RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4285, 27 May 1940, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA CHAMPIONSHIPS. MATCHES LAST SATURDAY. Fine but cold weather prevailed on Saturday afternoon when the Waipa Rugby Union’s championship competitions in all grades were continued. Six games were played at Albert Park in the presence of keenly interested groups of spectators. THE SENIORS. Pirongia v. Te Awamutu. This game was played on No. 1 ground under the control of Mr T. Brown. The local team started with 15 players —after 20 minutes’ delay. Pirongia promptly attacked and took play right to the corner. Scrums and lineouts ended in a force-down by Te Awamutu; but Pirongia had to force a minute later, and then even play followed. Some nice passing movements were developed, but Pirongia’s tackling was good. A penalty robbed Pirongia of a good scoring position, but they were soon back, only to be penalised again. But they came back again and from a forward ruck a try by Sifleet resulted; the kick failed. Pirongia 3, Te Awamutu 0. Within a minute Te Awamutu attacked and from a dribbling rush Teddy scored. The kick failed. Te Awamutu 3, Pirongia 3. Pirongia had a turn of defence, for the local pack was functioning better and at times the backs came right up, too. Then a ball bouncing badly completely beat Te Awamutu and Tautari raced round to grass the ball under the crossbar. Carey converted. Pirongia 8, Te Awamutu 3. From the drop-out Walker kicked through and in a desperate race for the ball over the line Dixon scored. The kick failed. Pirongia 11, Te Awamutu 3. Te Awamutu backs combined nicely to make ground, but lost possession and even play followed. From a scrum O’Brien secured and cut through to score a try, but the kick failed Pirongia 14, Te Awamutu 3. After the interval Te Awamutu attacked, but were promptly sent back to their own line by a bustling forward rush and had to force. They got back to halfway, and when Carey was caught in possession they were nearly over. A force resulted. A minute later the ball came out from a lineout, and Tombs finished off a pretty movement with a beautiful try which Fraser converted. Te Awamutu 8, Pirongia 14. Pirongia were soon attacking but were penalised for offside play right in front of Te Awamutu’s goal Pirongia forwards raced over, but were recalled and Te Awamutu got out of serious trouble. Again the westerners attacked and Tautari was only pulled down a yard short of the line. Even play followed, with the Pirongias more successful in tight play. After a period of attacking the ball came out of a scrum and Macewan dodged nearly to the line and sent B. Wynyard over for a nice try. The kick failed. Pirongia 17, Te Awamutu 8. Pirongia were making the pace fast and they were doing best in almost all departments. J. Edwards was next to score, receiving the ball near Tt Awamutu’s line and diving over. The kick was unsuccessful. Pirongia 20 Te Awamutu 8. Pirongia rushed through again, but failed to sustain the effort. However they were soon going well again, and Te Awamutu had to force. Then the locals hustled almost the full length of the field. Edwards broke away in an almost solo dash and was onlj grassed about a yard from the line. Play came back to halfway, but a few seconds later'they had to force. The same tactics again resulted in a scrum near the Te Awamutu line. Play ended in midfield. Waikeria v. Rovers.—Mr I. F. Vickers had charge of this game on No. 2 ground. The Waikerias were nippy and some bright play had Rovers sorely tested. Soon a beautiful try was obtained by the Waikeria first five-eighth, but the try was not converted. Waikeria 3, Rovers 0. Ten minutes later Waikeria scored again and converted. Waikeria 8, Rovers 0. In the second spell there w*as no score. THE JUNIORS. Old Boys v. Te Awamutu.—Mr C. Sergeant was referee in this game on No. 1 ground. Old Boys opened the scoring with a try after ten minutes’ play, but it was not converted. Ten minutes later a very pretty passing bout ended when Mac Haseldenscored beside the posts. The kick failed 3—3. Stung by the reverse, Old Boys pressed hard, and a try was obtained right at the corner. Again the kick failed. Old Boys 6, Te Awamutu 3. Te Awamutu had to force two minutes later to keep Old Boys out. After halftime the game had been in progress a few minutes when Old Boys got a penalty kick right in front, and the three points were awarded. Old Boys 9, Te Awamutu 3. Promptly Te Awamutu rushed through and got a try under the posts. The kick went wide. Old Boys 9, Te Awamutu 6. Ten minutes later Old Boys scored again, wide out, but the kick was unsuccessful. Old Boys 12, Te Awamutu 6. Another try just before the final whistle was not converted, and the game ended: Old Boys 15, Te Awamutu 6. Rovers v. Owairaka. —Mr J. Wilson had charge of this game on No. 3 ground. Rovers scored 17 points to nil, but that was hardly an indication of the merits of the teams, and Owairaka should be very hard to beat as the season progresses. At present they lack a knowledge of the finer points of Rugby. THIRDS. I -Rovers v. Pirongia.—This game on No. 3 ground was in charge of Mr W. Clarke. Rovers were always doing

best and the final whistle sounded with the scores: Rovers 29, Pirongia 0. High School v. Old Boys.—Mr Todd refereed this game on No. 2 ground. Old Boys were too solid for their opponents and eventually won by 26 points to 3.

KING COUNTRY MATCHES. TARANAKI GAME AT TE KUITI. The following representative fixtures were confirmed at the King Country Rugby Union meeting:— Waikato at Hamilton on June 22; Taranaki at Te Kuiti on July 6; and Auckland at Taumarunui on July 20. It was resolved to write to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and state that it would not be possible to arrange a match with that Union this season, and to ask the Waikato Rugby Union to make a return visit to the King Country on August 17. It was also resolved to ascertain the cost of sending a team to Thames Valley, and the fixing of dates for the games with the Wanganui Union was left in the hands of Mr Rice and the secretary. Permission was granted the Maniapoto Sub-union to arrange a North and South Maori match as a curtainraiser to the King Country-Taranaki game at Te Kuiti on July 6.