THE RUGBY GAME.

Wairarapa Age, 6 July 1936, Page 3

THE RUGBY GAME.

WAIRARAPA CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION. UNEXPECTED DEPEAT OF BED STABS. CABTEBTON SCORE SURPRISE WIN Saturday was a day of surprises in the Wairarapa Rugby Union’s championship competition and a thrilling series of matches saw the downfall of Bed Stars and Gladstone, the two leading teams. Carterton created something approaching a first-class sensation by defeating Stars 15-14 in a hectic game at Memorial Park. Then Old Boys did the unexpected by trouncing Gladstone 17-10 at the Carterton Showgrounds. At Martinborough, Dalefield were outclassed by the southern fifteen to the tune of 39-12. Greytown were too strong for FeaLherston, winning 25-6. Stars are still two points out in front from Martinborough, who moved into second place after having won all three games in the second division. Gladstone and Old Boys are on even terms, three points behind Stars. RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

Senior. Carterton 15; Bed Star 14. Old Boys 17; Gladstone 10. Martinborough 39; Dalefield 12. Greytown 25; Featherston 6. Junior. Opaki 17; Martinborough 6. Masterton 29; Red Star 8. Carterton 22; Grey town 0. Thirds. Masterton 19; Red Star 9. Old Boys 76; Featherston 0. Carterton 19; High School 0. GRUELLING STRUGGLE. CARTERTON DEFEAT RED STARS. In a gruelling struggle at Memorial Park, in which play at times was considerably harder than it need have been, Carterton did the unexpected by defeating Red Stars, championship leaders, 15-14. The game, which was packed with exciting incident, was won and lost in the first spell when Carterton put on 15 points to their opponent’s 6. The possession of an accurate goal kicker might have made all the difference to Stars, as at least three "sitters” went begging. Carterton, however, deserved their win. Although beaten for the ball in the set scrums, the Carterton forwards broke up quickly and, with their backs standing up close, managed to keep the speedy Star backs well in check. Star’s performance in the opening spell was far from convincing and both backs and forwards gave the impression of being over-trained. In the second spell, however, they came to light with a grand rally and went within an ace of pulling the game out of the fire. There was a remarkable scene in the stand during the last ten minutes when, with only one point separating them, the two teams played inspired football. Time and again it looked as if Stars would force their way across by sheer determination, but Carterton showed just how good they were by driving off the invaders and on several occasions going close to increasing their winning margin. Full credit for Carterton victory must go to Frank Fitzgerald. Apart from a grand all round display, it was he who broke up the Star inside hacks and thus. prevented the speedy three-quar-ter line from functioning effectively. Carterton early adopted spoiling tactics and while Stars were securing regularly from the set scrums their backs could not make much headway in the face of Carterton’s relentless tackling. Play had been in progress about ten minutes when Jensen opened Carterton’s account with a penalty goal. By virtue of solid work by their forwards, Carterton dominated matters and. Fitzgerald further improved their position when he calmly potted a beautiful field goal. Following a hot Star attacking movement Carterton forced to save. Fitzgerald worked a tricky short drop-out and Hatton and Burgess carried on for 80 yards for the former to score a fine try, which Jensen converted. Carterton maintained the pressure and from a loose scramble near the Tine, G. Steffert forced his way across. Jensen missed the kick. Play had been in progress about 35 minutes when Stars tame to light with a try. R. Howard made a fine break through and Grantham carried on to score. Grantham missed the kick. Just before the interval Howard again paved the way for a try, which was scored by Peterson, who beat Fitzgerald in a race for possession over the line. Grantham missed the kick. Devine moved into second five-eighth on resumption and this had the effect of strengthening the Star defence and also sharpenlr’« u p the attack. Stars made up some of the leeway when Long broke through and handed to Howard to Peterson. Peterson’s speed enabled him to race through for a good try. Grantham missed the kick. Stars were now very much in the picture and they got within a point of Carterton’s tally when Cross sliced his way through for a splendid try. D. Clarke converted. A grim struggle for supremacy then ensued but no-side sounded with the scores unchanged. Mr. W. Grantham was the referee.

GLADSTONE BEATEN. OLD BOYS TOO RESOURCEFUL. Old Boys brought off a surprise win on the Carterton ground when they defeated Gladstone by 17 points to 10. The game was drab and uninteresting for most of the time, but in the last 20 minutes there were thrills galore. Old Boys.’ performance throughout the first 'spell and for a good portion of the second was unconvincing, and their forwards received a rare buffeting from their opponents, who won 80 per cent, of the set scrums. The winners' backs, however, although they started inauspiciOusly, improved as the game progressed, and on the day held a slight advantage over the Gladstone rearguard. Gladstone opened their account early in the spell when lan Booth landed a penalty. The same player, after Gladstone had been hammering away in determined fashion, received a pass from Stroud, the half-back, and placed his team seven points ahead by potting a goal. For a while, Gladstone seemed

to lose a lot of their sting and it was during this period that Eastwood capped a pleasing back movement with a try which Lang converted. Old Boys took the lead when Lang kicked a penalty for a scrum, infringement, but early in the second spell Gladstone went to the front again, Booth putting a penalty kick over the bar, making the score Gladstone 10, Old Boys 8. Another success with a free kick by Lang gave Old Boys an 11-10 lead, and it was from that stage that play brightened up and kept the crowd keenly interested. Clever play between Denbee and Martelli resulted in the latter jinking his way over for a try that was not converted, and Martelli, towards the end of the game, was con spicuous in the brightest movement of the day. He secured on the wing, deftly fended off a would-be tackler, meed ahead, and when confronted by the fullback, short-punted over that player’s head. Tredray, who had followed up smartly, secured the ball high up and dropped down between two tacklers to ground the ball for a good score. The kick missed. Mr. F. Dean was the referee. AN EASY WIN. Martipborough won their third game in succession when they outclassed Dalefield to the tune of 39 points to 12. Martinborough had too much pace and combination for Dalefield. GREYTOWN WIN. Greytown returned to form against Featherston and ran out easy winners, 25-6. It was a keen and interesting game.