THE RUGBY GAME.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1931, Page 7

THE RUGBY GAME.

WAIRARAPA COMPETITION OPENED. GREYTOWN DEFEAT OLD BOYS. CARTERTON AND GLADSTONE WIN. A fair amount of interest was shown in the opening matches of the Wairarapa Rugby Union’s championship competition, which opened on Saturday in almost perfect weather conditions. As a result of the recent rains the grounds were in first-class order. For so early in the season good form was displayed in the majority of the games and as combination and general form will naturally improve as the season advances there are prospects of a series of bright and keenly contested club games this year. A noticeable feature of tne senior grade matches was the absence of many of the star players of the last three or four seasons. Their positions, however, were filled by promoted juniors who all acquitted themselves creditably. Chief interest centred in the Grey-town-Old Boys encounter, at Greytown, in which honours went to Greytown by a margin of three points. The game, which was played at a rattling pace, was keenly contested and the ultimate outcome was in doubt right up to the final w r histle. At Carterton, the Carterton paek dominated the game to such an extent as to give them a. victory over Red Star by 32 points to 5. There was nothing startling in the Mas-terton-Gladstone match, played at Memorial Park. Gladstone gained the verdict by 21 points to 6. Saturday’s games were all played under the rules as laid down by the Internationa] Board. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Senior. Greytown 11, Old Boys 8. Carterton 32, Red Star 5. Gladstone 21, Masterton 6. Junior. Martinborough 22, Carterton 6. Red Star 6, Kopuaranga 3. Masterton 3, Featherston 3. Daiefleld 8, Greytown 5. Old Boys forfeited to Gladstone. OLD BOYS—GREYTOWN.

The general standard of play in the Old Boys—Greytown match, at Greytown, was good for so early in the season, though both sides lost many golden opportunities through faulty handling and over-eagerness. Territorially, the game was even, but superiority in fitness and combination gave Greytown the win by 11 points to 8. Old Boys made a mistake in making the game so open at a stage when their rearguard lacked that cohesion which no doubt will be acquired as the season advances. Had they endeavoured to keep the game tight and relied more on their hard-working pack, thus nullifying to some extent the activities of the” speedy Greytown rearguard, they might have been more successful. As it was, Greytown were not slow in profiting by the mistakes of their opponents and both their tries were the result of mulled passes. Taken as a whole, the game, though not spectacular, -was keenly contested and marked r by hard scrummaging by the packs and occasional bright sorties by both sets of backs.

Greytown lost no time in carrying play to Old Boys’ 25. Hart, however, who played splendidly throughout, snapped up 1 and handed to C. Le Quesne, who lined well downfield. Subsequent scrummaging on the Greytown line saw Old Boys almost across on several occasions. Faulty handling, however, spoilt these opportunities and eventually allowed Clarke to break through with Stringfellow in support. The speedy three-quarters cut through and sent Himona across in a handy position. Barney converted and Greytown were thus five points up in as many minutes. Hart was being well supplied with the ball but his supports seemed to lack cohesion. Give and take play, with both sides at. times within an ace of scoring, ensued for a time until hard scrummaging in Old Boys’ 25 saw Greytown awarded a penalty. Stringfellow had no difficulty with the kick. Greytown, 8/0. Old Boys made strenuous efforts to make up the leeway, but despite good play by Roach and Hart, half-time sounded with the score unchanged. Hart set. his backs in motion on resumption, but a loose pass saw Himona intercept and carry play to Old Boys’ 25. , Old Boys, however, were not to be denied and were soon on attack again. Then cane the best movement of the day, and incidentally Old Boys’ only try. From a forward melee, C. Le Quesne secured, made a beautiful opening and handed to Williams, to Roach, who touched down between the It was a snappy piece of concerted play. Williams converted. Greytown, 8/5. Old Boys kept up the pressure fol a time, but the pace was beginning to tell and Greytown took a turn at attack and following on hot play in Old Boys’ 25, Himona picked up a dropped pass and crossed for a smart try. The kick at goal was disallowed. Greytown, 11/5. Even play, mostly in midfield’ was the order and when Williams landed a splendid penalty goal for Old Boys things became exciting. However, the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards with the scores: Greytown 11/8 The referee was Mr. M. McLeod. CARTERTON—RED STAR. Holding a decided advantage throughout, Carterton- defeated Red Star in a match played at Carterton, by 32 points to 5. As was the case in previous seasons, Carterton’s strength lay in their forwards, who worked untiringly throughout and proved too strong for the lighter Star pack. The Star backs showed plenty of pace and combined well, but their forwards being beaten, they did not see a great deal of the ball.

Carterton opened their account earlv in the first spell, when Nikorima landed a penalty. Even play in midifield was the order for a time, until the Carterton backs combined in a move that ended on the Red Star line. From an ensuing scramble, Campbell crossed The kick failed. A bright passing bout by the Star rearguard a few minutes later culminated in Peterson touching down. F. Clarke converted. Ragged play ensued till just before halftime, when Campbell crossed for his . —r t • - —

second try. Nikorima converted. At half-time Carterton were leading, 11/5. Carterton attacked strongly on resumption and Fitzgerald made a good opening; however he elicited an unsuccessful pot. Star pressed for a time, Jensen eventually clearing to midfield, where Stars were penalised. Nikorima kicked a splendid goal. Carterton were now having the best of matters, but faulty handling and offside play spoilt several promising movements. Their efforts were eventually rewarded, however, when the Maroon backs were associated in a move that resulted in Burgess crossing. Nikorima converted. Carterton added a further five points to their tally shortly afterwards, when Trapp touched down between the posts for Nikorima to convert. Carrig paved the way for a hot Star sortie, but the Carterton defence was sound and play soon returned to Stars’ line, where, from a forward scramble, S. Reid secured and dived over. The kick was charged down. The final whistle sounded with the score: Carterton, .32; Red Star, 5. Mr. H. Matson controlled the game.

GLADSTONE—MASTERTGN. Superior fitness and a heavier pack were mainly responsible for Gladstone’s win over Masterton by 21 points to 6 in a match played at Memorial Park. Masterton, however, gave a good account of themselves and more than held their dwn in the first spell, which ended 3/3. Gladstone drew first blood when L. Booth crossed early in the spell. ’The kick failed. Just before half-time, Roff evened matters with a splendid penalty goal. Shortly after resumption, R. Booth secured from a scrum near the Masterton line and touched down. McKay converted. A minute later Gladstone increased their tally when a combined movement resulted in McKay scoring. Masterton livened up and an infringement in Gladstone’s 25 saw Roff kick another good goal. Gladstone had the better of matters for the remainder of the spell, adding ten points (two tries by R. Booth, McKay converting both) to their score. .The final score was Gladstone, 21/6. Mr. W. Grantham refereed. ■WELLINGTON. , Rugby results:—Wellington beat Poneke, 14/6; Miramar beat Berhampore, 11/5; Eastbourne beat Old Boys, 11/9; Varsity beat Oriental, 10/7; Marist drew with Petone, 21 all; Hutt beat Athletic, 30/11.—(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Rugby results:—Varsity beat Old Boys, 14/9; Christchurch beat Athletic, 24/3; Linwood beat Merivale, 16/14; Albion beat Sydenham, 5/3. —(P.A.) ’