COUNTRY RUGBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19697, 25 July 1927, Page 13

COUNTRY RUGBY.

MATCHES ON SATURDAY.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. The country Rugby competitions were continued in most parts of the Auckland Province on Saturday. Three senior competition finals were played at To Aroka, Matainata and Paeroa. Four> representative matches were also decided. Taihape gained a onepoint victory over Wanganui, and Taumarunui defeated Ruapehu. Rotorua, holders of the Te Hurinui Apanui Memorial Shield, suffered defeat by the Te Puke representatives. Putaruru beat Matainata. Following are the results:— Hamilton.—Junior Grade: Horotiu defeated City by 3 points to 0. Third Grade: Marist, G, v. Old Boys, 3. Fifth Grade: Marist, 17, v. High School C, 0; Technical Old Boys, 12, v. High School B, 0. Thames High School A defeated Hamilton High School A by 11 points to 3; Hamilton High School B, 11, v. Thames High School B, 3. Taumarunui. —Under good weather conditions on the local Domain on Saturday Taumarunui defeated Ruapehu in a representative match by 11 points to 6. The game was fast and spectacular throughout. B'or Taumarunui Faiwasser (2)and Haddon Bcored tries, Barnet converting one. For Ruapehu, McLeod Bcored a try, which Garmondsway converted. Te Aroha.—Tho final of the senior championship between Terriers and Springs vas played on Saturday and resulted in a drawn game, 3 all. Springs had the better of tho play, but the greasy ground militated against good back play. McQuarters scored a try for Springs and Gemmell ono for Terriers. Mr. Manniz, Waihi, controlled tho game. Matamata.—ln a representative match Putaruru defeated Matamata by 15 points to 9. Senior club final: Walton, 11, v. Patetere, 0. The Matamata junior representatives beat Putaruru by 6 points to 3. Third Grade: Wardville, 3, v. Patetere, 3. Waihi.—Seniors: Matarau, 5, v. Waikino, 0.

Te Awamutu.—The Waipa Rugby Union's senior and junior championship competitions were continued on Saturday. At Albert Park, in the senior grade, Parawera defaulted to United, and Te Awamutu met Rovers. One of the keenest matches this season resulted and Te Awamutu won by a penalty goal, kicked by Winter, to 0. Rovers had all tho better of the final half. Mr. Crump was referee. In a junior contest Puahue defeated Parawera by 11 points to 3. A third grade match between Ohaupo and Korakonui ended in favour of the former by 14 points to 0. Tauranga.—The Tauranga Rugby Union's competitions were continued on Saturday afternoon in fine but dull weather. In the senior grade Te Puna defeated Rangataua by 11 points to 3. Two matches were played in the junior competition and resulted as follows:—Rangataua, 12, v. Matakana, 8; Judea, 14, v. Cadets Old Boys, 0. In tho schools' competition for tho McKenzie Shield Ponies defeated Pirates by 3 points to 0. Te Puna defaulted to Poneke. The Rotorua High School Rugby fifteen played a match against Tauranga High School. The game was fast and spectacular, Tauranga winning by 12 points to 6. W. Tata (2), W. Findlay and R. Meadows scored tries for Tauranga. T. Anaru scored a try for Rotorua, and A. Mitchell kicked n. penalty goal. The final of tho senior Rugby competition on Saturday was won by West, which defeated Suburbs by 6 points to 3. Taihape.—The annual Rugby representative match between Wanganui and Taihape was played at Taihape on Saturday in the presence of a large crowd of spectators, including a fair number of enthusiasts from Wanganui. The weather was ideal, but the ground was on the heavy side. A fast and exciting match was won by Taihape by 12 points to 11. The first spell was very even, both sides scoring a try each. The second half was in favour of Taihape, which scored three more tries and was attacking when time was called. The place-kicking of the local side was poor, none of the tries being converted. In the second spell Wanganui scored a try, which was converted, and also kicked a penalty. Tho tackling of the local team was exceptionally good, and caused many of the Wanganui passing rushes to break down. Play had not been long in progress before Taihape set up a strong attack arid a smart passing rush among the backs culminated in Harrington getting over in the corner. Leahy failed to convert. Soon afterwards Wanganui rushed nlay into the opposition territory, and, after evading a tackle from Lewis, Cameron crossed in the corner. The try was not converted. Taihape, 3; Wanganui. 3. Halftime sounded with no alteration to the scores. The opening exchanges in the second spell were of a very even naturo until the visitors rushed play into their opponents' twenty-five, where the local team was penalised and Carlson kicked a goal. Wancanui, 6; Taihape, 3. After this reverse Taihape attacked strongly. Sznith gained possession and scored a brilliant tiy, which Leahy failed to convert. Taihape, G; Wanganui, 6. A smart passing movement among the visiting backs resulted in Vangioni scoring a brilliant try under the posts. Carlson had no difficulty in converting. Wanganui, 11; Taihape, 6. A determined effort on the part of the local players to make up the leeway _ resulted in Smith scoring another try. which McDonnell failed to convert. Wanganui, 11; Taihape, 9. The local team kept up the pressure and good work amonsr tlie backs enabled Harrington to touch down. Bellis failed to convert, and the game ended:— Taihape. 12; Wanganui, 11. Mr. R. C Ongley was referee. Rotorua.—ln a match for the Te Hurinui Apanui Memorial Shield, Rotorua, holders, was defeated by Te Puke, challengers, after a very hard game, by 9 points to 3. In a junior curtain-raiser City, 10, beat Waikiti, 5.

Cambridge.—The Rugby competitions wore continued on Saturday afternoon in fair weather. An A and B senior trial game was played and resulted in a draw, 6 all. Juniors: Leamington, 3, v. City, 0; at Tauwhare, Hautapu defeated Tauwhare juniors in the last minute of the game by 11 points to 10. Third Grade: Leamington, G, v. City, 3. Opotiki.—The Rugby competitions were continued on Saturday in very cold weather. Te Huia met with its first defeat at the hands of City, last year's champions, by 8 points to 5. Country easily defeated Kutarere by 13 points to 0. The latter team has not yet had a win. In the junior competition Kutarere beat City by 19 points to 9, this being City's first defeat. Country beat Te Huia by 14 points to 6. Dargaville.—No senior matches were played in the Northern Wairoa senior Rugby competition on Saturday Juniors: Ruawai, 6. v. Puke B, 3: Tangowahine defaulted to "United; Dargavillo forfeited to Southern. Third Grade: Dargaville, 14, v. High School Old Boys, 4.