Cambridge’s Good Showing In Provincial Championship

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6100, 10 September 1947, Page 3

Cambridge’s Good Showing In Provincial Championship

PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL

During the holidays the Cambridge District Primary School representative team visited'' Te Aroha to take part in the Auckland Provincial Championship (formerly known as the Roller Mills Shield.) The team with its manager, Mr L. C. Bear, travelled in private cars generously supplied by parents and friends.

This was the first occasion on which Cambridge had entered a team in the competition. Previously iioys from this district had been selected to play in a Waikato team;/out this year Cambridge decided to/ enter a team of its own, thus giving a greater number of boys valu/ble experience in match play against strong opposition. / The members of the /earn were: R. White, R. Jones, R. j/nner, T. Galloway, A. Dagdf, I. Prost, N. Wright, R. Brennan, M. Ryketts (captain), J.' Davis, L. 'RueSk, E. Rusk, L. Hjorth, P. Kelly, K. Ashton, A. S'troobant, R. Houghton, R. Dallas, and F. Wehipeihana. Twelve teams competed, four being from Auckland and one each from South Auckland, Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Matamata, Morrinsville. Thames Valley and Paeroa. Thames Valley, having held the shield for the past two years, organised the competition in four sections—Te Aroha, Paeroa, Thames and Waihi. In three of these centres a local team played each day to eliminate byes. The arrangements made for the reception and billeting of the team were excellent. Within a few minutes of arrival the boys were introduced to a member of the household in which they were to spend the rest of the week. Everything possible was done to make the week a memorable one for the players. Their new friends were exceedingly kind and thoughtful. To these hospitable people the boys are greatly indebted. The first matches were played on

Tuesday afternoon, Cambridge having drawn the bye, playing the Te Aroha team. After a most interesting game Cambridge won 9—o. Tries were scored by A. Dagg and L. Hjorth, while W. Ricketts kicked a penalty goal. On the following day the team met Te Awamutu. This was a very even encounter. 'Heavy rain about halftime made conditions unpleasant so that the game developed into a forward struggle. Well into the first spell, after Cambridge had been on the attack for several minutes, A. Dagg secured the ball from a ruck and dived over to score the only try of the match. In the second half Te Awamutu made several attempts to score and from a penalty, kicked an excellent goal, the game ending with the scores 3 all.

The third match was against Auckland East. This proved to be the boys’ hardest game. The city backs functioned more smoothly; but the opposing forwards were very evenly matched. In the first half Auckland scored an unconverted try and no further points were added until just before the end of the match. By this time the Cambridge team, which had played splendidly right through the game, tired,, and two tries were scored against them in quick succession. The final score was Auckland East 9, Cambridge 0. Auckland East, which had defeated Te Awamutu 12—0 the day before, was thus the section winner. On the Friday, rvhile the winning team travelled by bus to Waihi to play in the semi-final. Cambridge visited Paeroa to play Auckland West. On a muddy field Cambridge had a well merited win, 9 —o. Tries were scored by R. Jenner, R. White and N. Wright. On Saturday the team watched the final between Auckland North nnd South Auckland and then returned home.