RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6284, 23 September 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ROVERS IVIN KNOCK-OUT SCHOOL WIN SEVEN-A-SIDE The Waipa Rugby Union senior competition was brought to a close last Saturday when Rovers defeated Pirongia in the Knock-out Competition. •In the junior knock-out one more game is to be played and that will take place next Saturday, also the final of the fourth-grade seven-a-side' tournament. The teams were:—

Pirongia: Allport, Barry Bell, Tamaki, Ormsby, McGruther, M. Bell, P. Bell, Gordon, McKinnon, Grace, A. Rowan, Askew, Sherwin, J. Parkes and W. Bell.

Rovers: Hart, Barlow, Bramble, f Reynolds, Empson, Douglas, Partridge, i Melville, Holmes, J. Hinton, Bob Hins ton, Rex Hinton, Pryor, Parish, > Clarke. 1 Pirongia won the toss and Rovers s defended the Park Road end of the 5 field. From the kick-off P. Bell lined ! at half-way and from the scrum t Pirongia carried play over Rovers’ ; line for Partridge to force down, i Pirongia had Rovers hemmed in their s half for quite a while and eventually . from a scrum Rovers were, penalised , and W. Bell missed the kick at goal. • Play went up and down the field for ; some time with both sides spoiling • good movements by knocking-on and i getting offside, and finally when Rov- ; ers were penalised in their 25, M. Bell • kicked the first points of the match. I Rovers went to the attack and Rex Hinton intercepted and raced away, pass to Douglas, who was tackled and not long after Pirongia were penalised and Empson mised the kick. From a series of scrums on Pirongia’s line, Pirongia gained relief by forcing down. Not long after the drop-out Pirongia were penalised again and Empson missed the kick. Rovers were attacking well at this stage and from another penalty kick against Pirongia ■ Holmes missed the kick. Pirongia had a turn at attacking and a touch-in-goal gained relief for Rovers. Halftime came soon after with Pirongia still in the lead. Play opened with a bit more dash in the second spell and from a lineout 10yds from Pirongia’s line Pirongia were penalised but Empson once again missed the kick. Rovers were going well now and Pirongia carried play back to Reynolds to be offside, but Grace missed the kick. Rovers attacked again but Partridge kicked too hard and Pirongia forced down. Rovers gained relief from a series of attacks by Pirongia by lining from a penalty. Rovers kicked through to have Pirongia offside and Empson made no mistake this time and the score was—Rovers 3, Pirongia 3. Douglas cut from a scrum but the ball went to the line and Pirongia saved and from a vigorous attack by Rovers, Allport forced down. Rovers were soon attacking against and from a serum on Pirongia’s line Rex Hinton scored for Empson to add the extra points and Rovers were the winners of the Knock-out Competition by 8 points to 3. Mr Bainbridge was the referee. Results at a glance— Seniors—■ 'Rovers 8, Pirongia 3. Juniors— Ohaupo 11, Te Awamutu 3. Seven-a-Side A seven-a-side tournament was conducted by the Union on Saturday, and the results of the various games are as follows: Fourth Grade— Ohaupo A 16, School Eagles 0. Ohaupo B won by default from School Tigers. School Tuis 10, Te Awamutu Stars 0. Te Awamutu Pirates 10, Schools Vultures 8. Semi-Final— School Tuis 14, Ohaupo B 0. Te Awamutu Pirates 6, Ohaupo A 0. The final between School Tuis and Te Awamutu Pirates will be played next Saturday. Third Grade— Old Boys Bulldogs 5, Ohaupo C 0. School 5, Ohaupo A 3. Old Boys Terriers 19, Ohaupo B 8. Semi-Final— School 11, Old Boys Bulldogs 0. Old Boys Terriers a bye. The final of the third grade was described as the best game of seven-a-side seen here for some time and extra time had to be played, resulting in a win for School 21, Olds Boys Terriers 8. The teams in the final were as follows: Old Boys: V. Smart, K. Patterson, R. Patterson, F. Wall, B. Anderson, R. Smart, R. Weller. School: R. Gaston, R. Sutton, M. Henderson, R. Tamaki, G. Pacey, B. Hemmings, W. Gibson. SCHOOL FOOTBALL VISITING TEAMS FROM KAWHIA DISTRICT Two very interesting games of football were witnessed on Saturday morning at the High School grounds. Two teams of school boys drawn from widely separated schools in the Kawhia district travelled by lorry to play teams from the Intermediate department of the high school. The senior game, played at under Bst 71b weight, was a keen contest, Kawhia finally winning 6—3. Te Awamutu played a better combined game but what the Kawhia boys lacked in combination they made up in individual brilliance. It is to be hoped that these country boys will be able to attend high schools later on, where no doubt their undoubted football talents will be further developed. Several boys from the local primary school Were in the junior team which played at under sst 71b weight. Te Awamutu won by 3—o. Many of the small boys from Kawhia were enjoying their first trip to a town. After the games all the teams were entertained to morning tea in the cooking room at the High School. Mr Blennerhassett welcomed the visitors and congratulated them on their standard of football. He hoped that the visit would become an annual fixture. Mr Allen, on behalf of the visitors, reciprocated the kindly sentiments and thanked Te Awamutu for the morning tea which was appreciated by the Kawhia boys, many of whom had set off very early to make the trip. Special thanks were given to a party of Intermediate school girls who tastefully set the tables and efficiently served the tea.