MATANGI DEFEAT UNITED FOR FLEMING SHIELD

Waikato Independent, Volume XLV, Issue 6236, 9 May 1949, Page 5

MATANGI DEFEAT UNITED FOR FLEMING SHIELD

Matangi, 1948 senior Rugby champions, gained the initial honours of the current season by defeating United 11 —3 in a hard and exciting Fleming Shield final at Memorial Park on Saturday. The LeamingtonHautapu contest proved rather, disappointing as a spectacle although there was no shadow of doubt about the decisive nature of the former team’s victory. All grounds were in good order and there was a fair attendance. Leamington v. Hautapu Even though the result of the earlier game could have no bearing upon the fate of the Fleming Shield, the standard of play was not as good as expected. Hautapu held the earlier advantage, three penalty attempts by Kelly proving fruitless, though creditable. An impromptu incident which drew the merriment of the crowd was that of a Leamington player, who f 'miiiiimiiiumiiiimiiii'iiimiiiniiiiiiJiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiijH'iJUKiimimumiJJiiiiiiiiiimniimiiiiiiiu*

forced the ball behind the 25 yard mark, apparently mistaking it for the goal-line. An instant later he was over-run by fast-raiding Hautapu forwards. There were occasional bright phases Kelly and Judd' fighting a keen duel on the wings, and Gray accomplishing good work in the loose but conceding penalties through over-keen-ness. The first points of the game came three minutes before the interval. A short kick by Curran found a gap and Judd gained possession. A wellplaced centre-kick was fielded by I. Paterson who crossed for a fine try. D. Paterson kicked the goal. Leamington 5, Hautapu 0. •Leamington increased its lead soon after the change-over, Dench scoring an unconverted try. Two dashing runs by Ingram gave Hautapu new hopes, but movements rarely gained real momentum and there was much indecisive play. The final points came when Gray made a typical burst and after beating four men threw a high pass to I. Paterson who scored his second try. Leamington 11, Hautapu 0. Mr L. Beer was the referee. Matangi v. United Greater ability to take advantage of openings in loose play coupled with the reliable goal-kicking of S. Peters enabled Matangi, a very fit team, to wre'st the Fleming Shield from United. A brilliant penalty goal by Peters was the only score before halftime. Matangi went further ahead soon after the resumption, a characteristic burst by Bullick paving the way for a try by Banks. Peters made no mistake with the kick. A try bv Fell enabled United to reduce the deficit but Peters’ second penalty goal, a fine effort, placed the issue beyond doubt. It was an interesting game with Matangi’s winning margin too clear-cut to advance excuses on United's part. Yet, it can be said, quite justly, that it was an unlucky day for the latter team. No less than four players (Knox, Thompson, Drabble and Courtenay) were forced to retire with injuries and what appeared to be a try by Fleming was not recorded due to its coinciding with an accident to the referee. The final score was Matangi 11, United 3. Mr H. Kirkman was the referee. Next Saturday will be one of the most important days of the local Rugby season. The senior representative team will visit Hamilton to play the first Finlay Cup game and a full programme of junior representative contests will be decided at Memorial Park. These latter are Waikato junior trial games and will be between Putaruru and Matamata and Cambridge and Morrinsville. The Cambridge senior representative team to play at Rugby Park, Hamilton, is as follows:—Full-back, A Hmrth (Hautapu); three-quarters, K. Kerrv (United), J. Harper (Matangi), i. McKenzie (United); fiveeighths. A. Bullick (Matangi), G. Brunskill (Cambridge); half-back, M. Paton (Hautapu); forwards, back row, T. Arnold (Hautapu); middle row, I. Paterson (Leamington), D. Scobie (Hautapu), K. Day (United), D. Banks (Matangi), J. Scott (Matangi), A. Arnold (Hautapu), K. Hulse. (United). Emergencies: Backs, A. Kelly (Hautapu), K. Curran (Leamington), G. Turner (Matangi); forwards, G. McCandlish (Learning ton), Q. Gray (Leamington). A full practice will be held at Memorial Fark at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Hamilton team is as follows.— Full-back, K. Taylor (Old Boys);

three-quarters, I. O. Boyes (Old Boys), K. Clark (Old Boys), W. Fowler (Old Boys); five-eighths, B. A. Cowley (Old Boys), R. Mac Cormack; half-back, T. Collins (Marist); forwards, A. Ormsby (City), R. Smith (Old Boys), J. Carrodus (Old Boys), K. Elliott (Old Boys), J. Gamble (Old Boys), J. Cowan (6ld Boys), E. Grocock (City), K. Rodger (Marist). Emergencies.— Backs: K. Dalziel (Technical), E. Gillespie (Technical); forwards, K. Lehman (Old Boys), R. Bonds (Technical). The Cambridge junior representative team to play Mcrrinsviile at Memorial Park is as follows: R. Houghton (Old Boys), H. Vosper (Learnington), Wright (United), P. Wright (Matangi), L. Cowan (Hautapu), A. Skousgaard (United), W. Lai (Hautapu), G. Thompson (Matangi), N. Bush (Hautapu), Molesworth (United), Robson (Leamington), Prior (United), R. Byrne (Hautapu) captain, G. Hunt (Leamington), F. Rusk ("Matangi). Emergencies. Forwards, J. Hately (Hautapu), M. Harper (Matangi), G. Pullar (Old Boys); backs, D. Cameron (Matangi), W. James (Leamington), T. Tauti (Matangi).

The team will practice at Memorial Park at 7.30 p.m. .on Wednesday evening.