first spell, which ended Carterton 8 points (a.converted try and a try) to 3 points (a penalty goal. The second spell was commenced with determination by Carterton and they rattled on 27 points in great style. Although the Stars played well, Carterton forwards and backs alike ran them off their feet at times. The home side had ’six of last year’s juniors in their ranks and of these Desmond was outstanding. He was closely followed by Warrington, Blake and Busch. The ‘backs, headed by their skipper. F. Fitzgerald, combined well. The Carterton scores were obtained by Thompson (try converted), Brown (two unconverted tries), Fitzgerald (an unconverted try and two penalties), McPhee (a converted try), Mathieson (a try converted), Te Wiata (a try converted). The Red Star goal was kicked by Harris. Mr McKay controlled the game in an efficient manner. It was pleasing to see the old stalwart, Percy Burgess, back in the ranks of the Carterton team. He played good football and has lost none of his speed. Quentin Desmond is another “Alby,” and if this young player keeps going as he has started senior football he will soon gain his representative cap. He played a solid game throughout. He has speed and he shirked nothing. Blake and Warrington, former juniors, also played good football and toiled honestly throughout. They both promise well. Mathieson, N. McPhee, and T. Te Wiata (a new player to Carterton) showed good form and their tries were well deserved. F. Fitzgerald was tower of strength in the Carterton back division. His line kicking was good. The Carterton team as a whole worked wcli together. This was very noticeable during the second spell. GLADSTONE v. MASTERTON. LOCAL FORWARDS PLAY WELL.

At the Memorial Park Gladstone beat Masterton by 11. points to six before a small attendance of the public. The match was a contest between the Gladstone forwards and the Masterton backs. In the first spell play was fast and open, the Masterton forwards showing up prominently. The Gladstone backs handled the ball particularly well. As the game went on the pace became very slow, indicating thi| both teams would benefit with more practice. For Gladstone L. Foreman kicked two penalties and converted his own try. Masterton’s points were secured by V. Gray and Boyes, both crossing the goal line for unconverted tries.’ GREYTOWN v. FEATHERSTON. A RUGGED CONTEST. The new team in the competition consisting of players from Martinborough and Featherston and bearing the. latter name met Greytown at .Featherston and were beaten by 14 points to 9 in a hard, rugged contest. Both teams lacked combination. In both spells Greytown held territorial advantages but the Featherston defence proved strong enough to keep the score down. For Featherston Mahupuka and Morris kicked penalty goals, the latter also

scoring an unconverted try. Greytown's points came from a try by T. Hood (converted by Brunton), two penalties by Brunton and a try by Sugrue. Sugrue ran from half way through the Featherston defence.

IN OTHER CENTRES

Wellington.—With most teams now settling down, a greatly improved standard of play was witnessed in senior Rugby matches in Wellington on Saturday. Results: Wellington 11, St. Pat.'s Coll. 0.8. 8: Atheletic 24. University 3; Petone 23, Poneke 8; Marist Bros. 0.8. 22, Hutt 6; Eastbourne 34, Oriental 3; Johnsonville 8, College Old Boys 6. Christchurch.—Christchurch 27, Godley Head 3; Linwood 13, Sunnyside 3; University 5. Athletic 3; New Brighton 28, Albion 13; Old Boys 18, Wigram 6; Army 11, Technical 3; Air Force 17, Southern 0.

Dunedin. —University A 27, Alhambra 3; Southern 8, Union 6; Dunedin 12. Kaikorai 9; Zingari-Richmond 9. Pirate 7, Taieri 6, University B 6. Hawke's Bay.—Pirates 15, beat Tech-nical-High 14: Celtic 15, beat Clive 13; Havelock 9, beat Hastings H. 5.0.8. 3; Hastings 6, beat Marist 3.