RUGBY LEADERS DEFEATED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 13

RUGBY LEADERS DEFEATED

OLD BOYS OUTCLASSED TAURIRI’B CONVINOINQ WIN TECHNICAL IN WINNING FORM TE AWAMUTU BEAT FRANKTON Rapidly improving rach week. the Taupiri Rugby fifteen proved the downfall of Old Boys, the leaders in the Stag Trophy championship, and inflicted the first defeat on the leaders this season In good football at Ngaruawahla on Saturday, in the game at Rugby Park, Hamilton, Te Awamutu overwhelmed Frankton in a predominantly forward tussle, and at Te Awamutu Technical regained winning form by defeating Rovers in no uncertain manner. The championship table was upset a result of the games on Saturday, and now Old Boys have Taupiri and Te Awamutu equal with them in the leading position. The Indications are that Taupiri will be one of the hardest teams of the season and. with Cambridge. they should contest the final. In Hamilton the T* Awamutu-trank-ton game was mostly a forward contest. ss neither set of backs appeared to have finished form. There wer* a number of good forwards on the field, however. Old Boys were definitely outclassed by Taupiri. and indicated that w-hen they meet stout opposition they ire not the team that early results would have indicated. Technical were an improved team after their mediocre performance the previous Saturday, but the opposition of Rovers was not very formidable. Rssulta at a Glance Awamutu 16, Frankton 3. Taupiri 11, Old Boya 0. Technical 19, Rovsra 12. Oambrldge a bye.

WELL-MERITED WIN TAUPIRI BEAT OLD BOYS SPEEDY BACKS FAIL (Times Special Reporter) N O ARU AW A! HA, Saturday Beaten back and forward. Old Boys failed to score against Taupiri at NgaruawmMa on Saturday, and went down to the Taupiri team, 11—6—three tries (one converted) to tw*o penalty goals. Old Boys were confidently expected to have a considerable advantage In the speed of their backs, but on the day the Taupiri rearguard was more versatile and determined than their opponents. The extra weight w'hlch Taupiri had in the forwards gave them an initial advantage, and the backs, set a fine example by Tapp at. half, made the most of their opportunities. In the first half Old Boys appeared as if they might run out the winners, but they were ne\p r impressive in the second spell, when the Taupiri backs opened up in some bright movements. On their form Taupiri appear to be rapidly on the improve, and should be difficult to dispose of in future matches. The teams were— Taupiri Fullback. Robertson; three-quarters. Matanga, McNicol, Mania poto; five-eighths, O’Hearn, Taylor; halfback. Tapp; forwards, Kereopa, Catley. M. Taylor. Whitton, Weston. Jones. Ketl. Puhl Puhi. Old Boys—Fullback. Slow; threequarters. A. J. Sayers. Lissette, 11. Sayers; five-eighths. Carroll, Gillespie; halfback, (filling; forwards, Holloway. Smith. Turner, Barber, McLean. Gray, Wallis, D. Paterson. Old Boys Open Bcorlng Old Boys pressed from the outset, but after Carroll had cross-kicked for

A. J. Sayers to follow through fast Robertson forced. A good line kirk by Lissette again put Old Boys on the offensive, but from a subsequent scrum Taupiri relieved. A scrum infringement gave Old Boys a free kirk and Lissette made no mistake with the kick from 35 yards out. Old Boys 3, Taupiri 0. Gillespie then broke away, but Lissette dropped his pass with only the fullback in front, of him. The Old Boys’ hacks swung Into action and A. J. Sayers set sail for the line, but cross-kicked when opposed by Robertson. However, the ball went behind. Taupiri. from a scrum, were round too fast and Lissette again raised the flags from a position right in front of the uprights Slow nearly had OJd Boys in trouble when he fumbled in his twenty-five, but Carroll came to the rescue in the nick of time. Taupiri were not to be denied, and from a Une-out near Old Boys’ line Catley forced his way across. Tapp made no mistake with the kick. Old Boys 8, Taupiri 5. Once again Old Boys* backs fanned out. but Gillespie’s pass was low and Carroll fumbled. Starting from thetr own goal-line Old Boys dashed upfleld In a spectacular passing rush, only to see Gilling accept a forward pass, with no one to beat.

Old Boys were awarded another free kick when Catley lifted, but Llssette’s effort was nowhere near the posts, and Taupirl relieved. Tauplrl were In full cry when Slow was downed In his own twenty-five, but ofTside Jlav spoiled the movement, and play returned to half-way. O'Hearn then out through beautifully, bealine the Old Boys* inside men and sending on to Maniapoto, who had an open field. Only A. J. Sayers and Gillespie, coming across fast, saved a certain try. and half-time came with the score: Old Boys 6 Taurirl - 5 The Beoond Half When the teams resumed Tapp led a blind-side attack, but he was pushed out at the corner after three backs had handled. Matanga then essaypd a field goal, but went wide, and Old Boys transferred activities to the other end, where Maniapoto forced to save Tauplrl. From a scrum in Old Boys’ twenty-five Tapp set his backs in action, and Matanga side-stepped H. Sayers to go across at the corner. A no-charge was awarded Tapp’s first attempt to convert, but he failed again with the second shot at goal. Tauplrl g, Old Boy§ 6. From a scrum near half-way Maniapoto broke away olear with the ball at toe, but Carroll was there to save. Play swung up and down field for some minutes before Old Boys’ backs once more swung Into action. If. Sayers received from Llssette with plenty of room to spare, but was easily caught by Matanga. A risky clearance by O’Hearn gave Old Boys a chance, but Tauplrl cleared to near half-way. where they were penalised when Catley lifted. From straight In front Llssette had a reasonable chance of putting Old Boys In the lead, but his kick was well short. Slow' was bustled by Kereopa and a scrum Old Boys’ line resulted. Tauplrl hooked, and O’Hearn attempted to ko through on his own, only to be pilled down five yeards from the goalline. Tauplrl received the ball cleanly from a scrum at half-way, but Slow cleared well when O’Hearn kicked through a gap. A great run by Taylor, Taupiri’s five-eighth, saw him outstrip the Old Boys* backs to score In the corner, Tapp failed to convert and the game ended— Taupirl 11 Old Boys 6 Mr G. Welch was the referee.