BRILLIANT SCHOOL RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1933, Page 8

BRILLIANT SCHOOL RUGBY

STRATFORD T.H.S. WINS BACKS TOO GOOD FOR RONGOTAI HARD, FAST, OPEN FOOTBALL. With Stratford Technical High School playing spectacular Rugby a little more robustly than the opposing Rongotai College fifteen, the annual secondary school fixture at Stratford yesterday afternoon produced really brilliant football up to the best secondary school traditions. Time after time the heavy Stratford backs swept through the valiant Rongotai defence with splendid speed and sure passing, and the home team won by 32 points (eight tries, two converted, and a dropped goal) to 11 (a converted try and two penalty goals). There was no lack of excitement, the scores coming at the rate of about one every five minutes except for a short period in the second spell. Rongotai players stood up well to the strain of stopping the opposing rearguard, particularly Henderson and Bowler, but toward the end of the game both teams had been run nearly off their feet by the effort and pace they had put into it. Although the Stratford forwards did not have all their own way they had more than their share of the ball, which once it reached Betts was in dangerous hands. McCarrison was a not brilliant but a very sound first five-eighths, although he was possibly partly responsible for the many passes Davies dropped. That inaccuracy, which would have ruined the reputation of an ordinary school second five-eighths, was excusable in Davies because of the brilliance to which he rose at other times. Henderson and Bowler were the outstanding backs, however, and showed pace and a knowledge of how to combine to outwit the full-back that would have done credit to far older players. Bird on the other wing was reliable and Adlam at full-back safe, although it was not his day for kicking goals. The Stratford forwards were an even lot and supported their reaguard well, the of a solid pack being Wilmshurst, Kofoed and Sotheran. OUTSTANDING PLAYERS. Rongotai did not look like a beaten team until well into the second spell, when injuries became frequent and the , team was reorganised. There were three . players who were outstanding through- > out—Mackie, Kelsey and Dalgleish— ( while Gray, knocked out more than once, ] was an inspired defender in the second , half, it was Dalgleish’s boot that scored eight of the 11 points Rongotai obtained 1 and it was his sure kicking that saved has forwards and nursed his backs. The best of the visiting pack were Hawken, . Tossman and Moore. t If they can continue the standard of ■ yesterday’s game Stratford and Rongo- £ tai will very soon have claims for in- | elusion in the first flight of secondary j school Rugby. The teams were:— £ Stratford: F. Adlam; D. Bowler, C. Henderson, G. Bird; N. Davies, J. Me- £ Garrison; F, Betts; A. Kofoed, F. Soth- g eran, P. Davidson, D. Harkness, W. Foley, R. Jackson, P. Bird, J. Wilmshurst. Rongotai: J. G. Gow; L. R. Jacobsen, L. H. Wiren, I. S. Stone; D. Kelsey, W. H. Gray; R. T. Dalgleish; W. F. Ponder, A. Tossman, E. F. Puttick, E. N. Steel, t H. T. Hawken, J. E. Lancaster, K. F. Paul, W. A. Moore. j The game had been in progress only £ a couple of minutes when Wiren had to retire hurt and was replaced by C. t W. Mackie. Rongotai . nearly . scored j when Adlam fumbled but the Stratford backs swept into action, crisp passing throughout giving Bowler possession on . the line for the winger to score. Adlam tailed to convert from the side-line. Mackie made things dangerous and then Bowler and Henderson handled for g Davies to score unopposed. Adlam con- . verted the try. Bird made a determined jffort but could not beat Gow; from the •esultant scrum all the Stratford backs landled and Bowler scored again, Adam failing to convert. A Stratford for* vard .was offside on the fringe of his wenty-five and Dalgleish kicked a good > oaL ’ * SCORE QUICKLY MOUNTS. t < Stratford seemed to ease slightly and- w Jackie spotted an opportunity, break- w ng clear to the full-back, who tackled n lim well. Hawken had the ball, howver, and scored a neat try between the >osts for Dalgleish to convert. Davies vas dropping passes now, but picked up r , n the .middle of loose play to hand to he waiting Henderson, who cut in, disppeared in the ruck, shook himself ree and passed to Bowler for the winger a score yet again. Adlam converted e( rith a good kick from the side-line. Javies retrieved his waning popularity zith a sound piece of defensive work a 1 hat confounded Kelsey’s schemes for try and School took the attack again. ’he ball travelled along the side-line zith Henderson, Bowler and Henderon again for the centre to score. Adlam lissed with the kick and the half-time core was: Stratford Rongotai 8 When play resumed Rongotai replaced t £ - ijured players, Gendall and Shakes go- a ig on in place of Gow and Jacobsen. o f lelsey put Rongotai on attack but the w earn did not get far. Betts sent his S p acks away in a clockwork move that yt

ended with a score for Bird. Wilmshurst and Gray occupied the limelighl for their respective teams and Wilmshurst suddenly shot from a scrum* neai the sideline, dodged the opposing winger kicked over the full-back’s head anc raced him to touch down for a clevei opportunist try. Bowler fielded a ,lonj Rongotai clearing kick at the half-waj flag and centred, Bird, Henderson anc Davies arriving at Mackie simultaneously with the ball, but Mackie clearec again. Stone, Hawken, Kelsey and Mackie all joined in a rush that took the game to the Stratford line for the attacking team to be awarded a free' kick which Dalgle’sh turned to good advantage with a »; sal. The Stratford backs swung into action again after a long spell and afte: two smart stabs had raked the defence unsuccessfully a thir ’ rugged dash bj the backs resulted in a try to Henderson. A trail was left of two Stratforc and two Rongotai men requiring attention on the ground behind. The Rongotai players had to change position frequently to rest injured men and Kelsej as a forward and Gray at full-back showed their versatility. Sotheran and Kofoed made a solid thrust right into the goal-mouth and the ball shot up frorr Wilmshurst’s toe for a great snapshot ai goal that raised the referee’s hand. Time arrived almost immediately with the scores: Stratford 32 Rongotai H Mr. A. O’Sullivan was the referee. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. C. C. W. Haselden, manager oi the Bank of New South Wales at Stratford, received notice yesterday of his transfer to the Timaru branch. He will be replaced by Mr. R. D. McDonald from the inspectors’ office. ' GENERAL ITEMS. Kindergarten Break-oup. To celebrate the end -of the second term the pupils of Mrs. G. Dick’s kindergarten school, Stratford, gave a display of their work at St. Andrew’s Hall yesterday, following parents’ day at the end of last week. The 15 pupils showed a good grasp of the games, songs and needlework they had been taught. Team in Hard Training. Members of the Stratford senior Rugby Union team are keeping in hard training in view of the provincial final at Eltham on Thursday. Despite other attractions, the team assembled at the High School ground yesterday afternoon and played a brisk practice match against members of the Celtic club. Goat Causing Trouble. A wandering billy-goat has been a source of amusement and annoyance to Whangamomona recently. Sleeping on various doormats, the goat has received many speedy evictions. The painter’s pot proved a great attraction to the goat. Effects of Football Victory. A first offender was convicted and discharged by Mr. H. G. Carman, Justice of the Peace, at the Eltham Court yesterday on a charge of drunkenness. The man had celebrated Taranaki’s football victory rather unwisely and had an argument about the payment of a fish and chips meal. He was lodged in the lock-up for the night, which is the first occasion for a long time that the cells have been used for the purpose of accommodating an inebriate. Preparing Aerodrome. Members of the Stratford Aero Club participated in a working-bee at the landing ground at the railway reserve yesterday afternoon, the main activities being the transportation to the ground of a hauler for the removal of the trees that are at present an obstruction. A truck was pressed into commission and after sundry adventures with both machines the hauler reached the aerodrome side of the river that had to be crossed. There are about 200 tres to be removed. PEREIRA TO WREfsTLE OSWALD, FINE MATCH FOR STRATFORD. In having matched Pereira and Oswald to wrestle at Stratford on Monday night the Stratford Asociation has fixed a bout that any of the cities would have been only too eager to obtain. Al Pereira has long been acclaimed as the most popular wrestler in New Zealand to-day but he is being challenged for his reputation by Hank Oswald, the wrestling detective. Throwing up a good job as guardian of a State governor in America, Oswald entered the ranks of professional wrestlers. He is a great favourite with fans as he uses the more spectacular holds and keeps going all out from start to finish. Only 27 years of age, he holds a great reoerd and his New Zealand performances to date class him as a wrestler of the first order. Last Monday he gave the champion Walker a torrid time. A paper considered to be one of the keenest critics of wrestling says Oswald is a fine wrestler md had Walker using all his best tricks to obtain a fall. Pereira is known to all, as an- honest wrestler always out to win. His match with Rumberg will live long in the memory of those who were lucky enough see it. Three rousing cheers were riven Pereira at the end of his bout with Walker at Christchurch recently, a rather unusual compliment, but he fully leserved it. The two men, Pereira and Oswald, lave met once only, when Oswald gainid the decision, Pereira having knockid himself out, and Stratford is very ucky to be given the first return. A ine display of photographs is on view it Rudkin’s, Broadway, and the reservations at Rex Watson’s are already ieavy.*