RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6565, 13 September 1948, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S MATCHES POOR ATTENDANCE OF PUBLIC There was a meagre attendance of spectators at Albert Park last Saturday despite the fine weather. No. 1 ground is under repair and the principal , games were played on No. 2. Apart from the matches played locally, the Te Awamutu fifth grade representatives visited Otorohanga and had a comfortable win over that union’s fifth grade team. Results of the day’s matches are as follows: Senior Knock-out— Pirongia-Rovers 12, Te AwamutuUnited 9 (played extra time). Old Boys 38, Arohena 3. Fourth Grade Knock-out Final Ohaupo 9, Old Boys 0. Junior Representatives— Maoris 14, Pakeha 11. Fifth Grade Representatives— Te Awamutu 22, Otorohanga 6. The Junior Representative Match The annual Maori v. Pakeha fixture provided plenty of thrills for the spectators. The game was played at a fast pace throughout and both sides attempted to open up play on every possible occasion. Of the two packs the Pakeha forwards were the more aggressive, and held a slight advantage in set scrums and line-outs. The Maori backs, however, showed the superior combination and their ability to seize an opening more rapidly than their opponents made them always dangerous on attack. The Pakeha back-line was considerably weakened by the unfortunate retirement through injury of W. Macky ten minutes after the start of the game. The Pakehas led B—3 at the interval but the Maoris added 11 points in the second spell to run out the winners 14—11. Points for the Pakeha side comprised tries by O. Wilson and N. Bayly and a conversion and penalty goal by T. Edwards. For the Maoris, tries were scored by J. Tai, R. Tai and P. Heke. Heke also converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. Senior Game The principal senior match was the meeting in the first round of the senior knock-out competition between Pirongia-Rovers and Te AwamutuUnited. Neither team was at full strength, both sides having two players away with the Waikato team at Auckland. Although the play was rather scratchy in the first spell, Pirongia-Rovers turned on some nice back movements in the second half and the red and blacks gave the slightly better exhibition. A feature of the game was the manner in which Te Awamutu-United forwards stood up to their heavier opponents. When full time was called the. score stood at 9 all and in the last few minutes of an exciting spell of extra play Pirongia-Rovers were able to gain the try which gave them a well-earned victory. Play seersawed for the first twenty minutes and the first excitement came when D. Barton intercepted a high pass and, cutting through, made a brilliant dash of thirty yards before sending on to Ormsby who was thrown out at the corner. Both sides had narrow misses with penalty kicks during this spell. First points came nea hali-time when P. Rooney forced over from a lineout to score wide out. N. Bayly’s attempt to convert only just failed and at half-time Te AwamutuUnited led 3—o.

Shortly after the commencement of play Pirongia-Rovers’ backs were well away from a ruck, but Empson hung on too long and Te Awamutu-United cleared to half-way. A few minutes later D. Barton kicked a nice penalty goal to even the scores. From some loose play Te AwamutuUnited forwards carried play right up to the red goal-line and from a scrum Johnson whipped the ball out to Tombs who sent Turner over for a try wide out. Turner’s kick failed.

Half-way through this spell the best movement of the game occurred. From a scrum in their own 25 PirongiaRovers heeled and Douglas, running from the scrum, gained ten yards before sending on to Empson. Empson’s cut-in left the defence standing and D. Barton was in support to round off a sparkling movement with a try half-way out. Rex Hinton failed to convert and the score stood at 6 all. Green and whites took the lead shortly before time was called when N. Bayly kicked a nice penalty goal. It looked as though Te AwamutuUnited would hold their lead but just on the whistle Pirongia-Rovers heeled and all the backs handled for Carey to score at the corner. Carey’s kick failed and the score stood at? 9 all when the final whistle blew. It was not until the second fiveminute spell of extra time that points were scored. From a scrum in Te Awamutu-United’s 25, Douglas sent out to Empson to Barton who drew the defence nicely to send T. Kiely over for a good try wide out. Empson’s kick failed, and although the greens rushed to the attack the game ended shortly afterwards: PirongiaRovers 12, Te Awamutu-United 9. Final of Fourth Grade Knock-out • Ohaupo Club won the fourth grade knock-out competition by defeating Old Boys 9—o. Ohaupo’s points comprised two tries and a penalty goal. Third Grade Representatives

Mr Haigh, third grade selector, has chosen the following players to represent Te Awamutu against Raglan next week-end:—J. Fletcher, R. Sugden, R. Smart, J. Cooper, M. Griffin, D. Farris, W. Bain, R. Templeton, V. Smart, G. Price, J. Carter, J. Kelly, P. Gibson, McCormick, R. Retter, K. Simeon, P. Collyer, D. Clark, T. Sklenars.