RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES RIVAL DEFEAT WAIMEA AIR FORCE BEAT COLLEGE Competition Rugby games were continued on Saturday in ideal weather. In spite of the past week’s wet weather the grounds were in comparatively good condition. At Trafalgar Park Rival defeated Waimea by 14 points to nil and Air Force beat College by 12 points to nil. Three third grade and two fourth grade games were also played. The primary school seven-a-side was played at the half-time of the Rival - Waimea match. RESULTS The results were as follows: — Senior: Rival 14, Waimea 0. * Air Force 12, College 0. Third Grade: College All. Nelson 9. Rival 11, College B 0. Waimea 9, Old Boys 6. Fourth Grade: College B 13, Waimea 12. College A 14, Rival 6. Bantam-weight Seven-a-side: Tahuna 5. Hampden 0. RIVAL TOO STRONG FOR WAIMEA The game between Rival and Waimea played at Trafalgar Park was fast throughout but neither team showed its best form. The game lacked incident but there were occasional flashes of individual play. A large part of the game was taken up with the packs battling for possession of the ball. There were more individual openings than co-operative attempts in the play of the backs. The two full-backs, Bryant for Waimea and Chapman for Rival, played outstanding games and turned on a fine display of kicking. In the first spell Rival held most of the territorial advantage and although Waimea rallied early in the second spell, all attempts to score failed. Rival’s points came from three tries, two by Dooney and one by Sundborn, and a converted try which Hill scored and Burn converted. The Waimea team was /ortunate in the latter part of the game when Springer and Fowler were injured and forced to retire. The teams were:— Rival: Chapman; Sundborn, Dooney, Samuels; Elkington, Kotua; McKenzie; Gargiulo, Heath, Schwass, Ruruku, Hill, Warren, Winstanley and Burn. Waimea: Bryant; Springer. O’Connor, Hall; Fowler, Langrope: A. Caples, Nock, C. Caples, Thomason, Reay, Berkett, Blackbee and McKenzie. When the game opened the Rival forwards went into attack. Dooney gained possession and tried to make an opening but was forced to pass. O’Connor intercepted and the ball was knocked into touch. McDowell got the ball from a scrum and set his back line in motion but the movement broke down due to inaccurate passing. Schwass kicked deep into Waimea territory. Waimea were penalised but Burn’s kick missed. The Waimea backs went into action again and O’Connor made an opening to Hall but the latter was tackled. Again the Waimea backs attacked but Chapman’s solid kicking j stopped them. Suddenly the Rival forwards started a rush which carried them close to their opponents’ line. McKenzie sent the ball out from a scrum and it was handled to Sundborn on the wing who dived over to score a smart try. Burn’s kick missed. Rival 3, Waimea 0. Rival backs made several openings but infringements spoiled them. Kotua j passed to Samuels and the winger , sprinted away but was tackled. The j ball was nicely taken by Bryant who saved. Points were added to Rival’s margin when Winstanley kicked over* the line. Samuels dived for the ball but missed. A Waimea player tried to force down but also missed, and Hill dived through to fall on the ball and score a try. Burn failed to convert. Rival 6, Waimea 0. Shortly before the end of the spell Kotua broke away with the ball. He was tackled but passed to Dooney, who had followed up, and the centre three- ; quarter sprinted away and ran around to touch down between the posts. Burn j kicked the goal bringing the score at! half-time to: Rival 11, Waimea 0. j Play resumed with the Waimea for- j wards, supported by their backs, making desperate attempts to break through, j Sundborn gained possession and raced ; away. He was tackled and the ball went I out to touch well inside the Rival 10- i yard line. Waimea launched a strong! attack but the ball was kicked over the line and a Rival player forced down. Play was returned to the opposite end of the field where Dooney broke away and kicked over the line but this time Waimea forced. At this point Springer was injured and had to leave the field, being replaced by Smith. The R-val backs made several attempts to brea* through but were frustrated mainly by Bryant’s kicking. Fowler had to leave the field because of injuries and M icGregor, the Waimea coach, went t.n in his place. Elkingtcn got the ball and made an opening but was tackled. Dooney gained possession and dashed over to score. Burn failed to convert. Rival 14, Waimea 0. Waimea attacked and the ball was kicked over the line. McKenzie kicked back and Hall intercepted and attempted a “pot” at goal but missed. Just before the final whistle Winstanley almost scored for Rival. The final score was: Rival 14, Waimea 0. The referee was Mr W. Sexton.