RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4192, 2 June 1939, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OPARAU V. TE AWAMUTU ' JUNIORS. VERY INTERESTING. CONTEST. Before a good ■ attendance of the public, Te Awamutu juniors defeated Oparau on Saturday by 10 points to 6. The winners’ points were made up by two converted tries, and Oparau scored two unconverted tries. There was very little between the two teams, and it was only the", superior finish of Te Awamutu’s play that gave them their victory. The football v/as fast bright, and open, and both teams passed the ball freely and made a splendid game from the spectators’ point of view. Oparau opened the score when their hali-back caugfyt the opposition napping and dived into the serum to score. Te Awamutu evened by a fast passing movement which ended.in the wing going over unopposed. The try was converted, and' Te Awamutu led 5 to 3. Several promising opportunities were missed by poor positional p’.ay by the Oparau backs, and after they were re-arranged the ball was shot out to the wing, returned ihfield, and S. Knight went .over for ohe of the best tries seen for some time. The kick missed, and Oparau led 6 to Soon after Te Awamutu regained the lead by a fine : try from' their, half-back. . He dived round the side of the scrum, caught all the defence on the wrong foot, and went over between the posts. This try was con-, verted, and the score read ,10 "to 6, In spite of the- determined efforts of Oparau, who were attacking. for most of the last. 20 minutes,, they were unable to pierce the solid defence, and the game ended with the score unchanged. Oparau showed very much improved form, and- if' they continue' to improve they will take a lot of beating. E. Parkinson was. outstanding in the loose, but there seemed to a number of forwards who thought they could play that game and not put their weight into the scrums, and thus they let the Te Awamutu forwards through time after time. The backs showed promise, but did not have many opportunities, as the ball was rarely or never hooked cleanly from the scrums. They had a tendency to'stand .too far back bri defence and this gave the opposition more room in which to move. However,.all -the players should profit by the., .game against experienced players like Te, Awamutu, and if the players watch the weaknesses revealed on Saturday they should _ be able to make a good showing'against Old Boys, Who are well up in the competition. TEAM FOR SATURDAY. The team to play Old Boys at Oparau on Saturday, 3rd June, will be chosen from the following:'C, "Par'4 kinsori, E. Parkinson, J. Parkinson, C. and R. Wyhyard, J. Eviress, M. Moki, T. Parnell, G. Brady, M. .TeKai, R. Hamilton, D. and M. Tai,.Les, Rallerson, M. Powhare, J. Moki, T. Muru, D. Hepi, R, Walters, 0. Scott, T Moses, W. Simon. The game will begin at 2.30 p.m.,' and players must be ready on the ground at 2.15 p.m. In addition to the Old Boys .game,a match to be played as a curtainraiser has been arranged between the Oparau and Kawhia school boys, and wi'l commence at 1.30 p.m, Te Awamutu juniors to leave. P.O. at 1.30 for Ohaupo: B. McDonald, D: Russ, H. Haselden, K. Rickit, L. Billford, J. Smithy, , J.. McNamara, J. Baxter, J. Old, P. Harvey, E. Fraser, P. Bennett, Nicholas, L. Turney, L. Dodd, B. Haliburton. Rovers’ senior team will be selected from: M. Hart; Brown, Tautari, Guy, L. Young, L. Wilson, J. Smith,- St. George,. A. Jackson, W. Nicol, J. Tickelpenny, W- Ngahoe, A. Thomson, R. Parker, .T, Macky.t. A.. Tickelpenny, Thomas, Haig.- \'