RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXI, Issue 66, 8 June 1931, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PUKEKOHE COMPETITIONS. PATUMAHOE MEET WATERLOO. AT THE HANDS OF RAMBLERS. OLD BOYS BEAT KIA OBA. Results at a glance:— Senior: Ramblers 3, Patumahoe 0. Old Boys 15, Kia Ora 3. Junior: White Star 12, High School 8. Thirds: College 21, School 4. Patumahoe G, College 5. Fine, but cold weather prevailed On Saturday for the continuation of the Pukekohe Rugby Union's competitions. The first round of the senior championship w ; as completed, and as a result of Ramblers surprise victory over Patumahoe. by an unconverted try scored by F. Brown, these two teams are together at the head of (lie ladder with six points, followed by Old Boys with 4 points and United and Kia Ora two points each. In the junior championship, White Star lowered School's colours, and this means that at present three teams, High School, White Star and Patumahoe are bracketed on the top rung of the ladder. The third grade competition has only just got going properly due to the secondary schools' vacation. Both senior and junior championships have reached an interesting stage and subsequent games will be followed- with the keenest interest. At the present stage both are decidedly open and any one of the leading teams are capable of carrying off the honours. The chief feature, however, is the high position of Patumahoe in both competitions, and a win to the wearers of the blue and black livery will be most popular.

On Saturday neither Patumahoe nor Ramblers were at full strength. The former were without R. Howe, while R. Brady Avas suffering from a bad arm' and could not show his best form. Ramblers were without their skipper, J. Wood, and the two Browntees, but even without them the team went well and created the surprise of the season, a victory by a narrow margin. The game was very evenly contested and there was little between the teams on the day. The chief attraction at headquarters was between Old Boys and Kia Ora and- the former had no difficulty' in topping off their dusky opponents in a ganle that did not reach great heights. It was a game played in a carefree style with the Maoris playing unorthodox football. There were plenty of thrills and even if brilliant football was not played, the spectators were treated to a real afternoon's fun by the Maoris, who, with coaching, would develop into a sound side. Several promising players were seen, but they are deficient in the finer points. The curtain raiser was staged by White Star and High School and after a very even "go" Star emerged victors by four points. This game was characterised by a bulldog finish by School who almost pulled'the game out of the fire.

.. THE PRINCIPAL GAME. The teams were:— Old Boys (white) : Deane, Fallows, A. Jamieson, W. Crosbie, G. D. Lawrie (capt.), C. Lawrie, Hogan, Pollock, Wilkinson, Wright, Gardiner, Keane, Dunk, Parton, McDowell. Kia Ora (maroon): S. Broughton, M. Rangi, T. Downs, E. Sullivan, W. Rangi (capt.), G. Graham, S. Rangi, G. Williams, Coffey, Walker, J. Horo, D. Happi, J. Kani, B. Wharerangi, M. Napier. • G. Lawrie kicked off and the Maoris immediately took play to their opponents' territory where G. Lawrie and 'then C. Lawrie drove them back to half way where Kia Ora backs opened up but the movement broke down by faulty handling. C. Lawrie took adVantage of a mistake when the Maori backs were indulging in another passing bout, made an opening and handed the ball on to G. Lawrie. who transferred to Fallows, and the latter had too much pace for Broughton and went over for an easy try, with several men in readiness to take the reverse pass. C. Lawrie failed. Old Boys . . .... 3 Kia Ora 0 Both sides were throwing the ball about but the reds gained very little ground, and many movements, promising at the outset broke down through mishandling. Old Boys' wings, Falllo'ws and then Crosbie, were held up close to the line after the chain had handled. Old Boys were on attack when W. Rangi, the Maori skipper, broke away with ball at toe. He kicked hard past the white full back, but Deane saved nicely by lining .it the twenty-five. The Maoris, by their bustling tactics, .and quick, but wild passing, were providing Ihrills aplenty. The white forwards invaded red territory but a free to the reds saved the. situation. A period of. desultory play followed with Old Boys having the. best of the argument. Although they were facing a trying sun the Kia Ora defence proved impenetrable and half time came with the score, Old Boys .. . . . . 3 Kia Ora 0 The sun was hidden behind a bank of clouds when the teams came out for the second stanza. Old Boys were first to launch an offensive but an infringement held them up and brought relief to the Maoris. G. Lawrie made a wonderful opening for his team, but

| The Score Mounts. j Ids suports ran into trouble, and J. j Kani, ' the big Maori forward, came away with ball at toe but Deane saved. Following a scrum G. Lawrie received the ball and with a sde stepping and sw r erving run scored a briliiant solo try in a handy position but C. Lawrie had left his kicking boots at home. Old Boys 0 Kia Ora 0 McDowell, Pollock and Parton set off in a foot rush to the Kia Ora goat and fumbling by Broughton saw Keane pounce on the ball for a.simple try which was not improved on. Old Boys 0 Kia Ora . . . . .. 0 Old Boys were now settling down to serious ■ football and were almost across twice from handling bouts but sound tackling held them. W. Rangi made a nice opening after his inside backs had handled. He used the stab kick and his forwards set off in full cry for Old Boys' goal, the ball going to 'touch in white territory. The Maori backs had a run from the throw*in but Downs, the centre held on too long and starved his fast wing when there Was a chance to score. A free kick to Old Boys brought relief and in the next instant the whites w T ere within an ace of scoring, but Broughton saved cleverly. ■ For the ' next few minutes the play was exciting, if it lacked-brilliance, ■ with the Maoris throwing the ball about with reckless abandon and in unorthodox fashion. The- Old Boys' backs were opened up by Hogan and the whole chain handled, Fallows going over aphS was'tackled and lost the .ball, w a'force"" resulting. Old Boys thrilled, the spectators again a minute later with a passing, bout in which both forwards and backs participated, buti the defence held at bay. Old Boys were rewarded a moinent later when Crosbie crossed at the corner after a passing rush. The kick was wide.

Old Boys .. ...... 12 , Kia Ora .. ..., . . 0 Excitement Runs High. From a line out, following the kick off bid Boys forwards handled and Pollock went over. | Old Boys . . '.'. "'.'. 1") ; Kia Ora 0 "baby" Kani, the big Maori forward, thrilled the crowd when he bullocked his Way through to Old Boys' 25. The Maori backs opened up and a nice passing bout saw T. Downs score a pretty try i which delighted the Maori supporters and enthusiasm ran high. The kick was wide.. • Kia Ora . .... • • 3 :■ Old Boys. . . ... ~".*. \p ~ ,*jj Old Boys replied with a passing rush, Fallows being forced out at the corner after a brilliant"dash. It was a rfcal sporting game with the Maori supporters roaring" themselves hoarse. Thofre 'was no further scoring, the ganfe ending, ' : ' '''■'■' j Old Boys .:' ■'.. ' ..15 \ Kia Ora : ' .: ..''•' .. 3 ; " Mr G. Torkar was referee. i ■■ "i" ' ' • RAMBLERS 3, PATUMAHOE 0. patumahoe met their Waterloo on Saturday at the hands of Ramblers. A close game resulted in a win for Ramblers by three points (a try by Brown) to nil. Mr P. T. Paterson was referee. JUNIORS AT PLAY. ;i - , jftyHITE STAR BEAT SCHOOL. ~ High School suffered their first defeat this season on Saturday, White Star being their conquerors. The game was evenly contested but during: the dying stages when Stars were four points up, School made a herculean effort to convert defeat into victory and all but succeeded. A "pot" shot at goal just missed and one man dived on the ball for a try but it was in dead ball area and behind the posts. For Star tries were scored by Moffitt (2) and Wright and Hunt kicked a goal from a mark. - For School, Taylor and Hewitt scored, Geoff Chitly converting one. Mr K. Brown was referee. THIRD GRADE GAMES. Wesley College thirds proved too good for High School and romped home victors by 21 points to 4. For College tries were scored by Pita (2), King, Roberts and Papa, the latter converting three. Mi- Wright was referee. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. SOUTH AUCKLAND v. THAMES. The annual representative match, South Auckland versus Thames, will be played at Pukekohe on Saturday. The selectors, Messrs W. J. Short and R. W. Bilkey, have chosen the following to represent South Auckland: — Full back: J. Hira (Franklin).

Three-quarters: M. Stephens (Manukau), M. D. T. Wallers (Pukekohe), Coster (Franklin). Five-eighths: G. D. Lawrie (Pukekohe), J. Wood (Pukekohe).

Half hack: Rae (Waiuku).. Wing forward: B. Guise 'Pukekohe)."

Hookers: R. Fulton (Pukekohe), A. Atchison (Manukau). Lock: E. Lee (Franklin). Sides: Kerens (Waiuku), Stanford (Waiuku).

Back row: Dunn (Manukau), C. Baker (Franklin). Reserves : Forwards: R. Crosbie (Pukekohe), Bush (Franklin). Backs, B. James (Waiuku), E. Movie (Waiuku).

FRANKLIN COMPETITIONS. SATURDAY'S RESULTS. Results at a glance:— Senior: Tuakau 3, Clevedon 3. Bombay 5, Pukekawa 3. Onewhero 6, Te Kohanga 3. Junior: Tuakau G, Clevedon 3. Onewhero 3, Te Kohanga :'>. Bombay 19, Pukekawa 5. St. Stephen's 12, Pokeno 11 Third grade: Tuakau 3, St. Stephen's I 3. TUAKAU AND CLEVEDON DRAW. A drawn game was played at Tuakau on Saturday afternoon between the Tuakau and Clevedon senior fifteens, each scoring an unconverted try. Ideal conditions prevailed and a splendid exhibition was given. The, teams w : ere as evenly matched as was possible. There was little ,pr no difference between the respective packs, although Tuakau had a larger share of the ball in the set scrums, while each possessed a few good backs who overshadowed one another. A close game was anticipated and spectators were not disappointed in this respect. ' The teams were:—

Tuakau (blue and white) : R. Wilcox, Ross, Bell, Cos tor, McGowan, Barnaby (captain), D. Walker, Le P'rou, F. Walker, G. Piggott, D. Fulton, T. Walker, L. Piggott, E. Bush, Currie. Clevedon, (blue and black) : Bell, M. Stephens, Dow, Mainwaring, McGuire. Hammond, Norton, Dunn, Atchison (captain), Ryburn, H. Munro, A. Munro, C. Stephens, Drennan, Waterhouse. Tuakau elected to play with, the wind, and after the usual settling down stages were past, the home team launched an attack which took it into Clevedon territory. The visitors eas-i ed temporarily and M. Stephens carried play further afield with a dribbling rush. Following a line out a scrum was ordered and Tuakau hoo.k : , ed but the backs mishandled, the efforts breaking down.. 'The'blue l&d blacks broke up thejr opponents', attacks and entered their 25 for "the first time... However, the home forwards were not to be beaten so easily and they. launched a hot counter attack. A punt from the ruck fcaw the ball go over the touch line and M. Stephens cleared as he was challenged..- Costar, who took the leather, looked dangerous but he was tackled by several, and in addition his pass out: was too low .for Bell to handleDow found the line at half way. Faulty handling by Mainwaring allowed the hpme forwards, headed by F. Walker and. L. Piggott, to., turn the tables momentarily, but the ' Clevedon forwards rallied to extricate their side from a difficult position. .. .In the visitors' 25 a scrum SJ&.s";' ordered- and D.'■ Walker made 4 ' a gtlaVattempt to go'over by "rabbiting."'- The blue and blacks were -penalised for offside play and Costar missed an «asy kick. Around midfield both teams struggled hard, C. Stephens sending Clevedon into the home citadel. From a line out, after, a cessation in play, Dunn broke - avJaV with the ball at his feet but Wilcox effected a good save by falling oil.the oval. Tuakau replied and Dunn gathered in to send to Norton, who transferred to Hammond, but the fiveeighth fumbled, and in consequence F. Walker frustrated the effort. Although he tried hard to feed Costar he was prevented by spoiling tactics. With the venue of play still in neutral territory, Barnaby put Tuakau on,the attack. Catching Bell out of position, Bush, Barnaby and L. Piggott dived for the ball, the last mentioned touching down. Costar was unable to raise the flags. Tuakau ... ...... 3 Clevedon 0 In Attacking Mood. A punt by Dunn had the effect of inducing Clevedon to attack lustily but Wilcox foiled the challengers by lining at half way. From there play veered across field, and M. Stephens taking the ball on 'the wing put in a run to clear. lie grassed Costar and recovered the ball ; to find touch at half way. Later play saw Barnaby make a dive almost half the length of the Held before he was grassed. A punt by D. Walker, which Bell, the visitors' full missed, put the home fifteen within a few feet of their opponents' goal line. After a sally C. Stephens, Atchison and Dunn eased with a footrush. Excitment ran high when Tuakau regained a similar position. Several thrusts were made, a force being registered.

In the second spell several changes were made in the Tuakau team. Bell was put on the wing and Ross sent to centre. Bush was appointed wing forward and Le Prou put into the pack. On resuming, Norton, secured from the scrum and sent to Hammond., The latter passed to Dow and he gave the hall to M. Stephens, who ran till he was tackled. He in-passed to Dow when tackled, and subsequently Wilcox forced. Although playing against the wind, the home team made.repeated efforts. A scrum saw F. Walker and G. Piggott hook the ball cleanly, and D. Walker, Barnaby and McGowan performed what was expected of them, but the visitors' backs were too sharp. In the blue and blacks' 25, Tuakau renewed efforts and from a five-yard scrum D. Walker, Barnaby and McGowan handled but Dow accounted for the second five-eighth. Waterhouse led Clevedon away, and a free kick gave them a further easement. The home team made another effort and the visitors turned the tables with a break along the wing. A bunch carried the ball over at their feet, Main-

waring being given the credit. Dow's kick hit the- cross bar and rebounded. Clevedon 3 Tuakau 3 In the following few minutes' play Ross endeavoured to "drop" a goal, but he missed narrowly. The game ended with the scores unaltered. Mr Woods was referee. WAIUKU SUB-UNION. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. Results are: ■"'- Senior: Waipipi 15, Aka Aka 3. Otaua 12, City 3. Junior: Waipipi beat Aka Aka. City beat Otaua.