All Rugby Teams Suffer Defeat

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6105, 22 September 1947, Page 5

All Rugby Teams Suffer Defeat

SENIORS GO DOWN TO TE AWAMUTU BOYCE CUP LOST The Cambridge Rugby Reprean inauspicious end on Saturday when the local teams suffered defeat in all three grades. The seniors fully extended Te Awamutu, the latter team winning by 11 points to 6, thus qualifying to play Morrinsville in the Finlay Cup final. The juniors, after their good form of previous weeks, proved disappointing and lost the Boyce Cup to Matamata by 6 points to 3. The third grade fifteen visited. Morrinsville being defeated by 13 points to 1 3 in an interesting game.

Cambridge: M. White; W. Kelly, G. Bartletfc, R. Arnold; W. Bartlett, G. Brunskill; V. Miller; R. Towgood, K. Drabble, W. McLennan, E. Searle, T. Arnold, R. Ogilvy, A. Arnold and B'. Reese.

Te Awamutu: R. Whitehead; D. Shaw, D. Barton, G. Crotty; W, Bees, K. Walker; H. Cox; J. Forkert, R, Douglas, R. Hinton, J. Melrose, D. Sutherland, G. Davy, G. Taylor and Hinton.

An early break by McLennan almost brought points to. Cambridge, but thereafter both teams made handling mistakes and play for the first fifteen minutes was indecisive. The Te Awamutu forwards, with R. Hinton and Melrose prominent, launched dangerous assaults and Cambridge was kept hard on defence for a period. Both packs concede several penalties, Barton and Sutherland making unsuccessful attempts at goal,for Te Awamutu, and Brunskill meeting with no success for Cambridge. After an intercept by Brunskill threatened danger, Te Awamutu retaliated with a spirited rush, and play veered to the left wing. Crotty secured possession and centred, the bounce beating M.' White. Forkert flashed through and gained possession with a determined riin he scored a good try in a handy position and Barton con-, verted with ease. Te Awamutu 5, Cambridge o.'

Te Awamutu monopolised the remaining .five minutes of the first spell but there was no further score. The Cambridge backline was altered at half-time. Briinskill moved in to first five-eighth, M. White coming up to second five-eighth, and W. Bartlett going to full back. Five minutes sufficed for Te Awamutu to increase its lead,/ Barton making a fine penalty.goal from well out. Almost immediately M. White made a. good, but unsuccessful attempt to goal for Cambridge. Cambridge scored its first points ten minutes after the interval. Brunskill .and Miller combined effectively the former passing infield to A. Ai*n old'who. drew the full-back and sent T. Arnold across for an excellent try. M. White missed the kick. Te Awamutu 8, Cambridge 3.

Two minutes later the Te Awamutu back line functioned effectively, Barton adding thrust to the movement, and Shaw making a great dash to score an unconverted try » wide out. Te Awamutu 11, Cambridge 3. Cambridge made most of the play in the closing stages, but Whitehead's accurate touch finders invariably repelled attacks, Cambridge initiated an excellent- back movement, but M. White was illegally tackled with a try in sight. From the resulting penalty, Brunskill goaled. Te Awamutu 11, Cambridge 6. J. Melrose (Te Awamutu) and A. Arnold (Cambridge) retired injured late- in the game. D. Clements and D. Dench were the replacements. A keen Te Awamutvt forward rush was

repulsed by Brunskill and the Cambridge pack had driven play back to opposing territory when the game ended with the score : Te Awamutu 11, Cambridge 6. • Mr J. Coogan (Putaruru) was the referee.

Playing conditions at Te Awamutu were excellent, but local games at Memorial Park developed into mud scrambles. The local junior fifteen fell from grace considerably, being defeated by Matamata in an unimspiring game. Matamata deserved to win but had little to spai'e, a penalty goal late in the second half clinching the victory. A yisiting Auckland Technical team played excellent football to defeat Leamington by 21 points to 6. The game was played in holiday spirit. Te. Awamutu and Morrinsville have each scored fourteen points to lead the Findlay Cup table and a play-off is necessary. This will probably take place on October 4, at Taupiri.

Taumaranui's determined Peace Cup challenge was repulsed by Morrinsville by 6 points to 3. Hero of the day was the veteran Morrinsville half-back, L. T. Russell, who scored one try and paved the way for one scored by T. Clarkin. Taumaranui fielded a virile forward pack and a fine set of backs, but ground conditions did not favour the latter. All Black J. K. McLean received limited opportunities. The virile rushes of the Morrinsville forwards was a contributing factor towards the home team's victory. Mr C. G. Wallace, of Cambridge, was the referee.