RUGBY FOOTBALL

Franklin Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 58, 23 May 1928, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FRANKLIN UNION MEETING. THIRD-GRADE COMPETITION. At a meeting of the Franklin rugby sub-union held on Thursday evening, it was decided to commence a thirdgrade competition on Saturday May 26, and a primary school tourney in which five schools will engage, on July 9. A sum of £1 was donated to each of the six clubs to assist in providing footballs for the primary schools.

A Tuakau,businessman offered to donate a trophy for competition in the sub-union, and it was decided to allot it to the winning team playing in the Raglan and Franklin portions of the union, the proceeds to be deposited in the injured players' benfit fund.

THE GAME IN WAIUKU.

(Own Correspondent.)

The Waiuku union's competitions were continued on Saturday. In the junior competition Waipip l 16 beat Otaua-Waiuku 8. Tries for Waipipi were scored by K. Flavell,3; Garland, 1; two being converted by K. Flavell. Otaua-Wai-uku's points consisted of tries by Les Parker and Bright, one of which was converted by J. Ratu.

THE SENIORS AT PLAY.

AKA AKA V. OTAUA

Aka Aka kicked off against the wind to find the line at the Otaua 25 flag. From the line out A. Wright broke away, but a knock on pulled Aka Aka up. From the resulting play Aka Aka still pressed, but Duncan, the opposing full-back, sent them back to half way flag with a good line kick. Give and take play followed, and from the line out, Sum'merville got off-side, and Keany made no mistake with the kick in front of the goal.

Aka Aka .. .. .. 3 Otaua .. . . . . 0 From the change over Otaua got going and Noble made a fine opening before sending "the ball out to Thomson but the pass was not accepted and a good scoring chance was lost. From loose play near mid-field a free kick to Aka Aka relived the. pressure and play was returned to Otaua 25. From a set scrum Massey broke through, but a late pass spoilt the movement. Aka Aka still continued to press and carried play over the line for Otaua to force. Tight play by Aka Aka kept Otaua strenuously defending until they were penalised, and Keany had a shot from a long way out. The ball fell short and T. Hickey found the line at half way. From the throw in Otaua attacked strongly, but Puller gathered up the leather and beating three opponents made a good run before carrying the ball out at half way. After fairly even play Thomson, for Otaua, brought the ball through at his toes. and J. Noble gaining possession, attempted a drop goal and Aka Aka forced. Half time came with the score Aka Aka .. .. .. 3 Otaua . . . . 0

From the kick off Aka Aka staged a nice passing rush, the ball going from Wright to Keary, to three other players, but unfortunately for Aka Aka th« last pass was forward, and an almost certain try was lost. Otaua returned play to the centre of the field, but &. free kick for off-side play placed them in difficulties, as Aka Aka started a passing rush, the ball eventually finding the line inside the Otaua 25. A':a Aka still pressed strongly and from a scrum Massey was almost over. StUl hammering to get through Aka Aka sent the ball over the line, but Duncan saved splendidly by forcing. From a scrum on the 2."> line an Otaua player got off-side, and Kearey sent the oval between the posts to make the scores : Aka Aka .. .. . . 6 Otaua .. . . . . 0

Aka Aka were soon on the offensive again, and reached the Otaua 25, where D. Hull fielded well to make a good rim before sending the ball to Hickey, who took play to the Aka Aka 25. From, the resultant play a! free kick gave Otaua a shot in a good position, which was accepted by J. Noble :

Aka Aka . . . - . . 6 Otaua .. .. .. 3 From the kick out Aka Aka carried play to their opponent's 25, where Mas - sey obtained possession to beat all his opponents, to score a well deserved try, which Keary failed to mprove on. Aka Aka 9 Otaua .. • . . . . 3 Still making strenuous efforts to score Otaua attacked, and G. Hickey made a good opening before sending the ball out to D. Muir, who crossed the line, but the referee ruled a throw on, and Aka Aka found relief. After a spell of even play J. Noble had a shot at goal from half-way, but the ball foil short and was returned by Aka Aka. Again Otaua swept to the attack but Keary secured and made a good open ing, which J. Muir carried on with good foot work to transfer play to the Otaua 25 line, where a free kick gave the defenders relief. Shortly before time was called J. Noble had another sh -t from a long way out, but the ball went out, the game ending : j Aka Aka . . .. .. 9 j Otaua M . . . . . . 3 j Mr J. Henry refereed in good style.

WAIPIPI V. CITY.

"With the wind behind them, J. Ma'loy kicked off for Waipipi, for McGarvey to find the line at half-way. From

a scrum F. Harvey broke away for Citj and carried play to the opposing 25 flag. Croft secured from the line out, for Kerebs broke away, but Hair saved the situation by finding the line. I'rom the line out Waipipi pressed, but

a free kick gave City temporary relief before Waipipi came again, but a long kick gave B. James possession to force. With play near the City 25 Waipipi were awarded a free kick, but J. Malloy failed and City forced. By close play Waipipi pressed hard and almost scored, but a scrum was ordered, which allowed City to carry play to their opponent's 25, and later Wai-

first quarter ended shortly after. On the change over play settled in pipi was compelled to force. The the Waipipi 25, where B. James marked, and play travelled across the fiekl. The ball came out to McGarvey, to B. James, to McDonald, but Croft grassed him on the line. City still strove to get across, but were penalised, and Waipipi gained much needed relief, to return play to half-way. Good work by G. Arkle caused uneasiness to Waipipi

but J. Malloy saved well to carry pl-iy to the City 25. Good work by Barnaby and Arkle gained ground, but K. Flavell saved well. City were soon on the war-path again, to reach the opposing 25, where they were awarded a free kick, but McDonald failed and Waipipi forced. From the drop out Waipipi were quickly compelled to force again and the) bell rang for halftime with no score. Waipipi set the ball in motion on resumption of play, to carry play to the City 25. The ball came out to Malloy from the line out and his kick was. fielded by McDonald, whose kick was marked by Croft. The kick resulted in City forcing. Waipipi still kept play in City territory for a time but good -footwork by the later transferred play to the other end of the field, plav eventually settling in half-way. Waipipi were still doing the most of the attacking and from a scrum in the City territory the defenders were penalised

but Malloy's shot at goal went wide for City to force. Opening up the game Wapipi again swung to the attack, and were pressing hard when City received the leather by being awarded a free kick, which returned play to the centre of the field,, when the bell rang for the final quarter.

The final round started at a great rate, and each team was putting plenty of clash into their work. Eddy took a mark and from his kick Waipipi forced. In an endeavour to penetarate the defence City opened up the game, but hard kicking spoilt the opportunity and Waipipi forced. After a spell oi

very even play City were penalised, but J. Malloy failed to send the ball between the posts and Hair returned play to half-way. The City players were now hard put to it, to stem a

most determined attack by Waipipi, and were kept very busy defending their line. The final bell went, and Waipipi set sail with a good forward rush which ended in a try, converted by Malloy amidst great applause from the Waipipi supporters. Mr Atkins controlled the game.

PUKEKOHE REFEREES MEET. The Pukekohe referees' association met last evening, the attendance being a record. After the ordinary business was transacted a most interesting lecture tte was given by Mr C. Moffitt on the rules of the game, after which a number of questions were asked and answered. Mr Moffitt was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and he agreed to give another lecture on June 5. , .

REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. The following referees were appointed for Saturday:— Senior: "White Star v. Ramblers, No. i, 2.45 p.m., referee Mr W. J. Short; Power Board v. Patumahoe, No. 2, 2.45 p.m., Mr C. L. Moffitt. Juniors: High School v. Ramblers, No. 1, 1.15 p.m., Mr H. Pleydell; White Star v. Patumahoe at Patumahoe, 2.30, Mr M. Lynskey. Thirds: Patumahoe v. Ramblers, Domain No. 3, 2.30 p.m., Mr J. Hill; Wesley College v. High School, No 2. 1.15 p.m., Mr J. Wyatt.