BRIGHTER DISPLAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20275, 18 August 1937, Page 12

BRIGHTER DISPLAYS

SATURDAY’S RUGBY. STAG TROPHY BERIEB. I FORM OF THE PLAYERS. Two outstanding features characterised the Rugby football played in Hamilton on Saturday in the Stag Trophy series. They were the rather surprising victory of Old Boys over the championship leaders, technical Old Boys, and the vastly improved standard of play in both matches played at Rugby Park, where the ground was hard and fast, which combined with the dry nature of the ball, was conducive to fast play. As a result of Saturday’s games the position of the teams at the head of the championship table has not changed, but Frankton have reduced Technical’s strong lead a further two points which suggests that the closing stages of the 1937 competition may be a keenly-contested struggle. Suffering defeat on Saturday for the third time this season, Technical Old Boys lost their lead of live points in the championship and are now only three points ahead of Frankton. The positions of the teams at the end of last Saturday’s matches arc as fol-

Teohnlcal Too Late. Technical suffered their third defeat o♦ the season and their second at the hands of Old Boys, when the two teams met in a well-contested game on Saturday. Although Old Boys held the territorial advantage for the greater part of the time. Technical, if they had been quicker to make use of their opportunities, could have won the match. They were too late to realise their precarious position. The backs were slow and Goosnian especially was rather lax in his defence. If he bad been quicker up on his man he could have prevented Bcid from getting his two runaway tries, fnr once this winger sees an opening ho makes use of it and Is a hard man to stop. St. George was the best back In the Technical team and at first five-eighth gave the lino an ideal start hut they failed to take advantage of it. Talent In the Pack. The Blues have one of the best packs in the Stag Trophy competition, end on Saturday they fielded a stronger eight than for some weeks, p. Beer and E. Hall arc hard workers, chasing the ball continually and being of great service in, the scrum. Workman Is an utility man. being a capable player almost In any position. Repeatedly on Saturday he led the charges. Stuart, and McGovern are excellent loose forwards also. Hewitt has been seen in belter form than In the game against Frankton, in which he was penalised several t:mw for playing offside. Fell completes a set of good forwards, which outplayed the lighter Frankton pack, especially in the line-outs. Reid In Bcor!ng Mood. Two of Old Boys’ tries In their match with Technical Old Boys on Saturday, wore registered by Reid, the speedy winger. In both cases lie ran from his own twenty-five, cutting In nicely to score In the corner. The 1f» fence." was well baffled and appeared to make very little effort to tackle him or force him out, especially in the case of his second dash for the line, when lie scored In the face of feeble opposition. The ball was hooked from the scrum by Old Boys and it passed along tbe line, of backs to Reid, who ran from his own twentyfive to touch down. The first attempt was carried into effect, by a. more Individual effort on the, part of Reid, and that time be had a harder Technical defensive effort with which to contend. Best Shines In Dull Lot. The fifteen Marist fielded at Cambridge on Saturday t-» play Stars were a weak comoiuaßon. with only one lOilstandm- p o-'r-.1.i.-k Be>t‘ the Waikato forw .rd. Best at all times did his utmost as lie has done throughout the season for his club. On Saturday be was a forward and a back and had to bn all over the place he kept it up was surprising. Promising Five-eighth. I*laying second five-eighth for Cambridge Blues on Saturday, C. Kneehone gave another exhibition which bad qualities of distinct promise. He la a young player but lias the, ability of many more experienced inside backs. He tackles solidly arid on the attack he is a hard player to bring down. Green, who usually plays half-back, was first five-eighth and ptaved quite, well in that position. Meredith, the half, was a little slow in unloading hut often worked the blind side to advantage. Poaco Cup Elimination. Next Saturday Morrlnsvllle and Mat Rinata senior representatives meet main at Morrinsville. in a peace Cup set Twill be able b> turn out for Morrinsville. Rush’ll has not placed since In Wellington. School Rugby Standard. Proof of the popularity of secondary schools’ Rugby could be judged on Saturday, when the croud at Pie park at t o’clock to see the Hamilton High nual fixture' was larger than that which saw the mam Hag Trophy HatVstandarl of the 'annual match between the two scTi-mK In tmarly •very case defence, was clean and solid vas'lme of tin fin. •* se m at he 1 1 . this >• isou. The formations neat and open* manner all d iy. High School .

Forwards Who Worked. In the Marist—Stars game at Cambridge on Saturday, Cooper, Moore and Kidd worked hard for the Stars, while Best and the two Belchers were, the most prominent for Marist players. Old Boys Win Again. No doubt encouraged by their previous success against Technical Old Boys, the leaders in the competition, I Old Boys played more up to their standard of last year, when they defeated the champions on Saturday. The backs lost no time in getting moving and when they did they had Technical well baffled with the result that j two runaway tries were scored. R. Paterson, at full back, played bis usual bright game, tackling and kicking with extraordinary precision. All the hacks played exceptionally well, but Carroll was inclined to be a little, weak on defence. Kirkbride was the outstanding forward, figuring prominently in some bright, movements, while he was ably supported by Holloway. Frankton’s Back Line. The Frankton team fielded a new back formation on Saturday which, aided by the dry condition of the ground and the ball, worked well in opening the play and throwing the ball about. The team's backs have been seen at Rugby Park in more penetrative mood but on Saturday they were opposed by a set of solid tacklers which wore the Cambridge Blues Jersey. Pearson, who has been in excellent form as a five-eighth this season filled the half-back position. He was solid but the strangeness of the position somewiiat dulled his usual brilliance. He was, however, at all times a handy link. Jones was responsible for the large majority of the openings and thu-s paved the way for Everest on many occasions. He was, no doubt, the most impressive of the Frankton backs. Everest’s speed 1 enabled him to penetrate effectively on many occasions and his defence is excellent compared with the general standard of the tackling of Hamilton footballers. A new player, Collie, made good use of the ball when it went his way, and when he gets more work he may prove to be an acquisition. McDonald made ’a fine clash to score Frankton’s final try and showed determined running. HAMILTON UNION. At the weekly meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Sub-union held last evening correspondence from the Maniapoto sub-union in connection with the visit of the local senior representative team to To Kuiti next, Saturday was received. Mr F. Buckingham was appointed manager of the team. The Waikato Rugby Union notified that two £L grandstand seats and 18 enclosure seals at 10s per seat had been allocated to the Hamilton subunion for the third test match at Auckland on September 25. Morris Cup. Entries for the Morris Cup house competition will close with the secretary of tho union at 5 p.m. on August 31. SATURDAYS FIXTURES. The following matches will he played on Saturday:— Stag Trophy Competition—Technical Old Boys v. Rovers, No. J, Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m. Juniors—Rovers v. Technical Old Boys, Whatawhata, 2 p.m.; Karamu v. | Old Boys, No. 2. Rugby Park, 1.15 j p.m.; City v. Haulapu, No. 3, Rugby I Park. 1.15 p.m. Third grade—City v. Technical Old Boys. No. 2, Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m. Fourth grade—Frankton v. City B, Weka Street. 1.30 p.m.; City A v. Technical Old Buys, Nu. i, Rugby Park, .1 p.m. MANAGEMENT MEETING. (Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE. Tuesday. The weekly meeting- or the Cambridge i hold last evening when the. president. Mr | H. Brewer, presided over a good- attendanre. The Walhf Club wrote seeking games Tor seniors and juniors at. Cambridge in siiuc.ted to advise that tho union regretfully had to decline the request. Congratulations were extended to the Northern Club on their third grade team winning the championship. It was reported that Mr G. F. Ill]], a senior referee, was leaving hho district shortly on transfer to Ostend (North Auckland). Appreciation was expressed or Mr Hill’s services over a number of years to Rugby in Cambridge. Successful Ball. A report was presented in connection with last week’s annual ball. It was I stated that the ball was a success, socially and financially. Tho secretary was I thanks to the ladies' committee. Permission was granted Hautapu jun- ■ lot’s to travel to Hamilton next Saturday. I A conference of sub-unions’ delegates will be lie Min Cambridge this (Wednesday) evening to consider matters In connection with t lie junior and lower grades. Fixtures, for Saturday. final challenge, .Morrinsville v. Cambridge Rudders), .Square, i. 15 (Mr c. Wallace).

lows: — P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tech. O.B. . 14 1 1 3 0 231 129 22 Frankton .. 14 9 4 l 185 130 19 01(1 Boys .. 14 8 4 2190 141 18 Cam. Blues . 13 5 5 3 124 122 13 Te Awamutu . 12 5 ft 1 154 113 11 Cam. Stars . 13 5 8 0 127 13ft 10 Rovers .... 13 4 7 2 129 147 10 Tauplrt .... 12 5 7 0 124221 10 Marlst 13 2 10 1 89 168 5