Rugby CANTERBURY MAORI TRIAL MATCH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 15

Rugby CANTERBURY MAORI TRIAL MATCH

Players Show No Lack Of Enterprise

Several elusive backs and hardrunning forwards were contained in the Possibles and Probables teams which met in the Canterbury Maori trial Rugby match at Woodend yesterday. «

The last criticism that could be levelled at most oi the players would be lack of enterprise, for they seemed obsessed with the idea of starting off attacking movements as soon as they got the ball. Loose forwards appeared among the backs on several occasions and the backs themselves mixed a good many unorthodox movements with the more conventional ones. The handling was olten brilliant, but for much of the game—the first half especially—the passing was wild and movements oroke down in rapid succession. There was a refreshing lack of lineouts, but the forwards in general appeared reluctant to play a tight game, and most of them played too loose.

Among the backs, R. Stubbersfield and J. Ropata were two of the most prominent for Possibles. Stubberstield’s service was not always good—once a ballooned pass by him led to a try by the Probables—but he threw out a much longer pass than his opposite number and gained long stretenes of ground almost every time he elected to run with the ball. Ropata made the most of his opportunities and ran hard with the ball when he gained possession. M, Malcolm and M. Dick, the Probables three-quarters, received only limited chances, but they were both fast and tackled well on defence. Dick scored a good try after a determined run. C. Karaitiana was perhaps the best five-eighths of tnose who played in the game. He was a good link with his outside backs and was quick to see a gap. Most of the backs on both sides showed a tendency to run across field, thus crowding the wings and nullifying many movements.

Of the forwards, M. Mohi and D. Ellison were the best in the loose. Mohi, at No. 8, showed a good turn of speed and covered a lot of ground. He scored two good tries with his hard, straight running from broken play. Ellison was also mobile in the loose and capitalised quickly on any mistakes by the opposing backs. J. Carroll was one of the best forwards in the brief phases of tight play and with P. Karaitiana was prominent in line-outs. There was a large number of reserves used for both sides, and players from each team were frequently interchanged. The match was won by Probables by 21 points to 13. For Probables tries were scored by M. Mohi (two), J. Ropata, D. Shaw, H. Stewart, and conversions were kicked by Mohi, Stewart and I. Tuuta. For Possibles, D. Ellison and M. Dick scored tries which were converted by Ellison and Tuuta. Ellison also kicked a penalty goal. The referee was Mr R. Grant. Teams Selected The Canterbury Maori Rugby team chosen to play Country at Rugby Park on June 17 is as follows: J Taiaroa; J. Ropata, R. Taiaroa, M. Dick; B. Tai, C. Karaitiana; R. Stubbersfield; M. Mohi; J. C. Carroll. P Karaitiana. J. Carroll (captain), D. Ellison, D. Couch, M. Couch, D. Shaw. Reserves—Backs: J. Hawthorne, L. McLeod, F. Ross, M. Malcolm. Forwards: H. Stewart. I. Tuuta, J. Thompsori, D. McKenzie.

SOUTHLAND LOSES TO OTAGO

Sub-Unions’ Game

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, June 14. The Southland sub-unions' Rugby team was beaten 20-15 by Otago at Rugby Park on Saturday. The Otago hooker, B. Duncan, won all the ball his team wanted and first five-eighth. J. Hotop. ran rings around Southland’s R. Torry and continually piit his backs into a commanding position. For Otago tries were scored oy V. Lloyd (2). A. Duncan, J. Hughes and P. Flannery. Duncan kicked a penalty goal and converted one try. Scorers for Southland were RWelsh. F. Ferguson, and R. Terry (tries). G. McKenzie converted one try and kicked a penalty goal.

Golden Bay-Motueka Beat Marlborough

(New Zeatana Pres* Association > BLENHEIM, June 14.

Golden Bay-Motueka beat Marlborough, 11-3, in a Rugby match at Blenheim on Saturday. For the -Bays, R. Wratt and F. Papps scored tries, one of which was converted by G. Thorn, who also kicked a penalty.

For Marlborough K. Devine scored a try

ELLESMERE GAMES

Results of matches played by the Ellesmere Rugby sub-union on Saturday were:

Senior Grade.—lrwell 15, Burnham 0; Southbridge 11, Lincoln College A 11; Leeston 30, Lincoln College B 6: Lincoln, a bye.

Junior Grade.—Waihora 9, Preobleton 3; Dunsandel 15, Irwell 3; Lincoln College Degree 18, Southbridge 15; Leeston 12, Lincoln College Diploma 9. Third Grade.—Peninsula 15. Dunsandel 6; Southbridge 9, Leeston 8; Lincoln a bye. Fourth Grade.—Southbridge 9, Dunsandel 0; Leeston 6, PrebDieton 0; Irwell 6, Waihora 0; Lincoln, a bye. Fifth Grade.—Southbridge 31. Prebbleton 3; Leeston 12. Lincoln 3: Burnham 8, Dunsandel 0; Irwell 9. Waihora 6. Bantam Grade.—Waihora B 6. Southbridge 3; Leeston 6, Lincoln 0; Waihora A 12. Irwell 0: Dunsandel. a bye

Points are: Senior.—Lincoln College A 11. Leeston 10, Southbridge 8, Irwell 7, Lincoln 2, Lincoln College B 2. Burnham 2. Junior.—Leeston 12. Irwell 10, Dunsandel 10, Lincoln College Diploma 9. Lincoln College Degree 6. Waihora 5. Prebbleton 4. Southbridge 0. Fourth Grade.—Leeston 12. Southbridge 9, Prebbledon 7, Irwell 5. Dunsandel 4, Lincoln 3, Waihora 2.

Fifth Grade.— Southbridge 14 Irwell 11, Waihora 10, Leeston 7 Prebbleton 6. Lincoln 5. Burnham 2 Dunsandel 1.

Results In Other Centres

Wellington.—Jubilee Cup: Petone 22, Taita 11; Poneke 14, St. Pat’s 0.8. 8; Athletic 10, Marist 0.8. 3; University 22. W.C.0.8. 14; Onslow 0. Wellington 0; Oriental 17. Hutt 12. Wanganui.—Waverley 9, Pirates 8; Athletic 21. Rata 8; Technical Old Boys 27, Hunterville 0; Marist 9. Kaierau 6; Wanganui 20, Bulls 3.

Taranaki.—Stratford Old Boys 15. Kaponga 6; Star 6. New Plymouth Old Boys 3; Okato 9, Hawera 9: Stratford 27, Waimate 3; Tukapa 11, Rahotu 6: Clifton 31, Okaiawa 12: Eltham 8, Opunake 8; Inglewood 18. Athletic 6.

Dunedin.—Southern 19, Alhambra 6; University B 19. Taieri 12; Zingari 19, Kaikorai 6; University A 17. Union 11; Pirates 17, Dunedin 3.

Nelson.—Celtic 26, Wanderers 9: Nelson 12. Waimea 6; Old Boys 17. Rivals 14.

Auckland.—Takapuna 14, Navy 0; North Shore 14. Grammar 8; Suburbs 23, Northcote 6; Manukau 8, Grafton 8: Otahuhu 20. Varsity 6; Eden 6. Marist 6: Waitemata 6. Ponsonby 3.

Manawatu.—F.O.B. 12, University 11; Te Kawau 11, Feilding 3; Old Boys 29, Oroua 3: Technical Old Boys 21, Kia Toa 3.

SOUTH CANTERBURY MATCHES

Geraldine Retains Lead In Close Game

"The Press” Special Service

TIMARU. June 14. Geraldine retained its lead in the South Canterbury senior Rugby competition by beating Temuka. 3-0. in a close and hard game at Geraldine on Saturday. Celtic, trailing Geraldine by two points in the competition, also had a close call at Fraser Park against Old Boys. In an entertaining game, Celtic won 13-11.

Victory seemed likely to go to Old Boys until the Celtic pack tightened up play midway through the second spell. Old Boys’ backs combined in some excellent attacking movements, but, as usual, the Celtic defence was hard to pierce, and. with the forwards hunting the ball well in the loose, Celtic managed to get in front with only nine minutes to full time.

A feature of this match was a fine solo try by the Celtic wing three-quarters, T. Sullivan, who scored after a 75-yard run. Celtic’s other winger, J. Cole, also played well. P. Stevenson. G. Strang and G. Groves were "Strong, tight forwards in the winner’s pack. The light-weight.flank forward. J. Steven was in excellent form in the Old Boys’ pack, and A. Galbraith was a rugged front-row forward. In the Old Boys’ backs, N. Taiaroa gave a fast and efficient service at halfback. and the first five-eighths. K. Williams, penetrated the Celtic defence with several iinky runs. W. Unwin was a safe full-back.

Zingari had a comfortable 11-3 win against Star in the early match at Fraser Park.

The leading teams in the Skinner Cud competition are:— Geraldine 15 points, Celtic 13, Zingari 11 and Waimate 11.