THE RUGBY GAME.

Wairarapa Age, 15 June 1931, Page 3

THE RUGBY GAME.

WAIRARAPA COMPETITIONS CONTINUED. OLD BOYS SCORE SURPRISE VICTORY. POSITION OF SENIOR TEAMS. The sixth series of matches in the senior championship of the Wairarapa Rugby Union was played on Saturday under good conditions. The principal attraction was the Old Boys—Carterton encounter, which attracted a large attendance and in stages provided some thrilling football. Old Boys won by 16 points to 11: Greytown and Gladstone both had somewhat easy wins, defeating Masterton and Dalefield respectively. 1 As a result of Old Boys’ defeat of Carterton, the cltp.mpionship table has undergone another interesting change, and as the season advances the selection of the winning team becomes increasingly difficult. The following is the position of the senior teams at the conclusion of the first round:—

RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

Senior. Old Boys 16, Carterton 11. Gladstone 27, Dalefield 3. Greytown 37, Masterton 6. Junior. Martinborough 8, Greytown 6. Gladstone 4, Masterton S'. Carterton 11, Dalefield 3. Thirds. Featherston 6, Masterton 3. Martinborough 11, Red Star 9. - High School 9, Technical 0.8. 6. Fourths. Martinborough 30., High School 6 Fifths. Carterton 17, Red Star 0. Technical 14, High School 3. ‘ Sixths. High School A 32, Featherston 0. OLD BOYS—CARTERTON. Old Boys secured a surprise but well merited victory at Memorial Park, Carterton being decisively defeated by 16 points to 11. The game, which was witnessed by a very large attendance of the public, lacked nothing in .pace, and was one of the most sparkling expositions of the code seen in the district for some time. Following on Carterton’s defeat of Greytown the previous Saturday, Old Boys’ victory was contrary to general expectations, but the team showed considerably improved form and there was no doubt but that the better team, on the day’s play, won Carterton secured the ball from practically every set scrum, but Old Boys’ accurate tackling, together with the splendid play of their forwards somewhat nullilfied this jrrnnj the start, Old Boys forced the pace, and within the first minute D. Smith intercepted a pass from Nikorima to Oliver and went across for a fine try. The kick failed. Old Boys, 3/0. Thus encouraged, Old Boys continued to press their opponents and after a period of interesting play, Hart secured from a scrum, handed to Mill to C. Ward who cut through and reverse passed to Mill, who crossed for a good try. It was a beautiful piece of play. Williams converted. Old Boys, 8/0. Old Boys continued to press and shortly afterwards Williams added three more points with a fine penalty. Old Boys, 11/0. Carterton held a territorial advantage for the remainder of the spell and though unlucky on several occasions their efforts were finally rewarded when Burgess sent Trapp across. The kick failed. Old Boys, 11/3. Accurate line-kicking by Williams and Roach sent Old Boys to attack on resumption, but Carterton broke away and good play by Oliver resulted in Campbell- crossing. Fitzgerald converted. Old Boys, 11/8. Carterton kept up the pressure, but Hart cleared and Williams broke away and handed to Faulknor who, when 'blocked on the line, threw a long pass infield. Williams, who had followed through, touched down. Williams converted. Old Boys, 16/8. Play now touched a high standard, with both sides going within an ace of scoring. Just before no side, r itzgerald landed a penalty goal for Carterton, making the final score: Old Boys, 16; Garterton, 11.

GLADSTONE—DALEFIELD.

Superior combination and speed were mainly responsible for Gladstone’s decisive defeat of Dalefield, at the Carterton Showgrounds, by 27 points to 3. More or less even play marked the first spell, which ended 16/3 in Gladstone’s tai our. McKay opened Gladstone’s account early in the spell with a penaltv while a few minutes later a eoneerted back move resulted in McKav crossing. F. Booth converted. After a with° d Of I desultor - v P’ay, Ferguson, 111th a good run, paved the wav for a Z /// Z/ <ay scoi 'cd. The kick .failed. Dalefield were the next to score Bond crossing from a loose scrum for an unconverted try. Just before halftime, McKay added five more .points to Gladstone s tally with a try, which he also_ converted. Early in 'the second session, McManaway crossed from a scrum near the Dalefield line. McKay converted Soon after, a pretty Gladstone back move saw McKay score an unconverted try. Just before no side Ferguson touched down, making the final score: Gladstone, 27; Dalefield 3.

GREYTOWN—MASTERTON.

Grey town scored a somewhat easy win over Masterton in a match played at Grey town, by 37 points to 6. Despite the substantial margin of points, Masterton put up a good fight against their redoubtable opnonents and had their rearguard played half as well as their hardworking forwards, the final margin of points would probably have been much less. Greytown scored six tries in the first spell, which with Fuller’s kicking, made the half-time score, 23/3 in their favour. Masterton’s defence proved sounder in the second spell, which was fairly evenly contested. Greytown scored three more tries and the game ended, Greytown, '37/6. All Black, C. Stringfellow, had a day out, notching five tries, while Best (2) Clarke and Hills also crossed. Fuller converted four and Best one. Saunders

scored Masterton’s only try, and Roff landed a penalty goal.

RESULTS ELSEWHERE.

AUCKLAND. Grammar beat Technical, 11/3; Ponsonby beat University, 18/7; Grafton drew with City, 3 all; Marist drew with College Rifles, no score; Training College drew with Manakau, no score. In a soccer representative match, Wellington beat Auckland, 5/4. —(P.A.) WELLINGTON. Varsity drew with Miramar, 11 all; Athletic beat Berhampore, 9/0; Old Boys beat Oriental, 5/3; Eastbourne beat Petone, 19/14; Poneke beat Hutt, 16/6; Marist beat Wellington, 21/14. — (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. M'erivale beat’Old Boys, 24/0; Linwood beat Albion, 11/8; Varsity beat Athletic, 27/11; Sydenham beat Christchurch, 5/0. The position of the teams in the championship is as follows: Merivale, 8 points; Christchurch, 6; Sydenham 6, Varsity 5, Old Boys 4, Linwood, 4; Albion, 3; Athletic. O.—(P.A.)

P. w. L. D. Pts. Greytown 6 5 1 0 10 Gladstone 6 5 1 0 10 Old Boys 6 4 9 0 8 Dalefield 3 3 o 6 Carterton 6 3 3 0 ■6 Bed Star 6 1 5 0 2 Masterton 6 0 6 0 0