RUGBY GALA

Southland Times, Issue 21821, 26 September 1932, Page 8

RUGBY GALA

GALBRAITH BENEFIT PIRATES BEAT OTAGO UNIVERSITY VETERANS ON PARADE Saturday’s benefit' match and parade at Rugby Park proved to be a fitting wind-up to a successful season in Southland Rugby. The idea of infusing a little of the gala spirit into the afternoon had its compensations, ana in addition to the bright exhibition of Rugby provided by the champion club teams of Dunedin and Invercargill, the large crowd was treated to a variety of band music, a parade of Southland s Rugby veterans at half-time and a novel farewell to the 1932 season. Rugby Park was dressed in its best for the occasion. The playing area was in first-class order and the weather conditions left little to be desired. Pirates went out favourites, but it was not anticipated that the Blacks would defeat the students from Otago University so decisively. The final scores of 23 to 13 were a true indication of the merits of the teams, and convincingly demonstrated that the standard of play provided by the Pirates first fifteen this season has been well up to the club standard of northern teams. Pirates’ success gave them a firstclass and unbeaten record of which any club should be very proud. In addition to winning the Galbraith Shield without loss, the Blacks defeated Kaikorai, at Dunedin, won the Fleming Cup against Western SubUnion representatives, decisively defeated the Central District champion team (Winton), and finally accounted for Dunedin’s champion team. Their successes have been largely due to intensive training, good team work, and keenness and enthusiasm generally. On Saturday, although the end-of-season feeling was apparent among some of the players, • they rose to the occasion and provided the spectators with some flashes of spectacular Rugby. Pirates were the fitter team and lasted the game better, with the result that in the last quarter they had the Light Blues badly beaten. The visitors started very promisingly, and visions of a big score in their favour loomed up, but once the Blacks settled down and realized that the opposition was not invincible, they took charge in the forwards and made the bulk of the play. There was sufficient forthcoming from the concerted work of the students to suggest that given the least break they would have provided sterner opposition. Their work was crisper than that of Pirates, but rarely did a movement get full play, mistakes by the Blues on the one hand and solid tackling by the Blacks on the other holding up most of the breaks. The Pirates forwards apparently had been well schooled up to quick breaking and these tactics were successful. There was much spoiling work. The teams lined out as follows:— Pirates (black).— Murray, Pickering, Sharp, Geddes, W. Thomas, Smith, G. Thomas, Spencer, Peterson, Burr, Robertson, Duff, McEwan, Berry, Metcalfe. Otago University (light blue).—Ruff, Jones, Uttley, Hawkesworth. Fookes, Tuck, Rae, Service, Bannatyne, McFarlane, Hamilton, Hartnell, Strang, Chapman, Begg. . In the first spell ’Varsity, playing with the wind but against the sun, went away with a great rattle and pierced the defence in brilliant style. Fookes was the central figure of this thrust, but lost an earned reward when he was brought down from behind a few yards from the posts. The Blues made all of the play in the first five minutes, and after another sortie on the right wing, passing ended in Strang scoring. After this the Black forwards held their own and the trend of play was more or less even. Both teams had their chances, more so the visitors, but there was no further score and ’Varsity led at half-time by three points to nil. , , Like the first spell the second commenced brightly and within three minutes Metcalfe had equalized the scores with a characteristic try. Varsity took the lead again after some spasmodic breaks by both teams, Strang scoring his second try near the posts for Hawkesworth to convert. Pirates rallied and good forward play enabled the backs to get going, a good.piece of passing ending in Geddes scoring wide out. Murray goaled and brought the scores level again. From this on Pirates made all the play and for a quarter of an hour the students were penned in their 25. Pickering scored three tries, all of which Murray goaled, and Pirates led by 23 to 8. They looked like increasing their total when ’Varsity came with a late run and Hamilton scored and Hawkesworth goaled, making the final scores: Pirates 23 Otago University 13 Pirates were very fit and finished strongly, and on the day would have held their own with the best club teams in the land. The visitors were like the curate’s egg—good in parts. They put up a fair showing in the first spell, but did not relish the vigorous rushes of the Black forwards in the second spell and fell away badly. Individually some of their number were above the average, but as a team they fell far short of the ’Varsity teams which visited Invercargill in 1926 and 1928. Mr D. Leckie was referee. VETERANS ON PARADE. The parade of past Southland representative players, although arranged hurriedly, was a feature of the afternoon. It was a striking tribute to the popularity of Mr Robert Galbraith, for whose benefit the game was staged, that so many old players turned out to pay homage to one of the greatest stalwarts the game has known here. Headed by the Southland Pipe Band and led by four old Star players the parade marched up and down the playing area in front of the stand to the accompaniment of applause by the crowd. Many of the veterans proudly displayed their caps and appeared to enjoy the opportunity to show their colours. Some of the members of Southland’s first representative team (1887) were present, several All Blacks also, and a number of past Southland captains. It was an inspiring sight and gave rise to the suggestion that on some future occasion a properly organized parade of Veterans might be called. There were many present on Saturday who were too modest to “get out in front,” especially among the younger veterans. Among those who paraded were Isaac Jenkins, a member of Southland’s first representative team (1887) and nine times captain of Southland teams during his world record of 22 years’, continuous membership of provincial teams (1887 to 1908). He played for Star and represented the South Island in 1903: Billy Stead (Star), Southland 1896 to 1908, N.Z. 1903 (in Australia), in N.Z. 1904 to 1908 (captain), 1905-06 in Britain, France and America, and N.Z. Native team, 1910; Dick Donaldson (Star), 1890 to 1901; Jack Hughes (Star), 1891 to 1896; Eustace Russell (Blues), 1895; Alex Derbie (Bnts), 1904; Peter Anderson (Star), 1895 to 1902 (also represented Otago 1888 to 1890); Jack Martin (Blues), 1891 to 1896; Hughie Murphy (Star), 1897 to 1905; Dave Robinson (Pirates), 1899 to 1908; G. Fraser (Waikiwi), 1908 to $S10; Sid Hirst (Pirates and Oreputo), 1895 to Wi Bill HM

Pat Purdue (Brits), 1899 to 1905; Alex Fraser (Waikiwi), 1909; Levi Foster (Blues), 1906 to 1908; Alf Mitchell (Gore and Blues) 1911-1912 (also represented Otago from 1908 to 1910); Bill Baird (Star),. present president S.R.F.U., 1908-1909; A. E. Budd (Blues) 1918-1919; L. R. Lopdell (Blues); Harold Strang (Star); Jack Lilley (Star), 1914 to 1926; Jim Archer (Pirates); “Wampy” Bell (Star); J. Shand (Star), 1898; Sam Batcheler (Pirates); Don Murray (Star); Bill Johnstone (Pirates) and Checker Oughtoh (Star). There were many others in the parade and around the ground as well. Isaac Jenkins’s cap with its circlets of dates in gold lettering attracted much attention. The parade was led by Dick Donaldson, Bill Baird, Isaac Jenkins and Jack Hughes, all Star veterans. At the conclusion of the game the bands struck up "Auld Lang Syne” and the teams joined hands in midfield and sang it. It was a pleasing ending to an enjoyable afternoon. PRIMARY SCHOOLS SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY. SOUTH WINS SENIOR GRADE. The annual seven-a-side tournament conducted by the primary schools throughout Southland was held on the Biggar street grounds on Saturday. Throughout the day the play of the boys was of a satisfactory standard, good sportsmanship in particular being in evidence. Altogether there were 38 entries. The teams were divided into three grades, senior, junior and midget. South ■won the senior grade, South A the junior grade and Marist A the midget grade. With minor exceptions the games were evenly contested, providing interesting football. Although 35 games were played during the day, there was not the least delay, a fact reflecting credit on the masters of the various schools who were in charge of the tournament. The results are:— SENIOR. First Round. Mataura 6 v. Middle 3. St. George 6 v. Bluff 5. Marist 3 v. North nil. South A 8 v. Waihopai nil. Second Round. Mataura 5 v. St. George nil. South 21 v. Marist nil. Final. South 23 v. Mataura nil. JUNIOR. First Round. South B 6 v. Middle B nil. Waihopai A 3 v. Mataura nil. South A 3 v. Marist A nil. Waihopai B 3 v. St. George nil. Middle A 17 v. Bluff nil. Riverton 12 v. Marist B nil. Makarewa 6 v. South C nil. Waikiwi, a bye. Second Round. Waihopai A 10 v. South B nil. South A 12 v. Waihopai B nil. Middle A 3 v. Riverton nil. Makarewa 3 v. Waikiwi nil. —Semi-Finals.— South A 3 v. Waihopai A 0. Middle A 3 v. Makarewa 0. Final. South A 3 v. Middle 0. MIDGETS. First Round. Marist A 3 v. South B nil. Marist B 3 v. South C nil. Waihopai 13 v. South D nil. Bluff 8 v. Waihopai B nil. St. George A 19 v. North 0. Makarewa 5 v. Middle 0. South A 6 v. Mataura nil. St. George B, a bye. Second Round. Marist A 9 v. Marist B nil. Waihopai A 8 v. St. George B nil. St. George A 9 v. Bluff nil. South A 3 v. Makarewa nil. Semi-Final. Marist A 21 v/Waihopai A 6. South A 6 v. St. George A 3. Final. Marist A 3 v. South A 0. BRILLIANT GAME. BULLER AND WELLINGTON DRAW. Westport, September 25. In one of the most brilliant games of Rugby played in Westport for some years the Buller representative team drew with the Wellington tourists, each side scoring nineteen points. For Buller Jones, Greer, McNeight, Loder and Lamont scored tries, Holder converting two. The Wellington scorers were Biggar (2), Boyd, Chesterman, Julian, with Masters and Jolly converting one each. Holder played a brilliant game for Buller and Johnson and Julian gave bright exhibitions in the visitors’ backs. CLOSE CONTEST WELLINGTON BEAT HAWKES BAY. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 24. The final representative match of the season was played at Athletic Park today between Wellington and Hawkes Bay, Wellington winning 16—11 after a very close contest. Wellington had the advantage both back and forward in the first spell but the Bay came into their own in the second spell, winning the ball when they wanted it. Conditions were ideal. The scorers for Wellington were Hislop, McLean and McPherson. Pollock converted one and Lamason one, the latter also kicking a penalty. The scorers for Hawkes Bay were Smith and Setford. Grant converted one and kicked a penalty.