COUNTRY CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22754, 14 June 1937, Page 13

COUNTRY CONTESTS

MATCHES ON SATURDAY SURPRISE AT WHANGAREI HIKURANGI TEAM DEFEATED Rugby football competitions were continued in country centres of the Auckland Province on Saturday afternoon. A surprise was recorded at Whangarei, where the Hikurangi team suffered its first defeat of the season. The following results of matches were forwarded by correspondents of the ITkralt) : Whangarci,—Fine weather attracted a large attendance to Rugby Park, where probably the best senior match of the season was witnessed, Old Boys defeating llikurangi by s points to (i this being the first defeat llikurangi has suffered this season. Owing to llikurangi having previously drawn with City, the result places Old Bo.vs one point in tho lead of Hikurangi. For the winners. Masters at fullback was very safe, while Tapper, who kicked a fine goal, played a sound game at .'entre. Smith, half, and Saul and Skelt'in, five-eighths, played good football. Of the forwards, ' Knew, .Tones, McMaslers and Whiieman were always prominent, but all tho Kick played an inspired game. Codling, half. Gibson. five-eigh'lis, and Campbell, centre, were tho pick of the Hikurangi backs, and Sanft. S. Pomfrett, and J. and S. Brydon played hard football in a good pack. For Old Boys, Smith kicked a penalty goal, and Jones scored at tho corner. Tapper converting with a magnificent kick. Taylor and Campbell scored for llikurangi. Cunningham missing difficult kicks. On No. 2 ground, City. 11. defeated Kia Toa, 0. Maungakaramea had a bye. Juniors: Oncrahi. 8, City, 3. Ihircf grade: Oltl Boys. 0, Hornhora, 0. Fourth grado: Old Boys. If), High School B, 0. Fifth grade: Maunu, 22, Kensington, 3: High School, 22, Hikurangi.

Thames.—Old Boys defeated Physical Training by !) points to 3. The gamo was particularly rough, and three players wero taken to hospital, where it was later reported that they wero progressing favourably. Hayward and Dovell (Old Boys and Physical Training respectively) were ordered off the field. Juniors. Ramblers, 11, High School, 0. Third grade: High School, (>, Old Bo.vs, <>. C'oromandel defeated (ho Thames B team b.v 11 points to 3.

Waikarc.—Seniors: Waerenga. 15, Kangi riri, <); Gienmurray, 12, Ohincwai, (). Juniors: Rangiriri. 12, Ohincwai, Waerenga, 3, Woodleigh, 0.

Manukau Sub-Union. —The second round of championship matches opened under ideal conditions. In the principal match, played at Manurewa, (he large attendance of spectators saw !he best came played within this union in jears. when United defeated Clevedon by t.'i points to 11. C'levedon won almost all the scrums, but the United backs were too fast for their opponents. In the first spell C'levedon looked like going down badly, but after the interval it trot definitely on top, and it v.as really bad,luck tHat, the team lost by a penalty goal right on time. The half-time score was United 10. C'levedon (i, but a converted try shortly afterwards pave C'levedon the lead by one point, and from then until within a minute of time every effort was made by both teams to score. Toward the close United was pressing hard on the C'levedon line when in the tight an infringement cave United a free kick right in front of the coal and Cooke made no mistake. The winner's score came from tries by F. Basham. and Gibbs, Cooke kicking a penalty coal and converting the tries. For C'levedon, S. Smith scored two tries and Halsley one, the former converting one. At Karaka the home team defeated Drury by 1.1 to 0. Both teams were weakened by the absenco of injured players. For Karaka Clint c_M. Mahu and Fulton scored tries, Cunningham converting one. Ararimu played a friendly match against Kingseat, defeating the Hospital by 25 to 3. For Ararimu, Pickard. Brewer, Meyers, and Milne scored tries, J. Pickard and Began kicking field goals, while Pickard also kicked a penalty goal and converted his own try. Juniors: United, 3."">. C'levedon, O.

Paeroa.—Hikutaia proved too strong for Convent Old Boys, winning by It points to I). Although Convent put up a stubborn' fight in the second spell Hikutaia's fast backs wore sound on defence, but mistakes cost them lost opportunities in the first half. C'lotworthy and Robinson scored for Hikutaia. Vedder converted one try and Clotworthy kicked a penalty goal. Fraser and Moore scored for the losing team. West seniors heat Mataura (Wailii) by (> points to Juniors: Hikutaia, 7, West. ;t. The Paeroa and Morrinsville High Schools drew, !) points each.

Putaruru.—Tim failure of the majority o: Putaruru senior players to turn out againsi Tokoroa gave a win by default to the lat ter team. A friendly came, however, was played, in which the Tokoroa forwards, lei by Sneddon, indulged in loose, vigorous play The Putaruru back lino, through the initia tivo of G. Vallance. executed some sustains movements, two tries being gained by tlu ccntre-thrccquarter and wing. The score was; Putaruru, II; Tokoroa. (i. Te Kuiti.—Kobe seniors defeated To Knit at Rugby Park by 17 points to 1 1. In tlit first few minutes 'IV Kuiti clapped on elghi points, but for the remainder of the game the Nclie forwards, hooking regularly and breaking through, gave their side the advantage. M. Noble, the Xelic first five-eighths, broke a bone in his leg.

Hamilton.—An enthusiastic crowd witnessed a hard, clean match at Rugby Park, where Old Hoys defeated Marist by 20 points to :t. The Marist forwards played well and girincd possession in tho scrums much more than their opponents, but tho hacks could not avail themselves of tho opportunities. Best and Belcher did some Rood work in tho Marist pack. Dovi, of Old Bo.vs, played a Rood frame, repeatedly stemming any passing rush on the part of Marist-' hacks by carefully marking Bythell, Marist's first five-eighths, and effecting some solid tackling. Paterson, as fullback for Old Boys, gavo a very creditable performance with sound, effective kicking. Kirkbride again proved himself a good forward for Old Boys, while Lissetle, Gilling and Beid all played well. The teams were keen, and (he spectators' interest was maintained by Marist's repeated efforts to cross the line, and Old Boys' effective passing rushes. .Juniors: Old Boys, 2.5, Railway, (>. Third grade: Frankton, I<>, Old Bo.vs, K; Technical School, 3. City, :i. Fourth grade: Technical Old Bo.vs, 17, Technical School, !); City A, 33, High School, 0.

Cambridge.—Cambridge Stars defeated Te Awamutu at the Square by I t points to 11. The visiting team had by far the better of the forward play, but. Cambridge won the match by brilliant hack movements, in which Kelly, Peake and Holmes were outstanding. Te Awamutu was without Quin, the Waikato representative fallback. For Stars, Peako-, Preece and Watt scored. Holmes kicked a penalty and converted a try. P. Grace, Sutherland and .T. W.vnyard scored for To Awamutu. Bell converted ono try. Juniors: Hautapu, 11, United, <>; Northern, i), Leamington. K. Third grade: Hautapu, 13, United, <>; Leamington defaulted to Northern. Fourth grade: Hautapu, 28, United, 0; Leamington, 11, Northern. 0.

Tauranga.—Tho Jordan Cup match for seniors, between Cadets Old Boys and Matakana, was keenly contested. Half an hour after the start, R. Smith scored for Cadets and five minutes later S. Ellis equalised with a penalty goal. Early in the second half G. McKennio gained a try for Cadets and shortly afterward Poka scored for Matakana. A quarter of an hour afterward J. McNoilo touched down and just on time H. Hay men t ran through from half-way and scored, the game ending:—Cadets, 12, Matakana (>. A match between Maori teams for the Pcina Memorial Shield was postponed. Oliver Cup junior games resulted: —Cadets, 11, Oropi, 0; Judca, 4, Rangataua, 0. Dargaville.—Hard football without brilliance or spark characterised tho meeting of Ruawai and 'Old Boys at .Rugby Park when (he second round of tho Northern Wairoa Rugby Union's competitions was commenced. Two tries wero scored by Ruawai, ono just before half-time, and the second shortly before the final whistle. More finish by Old Boys would have reversed the result of (> points to 0. Playing on its home ground Kaihu had an outing at the expense of Dargaville, romping home a winner by <ll points to 0. Juniors: Dargavillo, 22, Electric, (5. Third grade: High School, 9, Ruawai, 3; Dargaville, S, Kaihu, r>.

Onewhoro.—Juniors: White Star, IS, One whero, 17.

Matamata. —Two keenly contested Karnes were played in the Matamata Rugby Union's competition. Wardville continued to show improved form by defeating Matamata, 13 —11. The winners took the lead early with a try by McKearney. converted by W. Carroll. A try by J. Cole, converted by G. Fitzgerald, evened the score for Matamata. Wardville a train took the lead when Baskervilln scored, for Carroll to convert, making the half-time score 10—In the second half G. Fitzgerald kicked two penalty goals for Matamata, while McLean added to Wardville's total with a try. Hinuera scored a somewhat lucky win over Patetere by 3—o (a try by F. Germann). The tea me was fast and exciting, both sides playing an open type of game. Patetere lost several chances through over-eagerness. Juniors: Ratana. 13, Wardville, 0; Old Boys, :r_\ Patetere, 0; Wairere, <>, Hinuera, 0. Third grade: High School, 11, Matamata, 7; Wardville, 8, United, 8. Te Aroha. —-Waihou had a well-deserved win over the hitherto undefeated City team by 8 points to 0. The game was fast, but of a fairly ragged nature and was dominated throughout by the Waihou forwards, who completely overshadowed the City pack and prevented the. City backs from carryinc out any scoring movement. Tries were scored for Waihou by Pipe and Larsen, Johnson converting one. Two penalty goals were kicked by Maddren for City. The other senior grade match resulted in a win for Ttii Maoris from Old Roys by default. Juniors: Paeroa Convent. Old Roys. 22, City, 8; Manawaru, fi, Waihou, O. Third grade: High School, 8. Waihou, 0. Pukekohe-Waiuku.—Seniors: At Rledisloe Park, Pukekohe. Old Roys beat United by 0 points to 3, while at Rugby Park, Waiuku, Otaua bent Pntumahoe by O points to 3. United Old Boys and White Star are now level in the lead, each with eight points. Juniors: United, 11, Old Boys, O; Patumahoo defaulted to Otaua. Third grade: White Star, 0. Bombay, (). Secondary schools: St. Stephen's \l, 11, Wesley College „\l, 3; St. Stephen's JVI, 20, Wesley College, A2, 0. To Awamutu. —A senior match in the Waiknto Piigby Union's Stag competition. Hamilton Technical Old Bo.vs defeated Te Awamutu Rovers by 23 points to 12. Technical led at the interval by 1.% to O. Its backs were too fast and clever in the first spell, but the Rovers forwards bustled the opposition in the second half and play was more even. In a junior representative match. Waipa defeated Maniapoto by 21. points to 8. Franklin.—Seniors: Onewhero, 10. beat Tuakau, 0. at Tuakau: Rombav, n, beat Pnkekawa. 3. at Te Kohanga. Juniors: Rombay, 20, Te Kohanga, 0; Tuakau. 11, Pukekawa, O. Tn the seniors Bombay is in the lead, with a total of I I points, Onewhero beinir next with 10.

Te Puke. —A representative match was played at Te Puke between Te I l uke and Manukaii. The play was keen from start to finish the Te Puke forwards being very prominent. They kept up a steady attack throughout and, by taking advantage of every opening, they eventually won by 10 points to O. Outstanding players in the To Puke team were Morkel, I,illas and Davses.

Mangatawhirl.—Seniors: Pokeno, 5. Mercer, .3; Mangatangi. 0, Valley, S. Third grade: Pokeno, 10, Onewhero, 0.