Football

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1239, 17 July 1947, Page 8

Football

SENIOR RUGBY

UNITED v. TOKOROA In a hard and fast game played at Tokoroa on Sunday, Tokoroa narrowly defeated United by eight points to five. United kicked off with the sun behind them and were soon pressing Tokoroa. Play was held in the home team’s' territory for some time, relief being obtained by a drop-out. For the next 15 minutes play moved up and down the field, with both sides throwing the ball about. Tokoroa gained the first points when they obtained a try from a loosei scrum. The kick failed. Tokoroa 3, United 0. For the remainder of the first spell United were attacking, but Tokoroa were sound in defence, so halftime came with no change in the score. On resumption play continued fast with both teams making the best of every opportunity. Play kept moving about the field until well on into the spell, when United gained the ball from a set scrum in Tokoroa territory for them to score near the post. The kick went between the posts. United 5, Tokoroa 3. For tha latter part of the game play slowed up a little but was still hard, with Tokoroa having slightly the better of the game. In the last few minutes United wera pressing Tokoroa when the home team obtained the ball for them to go over the line. The try was converted. The final whistle went immediately afterwards, the score being Tokoroa 8, United 5. Mr. A. Hurst ably controlled the game. Maich and Gilbert scored the two tries for Tokoroa, Hurst converting one. Carpenter scored for Putaruru, Brunton converting. There was very little between the teams throughout play. In the backs Putaruru were the better. Carpenter and Olsen played fine games. Putaruru forwards were very even with Me Curran and Stevenson catching the eye most. There was a similar evenness among the Tokoroa backs, with none outstanding. As usual Tokoraa forwards played well. Douglas was outstanding, doing Trojan work throughout. MARAETAI v. FOREST PRODUCTS Forest Products drew with Maraetai, six-all, in they main game at Tokoroa on Sunday. The game was a real good one and the try which gave Forest Products the draw was scored in the last minute of play. Tha score gave a fair assessment of the respective teams on the day’s play. jFtor Maraetai, Jones scored a try. and Riclcett kicked a penalty goal. Wikir.aru scorcid for Forest Products and Petley kicked a penalty. The outstanding players' for Maraetai were Jones, Fitzgerald and Mason in the forwards, while Robinson and Fisher played well in the backs. Maraetai would have been in a bad way without Jones. He worked hard throughout and mronopolisad the ball in the linesout. For Forest Products the best backs were S'torer and Dehar, while Smith and Newdiclc led the pack. POSITIONS OF TEAMS With the second round ended the positions of the teams are:—

JUNIOR RUGBY Cambridge v. Putaruru In a junior representative game played at Karl’s Paddock, Cambridge outclassed Puta-uru to win by 18 points to five. For the first half hour of the game neither team displayed any dash and the play generally lacked enterprise. Thei’e were too many loose forwards in the Putaruru pack and, with the exception of Birse, Bayly and Woodgate, they lacked the necessary fitness for a hard game. Sullivan’s hooking was very weak, and Marsh, on the side of the scrum, was too often offside. The Putaruru backs did nc-t see much of the ball, and 'though they made seme good runs,

never locked really dangeTUS. F. McCunran, as fullback, seldom attempted to field the hall on the full, with the result that Putaruru were often in difficulties. Later Deans replaced MoCurran, but his handling, too, was graatly at fault. The game opened with Putaruru .forwards taking play to Cambridge territory, but it was not long before Cambridge were away, and from a penalty in a handy position Hjorth goalod. Cambridge 3, Putaruru 0. Play hung around midfield for a time until Burke received to centre kick and a promising movement was spoiled when Deans knocked on. IFrom two penalties in quick succession to Putaruru, first Deans and then Haworth missed the kick. Cambridge returned to the attack and were awarded a penalty just inside the halfway from which Fletcher kicked an axcellent goal. Cambridge 6, Putaruru 0. Putaruru at this stage livened up and with a great rush, in which both backs and forwards took part, carried play to Cambridge twentyfive. The backs were away and Dunn just failed to cross the line. Then the forwards took a hand, Graham crossing the line but was recalled for a forward pass. Putaruru kept up tha pressure and both Dunn and' Deans missed with penalties. Half-time sounded with the score: Cambridge 6, Putaruru 0. 'Cambridge were awarded two penalties in the first couple of minutes of the second spell but were unafola to open their account. It was not long, however, when Cambridge started a good movement from which Fletcher scored in a handy position, but was unable to add the extra points. Cambridge 9, Putaruru 0. Putaruru at this stage were playing with mere dash and twice were nearly over. From a ruck on the Cambridge twenty-five Haworth sent the ball to Hardy who sent on smartly to R. MeCurran, the latter with a dazzling run leaving the opposition standing to score near the posts for Haworth to convert. Cambridge 9, Putaruru 5. Putaruru held a territorial advantage for some time, but Cambridge forced them back with good line kicks, the backs opening up play for Hunt to score, the kick failing. Cambridge 12, Puitaruru 5. 'Cambridge were soon back on the attack and were now definitely on top, the backs particularly showing to advantage, handling the ball in good style, Plaugh finishing off one good move with a try which Fletcher was unable to convert. Cambridge! 15, Putaruru 5. Shortly before time sounded Fletcher kicked a goal for Cambridge, making the final score Cambridge 18, Putaruru 5. The gama was well controlled by Mr. A. Hughes, of Matamata. WAIKATO TEAM CHOSEN Game Against King Country Mr. A. L. Thomas, sole selector, has chosen the following t:am to -represent Waikato against King Country at Te Aiwamutu on Saturday:— Fullback; T. Bremer. Threequarters: R. J. Steele, V. Crawford, D. S. Enscr. Five-eighths: C. R. Brunskill, A. Hardy. Halfback: V. Tyrrell. Back row: R. Fletcher. Middle row: R. Clarkin, G. Lecson, R. Hinton, K. Arnold. Front row: A. Arnold, E. H. Catley, V. A. Ensor. Reserves: Backs, T. Lithbow, R. Whitehead, V. Miller; forwards, D. B. Johnston, K. Drabble. PEACE CUP RETAINED Te Aroha Defeated M&rrinsville representatives on Saturday successfully defendod the Peace Cup for the first time this season, defeating Te Arolia by 22 points to eight after a game which was always fast and interesting. At halftime the scores were, throe all—a penalty goal to Te Aroha, and a try to Morrinsville —but thereafter the Mcrrinsvillji forwards played exhilirating football, twice sweeping almost the length of the field for typically forward tries. They played the kind of football which won the Peace Cup, and which kept the large crowd of spectators simmering with excitement..

Dospite the wet and heavy hall Morrinsville backs; adequately served by A. Bain from the base of the

scrum, played enterprisingly, and thoroughly deserved the three tries which capped their efforts. Te Aroha well led by C. Dwight, were responsible for a fine showing until half-time, at which period’ of the game many visitors considered 'the challengers had the game in “the hag.” But in the second spell they wore clearly outplayed Iby the Morrinsville eight. The visiting hacks revealed nil abundance of speed and talent, but in their efforts to penetrate found MoprinsviHe’s tr.rk’-ing too solid.

Mangvakino P W . S 7 D 0 Li 1 Ch Pts 14 Tokorca . . . 8 6 0 2 12 Maraetai . . , . 8 3 1 4 7 Putaruru . . . . 8 3 0 5 6 I'\ Products . 8 0 1 7 1