RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3894, 26 April 1937, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Seniors: Cambridge Stars beat Rovers B—3. Te Awamutu beat Hamilton Marist .17—10. Juniors: Rovers beat Hospital 6—o. Ngutunui and Korakonui drew 3 all. Pirongia beat Tokanui 13—0. Territorials won by default from Te Awamutu. SENIOR GAMES. ROVERS v. CAMBRIDGE STARS. Rovers and Cambridge Stars met on Albert Park. The teams were:— Rovers: G. Wells, L. Young, L. Wilson, C. Hulton, A. Tickelpenny, A. Quinn, A. Jackson, E. Holmes, W. Nicoll, H. Grant, A. Thomson, T. Thomson, C. Jowsey, T. Edwards, J. Ngahoe. Cambridge Stars: J. Kelly, Preece, Davies, Pray, Hclmes, Kneebone, Hardy, Cooper, Fell, L. Kidd, J. Moore, Cornwell, Brunskill, Gear, R. Kidd. Rovers set the ball rolling with a fine kick-off, the forwards following up well, but play became very straggly, much punting and speculating taking place. Things became very lively when Stars’ forwards took -the ball into. Rovers’ 25, this being the first time the ball had been in either team’s danger zone. A sqrum took place and Rovers managed to get the ball into neutral area. Both sets of backs failed on many occasions, dropped passes spoiling many promising moves.

Hard rucking by both packs kept the ball around the half-way mark until Hardy raised the hopes of Stars’ supporters when he received from a line-out and evading two Rovers’ forwards raced down the field, hanging on until the last minute before passing to Fell, wLho in turn passed on to Pray, but the pass was forward. Rovers relieved the pressure with a determined dribbling rush followed by a knock-on when one of the forwards tried to gather the ball in. Gear rushed through with the ball at his toe, covering 20 yards before he lost possession. At this: stage a surprise was received by the spectators when T. Thomson came on to the field, it being evident now that Rovers had been playing one man short. Receiving from the scrum, L. Wilson went through fast and cut out three men before he passed to Tickelpenny who failed to hold the ball, Ngahoe carrying on with the- ball at his toe, but he kicked too hard, Cambridge forcing. A forward rush saw Cambridge invade Rovers’ 25, but an illegal tackle gave Rowers relief, but they only gained a few yards. From a line-out, Cambridge entered Rovers’ 25, once again an infringement saving Rovers. From a scrum A. Jackson sent Quinn away, he handed on to Wilson who was well tackled by Kneebone. Play was held up when Tickelpenny received a kick on the knee, necessitating his removal from the field of play. A forward, pass by Rovers gave Cambridge a chance for attack but they failed. Kelly, the Star’s fullback, was playing a superb game, taking the ball coolly and kicking cleanly. An infringement by Stars saw Wells punt into Stars’ 25. From a line-out Jackson received, handed on to Quinn to Nicoll who bullocked his way over. The kick failed. Rovers 3, Cambridge 0. iC. Jowsey took Tickelpenny’s place in the back-line, and from the re-start Rovers kept up the pressure and several times had the crowd on its toes. Jowsey at this stage went into second five-eighths, and when A. Thomson charged down a drop-kick a score locked likely but the ball went into touch. Cambridge fought back hard, Hardy trying to open up the play all the time, but his: inside backs were weak and every movement broke down. When stooping a Ro'vers’ forward rush Hardy received a kick in the head, but he was not seriously hurt.

Kelly punted into Rovers’ 2\_ and from a lineout Hardy sent to Preece to Davies who sent on to Kneebone but he was smothered by Holmes. From a scrum Rovers worked their way up into Stars’ area until an infringement gave Stars relief, but Rovers were right back again. Another stoppage occurred when L. Young received a kick and when play was resumed he was limping badly. Davies mulled a kick and Rovers went up fast, an infringement by Ngahoe spoiling the chance. From the freekick Well received and running his backs in paslsed to Wilson to Young who was forced out. Once again Rovers pressed and Kelly was forced to kick behind. For an infringement when putting the ball into the scrum Rovers were penalised. When Holmes (Stars) intercepted things looked dangerous but Hulton up-ended him. Stars’ forwards rushed to Rovers’ goal-line and J. Moore shot out from the ruck to score a good try. Holmes added the minor points. Cambridge 5, Rovers 3. When half-time arrived Stars were pressing hard. Rovers started off the second half with determined forward rushes. A. Jackson sent to Quinn to Jowsey, who punted but Stars forced. A heavy shower made the ball greasy and hard to handle, but Kelly showed a safe pair cf hands and with a fine kick put his team on the attack.

Hardy was tackled by Grant and had to be assisted to the side-line, but he was soon back behind the scrum. Things looked bad when Quinn was caught in possession cn Rovers’ goalline, but a line-out eased the tension. Cambridge at this stage were striving hard to increase their lead and had Rovers penned on their goal-line. Wiells gave Reivers a respite when he made a fine line kick down to Star’s 25. Brunslkill broke through fast and dribbled the ball to Rovers’ 25, where he kicked too hard and Wells gathered in, saving the situation with another good kick. Holmes took the ball well and after cutting cut two Rovers’ forwards kicked up to Wells whoi returned it, Holmes taking a mark. He missed the place-kick and Rovers forced. From a line-out Cooper made a magnificent solo dribble tfrem halfway and picking up diver over to score a well-deserved try. The kick failed. Cambridge 8. Rovers 3. Rovers strove desperately to make up their deficiency but Cambridge were more than equal to the task and very often turned a. Rovers’ rush to their own advantage. Heavy forward work at half-way saw the ball go to

A. Jackson, to Jowsey to Hulton who was pulled down. Moore looked like scoring when he broke away and dribbled the ball well up-field; a lucky speculator kick by Wells stopped the run. Rovers were unfortunate when a determined race for the ball saw Cambridge just force in time. Rovers could not make any headway and time saw Stars holding them well, the final score being:— Cambridge Stars 8 ReVers ....... 3 The referee was Mr Vickers, who controlled the game well. TE AWAMUTU v. HAMILTON MARISTS. Te Awamutu seniors journeyed to Hamilton on Saturday, and there played Marist. The teams were: Te Awamutu: B. Quin, F. Laskey, H. Bennett, Tippett, J. Hanna. P. Bell, E. Adams, J. Horan, G. Daniell, J. Turney, L. McAlpine, F. Daniell, M. Grace, P. Grace, Pritchard. Marist: McGrail, Deverell, Burgess, Carter, Barnett, Comer, Mills, Kane, Shannon, Scott, Belcher, Best, Trotter, Devcich and Lomas.

Te Awamutu were a much improved team and had the best of the game throughout. Marist were the first to score, tlieir forwards following up fast, bustling the 'Te Awamutu backs. The ball bouncing into Best’s hands, he scored between the posts, and Mills easily converted. From this stage on Te Awamutu settled down, the forwards packing well and hunting together. Te Awamutu soon equalised. When a scrum was ordered on the 25 line, in Marist territory, the ball travelled front the scrum to Adams to Bell to Hanna, the latter player cutting in smartly. He cut the opposition in halves to score alongside the goal posts, and Bell converted. The next score to Te Awamutu was by Adams, the half back. On gaining possession from a five yard scrum he dummied his way over to score a good try. Bell again converted

Marist were the next to have a say, Front a scrum on the Te Awamutu line Mills, the Marist half, served Barnett, first five-eighths, with a short, quick pass for the latter to dive over in a handy position. Mills converted.

After a period in which Marist had been strongly on the defensive, Brian Quin (full-back), fielding a clearing kick on the 25-yards line about ten yards in-field, succeeded in adding another four points for Te Awamutu with a drop kick. It was a good effort.

Marist were still strongly defending when Quin, following up his own high kick, gathered in from a melee to go over for a try. Bell failed to convert.

The final scores were: Te Awamutu 17, Marist 10.

Mr Harold Johnston capably controlled the game. WAIKATO SELECTOR. mr r. j. McKenzie appointed. The appointment of Mr R. J. McKenzie as sole selector for the Waikato Rugby Union has been announced by the union, and should receive the endorsement of followers of the game in the district. Mr McKenzie, who formerly held the position to the satisfaction of the union, has had a distinguished football career, having played in representative teams for Wellington and Auckland, He was also a member of the All Black team which toured California in 1913. Mr McKenzie selected the WaikatoKing Country-Thames Valley team which played against Mr J. Baxter’s British team in Hamilton in 1930, and also the Waikato team which put up such a great performance in the Raniurly Shield match in 1932 against the redoubtable holders at that time, Canterbury. Keen Waikato Rugby supporters will remember that Waikato led by 6 —o up to 19 minutes before the end of the game. Apart from his ability as a selector, Mr McKenzie is outstanding as a coach, and lias a personality which “goes” with the players. Mr McKenzie's nomination was put forward at the annual meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union by the Matamata delegate, Mr A. G. Yardley, and was seconded by Mr C. H. Mclntyre (Morrinsville). A doubt was raised as to whether Mr McKenzie would accept the position, and a sub-committee was appointed to interview him. On paper it would not seem that Waikato is going to be particularly strong this season, but Mr McKenzie may be depended upon to use his acute judg inent, and it may be that he will find something in “the bag.” OTOROHANGA MATCHES. Two Rugby football matches eventuated on the Otorohanga Island reserve on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a large gathering of enthusiasts. Kio Kio and Otewa juniors took the field under referee G. Mather, Otewa winning an interesting contest by 6 points to 3. In the senior contest, the best bout was provided, when United and Otorohanga took the field, Mr L. Lovell refereeing. United eventually prevailed, with the scores standing at 9 points to 6. Otewa played Kio Kio at Kio Kio, Mr Harry Miller being the referee. After an exciting contest the game was declared a draw—3 all.