COUNTRY CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22499, 17 August 1936, Page 13

COUNTRY CONTESTS

MATCHES ON SATURDAY HAMILTON DEFEATS THAMES TRIAL GAME AT WHANGAREI Several representative Rugby matches | were decided in country centres of the Auckland Province 011 Saturday afternoon. The following results were forwarded by correspondents of the Herald:— Hamilton—ln a representative match at Rugby Park, Hamilton defeated Thames by 29 points to 3. Possessing faster backs the local team frequently pierced the visitors' defence, the majority of the tries being secured from movements which developed at hallway, or even further back. GriHUhs, 011 the wing, outpaced the opposing backs to score two spectacular tries. In the Hamilton pack J. Best was outstanding, scoring two tries and assisting in other scoring movements. Although the visiting forwards were at a disadvantage in weight they worked strenuously throughout, M. Walene and T. Abraham being prominent. There was a strong wind blowing,. Thames having the advantage of this during the first spell, at the end of which the score was: Hamilton, 8; Thames, 3. Tries for Hamilton were scored by Griffiths (2), tiest ('J), Buick, Nicol and Tristram. Pardington converted four tries. \V. Savage kicked a penalty goal for Thames. In the preliminary match Technical Old Boys' junior team defeated Old Boys' juniors by -Jo points to ». As the result of a game played at Te Kowhai, where To Kowhai defeated Frankton by i) points to 8, threo teams, Prankton, Te Kowhai and Technical Old Boys, have gained equal points in the Hamilton Rugby Union's junior championship. Whangarei.—The final trial of the North Auckland Rugby Union, Northern zone v. Southern zone, was played at Kensington Park, Whangarei, in perfect weather. There was a very large attendance, but tho standard of football, as is usual in such matches, was not particularly good, players not being familiar with their associates. Several of the best players were stood down, as the selectors had advised them that they would bo included in the touring team. The result of tho match was: South, 'JS; North, 11. Tries for South were scored by l'lavell, Snelling, Pranch (3), Osbaldiston and E. Wilson. Stanaway converted one and kicked a penalty goal, while liurlulart converted one try. North's tries were scored by Whiu, McDonald and Blucher. Wliiu converted his own try. In the VVhangarei Rugby Union's senior knock-out competition, City defeated Maungakaramea by S points to G, and by doing so won the competition.

Manukau Suli-Union.—The senior representatives journeyed to Te Aroha and played a drawn game against the elect of the hot springs district. The game was played under ideal conditions beWro a large attendance. The play was most even throughout. Manukau's score came from a try by Picard, while To Aroha equalised matters by kicking a penalty goal just before half-time. The second half was keen all the way, and no further additions to the score resulted. In the first game of the season for the Stevens' Cup at Drury the home team held on to its coveted trophy by defeating Manurewa by 17 points to !). For Drury tries were scored by J. Aitkenhead R. Jloult, It. Wade and J. Glasgow. Aitkenhead converted one of his own tries. For Manurewa tries were scored by Hawkins and Forster, Hawkins kicking a penalty goal. Helensville. —The semi-finals for tho Cheshire (.'up, senior grade, resulted in two good scoring games. The match between Parakai and Silverdalo was very one-sided and did not produce many good efforts. Parakai won by 14 points to 0. Early in its game with Kaukapakapa, Helensville secured three points from a try by Lodge and held this margin until after half-time, when the'better Kaukapakapa backs scored 19 points in 30 minutes from tries by Bore, Jordan, Majhi, Tucker and Hurley, McCalluin and Here converting two of these. The final score was: Kaukapakapa. 1!); Helensville, 3. Technical Old Boys fifth grade lost to a combined High School and intermediate team by fi to nil, the score coming from a penalty goal and try. Matamata.—The Matamata representatives heat a Ponsonby fifteen by 21 to It in a Rugby match played at Bedford Park. Heavy showers made the conditions extremely difficult for good football, the ground becoming very muddy as the game progressed. Matamata had all the better of the first, half, and was first to score, Cole beating the opposition to secure a good try. P. Hawke scored the next try for tho home team, converting it himself, and then W. Brown and T. McLeay combined for the latter to score. Hawke converted. Settle made a good opening to send Oermann over for a try and the halftime score was: Matamata, 16: Ponsonby, 0. The city .team played better in the second half, Knight and Potter beinc: prominent in attacking movements. The latter scored two tries, and was mainly responsible for another, which Burke obtained. Hay converted one of these. Oermann then scored again for the local team, Hawke converting. Ramsay scored the last try of the match for Ponsonby, after a great run by Oooch, making the final score 21 —1-1 in favour of the home team. Third grade (Crystal Cup final): Walton and Wardville drew, with no score. Matamata beat the Walton second grade team, fi—o.

Morrinsville.—The second I'eaco Cup match of the season was played between Morrinsville (holder) and Rotorua (which had eliminated Putaruru, the previous Saturday). As in the earlier challenge match Morrinsville secured an early lead by swift forward movements in which J. and G. Leeson and G. Faulkner were prominent. With thirty minutes of the first spell pone Morrinsville led by 10 points. A penalty goal to Rotorua made the half-time score: Morrinsville, 1(5; Rotorua. 3. Rotorua had all the better of the first, ten minutes of the second spell and three successive attempts at field goals missed, two of them very narrowly. The first score of the half, however, .came to Morrinsville though J. Leeson, who received from W. Cameron. Rotorua retaliated with a penalty goal by T. Sutherland. This was the last score of an even half. It was open football, but full of mistakes on both sides. Rotorua had many chances, faulty handling on the part of the wings nullifying many bright efforts. Morrinsville's points came through tries by 15., G. and J. Leeson, W i 1 1on and G. Faulkner, \V. Cameron and A. J. Aitken each converting a try. Penalty goals for Rotorua were kicked by J. Martin and Sutherland. The outstanding players were G. Muir and M. Lewer, of the Morrinsville forwards, and Sutherland, the Rotorua fullback. Junior championship final: Terriers, 'JO, United 0. The Morrinsville third grade representatives drew with Te Aroha, 3—all.

Paeroa. —The final of the Paeroa Rugby Union's knock-out competition for tho Drysdale Cup, between West and Hikutaia, provided an exciting game. Hikutaia scored first and led at half-time by 3 to 0. West evened earlv in the second spell when Alp kicked a penalty goal. Pennell scored a beautiful trv after a good opening by Carnck. Working the blind side, Gloyn scored again for West. The final score was: West. 9; Hikutaia, 3. The final junior representative match for the Johnston Cup was played at Paeroa when the homo team (holder) successfully withstoood, a challenge from le Aroha, winning by 0 to 3. Paeroa's tries wero scored by Tascoo and Avery, while Phillips crossed tho line for Te Aroha. -ho game was open and fast. The Te Aroha backs were better than those of Paeroa, but the home forwards wero dominating the opposing pack.

Whakatane. —For the first time in three years the Rangitaiki representative Rugby football team was defeated for the re 11 uriiiui-Apunui Shield, victory going to Tauranga, tho score being 10 points to (>. Tauranga's points wero gained by two tries, which wero converted, and Rangitaiki s came as a result of two penalty goals which were kicked by C. Francis. Tho game was very hard and clean and Tauranga's win was justly deserved. Rangitaiki was unfortunate in having four of its main players on the casualty list. The forwards won the day for Tauranga, the backs being weak on both defenco and attack.

Opotiki.—ln a match for the Shalfoon Shield, Opotiki again retained the trophy by defeating Rotorua by 0 points to 3. Rotorua scored tho first try and then Opotiki equalised with an unconverted try and later King scored another try for Opotiki. The home team easily had tho better of play in the second half. Tho senior match between Opotiki and Whakatane resulted in Opotiki winning by 15 points to 0. Morgan kicked four penalty goals for Opotiki and llollis scored an unconverted try.

Dargaville. Northern Wairoa Unions senior competition: Southern defaulted to Kailiu Valley; Ruawai defaulted to Northern Star. This leaves Kailiu Valley ami Star to iiluv off for the championship. Following a draw at Whangarei last week a match was replayed at Rugby Park between Northern Wairoa and Whangarei. It was a closely fought gamo throughout, Whangarei winning by 1L points to 9. After fifteen minutes of mid field play Cossar took the hall from a scrum and passed to Walters and R. Bonner who beat three uJayers and opened JNortiiern' Wairoa's score, following a scrum near Northern Wairoa's line tolling passed to Martin and Gibson, who went over for \Vh<ingarei, making tho half-time score 3 allEarly aftor resumption a penalty try tor holding a player gave Whangarei the lead Martin converted. Northern Wairoa pressed and offsido in Whangarei's twenty-five gave C. Bonner an easy and successful free-kick. A Whangarei forward movement ended in Whitcman scoring a try wide out. Oltsuie gave Northern Wairoa a free-kick in \\uangaroi's twenty-five and C. Bonner raised tho flags.

To Aroha.—Hard play was the feature of the match played hero between the local rep resentatives and the visiting Mnnukau team. After 20 minutes of even piny Manukau worked into a dangerous position and I ickard dived over at the corner. Later To Aroha attacked and Manukau's fullback, Sutton, was caught in possession and penalised for holding the ball. Maloney kicked a goal and equalised the score. The forwards dominated the second half and smothered all attempts at back play. No further score resulted and tho game finished in a draw, 3-all. In the schools' representative game Morrinsville beat Te Aroha by 13 points to 0.

Taupirl.—The Taupirl senior representatives played the Hamilton B representatives at Ngaruawahia, and in a very fast and interesting game were successful by 9 points to 3. The home forwards were superior in the tight play, but, with the exception of one or two, failed to follow up, whereas the visiting pack went up as one man. Rae, Flyn and Look were the pick of a well-balanced set of visiting forwards and Porteous, Goosmam and Broad were responsible for some smart work in the backs. In tho home forwards Taylor, Hood and McNicol worked well, while Robinson, at fullback, O'Jlearn and J. Davis showed plenty of dash on attack and were solid on defence. An opening by B. Davis allowed O'Hearn to score for Tanpiri. Then a good run by Porteous saw him score Hamilton's only points. After some hard forward play near the visitors' line M. Taylor picked up and scored. The best movement of the day started on Taupiri's line, where Engle anil Hood dribbled to halfway. O'Hearn secured and, after he and M. Taylor had each handled several times, the latter scored his second try. Junior games: Kainui, 24, Whitikahu, 0; Huntly, 3, Ngaruawahia, 3.

Thames. —Auckland Suburbs inflicted a severe defeat on the Thames B team, the score being 20 points to 3. The Suburbs backs dominated play right through, although Hamilton and Gray for Thames played well. Auckland's forwards played better in the loose than Thames, whose only score was a try by Gray. Te Awamutu. —Duo to the absence of the Waipa senior representative team at Otorohanga 110 senior game was played locally. Juniors: Te Awamutu, 3<l, Old Roys, 0; Tokainii 3, Ngutnnui, 3. Third grade: Suburbs, 13, Te Awamutu,- 9; Old Boys, 9, High School,

Pukekohe. —Tn a curtain-raiser to the senior representative match between Auckland B and South Auckland, the South Auckland junior representatives defeated the Auckland third intermediate representative team by 20 points to 11. The South Auckland primary schools' representatives won in a match with tho Hamilton primary schools' team by 11 points to 3. Gratitude Cup, for boys up to (Ist 71b: l'ukekohe, 2G, Waikaro, 0; Manukau "3 Waiuku, 0; Pukckohe, 12, Maun kau' 3. Dean Shield, boys under 11 .Years and up to fist 71b: Wajuku, 11, Pukekohe, Oj Manukau, 9, Franklin, 0; Manukau, o, Waikare, 0; Waiuku and Manukau drew, no score.

Rangiriri.—Challenge Cup: Gleumurray, 20, Ohinewai, 9.