RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6568, 20 September 1948, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S MATCHES OLD BOYS RETAIN BINNIE CUP Te Awamutu Union had three representative teams in the field last Satday and Old Boys, Te Awamutu champion senior club team, successfully defended the Binnie Cup. In the fifth grade match, Te Awamutu again had a comfortable win over Otorohanga by 18 points to 3 after an exciting game in which the performance of the local team was most commendable. At half-time Te Awamutu led s—o after a solo try by S. Kite, who went over near the posts with Tickelpenny in support. Humblestone converted. Early in the second spell Burton scored an unconverted try for the visitors. Te Awamutu increased its lead when Kay centred to Tickelpenny who dropped a neat field goal. Later Tickelpenny scored after a nice run and Humblestone’s kick hit the upright and bounced in to put Te Awamutu fn the lead 13—3. Te Awamutu maintained the pressure and in the closing stages S. Kite scored his second try and Humblestone raised the flags once more for Te Awamutu to win by 18 points to 3.

The match between Te Awamutu third grade representatives and Raglan intermediates representatives proved a fairly even contest, without any spectacular incidents. The visiting pack appeared to have, an advantage in weight but this was more than offset by the aggressive tactics of some of the Te Awamutu forwards. Shortly after the kick-off Raglan infringed and W. Bain kicked a nice penalty goal. The score was unchanged at half-time.. Ten minutes into the second half Neild scored a try for the visitors and Halliday converted for the side to lead 5—3. A few minutes later the home team were in the lead from another penalty by Bain. Play was very even for a while with both sides striving hard to cross the line. From a ruck, Graham Price scored a try which Biain failed to convert. Later on P. Gibson scored a good forward’s try and this too was unconverted. The game ended 12—5 in favour of the local team.

Detailed results of the day’s games are as follows: —

Binnie Cup: Old Boys 17, Matamata 11. Third Grade Reps: Te Awamutu 12, Raglan 5. Fourth Grade Reps: Hamilton 29, Te Awamutu 0. Fifth Grade Reps: Te Awamutu 18, Otorohanga 3. The Binnie *Cup Match

The match between the two champion club teams was most exciting and kept the spectators on their toes practically throughout. Old Boys showed rather the better combination and this, together with the bustling tactics of their forwards for the greater part of the game, largely accounted for their victory. So far as size and weight are concerned, the teams appeared evenly matched. Matamata lasted better than the local ■team and on the last twenty minutes of play were definitely on top, but despite their most strenuous efforts, Old Boys managed to withstand the pressure.

'Ten minutes after the start, K. Walker kicked a nice penalty goal from 30 yards out. Play was even for a while with first one side and ■then the other on the attack. Matamata were nearly over when Whitehead fumbled but the Old Boys fullback made a good recovery to kick clear. Some wild passing by the local forwards threw away a certain try and from a scrum Matamata’s halfback put the ball into his forwards feet and Old Boys were awarded a penalty. K. Walker again raised the flags. Shortly afterwards R. Sampson made a most spectacular dash down the sideline but was well and truly grounded by Wlhitehead. Matamata maintained the pressure and Sullivan scored a try which was not converted. The half-time score was Old Boys 6, Matamata 3.

Fifteen minutes after the resumption of play R. Horan ran round to score behind the posts and Walker had no difficulty with the conversion. From the kick-off Matamata forwards attacked hotly and R. Irwin saved well with a mark. From a forward rush N. Shiley scored a nice try and Walker failed to convert. Old Boys 14, Matamata 3. From a scrum in Old Boys 25, L. Roberts scored for Matamata and Perrin converted to make the score, Old Boys 14, Matamata 8. G. Crotty narrowly missed a try when he put his foot out near the corner. From a ruck on Olid Boys line P. Delaney scored a try wide out and J. Bracewell’s kick failed. Old Boys 14, Matamata 11. Ten minutes before the end Beet intercepted a high pass and in a spectacular movement sent *on to Horan to L. Crotty who scored wide out. Play from this point to the end was all in Old Boys half, but Matamata could not get over and an exciting game ended: Old Boys 17, Matamata 11. FINLAY CUP MATCH Next Saturday Te Awamutu will be playing the final game in the Finlay Cup series. They will meet Morrinsville at Morrinsville. Mr A. Betts, selector, has chosen the following players to represent Te Awamutu:—R. Whitehead, W- Ormsby, G. Crotty, I. Boyes, S. Parkinson, D. Barton, D. Empson, W. Beet, H. Cox, S. Tripe, A. Jourdain, Rex Hinton, Bob Hinton, R. Douglas, J. Kay, P. Rooney, S. Hinton, G. Taylor, N. Sherley, A. Rowan.