RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6238, 5 June 1946, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THRILLING GAME OLD BOYS JUST WIN Brilliant weather was the order of the day for the Waipa Rugby Union’s various competitions which were continued on Saturday last. A large attendance of the public attended at Albert Park to witness the best game of Rugby football seen here for some years when Old Boys defeated Rovers by a margin of three points. The game developed into what many spectators declared the type of football which they enjoy to see—fast and onen; The light Old Boys forwards stood up well to their heavier opponents, while the Old Boys backs overshadowed their opponents. No mention can be made of any player of both sides, for they played excellent football, but it was a pity that Jowsey, the Rovers captain was taken out the pack to play in the backs, as he was the mainstay of the Rover forwards (and incidentally one of the best breakaway forwards playing in the competitions), and proved a thorn in the Old Boys backs. The teams were:

Rovers: Barton, Mariohooho, Cooper, Clark, Hart, Reynolds, Partridge, Avona, S. Hinton, Pryor, Holmes, Bob Hinton, J. Hinton, Jowsey, Rex Hinton. Old Boys: Brown, Hopcroft, Quinlan, Crotty, Whitehead, Beet, Shirley, Brcfivn, Lee, Douglas, McDonald, Silvester, Connolly, Melrose, Hodgson. Old Boys won the toss and defended the Park Road end, and Rovers kicked off for a scrum on half way. Rovers kicked through for Crotty to mark, and from an exchange of kicks Rovers lined near Old Boys 25. Old Boys gradually carried play into their own half, but from a series of scrums Rovers seemed to have the advantage with their weight, and Reynolds lined inside Old Boys 25, from which Whitehead carried play to inside Rovers half. First Sherley and then Barton lined at half way and soon after for offside play by Old Boys Rovers were award a penalty for Cooper to kick the first points of the match. Rovers 3, Old Boys 0. Brown lined from a scrum near half and Sherley kicked again for Barton to line as he was tackled by Hopcroft. From a line out Hopcroft lined at Rovers 25 and then Sherley lined again, but Rovers carried play to near half way. From scrum play was very willing on the .half way. A series of line-outs followed, neither side gaining any advantage. Old Boys started a rush, but Whitehead was caught in possession, and soon after Rovers were awarded a penalty and Cooper lined inside Old Boys half. Jowsey broke away for Brown to save and then Cooper kicked over Old Boys line. From the drop out Old Boys started off, but Hopcroft was brought back for running out. Old Boys; were near success that time. Jowsey broke away but was caught by McDonald from behind. Holmes kicked through and Whitehead was offside, and Cooper missed the kick. Soon after. Crotty was forced out and then Cooper knocked on and Brown lined into Rovers half. Good tackling by Old Boys kept repeated attacks by Rovers from scoring. Cooper then had two unsuccessful attempts at drop kicks and Brown failed to line for Rovers to line in Old Boys 25. Rex Hinton broke away but a knock-on spoiled it, and Rex Hinton lined and from a lineout Old Boys kicked over Rovers line and in the race for the ball Barton touched down. From a line out and scrum in Old Boys 25 Whitehead lined at half way, but Rovers came again for Brown to save and Partridge knocked on and Old Boys kicked through and had Rovers in trouble on Rovers line, and from a scrum Jowsey broke away, but Rovers were too keen and had a penalty against them, and Melrose lined for half time to sound with Rovers three points up. Douglas replaced Reynolds in the Rovers team for the second half. From the kick off Bob Hinton kicked through for Brown to touch down, and then Cooper lined right on Old Boys line. Avona dived across for a try for Cooper to add the extra points. Rovers 8, Old Boys 0.

From a line-out in Rovers half Hart kicked through and lined in Old Boys half, and from a scrum in Old Boys half saw an exchange of kicks with Old Boys gaining the advantage, and for fast following up saw McDonald score for Douglas to miss the kick. Old Boys 3, Rovers 8. Old Boys were going well now, and Jowsey just beat McDonald in forcing down. Whitehead lined nicely as he was tackled, and from a series of lineouts a scrum went down and Rovers lined to near half way. From a scrum Sherley sent his backs away for Hopcrcft to go over for a try on the corner. Connelly missed the kick. Old 80y5.6, Rovers 8. From an exchange of kicks Brown was caught, but lined a few minutes later, and Rovers kicked through and Hart was. caught, and from a scrum Melrose kicked through, picked up, passed to Sherley who scored under the posts, for Douglas to add to the score. Old Boys 11, Rovers 8. Hopcrort started a rush but Partridge lined and then Jowsey kicked for Erown to line at half way. A series of lineouts first in Rovers half and then in Old Boys half saw Sherley send his backs away for Crotty •to made a determined dash down the line, and Rovers were penalised for Douglas to miss the kick. From a scrum at half way the ball went out in Old Boys half, and Rovers tried hard to get across, but Brown touched down. Rovers gradually carried play to Old Boys 25 and from line outs Old Boys carried play well into Rovers half and Rovers kicked for Brown to line at half way, and soon after Rovers kicked over Old Boys line for Crotty to touch down. Barton lined from a scrum and Old Boys came again, but a forward pass spoiled a good chance. A series of line outs saw Rovers work up field, but Old Boys were not to be denied, and a scrum went down on Rovers goal line, but. Rovers cleared for Hopcroft to dush down the line. The game ended soon afterwards in mid-field, with the final score: Old Beys - 11 Rovers 8 Mr Cam Hulton was the referee. Results at a Glance Senior Old Boys 11 v. Rovers 8 . Waikeria 6 v. Ohaupo 3. United 5 v. Te Awamutu 0. Juniors Air Force 9 v. Parawera 14. O’d Boys 29 v. Te Awamutu 0. Hui Mai 11 v. Rovers 3.

Ohaupo 8 v. United 0. Third Grade Old Boys 5 v. School 0. I Fourth Grade School A 14 v. Ohaupo 10. • Te Awamutu 18 v. School B 11.