RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3766, 8 June 1936, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA CHAMPIONSHIPS LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES Splendid weather prevailed for the continuation on Saturday afternoon of the Waipa Rugby Union’s championship competitions in all three grades and there jvas a fair attendance of the public. The chief attraction was the meeting of Rovers and Taupiri West in the senior competition, but the visitors arrived short handed and had to borrow three players from the side-line to make up their number. The match itself was bright and open, the ball being flung about attractively. Rovers were decidedly the best team, though the visitors had one or two players quite above the average, and at times they had the Rovers hard pressed. For the winners, McKinlay and Young were the most effective of the backs, with R. Jackson putting in some good work at times. Among the forwards T. Thomson, Spence and Holmes were the best. Of the visitors Towler and Wilson were the best backs, their pace being very useful, while Welsh and Henry were the pick of the pack.

Details:— Seniors.— Rovers 24 v. Taupiri West 10. Juniors.— Tokanui 6 v. Ngutunui 6. Te Awamutu 15 v. Waikeria B 7. Te Mawhai defaulted to Old Boys Thirds. — Te Awamutu 24 v. High School 11. Suburbs v. Old Boys. THE SENIOR'S This game was played on No. 3 ground, and a late start necessitated shortening the time of play to two half-hour spells. The teams were: Taupiri West.—Brown, Fowler, Davies, Welsh, R. Harris, Wilson, Catley, Hintcn, Morton, M. Welsh, Ingle, Bull, Penny, Henry, Owens. Rovers.—D. Vincent, L. Young, R. Jackson, H. Irwin, C. Rogers, C. McKinlay, L. Wilson, R. Willis, E. Holmes, A. Ticklepenny, R. Spence, A. Thomson, T. Thomson, W. Shepherd, N. Boys. ißoyers rushed to the attack, and when Brown was caught in possession a try looked likely, but a serum resulted. Rovers kept up the pressure, and the ball was sent out smartly to L. Young, who went over and ran round for an easy try. He added the minor points with a good kick. ‘Rovers 5, Taupiri 0. Even play followed until Holmes broke through, but was overtaken and offside play sent Rovers back. The locals were throwing the ball about at every opportunity and the pace was fast. Rovers were again penalised, but the kick did not gain much ground. McKinlay was setting his backs going prettily, but a lucky bounce let the Taupiri’s through and Wilson secured to outpace the opposition and score a try. He converted with a nice kick to equalize. Taupiri 5, Rovers 5. Rovers attacked again but the ball was kicked through and in a scramble Morton scored a try, for Wilson to convert. Taupiri 10, Rovers 5.

The locals were soon pressing and Taupiri had to force, when R. Jackson dodged through. Again McKinlay made ground cleverly, but Taupiri’s forwards had ißovers in trouble until Young came across fast to save. But Taupiri fanned right across the field, and it seemed a marvel that the defence held. Play was worked back to half-way, and from a scrum McKinlay cut through, only to be caught in possession. Fowler was next prominent, and he kicked through, but was up-ended when following fast. Vincent cleared, and play was in neutral territory until a penalty for offside play sent Rovers back. The Taupiri forwards were battling hard, but as soon as the leather came loose the Rovers backs were effective. Taupiri had to strive manfully to keep Jackson and Wilson out, but a penalty gave relief. McKinlay punted through for Young to almost score, but Taupiri forced. A penalty to Taupiri stemmed a solid Rovers attack, and half-time came with play on Taupiri’s 25 line. Rovers were first to attack again, but Fowler kicked through, Morton was r_.xt prominent in a dribbling rush, but Vincent cleared. Then Irwin secured and dashed up the line, kicking over the full-back’s head, but Fowler, came in fast then the ball went right across field for Young io receive and dash right round. He failed to add the minor points. Rovers 8, Taupiri 10. Next Holmes kicked high, and set his forwards racing, but Brown saved, and kicked out at Rovers 25 flag. Hard play followed and when Henry bijoke through, Spence secured to send the visitors back. Solid play followed, and then Wilson electrified the crowd with a swerving run that made 40 yards, only to see his side lose all the advantage when McKinlay intercepted. Play was fast and in a good passing run by Rovers’ backs McKinlay managed to struggle over for a try. Again Young failed to convert. Rovers 11, Taupiri 10. A minute later McKinlay and Thomson bustled over dribbling, but the ball tvent dead. Taupiri forwards broke through and Wilson came up fast, but Young found the line. The visitors pressed hard and three scrums on Rovers line caused trouble, but a.penalty gave relief, and Spence carried on. Then the ball passed through the hands of practically every Rovers back until Young received it and he had too much pace for the opposition, going right round to ground the ball under the crossbar. He converted also, making the scores: Rovers 16, Taupiri 10. The visiting forwards were soon attacking solidy, but the ball was kicked through and Irwin made 50 yards by racing up. the line. Brown stopped him, and Wilson came very fast, but Shepherd was there top, and he picked up a yard from the line to score a try. Young converted. Rovers 21, Taupiri 10. The visitors were in trouble a minute later, but a penalty gave relief. It was only momentary, however, for Spence and Thomson bustled the Taupiri half and Irwin carried on, but the ball went out near the Taupiri 25 flag. The visitors pressed hard, but, in a flash, play went right back and Young was almost over. A scrum held up the attack. However, Rovers were not to be denied, and L. Wil-

son dived over near the corner. Young’s kick failed. Rovers 24, Taupiri 10. The visitors worked up nearly to Rovers’ 25 line and a penalty kick saw Wilson narrowly miss with a splendid effort. Shepherd led a Rovers attack, -but the final whistle sounded almost at once, and a bright game ended: Rovers 24, Taupiri 10. Mr H. Taylor was the referee.

Te Awamutu v. Frankton.—This game was played at Hamilton, and the Te Awamutus started well, but missed several opportunities to score, eventually being defeated by eleven points to eight. Te Awamutu’s only try was gained by Hanna, who came in smartly to receive from a ruck and dive over. Bell added the minor points. The last-named also kicked a goal from a penalty. For the winners, Elliott and Ferguson each scored a try, one of which was converted by Snodgrass, who also kicked a penalty goal. THE JUNIORS Te Awamutu v. Waikeria B.—This game was played at Waikeria, and the home team soon found they were up against a lively oposition. The game ended in a win for Te Awamutu by 15 points to 7. Te Mawhai defaulted to Old Boys. Ngutunui v. Tokanui. —This match on No. 1 ground as a curtain raiser to the senior contest, was in charge of Mr J. F. Vickers, and provided a lot of interest, even though the play was hardly up to fair junior standard. Ngutunui opened the attack, but were unable to score, and play was worked back to Ngutunui’s 25 flag, where a penalty kick at goal failed. Up and down the field the players raced, with advantage to one and then to the other, until W. Fitzell scored a try for Tokanui, that was not converted. A little later the Ngutunui forwards bustled right to the goal line, where Bert Jackson scored a try. Again the kick failed. Halftime came without the scores being altered. In the second spell both teams kept hard at it, but several opportunities to score were mulled, and the only points gained were another try by J. Ormsby for Ngutunui and a try to equalise by Jackson who made a runaway race of it, to grass the ball behind the posts. The kick failed, and the game ended shortly afterwards, with the points six all.

THE THIRDS Te Awamutu v. High School.—Owing to some misunderstanding, the referee appointed did not attend, and Mr H. P. Ensor undertook the du’y. Te Awamutu attacked solid /, but were beaten off, and after a period of even play School worked into Te Awamutu’s 25, and Thompson, receiving from a scrum, cut in nicely to score the opening try. The kick failed. Still attacking, School looked like going over again, but the defence held, and a few minutes later play was transferred to the other end of the ground, where Duggan scored for Te Awamutu, the kick being unsuccesssful. After half-time, J. Davies also scored a try for Te Awamutu, which Gedge converted. N. Blair, within the next ten minutes, put on two tries for School, one of which was converted, making School 11—8; but the Te Awamutus then dominated the play, and Brown scored a try for Gedge to convert, Brown scored an unconverted try, and the same player registered his third try of the afternoon, for Gedge to add the minor points. In the last minute of play Davies again scored, and the kick failed, the game ending Te Awamutu 24, High School 11. KICKING TO TOUCH. A FINE POINT DECIDED. Considerable discussion arose at the meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union as to the ruling which should be given when a ball kicked into touch went out on the full behind the player who kicked it. It was reported that referees in Wellington on Saturday ruled that as the ball went out on the full a line out had to be taken opposite the spot from where it was kicked, although with the rule in force previously the advantage rule applied, a line out being ordered where the ball went out. It was decided to advise unions that in future the advantage rule should be applied, and to forward similar advice to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland unions as covering matches between New Zealand and Australia. The ruling adopted reads: "If a player outside his own 25 makes a kick and the ball pitches into touch on full behind him the advantage rule is to apply, and a line out taken where the ball went into touch.” The new rule does not apply to a kick-off.