RUGBY FOOTBALL

Northern Advocate, 21 June 1926, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WHANGAEFT UNION MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIOR GRADE. Maungakaramca 14, Kamo 5. Hikurangi 16, Mangakahia 3. JUNIOR A GRADE: Towai 3, Waitoti nil. Old Boys 21, Parua Bay 4, Kamo 20, Hikurangi 3. JUNIOR B GRADE: Portland 12, High School nil. Maungakaramca defaulted to Hora Hora. THIRD GRADE: ' YIM.C.A. 22, Parua Bay nil. Old Boys 14, High School B nil. • High School A 11, Hora Hora nil.

Of the nine matches played on Saturday in the Whangarei Rugby Union’s three grade competitions, six were contested on grounds at Kensington Park, where for tho first time this season both senior games were staged. The weather was fine and there was a very fair attendance of the public, principal interest being taken in the match between Maungakaramca and Kamo, while the junior game between High School and Portland amply repaid those who wont to the Park early enough to watch it. Results of play did not affect the leadership in any of the sections, but by defeating Kamo, Maungakaramea has gained a position from which the premiership is within reach. At Whakapara, Towai, which leads

>» tin- A eject Inn of tlu 1 junior competition, just managed to retain that position by defeating Waitoti by throe points to nil. Portland beat High School for tire third time in the B Section and appear likely winners of that division. In The third grade Y.M.C.A. had an easy win at Onerahi against Parua Bay. A HARD STRUGGLE. As was anticipated, the senior match between Maungakaramca and Kamo was chiefly a battle between two good lots of forwards, with little between them except that the Morrissey brothers secured the ball most often from the scrums, and enabled Smith to set the slightly better Maungakaramca rearguard combination on the offensive. The pace was fast, tho handling fair, and correct tackling the weakest feature of the game. The Maungakaramca forwards were a more even lot than the Kamo pack, in which B Finlayson and Bowman were the stars, although B. Clot worthy, A. Finlayson and Dennehy were often conspicuous. Tom O’Shea, Bain Finlayson and Crawford were tho principal trio in. the opposing forwards, while Jones, J. Lift and (Smith, at half, were the best players amongst the Maungakaramca backs. Kamo were unfortunate in having to take McLeod to centre instead of retaining him in tho vanguard. He strengthened tho backs a lot, but his proper place is in the third row of the scrum. McDonald and K. Ridings gave very satisfactory exhibitions, while A. Ridings showed that he has not weakened in his ability to get his kick in when on the defensive. The teams were as follow: —

Maungakaramea. —Full-back; E. McLean; three-quarters: Paki, J. Litt and F. O’Shea; five-eighths: P. Jones and E_ O’Carroll; half: G. Smith; rover: S. Crawford; back row: Bain Finlayson and J. Pitman; second row: T. O’Shea, A. McKinley and White; hookers: P. Morrissey and M. Morrissey.

Kamo.—Full-back; A. Ridings; threequarters: J. Beeline, D. McLeod and T. Puriri; five-eighths: K. Ridings and M. McDonald; half: E. Miller; rover: A_ Sowman; back row: W. McQueen and.B. Clotworthy; second row: B. Finlayson, J. Dennehy and A. Finlayson; hookers: C. Dent and G. Dent.

shortly after the commencement the fast following up of the Manugakaramea forwards resulted in A. Ridings clearing kick being smothered, but the ball went into touch. After that there was a term of even and hard battling between the forwards, until Sowman got away to the Maungakaramca end with one of his characteristic efforts. Crawford handled the ball when offside and McLeod essayed an unsuccessful penalty kick. McLean on two occasions fumbled, and at the second K. Ridings smothered his attempts |to clear. The forwards packed round and from the ensuing scramble Bunny Finlayson crossed. McLeod added the extra points.—Kamo 5, Maungakaramen nil. Within tho next two minutes retaliation was effected. Paid sent the ball to Litt, who after a short dash transferred to P. Jones, who scored a spectacular try from beyond tho twenty-five. Crawford failed j to add the cvcning-up points. —Kamo i 5, Maungakaramca 3. When Litt had | gone through again well, A. Ridings made a splendid save, after which the Kamo forwards charged down the field, B. Finlayson and Bowman at their head. The latter was unable to reach tho leather at the critical moment and Smith effected a good save. Just before the end of the quarter J. Litt was sent away by Paki and neat reverse passing was followed by the Maungakaramea forwards making a determined assault on the Kamo line, Crawford especially being to the fore. After changing ends McLeod defended well when Jones reached him after a nippy rush. Smith created a good opening and passed out to Paid, who sent the ball back to Crawford, a strong assault resulting but being repelled by the dual efforts of Puriri and Bowman. The sun troubled the Maungakaramea backs and by high kicking tactics Kamo Tcept their opponents defending for some minutes. Thou ensued a period of hard play in midfield, confined chiefly to the forwards. At one stage a serum took place almost on the Kamo line, but the ball was mishandled by tho attacking backs, and Kamo got out of difficulties. Just before tho interval Sowman got away up the side line and he was collared by McLean when he had reached the last line of defence. In the third spell the sun against them was a distinct handicap to Kamo, and early, when it had hindered McLeod from fielding the ball, B. Finlayson forced. By well judged cut- 1 ting-in and dummy passing Jones was responsible for Paki getting past Beohrc, and Manngakaramaa maintained tho pressure for several minutes until the combined efforts of the Dent brothers removed activities to midfield. Crawford had a long range penalty shot, the ball going under the bar. However Maungakaramea attacked again and the ball was passed out to .1. Litt who crossed in a handy position, enabling Crawford to convert the try.—Maungakaramea 8, Kamo 5. By opening up play more amongst tho backs, Maungakaramea’ fared better at this stage, and after a possible further try had been lost through a knoek-on, Crawford missed with a penalty shot from near the quarter flag. Tho leaders however had the better of play until the change round.

The final quarter was opened by the Maungakaramiea forwards going up in a good rush, from ■which P, Morrissey scored. The attempt by Crawford to convert was unproductive.—Maungakaramea. 11, Kamo 5. From then on the leading team had the result safely in their keeping, and after some forward play and exchanges of kicking which swayed the game in neutral ground, Jones got possession, and after gaining ground passed to J. Litt, who transferred to Paki to cross. Crawford failed with the kick.—iMaungakaramea 14, Kamo 5. During the remaining four minutes, play was generally confined to long kicking, and there were a number of breaches committed. White marked and just failed to increase the score, the game ending: Maungakaramea 14, Kamo 5.

Mr Dingle controlled the game and gave general satisfaction.

HIKURANGI v. MANGAKAHIA. The public did not patronise the game between Hikurangi and Mangakahia played on No 2 ground at Kensington Park to tho same extent as they did the Kamo v. Maungakaramea contest. Tho reason for this was that it was generally expected that the fast Hikurangi combination would triumph over the country team by an appreciable margin. However, the absence of Joe Hamilton somewhat disjointed the Hikurangi back division, which wtere not nearly as prominent as usual, and it was mainly due to tho hard working pack of forwards that Hikurangi was able to account for Mangakahia by tho substantial score of 16 to 3. Mangakahia showed itself to bo a much improved team, at present laekiug onlv the necessarv cohesion among tlie backs to rank on a level with some of the other senior teams. Percv Tavlor, who wan until re-

eently played in the three-quarter lino, clonionvfitori that the chan/re to his old position ns full-hack was amply justified. His exhibition was an oxeolleilt ono. The toams took the Hold ns follow:

Hiknraiurk —Hull-hack. Af. Melnnis: throe-quarters, A. Hamilton, Cl. Iverr

•Mid T. Berehan- five-r ichths. A. Findlav and C. O-riffen: half, E. Cunnincfham; rover, 11. ArneM; hack row, A

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Gunn bighorn and G. Martin; second row, E. Taylor, A. Wells and P. Hart; hookers, F. Rusk and D. Ross.

ilnngakahia.—Full-back, I’. Taylor; three-quarters, R. Curry, G. Alexan-

der and C. A. Elsby; five-eighths, 11. Saunders and N. Hartley; half, S. Foolc; rover, A. Pollock; back row, Williams and Tawhai; second row, Dunn, H. Gurry and Roan; hookers, 11. Rika and G. Ruddle.

Mangakahia stayed an early Hikurangi offensive, and soon were pressing hard, Findlay being forced to kick into the dead ball lino, to avert the danger. The country team kept up a more or less continuous attack until near the end of the quarter, when Hikurangi traversed matters, and an infringement by the defenders gave Kerr a chance to open Hikurangi’s account. He availed himself of the opportunity by a good kick, making the score at the close of tho quarter, Hikurangi 3, Mangakahia nil.

Hikurangi maintained the advantage in tho second quarter, 'and shortly after the commencement Mangakahia forced. Berghan showed himself a very hard man to tackle, and nearly dodged over the line as the result of a tricky solo effort. Some long kicks brought temporary relief for Mangakahia, and Taylor made a good attempt to drop kick a goal from quarter way, but just missed and a force down resulted. However Hikurangi were not to be kept on the defensive long. Kerr made a clean breakaway, put in a strong run, and passed to Findlay, who streaked past throe opponents to touch down between the posts. He converted the try. Hikurangi 8, Mangakahia nil. The Hikurangi forwards were working well together, and Wells neatly intercepted, but he was pushed out at tho corner. Hikurangi continued to keep the defence busy, and a strong dribbling rush resulted in a scrum opposite tho goal posts. The ball came out on the i Mangakahia side, when had the re-1 verso been the case a score might J have resulted. From the quarter way kick Mangakahia rushed play into their opponents territory, where Taylor secured to put in a splendid swerving run until he was well grassed by Mclnnes. Play was dangerously near the Hikurangi line when the half time wdustle sounded.!

After the respite Hikurangi asserted themselves, and Taylor in defence was collared in possession over the line. A Mangakahia player picked the ball out of the resulting scrum, and Findlay made no mistake with the penalty. Hikurangi 11, Mangakalua nil. Play then evened up considerably and the only incident before the end of the quarter was a fine run by Kerr. Taylor proved verv safe in defence.

Mangakahia assumed the ascendancy at the commencement of the last quarter, until a strong Hikurangi dribbling rush changed the -venue. From a serum a short distance out B. Cunningham dashed over. Findlay converted. • Hikurangi 16, Mangakahia nil. Play had livened up a good deal, Mangakahia doing more than holding their own. Saunders, who marred a very sound exhibition by attempting the short punt too frequently, put in a tricky •run, which gained considerable ground. This advantage was maintained, and Pollock secured, put in a strong dash and crossed. Taylor failed to improve. Hikurangi 16, Mangakahia 3. Several times in. the closing stages Mangakahia were unlucky not to add to their scoring account. An attempt by Taylor to add to tho Hikurangi total by potting a goal was unsuccessful, and there was no further score. Mr A. Martin refereed the game.

JUNIOR - MATCHES. The High School team were up against a much heavier combination than their own when they met Portland on the No. 1 ground. That told the tale towards the end, especially as the representatives of the cement industry showed up well when they threw the ball about amongst a good, fast and heavy set of backs. Theii handling and fielding were distinctly good, and the value of practice was clearly evident. The School team gave a better display than on the previous Saturday, D. McKay, Byrt at half, and Hardie in the forwards, playing especially well throughout. In the first quarter Karnac gathered in the ball as the School’s full-back dropped it and drew first blood for Portland. From then on until the interval there was little between the teams, the game being fast and spectacular Shortly after half-time Flesher raced, across after a bout of neat passing by the Portland backs. There was no addition to the score until the last quarter. McKay was dragged down a yard from the Portland line when he seemed likely to open the scoring account for High School. For a time the pace continued very hot, but towards the end the School tired, and P. Colvin scored, followed by a fourth try by Burkort, who got across from a rush of forwards just on time, Portland winning by 12 points to nil. Maungakaramea forfeited to Hora Hora in tho B Section, in which only the one game was played. j Old Boys had the better of the match ! in the other division against Parua Bay, for whom Penny potted a goal from the field. The down-harbour men wore beaten by 2.1 points to 4, the trygetters for the winners being Potter, R. McPlioe, McDonald (who converted two) ami Collins (two trios and one \ conversion). |

i'laying at Kamo, tiitj local roam beat Hikurangi by 20 points to 3, while at Wlmkapara, tlio Towai combination scored a narrow win from the hefty Waitoti team by 3 points to nil. THIRD GRADE. Olil Boys put up 14 points to 3 against High .School B in the third grade. For the winners Mangon (two), Webster and Dool (one each) scored trios, Doci converting one, while Morrish scored for the School. >

For High School A, Hcwin scored two tries and converted one, and Fraser gained a try in .the game against Hora Hora, whose account remained at zero.

At Onerahi, the Y.MC. A. team had another easy win, beating Parua Bay by 22 points to nil.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. P. W. L. D. F. A. P. Old Bovs ... 0 4 0 2 123 37 10 M’lvaramea 7 4 1 1 5D 25 <) Hikurangi .. (i 3 1 2 C7 34 S 7 2 o 1 65 103 5 Maugakalua 7 0 7 0 29 145 0