Sport in the Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 11

Sport in the Province

RUGBY

HAMILTON ! Unfavourable conditions ruled for Rugby football at Hamilton on Saturday, the ground being greasy through heavy rain which fell most of the afternoon. In spite of this there was a good rally of spectators. Old Boys outclassed Marist, 8-0, and Frankton and City emerged with honours even, 6 all, in the senior competitions for the Sage Memorial Cup. Superior combination and a sound knowledge of tactics won the game for Old Boys, although their opponents, Marists, had the advantage of weight. Fitzgerald gained two tries for the victors and played sparkling football throughout. Other backs in the limelight were Kemp, Tuck, Brough and the full-back, Hawke, whose performance showed an all-round improvement. Clarkin and Tooman were the pick of the Marist backs, although they were of little use in passing rushes. Reynolds and McCormick made few mistakes in the forward line. Frankton had the best of the game with City and did most of the attacking except in the last quarter, when rushes and sallies alternated. Dalbeth ddshed twice over the line for Frankton. R. Hooper, full-back, Sterrett, Skelton and Park all played cleverly for the Frankton side. A. Christie gained a try for City, the rest of this team’s score being compiled through a successful free kick which some of those on the line claimed should have been awarded Frankton, owing to an infringement by a City player. However, the referee ruled otherwise. The game was not spectacular, being mostly a series of “clinches” through even weight. Skeet was consistently bright as City’s full-back, while Clemett, although far below his costomary form, played a good game. H. Johnston (rover) made several good openings and was supported loyally by Courtney, C. Christie and A. Christie in the forwards. The game ended in a draw, 6 all. HUNTLY Renown met Ngaruawahia on the latter’s ground on Saturday. The corn* test was fast, and a good game to watch, the big crowd present being treated to a fine exhibition of the code. The winner’s pack was better in the heavy going, and that was the crux of the situation. Ngaruawahia stuck to it well; in fact, toward the close had every bit tne better of the game, but both these teams have made marked improvement in their recent matches. Renown’s score was made by Walters and converted by O’Sullivan. Tapp (2) and Ginn were about the best of the winners, Caleb Tapp at fullback giving a great exhibition, while J. McCaig and Graham were the pick of the others behind. For Ngaruawahia, who has a fairly compact forward set, Monteith and Benjamin were noted for good play, with perhaps the former a shade better than his team mate, while Garry, Griffiths and Zimmerman upheld the honours among the backs. Taupiri and Cordonton played a draw —6 all. The juniors played Taupiri on the Taupiri ground, and soon ran up 17 points. This was a one-sided contest, Huntly being superior in every department, and the result was never in doubt. Tither, Harris (3) and Garroway were conspicuous for the winners Te Hoe (9) beat Pukemiro (3) under Referee Twining, and of the winning team Raton, R. Boyce, Ansill, Poynton and Parris were noted doing good work. WAIUKU Aka Aka 5 (a try by Kearns, converted by Keary), beat City 0. Otaua 6 (D. Muir scored a try, while Ballantyne landed a penalty goal), beat Waipipi 0. In wind and rain the Waiuku Rugby Union matches were continued last Saturday at Massey Park. The results caused some surprise, as the two leading teams met defeat. In accounting for City, Aka Aka avenged their previous defeat by City, but there is no doubt that the conditions did not suit the open play adopted by the losers when they romped away from Aka Aka in the previous round. Always hard in wet conditions, the Otaua team lived up to its reputation in inflicting defeat on the Waipipi fifteen. Although Otaua has been knocking at the door in previous matches, Saturday marked its first success this year. These results now make the competition very open, with Aka Aka, Waipipi and City all in the running for the championship. TE AW AM U TIJ Waipa played its first representative Rugby match this season on Saturdav, when it met and defeated Futaruru by 14 points to 3. Waipa attacked from the start, and soon had its opponents busy defending. A penalty relieve 1 the pressure. While the visitor’s pad: was doing its best individually there was little combination. On several occasions a forward would break away with the ball, but not having the support, necessary gained little ground. Within a few minutes of the start of the game Waipa carried play to Putaruru’s line, when Fowler got across in a good position. Winter goaled. Attacking hotly Putaruru looked like scoring, the backs, Patterson and McDonald, showing up prominently. Rain now began to fall, and play was not so attractive, the ball being dufficult to handle. Play was confined to the forwards, Waipa making the best showing when the ball came out to the backs. From the scrum the ball was handled by Wilkes, Davis and Bell, the leather cross - ing the line. He had, however, crossed the side-line, and the try was disallowed. Shortly after a penalty was awarded to Waipa, and Winter kicked a goal. The change o' r er saw an improvement in the play of the Putaruru team, and from a penalty Belcher kicked a splendid goal. McLillan, Ensor and Brown were prominent for the visitors, but Quin was playing a safe game. The Waipa pack was getting most of the ball, and Wilkes, seizing an opportunity, beat two opposing backs, and scored. Winter failed to increase the score: Waipa 11, Putaruru 3. The second half saw the home team attacking, and the visitors were kept busy defending, Dunlop being weak in defence. As the result of fast following up Kay secured and raced for the line and scored, with an opponent clinging to him. No goal resulted. The latter portion of the game was among the forwards, i»o. teams doing their best, the game ending in favour of the home team by 14 points to 3. The third grade match between Kararau and Mangahoe was won by the former by 17 points to 0. Mr. C. Crotty was in charge of the whistle. Te Awamutu and High School proved a more even game, High School winning by 8 points to 3. Mr. E. Pooley refereed. TAUMARUNUI Rugby games played under the Taumarunui Sub-Union on Saturday resulted: —Seniors: Manunul 6, Tokaanu 3; Taumarunui 3, Owhango 0. Juniors: Taumarunui A 5, Taumarunui B 0; Manunui 35. Owhango 0. Third Grade: Taumarunui B 14, Taumarunui A 13. Schools: Te Kuiti Primary 6, Taumarunui 3; Taumarunui High School 15, Te Kuiti 3. A representative match, North v. South King Country, will take place on the 23rd inst. at Taumarunui. the game to serve as a guide for the selection of King Country representatives to meet the Bush representatives on July 11. ROTORUA On Saturday Waikite defeated City by 24 points to 6. The game was very even until the closing stages, when the Waikite rearguard combined well and gained the upper hand. Tn the Kahukura-Mamaku match the former side clinched a victory by 8 points to 3. This game was also very evenly contested until the last few minutes, when Pollard, as the result of a fine ru# scored a converted try. TE PUKE The first representative Rugby match of the season for the Te Hirini Apanui Shield was played at Matata on Saturday between Te Puke and Rangitafki (holders) under adverse weather conditions. The holders managed to retain the

shield against the Te Puke challengers by defeating them by 11 points to 3. Rangitaiki earned their victory by scoring three tires, one of which ‘was converted. The three points for Te Puke were obtained by McKenzie, the captain kicking a penalty goal. At half-time the score stood at three aIL It was not until the closing stages of the game that Rangitaiki put on the further 8 points. Play was mainly confined to the forward divisions, who were very evenly matched. It was owing to the superiority of Rangitaiki’s backs that they managed to retain the shield. For the winners F. Peebles and Bonne in the forwards did some useful work, and P. and M. Howell and Dare were conspicuous in the backs. For Te Puke A. Cummings, C. Donovan and O. Webber in the forwards and McKenzie, Malcolm and Barton in the backs showed good form. THAMES The representative football match between Thames and Coromandel-Mercury Bay, and all other matches were put off last Saturday on account of the bad weather. On Saturday next the Thames reps, will take the Birch Cup to Paeroa, and play the elect of the Paeroa Union. This is the first time that the Binch Cup has been played for away from Thames, and the sporting spirit of the union is appreciated by the affiliated unions. The selector, Mr. A. Fleming, has chosen the following players to defend the Birch title:— Fullback, A. Winder; threequarter, F. Moran; B. Harrison; L. White; fiveeighths, A. Gorby, T. Dufty; half, W. Savage, rover, J. Pollock; forwards, W. Smith, W. Abraham, A. Brunton, W. Pollock, S. Percy, M. Hayward (captain) and J. Strange. LEAGUE HUNTLY The result of the rep. match between Auckland and South Auckland was disappointing to supporters of the code in these parts, as better things were expected. The performance of the South team in the second half, when some of the backs were moved to other positions, was all right, and Mr. Wilson may make a rearrangement in the next selection of the five-eighth and half line compared with the first selection. The five-eighth line in the first half on Saturday did not function at all well, and a change should have been made sooner than at halftime when the tally had reached the twenties. One pleasing feature, however, was that the local cracks, Timms, Jones, Paki and Co., upheld their reputations, and that in big football they are reliable—an essential factor. It was at first* thought that Stan Rayner and “Nigger” Smith were rather seriously hurt, but Rayner paddled off to work this morning as fit as ever, but Smith will have to lay up with a badly sprained left wrist. The junior reps, fared better than their older brothers, for they came home with the honours after playing a good match with Parnell. Smith and Berry were the try-getters, the latter converting one, making a total of 8 to 3 secured by the district famous for three P’s also (pride, poverty and pianos). WHANGAREI A meeting was held at Hikurangi to consider the formation of a Rugby League Club in the township. Fifty-three people were present. It was resolved that a coramitcee make arrangements to meet other clubs in the district with a view to getting their support in playing he League code. SOCCER HUNTLY The Chatham Cup contest, Huntly and Humly Thistle, was given pride ‘

of place on the Recreation Ground, and in a ding-dong go the Scots’ colours were lowered, Dave Hall netting one in the first half, and his was the only score. Huntly was not at full strength, but principally through Ted Hall’s good play they gained a victory. On the day he was easily the best player. Percy Davies was reliable, also A. Deakin and the “twin” Halls (Tom and Dave). Stewart and Tate weer the best of the Scots’ rearguard, and Baber, Connolly and Bate the vanguard. Referee, Mr. Jack Bate. No less than five players by the name of Hall are in the Huntly Soccer team. The veteran Jim (fullback) finds it hard to give the game best, and incidentally is one of the keenest enthusiasts of the code in the Waikato, being an office-bearer in his club. Ted is the well-known rep. and is playing as well as ever, while Arthur, and the twins (Tom and Dave) complete the group, and are a source of anxiety to the reporter to “pick ’em” out on the playing field.

Pukemiro United had most to say against Pukemiro, running out comfortable winners by 4 to 1. Latimer was busy, as usual, and netted three. A. Black got the other, while Healey was responsible for the losers’ unit. Puke had the wind to its advantage in the first half and United were called on to defend, but on turning round the latter more than held their own. The defeated team was by no means disgraced, and fought it out to the end. Mitchell was the better of the fullbacks, Dave Johnson and Tom Bennie were reliable, and Whitehead is a promising lad. In the vanguard Williams, Sandy Johnson and Healey were about the pick, the latter playing consistent, fast football. For the winners Tom Dodds was in his best form and very sure with the greasy ball, while Robertson was perhaps the best of the half line, and Phil Hunter and the energetic Latimer in front. Wanderers battled it out at Glen Massey in the wind with the chosen of the locals, and landed the goods by . one. goal to nothing. Weather conditions were against good football.