RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4190, 29 May 1939, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

STAG COMPETITION WON BY ROVERS. WAIPA CHAMPIONSHIPS. Fine weather prevailed for the continuation of the Waipa Rugby Union’s championships in the minor grades and the Stag Competition match, Rovers v. Raglan, at Albert Park on Saturday afternoon. The Stag match, was a very hard and even one throughout, and Rovers had to work hard to secure the win. Results in brief:— STAG COMPETITION. Rovers 12 v. Raglan 5. SENIOR B. Waikeria 23 v. Wharepapa 0. Pirongia 17 v. Hospital 0. JUNIORS. Ohaupo 0 v. Rovers 14. Te Awamutu 10 v. Oparau 6. THIRDS. Old Boys 6 v. Ohaupo 3. Rovers 14 v. High School 7. FOURTHS. Te Awamutu 22 v. High School 20. STAG COMPETITION. The teams were: Raglan.—lan Thompson, Doug. Robertson, McCallum, Gordon, W. J Phillips, Thompson, Newton, Goodwin, Sherley, White, Van Houtte, Bregman, L. Phillips, Dan Robertson, Pooley. Rovers.—Hart, L. Young, L. Wilson, Tickelpenny, St. George, Smith, A. Jackson, Parker, Tickelpenny, T. Macky, Haig, Ngahoe, Thomson, Tickelpenny, Nichol. Mr G. D. Lawrie iwas the referee.

Rovers kicked off, and Raglan forced from a high punt. Play was ragged, passing being very indifferent. Then Young kicked through but Thomson cleared nicely. A little later Hart saved an awkward situation for Rovers by finding the line at halfway. Raglan were bustling hard, but Nichol opened up from a ruck and the ball went right along the line of backs for G. Tickelpenny to scramble over wide out. Young’s kick failed Rovers 3, Raglan 0.

Even play followed, with flashes of bright play. In one move W. J. Phillips side-stepped four players and put his pack on the attack, but the defence held. However, a penalty saw McCallum narrowly miss the uprights. Two penalties for offside play sent Raglan back on the defensive. Phillips punted high and followed up, and the ball went across field for McCallum to carry on. Raglan were nearly successful, but over-eagerness spoiled-the chance, and from a scrum A. Jackson worked the blind side and and cleared nicely. A penalty added to Rovers’ advantage. Then Thomson led his pack, dribbling right to the goal, only to lose possession and Raglan forced. Play was again in midfield, but Raglan forwards were bustling hard. Their play lacked the finish of the locals. Ngahoe raised the spectators to their toes with a solo effort, almost to the line, where he transferred to Young, but the latter was jostled and a force down resulted. Raglan rushed play upfield again, and were almost over. A scrum was in favour of Rovers, and St. George carried on, but slipped midway between the 25 flag and halfway. Again the Raglans worked into Rovers’ territory. McCallum, on the right wing, was haying' plenty to do. Rovers combined nicely in a neat passing bout and made a lot of ground. But Raglan reversed things quickly jwhen Bregman dribbled through and bustled the Rovers rearguard. Hart had to kick the ball dead to keep him off. A moment later Doug. Robertson gained possession in front of the goalposts and forced his way over for a well-earned try. McCallum added the minor points. Raglan 5, Rovers 3. With three minutes to go before halftime, Rovers put more snap into their play, but Raglan were keen and going well. Play was in midfield When the whistle sounded. On resuming', Rovers attacked, led by Ngahoe, and Raglan were lucky to force. Again t Raglan’s fullback was in trouble trying to field a high punt by L. Young. A free kick gave some relief. W. J. Phillips carried on. to send McCallum away. But Macky reversed the play, for Ngahoe and Nicholl to carry on. Smith tried for a field goal, but could not get a clear shot.’ Raglan’s pack was bustling hard, and making ground in the loose. Hart secured from a high punt and rushed upfield but slipped and’ lost possession. White was doing great work for Raglan in the loose, and Newton (half) was steadily improv ing in his work. At this stage Tickelpenny retired injured and was replaced by T. Thomson. Almost at once he broke through from a lineout but lost control. Rovers pack flashed to the attack, and Jackson secured from a serum to send st. George and Haig, for the latter to score wide out. Young narrowly missed with the kick. Rovers 6, Raglan 5.

Raglan forced the pace, but were penalised for offside. McCallum carried on. Then Macky led the Rovers pack into Raglan territory but Raglan forwards, with W. J. Phillips in the van, bustled right to the line. A Raglan man offside gave Rovers much-needed relief. Ngahoe carried play right to the Raglan line with a great dribbling rush. From the scrum Jackson secured and sent Thomson over for a try, which Young failed to improve upon. Rovers 9, Raglan 5. Raglan were doing well in the loose and carried play right to the corner flag l but were gradually pushed back to halfway.| Ngahoe, Nicholl and A. Thomson carried on but McCallum raced right round to clear from a desperate situation. The pace slackened, then Rovers pack flashed through and St. George was nearly over. Play came back to half way and Smith, blocked from an attempt at a field goal, kicked to the corner flag. Rovers kept play close, and were almost over. Raglan, in the loose, got up well past half way. T. Macky stopped them, and soon Wilson opened play, to send G. Tickelpenny away. The latter kicked to the line, and play went right across field, for

Young to carrv on. Fortunes fluctuated fast at this stage, and play was hard. Raglan were putting up a great display, but Rovers held them and did best in the tight work. Then the ball came loose and Jackson raced up the centre of the field for a nice pass to Ngahoe who scored, a beautiful try. Young again failed with the kick. Rovers 12, Raglan 5. With five minutes to go, both packs were feeling the strain. Raglan were pressing hard, and steadily making ground, each yard being well-earned. Rovers were doing best at the final bell, with the scores: Rovers 12 Raglan 5. THE JUNIORS. Te Awamutu v. Oparau.— This match was played at Oparau, with Mr R. H. Annibal in charge. It proved a very keenly contested one throughout each side scoring two tries, but Te Awamutu got the. winning margin with two conversions. For Te Awamutu J. McNamara and M. Haselden scored a try each, and Fraser converted both. Oparau’s tries were gained by Knight and Brady. THE THIRDS. Old Boys v. Ohaupo.—Mr T. Brown refereed this match on No. 1 ground. Even play ensued for about ten minutes and then Old Boys opened the scoring with a nice goal from a penalty. Five minutes later a try was also secured, but the kick failed. Old Boys kept up the pressure, and were almost over again, but a force-down eased the situation and Ohaupo raced up-field. Scrums at the corner were in favour of the locals. After halftime even play ensued. Then Ohaupo attacked solidly but could not get over. The game ended: Old Boys 6, Ohaupo 3. High School v. Royers: Played on No. 2 ground, this match was in charge of Mr lan Clarke. Rovers were early on the attack, but School’s defence was sound and soon, they broke through, and went the full length of the ground. Rovers forced. The latter were soon attacking again and secured a penalty. The ball landed on top of the crossbar and over, giving Rovers three points. Rovers had the best of matters in the first half, but soon after the interval School scored an unconverted try. Th,e game ended in victory for Rovers by 14 points to 7. THE FOURTHS. Te Awamutu v. High School.— Mr C. H. Davies was the referee in this game on No. 3 ground. Te Awamutu eventually won a very even game by 22 points to 20.

REPRESENTATIVE GAME.

WAIKATO TEAM CHOSEN. MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND. The sole selector to the Waikato Rugby Union, Mr H. P. Ensor, of Te Awamutu, has selected the following team to represent Waikato against Auckland at Hamilton on Monday, June sth: Fullback: J. Ward (Hamilton). Threequarters: W. J. Phillips (Raglan), A. J. Aitken (Morrinsville), C. Perkins (Hamilton). Five-eighths: B. Paterson (Hamilton), A. H. Parsons (Hamilton). Halfback: J. Broad (Hamilton). Forwards: W. Daniell (Waipa), J. G. Wynyard (Waipa), T. Macky (Waipa), A. Thomson (Waipa), W. Warrender (Matamata), J.. M„ Taylor (Taupiri), E. H. Catley (Taupiri), C. Caldwell (Waipa). Reserves.—Forwards: L. McAlpine (Waipa), A. E. Hall (Cambridge). Backs: G. Fraser (Hamilton), J. O’Hearne (Taupiri).