SPARKLING RUGBY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4305, 17 July 1950, Page 5

SPARKLING RUGBY

A BRILLIANT DISPLAY

BRITISH ISLES WIN

COMBINED TEAM DEFEATED

Many patrons of Rugby from Thames Valley formed part of the large crowd which on Saturday last attended Rugby park, Hamilton, to witness the match between the touring British Isles team and combined representative team from Waikato-King Country and Thames Valley unions, and despite the muddy condition of the ground were treated to a display of football seen only on a few occasions in a lifetime. The weather held fine during the actual play. It was an attractive sight when the British Isles team in scarlet jerseys and the home team in red, yellow and black, both with white shorts, filed on to the field but at the end of the game the colours were gone and both teams were well plastered with mud.

B. Jones kicked off for the visitors and Kurtovich, in a spectacular tackle, grassed K. Jones, the British winger, to stop a certain try. A few minutes later B. Jones opened the score with a goal from a. penalty kick. A brilliant hip bump by B. Smith, followed by an infield kick put the home team in trouble but Reid at halfback, saved. The crowd was thrilled when the home backs got into action and gained much ground but the touring team’s defence was too sound.

From a line out the ball was shot out to the British Isle backs and K. Jones broke through Kurtovich’s tackle to score an unconverted try.

Mitchell from Waihi was prominent and gained much, ground and Adams at fullback for the combined team managed to, beat the visiting winger and prevent a score. Splendid defence stopped a brilliant British Isles back movement and Kurtovich clearned. The visitors were not to be denied and Willis, halfback, broke from the scrum to cut out several men and score near the posts. J. Marriner from the King Country made a great run but Kyle, Matthew? and Smith in a brilliant movement brought play back into liome territory and Jones finished off with a spectacular try, placing the visitors 14 points in the lead. Marriner was playing a great game and leading some good rushes by the combined team. Shortly after play commenced in the second half Willis, at half, set the visiting backs once more in action and McCarthy went over for a try which Jones converted. Gotz attempted to break through the British Isles defence but cover defence was secure. The crowd was kept continuously on its toes with a series of brilliant and enterprising nfovements by the visitors and it was soon the turn for the centre, Henderson, to add another try which Jones converted, making the visitors 24 points to 0. K. Jones later outpaced all opposition to take the score to 27. The final score came from a scrum, ball travelling out to the wing to Kyle who inpassed to ‘ Nelson who secured a try which Jones failed to convert, making the final score British Isles 30, Combined Team 0. Marriner, Osborne, Nettlingham and Martinovich were seen to great advantage for the combined team of whose backs Reid, Mitchell and Katene were brilliant on defence. Adams at fullback was sound.

For the visitors Kyle and Matthews were outstanding and the rest were too fast and tricky for their opposites.

JUNIOR REP. MATCH

WAIKATO 11, THAMES VALLEY 8 In a game a bright and sparkling Rugby on Rugby park, Hamilton, on Saturday last, the Waikato junior representative team defeated the Thames Valley representative team by 11 points to 8. In the Valley team Green replaced Christensen, who replaced Gallagher, who was unable to play. Diggleman for the Valley opened up play with a brilliant run and nearly scored. After 10 minutes of play Wilson, after a fast follow-up, scored for Waikato and Clarke converted. Harvey and Green were prominent for Valley. Then came a grand try by Kirk for Waikato who beat all opposition to cross the line and score placing Waikato in the lead by 8 points to 0 after 20 minutes of play. J. Rawson from Hauraki Plains intercepted a pass, kicked from halfway to follow up and score a brilliant try by outpacing all opposition. Diggle-

man converted. Waikato 8, Valley 5. Thames Valley launched several determined attacks and just failed to score on more than one occasion, R. Scully of Te Aroha doing great service for the Valley. Thames Valley was penalised in front of the goal posts and Clarke added three more points for Waikato. Blakewell was prominent in a 'dribbling rush and Rawson just failed to score after a nice back movement by the Valley.

Scully made another brilliant run for the Valley but was grassed after gaining 25 yards and a few moments later was nearly over for a try. From a penalty Diggleman added three more points to the Valley score: Waikato 11, Thames Valley 8. The last period of the game saw the Valley handling and passing well and the game was full of incident and thrills but time was called with the score unchanged. Waikato 11, Valley 8. « . . . ..

Gubbins, headmaster at the July meeting of the school committee. A certain amount of wire, gravel and cement was required to complete the work and Mr Gubbins asked that he be given authority to make the necessary purchases. The committee gave the ncessary authority to Mr Gubbins to make the purchase of the required materials.