MATCHES IN COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 13

MATCHES IN COUNTRY

SOUTH AUCKLAND CONTESTS GAME FOR HODGES SHIELD Rugby matches were continued in various country centres of the Auckland Province on Saturday. The following results were forwarded by correspondents of the Herald: — South Auckland.—Further matches were played in tho South Auckland Rugby Union's inter-sub-union competitions. In the senior A section, • Pukekohe defeated Waiuku at Pukekolie by 13 points to For Pukekohe, Guise scored between ths posts in tho early stages of the game. Loughrin converting. McAlpine secured the second try and Loughrin again converted. Pukekohe, 10, Waiuku, 0, Carter gained another try for Pukekohe beforo half-time, the kick being unsuccessful. Moyle, for Waiuku, then kicked a penalty goal and the final score followed when Waiuku came away and McGregor scored under tho posts. Moyle converted. Playing at Pokeno .Franklin defeated Mangatawhiri by 12 points to 9. Allison drop-kicked a goal for Mangy.tawhiri and Morgan scored and converted. For Franklin, Moore scored three tries and Hewitt on© try. Waikare met Manukau at Papskura, the game resulting in a draw, 8-all. For Waikare, tries were scored by Keith and Miki, Harris converting one. Manukau scores were gained by Sinton, V. Hallowell converting one. In the senior B competition., Franklin won from Mangatawhiri by eight points to nil at Tuakau. At Waiuku, Pukekohe won from Waiuku by nine points to nil. In. the juniors, thj game between Franklin and Mangatawhiri resulted in a win for the former by 39 points to nil. Waiuku beat Pukekohe by six points to three. Playing under tho Franklin Secondary Schools' Athletic Association, Pukekohe Technical High SchooJ defeated St. Stephen's School. Bombay, by three points to nil in tlie senior game, and by six points to nil in the juniors. The matches were played at Bombay. The Waiuku and Papakura Primary School representatives met at Papakura, \Vaiuku winning by nine points to eight. Cambridge.—On© of the most thrilling senior championship finals played in Cambridge for a number of seasons was witnessed by a large crowd, in spite of Bhowery weather, at Victoria Square. United and Hautapu were tho finalists anc a keenlyfought game, full of incident, ended in a narrow win for United by 5 points to 3. In the first minute of the game J 1 "?, y , scored a snap try for HautaiMi lh© first half was stoutly contested, with slight territorial advantage to United. Just beforo half-time M. Hewitt broke away for United land, after runping strongly, he sent t.. I Beer over for a fine try. Hewitt converted. 1 The second half was a torrid period, w uh I the lighter United forwards more than hold- ! ing Hautapu. Instead of trying out its i backs, when they were getting a full share I of the ball from scrums and line-outs, liau- ! tapu elected to keep play tight, and they ! were beaten by their tactics. No score was registered in this half and the game ended with United champions for the 1934 season and winners of the sub-union banner and Hickit Cup. The third grade club final re suited in Leamington beating United by 6 points (two tries) to nil. Junior results:Leamington, 9, Hautapu. 6: Maungatautari. 11, Northern, 3. United defaulted to Karapiro.

Morrlnsville.—The Old Boys' team retained its position as leader in tho junior competition by defeating Tahuna by 11 points to 8. The gamo was very even throughout and afforded much interest to the keen supporters, who were present in spite of heavy rain. The half-time score wns: —Old Boys. 8. Tahuna, 0. Other junior games resulted Eastern Combined, 15. Motumaoho. C. Kereone won by default from United. Te Aroha.—ln a match for the OmekaItatana Cup between tho Te Puke and To Aroha Maori teams Te Aroha took up the aggressive early, but the le Puke forwards swept downfleld and N. Webster scored. Jjoosc play followed and To Aroha got to le Puke territory. Bomaki and Wickliffe worked the play back nnd J. Tuki was called upon to stop a determined Te Puke rush. To Puke broku away and from a merry scramble W. Corbett crossed the line. Home. Webster. Romnki and Kuru were prominent for the visitors, Kuru being collared near the line by Piahana. Not to be denied, however, Te Puke retaliated and Raymond scored. Morgan successfully goaled. Even piny followed, but a dash

for the line saw Raymond again over. From a scramble Te Arolia was awarded a free kick. Turner sent the ball over. Just before the bell sounded Tupai crossed for tho visitors. In the second spell Te Arohiv played up and kept Te Puke busy for a lime, but the latter again assumed tho aggressive, and, from a dashing forward bout. McCabe scored. On resuming Morgan goaled from a penalty. Te Puke again dashed upfield and Corbett scored. Scrambling play ensued and Dufty kicked a penalty goal and then kicked a goal from a mark. Just on call of time J. Webster crossed nnd Morgan registered the major points, the game ending:—Te Puke, 31, Te Aroha, 9. Mr. J. Neil was referee and tho cup was presented to the Te Puk" captain by Mr. R. L. Somcrs. Te Awamutu.—Weather conditions were by no means pleasant for the continuation of tho Waipa Rugby Union's championship games, six matches being played at Albert Park. Rain showers mado the ball greasy and the ground rather slippery, so that piny wos mostly confined to tho forwards. In the senior grade most interest attached to tho meeting of the old rivals. Rovers and Te Awamutu, nnd on this occasion Te Awamutu staged a mild surprise by boating Rovers by 15 points to 3. When it is remembered that To Awomutu was beaten the previous Saturday by Te Knnui by 9 points to 8, this latest win was not anticipated by the spectators. Each team had juniors included and Sutherland and Hutchinson played remarkably well for Te Awamutu, registering tlireo tries. The display was a long way better than in the junior representative game the previous week. Senior results:—Te Awamutu, 15, Rovers, 3: Suburbs, 9, Waikeria, 0. Juniors: Suburbs, 13, To Mawhai, 5; Rovers, 0, Ngatunui, 5. Third grade: Suburbs, 9. High School, 6; Old Boys, 17, To Awamutu. 0. Suburbs' success in the senior grade assures that club of the seasou's championship, with Rovers run-ner-up.

Papakura.—Manukau. present holder of tho, Hodges Shield, played its first representative match on its home ground on Saturday, meeting Waikare at Papakura. This was Waikare's first appearance in these games after an absence of some years. Tho game was particularly even throughout, tho standard of play being good, ending in a draw. 8-all. With a little more luck. Waikaro would probably have been victorious. An outstanding weakness in the Manukau team was the inside backs. Injuries kept prominent members out. of these positions. The half-time 6Core was 5—3 in favour of Manukau, a good try by Sinton being converted by Halliwell. Waikare's try caoio from a forward scramble. In the second half Sinton again scored for Manukau, while Miki Bcored a good try for Waikare, which was converted by Harris. Waikaro had a territoriiil advantage in the lust quarter, but could not finish off its movements. Adams, for Waikare, was the best forward on tho ground, although Sinton. for Manukau, was little behind him, his splendid following up resulting in the two tries he scored. Others prominent for Waikare were Hyde, Harkin, Tonga. Rowo, Ward and Taha, For Manukau Cossey (2) Dow, Ross, Dillon, Halliwell, C. Pickard and Sommerville were always in tho picture. Rangiriri,—The Waikaro Union's senior. B team met the Maungakaramea (Whangarei) team at Rangiriri. Maungakaramea von by six points t.o three after a good game.

Whangarei.—After heavy rain the various playing fields for outdoor sports were somewhat sodden, especially Rugby Park, where the principal Rugby football matches were played. The weather was overcast, and a light cold wind was blowing. There was a good attendance for the chief attraction, which was tho senior championship game between Horahora and Hikuranci, resulting in a win for Horahora by G points (penalty goal by Jones and try by Te Pua), to Hikurangi, 3 joints (try by Griffiths). The game was devoid of spectacular play, and ill this connection the spectators were disappointed. The heavy ground and greasy ball militated against good back play, but not sufficiently to account for the poor display. The game resolved itself into a stern struggle between the forwards, the advantage being slightly with the Horahora team. The Hikurangi team wag not up to its usual strength, although the play of the backs was superior to that of its opponents. In the first half P. Gardner, one of the Horahora forwards, had to retire on account of a leg injury and he was replaced. Although the game was not spectucular, it was interesting as being a hard-fought match, both teams being equal in the competition. Of the Horahora foiwards. Te Paa, Jones and R. Hollows .were very prominent and played splendid games. Of the backs Courtney, Ford and Hollows were outstanding. For Hikurangi Mclnnes, Finlayson and Dickson were conspicuous, and of the backs Lawrie, Cooney and Raisbeck were the most prominent. Lawrie, five-eighths, was the best back on tho ground, and has undeniable claims to representative honours. Other senior results were:—Mangakahia, 6, Old Boys, 3; City, 19. Pipiwai, 3; Maungakaramea, a bye. The positions of tho leading teams in the senior championship competition are as follows:—City, played ten games, leads with 14 points; Maungakaramea, nine games, 13 points: Horahora, ten games, 12 points: Hikurangi, ten games, 10 points. There are still three games to be played. Owing to the representative match played at Dargaville between the Whangarei junior representative team and Northern Wairoa for the Brake Shield, all junior club fixtures were cancelled. The representative match resulted:—Wairoa, 21, Whangarei, 0. The Whangarei team was outclassed on the day's play. Other games played were:— Juniors: Waiotira, 3, Combined Old Boys, Horahora, Public Services, 0. Bantam ecven-a-side: Convent, 3, Whau Valley, 0. Hamilton.—The two lending trams in the senior competition, Frankton and Old Boys, met on Rugby Park, and a close, hard game resulted, Frankton winning by G points to 0. These teams had already met twice during the present season, each side having one win. With 19 championship points Frankton ib now leading the competition, and its chance of proving the winning team is good. Playing conditions at Rugby Park were very bad, the ground be_iug in a quagmire and raiu falling at intervals. Old Boys opened strongly, but after a few minutes Frankton reversed the play and kept up a sustained attack upon the opposing line. This pressure was rewarded when Edwards crossed in the corner. Pratt's k'ck failed. Old Boys rallied, but the greasy ball caused several promising movements to brenk down. Play came back to Old Boys , line, and tho ball was kicked to Heeps, who | went over for Frankton's second try. Pratt failed with a difficult kick. After half-time Old Boys made persistent efforts to score, but they were always turned back by 1 ratt, who was playing a remarkably steady game as fullback. In spite of the greasy brill Barling and Comer handled well for Old Boys, while L. Denz. Snodgrass and ITeeps were prominent in the Frankton backs. In tho second senior game Railway defaulted to Technical Old Boys. Owing to the withdrawal of Horoliu from the competition Marist had a bye. The championship points are now as follows :-Frankton. 17; Old Boys, 18; Mnrist. 12; Technical. 8; Railway. 3. In a curtain-raiser Rotorua High School defeated Hamilton High School by 5 points t° 3 - Opotiki.—Rugby competitions were abandoned on account of wet weather. A Junior trial game resulted: —High School Old Bojs seniors. 12; junior representatives, 11. SOUTHERN COMPETITIONS fBY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] New Plymouth.—Taranaki senior Rugby: New Plymouth Old Boys. 11, Clifton. 8; Star 18, Waimate, 4: Hawera, 6. Opunako. 0- Patea. 9, Okaiawa, 0; Stratford, 23, Inglewood, 0; Tukapn, ?5. Empire Old Boys. 1. ; Kaponga, G, Stratford United Old Boys. 0. Nov/ Plymouth High School defeated le Autc College by 35 points to 4. Wellington.—Saturday's results practically assure Wellington College Old Boys meeting Hutt in tho final. In the senior competition results were:—Hutt. 14. Mnrist., 7; Wellington College Old Boys, IG. Eastbourne, G; Poneke, 19. St. Patrick's College Old Boys, 0; Petone, 12, Athletic, 5; Wellington, 14, University, 10, Second division; Johnsonvillo, 21, Onslow, 0; Miramar, 7. Ponoke, 6; Petone, 16, Oriental, 3; Athletic, 9, Berhampore, G; Wellington. 18, MelrosoSelwyn. 3. Dunedin.— Saturday's sports fixtures were played in drenching rain. Rugby results:— Southern, 8, University A, O: Ivnikorai. 7, Union, 0; Alhnmbra, 3, Pirates, 0; Dunedin, 6, University B, 3; Taicri, 9, Zmgan, 5.