Football in the Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 82, 28 June 1927, Page 12

Football in the Province

HAMILTON Rugby The approach of the representative game between Hamilton and Cambridge found the selected ones performing up to their best capabilities in the Hamilton Rugby football competitions on Saturday, and some good efforts were witnessed, though the Frankton-Ngaruawahia game, won by the former, was somewhat drab, owing to the absence of sparkling back play. Full of incident, the Old Boys-Tech-nical Old Boys’ clash provided a bright exhibition, and though the former won comfortably by *23 points to 9, the game was not as one-sided as the points might indicate. Both packs worked hard. The Technical rear division was not strong, with the exception of McMillan, who, always consistent, played his finest game to date. He is improving -with every match, and is a useful threequarter.

The Old Boys’ forwards showed their usual dash, while the backs were nippy and versatile. Badeley, at full, was as safe as ever. Tuck gave a good exhibition as half, getting the ball away smartly, while the three-quarters, Simpson, Brown and Hawke, collaborated nicely With their inside backs. CITY'S GOOD WIN City registered another easy win, defeating the weaker Huntly side oy 30 points to nil. The Hamilton team showed fine combination. Courtney, the burly City lock, was in great form and scored two tries. His relegation to the position of emergency for the Hamilton team is difficult to understand, considering the sterling games lie has played this season. The manner in which he has been overlooked seems casual when it is mentioned that he was nominated for the North Island team last year. However. “Pat” takes things as they come, and though the selector does not seem to have given him the chance he deserves, he will prove his ability in the proper way. THE HAMILTON REPS. The Hamilton team selected to play Cambridge gives general satisfaction, and it is evident that the selectors have not missed much. The “B” representative team is also a well-bal-anced one. The backs selected to represent Hamilton should make a very strong combination, while the forwards are solid, with a pair of very capable front-rankers in Scott and Hooper, from the Frankton pack. City is represented in the forwards by the tall men Montgomery and W. Christie. It is possible that the former may not be available. Soccer The South Auckland championship looks like being a rare tussle between Pukemiro and Huntly Thistle, with Frankton Railways having an outside chance, too. In the selection of the South Auckland side against Canada, the chief difficulty would appear to be the left wing, as players of good class in this position appear to be scarce just now in this district, although Hunter, of Rotowaro, is under notice. The inter-rep. match at Hamilton on July 9, between Lower Waikato and Hamilton, should considerably assist the selector in finalising the South Auckland side. Huntly High School will need to be in its best form when meeting Hamilton Technical in the Canadian curtain-raiser, as the latter is a particularly hot combination this season. George Cox, the South Auckland secretary, did a great stroke of work this week when he secured Rugby Park, with its excellent appointments, for the Canadian game. PARS ABOUT PLAYERS Tommy Chalmers is still on the injured list, and it seems doubtful whether he will be able to play again for another month. George Jack, the ex-Aucklander, has not yet been signed up by any of the local clubs, although he has just recently taken up his residence in the district. David Buchanan seems to be a certainty for the next rep. game, as he is playing sound and convincing football just now. Selector Nesham of Auckland apparently does not think sufficiently well of any of the South Aucklanders to include them as possibles for the Auckland provincial eleven. The Goldfields clubs, Waihi, Kerepeehi and Walhou, show signs of activity once again, and Jack MeK inistry, of Te Aroha, has now been appointed secretary. Jimmy Wallace and Jimmy Batllie are still waiting anxiously for their Mew Zealand referee badges, both passing the examination last year; but the New Zealand Referees' Association is notoriously slow in its operations, and it is really surprising that members of that body do not make a strong demand for the proper functioning of the organisation. ROTORUA Fine weather favoured Rotorua on Saturday, when the star attraction was the junior representative match, Matamata v. Rotorua. When the teams lined out it was seen that Matamata had the advantage of weight in both forwards and backs The game for the greater part was not spectacular, being confined solely to the forwards. Here, the lighter Rotorua pack held its heavy opponents and endeavoured to allow its backs to open U P the game. The inside backs, however, had a day off, their handling being far from perfect. For the first three spells there was no score. In the last quarter Young and Mathieson scored for Rotorua. Time was called with the snore. Rotorua 6, Matamata

, F °E, Rotorua, til® forwards all worked like Trojans. The five-eighth line was

(From THE SUN’S Special Correspondents.)

weak, the wings seldom getting a sight of the ball. Nifcholson, at half, was a great worker, as was Richards as rover. Matamata forwards all worked well, but the team as a whole was inclined to play for safety. Junior High School v. Junior B Reps. —This was a splendid exhibition of good, open football. The light school team ran its opponents off its feet, showing much improved form on that of the previous Saturday. The combination was good and every boy was a worker. The final score was High School 17, Junior B Reps. 3. At Mamaku. —A mixed team visited Mamaku. Good, fast, open football was the order, despite the fact that rain set in as soon as play commenced. Rotorua won by 11 to 3. For Rotorua 'VVaretini, Morgan and Keepa played well, while Stanaway was easily the best forward for Mamaku. Matamata 3, Rotorua 3.—The senior reps, played at Matamata. Each side scored a penalty goal. Matamata forwards were an average of 1* stone heavier than the Rotorua pack. The game was a scramble between the opposing packs, neither side opening up the game. Sergeant kicked the goal for Rotorua. For Rotorua, Campbell, Sergeant and Mason worked hard in the forwards, while Hutton shone out in the backs. HUNTLY Rugby Our senior team still plugs away with credit, in face of strong oppositeams, and it is becoming quite a habit to receive a hiding. City (from Hamilton) called in on Saturday and left their cards. Joking apart, the locals put up a game fight, but combination and clockwork action wrought disaster. City’s 28 points might have been larger had their backs passed \yith better precision. The Huntly men went to sleep in the third quarter and put no life into their game. A. Buckingham and Brown were easily the pick of the visitors’ rearguard and Courtney and Christie the front rankers. For the Huntly fifteen Carr and Hart (backs), Whorskey and Milne (forwards) did best. Huntly Juniors put it over Ngaruawahia by 18 to nil. Huntly backs were too nippy for the big-sounding town. The latter played short of a full complement, and Morris struck trouble with his eye, necessitating medical attention. The losers played pluckily against uneven odds. Saunders, Bolton, Kennedy, Jacobs. Paul and Rimmer were right in the thick of it. Paul was outstanding in the forward line in a fast game. For the locals, who combined well, and at no stage looked like losing, Bicknell, Bourke and Graham stood out in the back play and Satherswaite was on his own in front, with good grafting mates. Te Hoe, 9 on, went down to Pukemiro United Juniors, 16 on. A good game, fairly fast, with Puke on top a little, the most of the way. D. Baird, H. Cross, F. Connew and J. Adams shone out for the winners. Footballers who are getting into trim in view of the approaching queen carnival at Huntly should not forget the boys from Hopu Hopu camp. They can muster two tug-of-war teams (heavy) and eight teams with a 60stone limit. Not bad for the military centre. League Huntly seniors played their first match on Bailey’s paddock this season when they tried conclusions with their neighbours from Taupiri on Saturday last. The christening ceremony did not affect the local, boys’ play, for they “landed the mustard” by 19 to 2, and incidentally the championship of the grade. It was a hard fast game with no beg pardons and the score, 19 to 2, indicates the run of play. Scorers were Stan Rayner (2), W. Miki (1), B. Paki (1), Smith (1), George Rayner converting two. Miller put the oval across the bar for Taupiri. Of the winners, Timms, Stevenson and Jones (best), Rayner (2) and Paki were the pick. Bishop and Geake were the best of the visitors in front, Miller, Davis and Noel Jackaways behind. The juniors were without Clive Northmore (away on a holiday), but had the advantage of a start of two points before entering into combat with the Taupiri lads. A win (or a draw even) gave them champion honours, and the result, 6-3, in favour of Huntly, landed the second leg of the double, the seniors winning the coveted honour also. Soccer Rotowaro seniors argued it out with Huntly on the former’s ground to their advantage, 4-2. Mr. Jack Bate refereed and must be in training for a survey of the area. He has been over it so often. His refereeing hasn’t deteriorated ail the same, for he has the happy knack of making an interesting game always. An overdose of the siren is not too palatable for soccer fans. McCullum (2), P. Hunter (1), Bob Dodds (1) for the winners and Evans and Hall one apiece for the vanquished, represented the score honours. Combination around the opposition goal had much to do in the victory. For the visitors, Hunter played a rattling game, ably backed up by Davies (2), Hall and Evans. For Rotowaro, Dodds and Hunter were the best of a very even combination. Thistle seniors were pitted against Pukemiro on the latter’s ground in the first round of the Chatham Cup. The cracks just squeezed home by a solo point. It was only five minutes off time when the score came. Too much “yap” was in evidence at times, and one Thistle player received a gentle reminder to cut it out. The Thistle half-line was good. Stewart and the two Tates combine well for a club team, and the same remark applies to Puke (Johnson. Robertson and Gray). The goalies, Fairless (Puke) and Stirling. had plenty to do, the former stopping some hot stuff. The outstanding player was Robertson, centre half for Pukemiro, and he must go close to rep. honours for he is by far the best centre-half seen in these parts. Whitehead did not play, but Latimer played a solid game for Pukemiro and was well supported by Wilson and Romney. A Black also put in good work, though new to his position. SCHOOL SOCCER Huntly A and B played a drawn game, two goals each, in a rattling good exposition’ of the code. Bate and Lancaster (off Stevens) were the A scorers and Whorskey (and a re T bound off Thomas) for the B’s. For A Jack Bate, Jack Thornton, Geo. Stevens and Herb. Lancaster were the pick. Jack Whorskey, Harry Ashcroft and Geo Beadle did best for the B’s. Both these teams are showing marked improvement in their play and a good number should find their way into the reps, to play the Australian boys. Pukemiro had a bye, and Rotowaro and Glen Massey had a great go with honours even at the close. SCHOOLS' LEAGUE North Huntly and Ngaruawahia played a drawn game after a bitter fight. Alf Mitchell, Joe Spears (captain) and Reg. Berry were best of the Huntly team and Tittleton the daddy of the Ngaruawahia boys. Taupiri (6) beat Huntly South (3) after a good game.