First Round Of Senior Rugby Championship

Waikato Independent, Volume XLV, Issue 6242, 23 May 1949, Page 5

First Round Of Senior Rugby Championship

Cambridge Senior Championship Rugby got away to a good start at Memorial Park on Saturday when Leamington and United scored initial victories. There was no fluke about the forme)' team's success against Matangi, last season's champion fifteen. The earlier game between United and Hautapu was a poor exhibition. Weather conditions were ideal and the ground was in good order. There was a. large attendance. UNITED V HAUTAPU Not for many a long day lias a' poorer exhibition of Senior Rugby been seen at Memorial Park than that provided by Hautapu and United. The standard of play improved slightly—very slightly—in the second half. The earlier period was mostly indec.ive with innumerable penalties and poor serums which often went down two or three times before any Kesult was gained. From one of three penalty attempts, Hjorth goaled after twenty minutes and Plaw equalised shortly afterwards. A second penalty goal by Hjorth enabled Hautapu to lead C —3 at half-time. A lively movement by United brought

the first try of the game. Fell gained possession from a loose ruck and Brunskill, Ormsby and Vagg handled crisply, the latter centre-kicking at the right moment. From the ensuring melee Day hurtled clear and raced across for a good try. Plaw missed. Hautapu 6 United 6. Moments later, United gained the lead. Hulse was the responsible agent, breaking loose from a serum, snapping up a rolling ball and diving across for a typical solo try. The kick was disnllowed. United 9 Hautapu 6. The remainder of the game produced little of incident. Once Hjorth made a neat opening and T. Arnold's determined bid for a try was frusfrated by a grand tackle by Ozich. Hautapu was favoured with the greater share of ball but penetration in the backs was lacking. A drab game ended with the score: —United 9 Hautapu 6. M" J. Cameron was the referee. LEAMINGTON V MATANGI Leamington called the tune throughout in the main game, its margin of victory clearly reflecting its superiority in all departments. Leamington scored first. Hudson engineered the try with a well-placed scao-kick following a scrum. Judu raced ahead to gather in a bouncing ball and outpaced the opposition to score. Matangi launched strong attacks during the middle stages. Harper, Budick and Tihi all went near to scoring. Eventually, from a scrum near the goal-line, Ricketts dived across and Peters converted. Matangi o Leamington 3.

Leamington regained the lead just before half-time. After Curran had initiated a movement, I. Paterson gathered in a rolling ball and scored undei the post. D. Paterson converted. Leamington 8 Matangi 5.

Leamington rarely appeared in danger of defeat during the second half. I. Paterson added another good try after he and Towgood had followed up a penalty kick keenly and carried the ball across Matangi's goal-line. The referee had occasion to warn a Matangi player late in the game after an incident in which Gray suffered injury.

Both packs continued to fight a keen battle and although Tihi and Nohe made strong solo bids for Matangi, the Leamington defence held. Bell and curran both provided rock-like defence. Leamington went further ahead in the last minute of th,e game. A high centre-kick rolled across the Matangi line and the bounce eluded Bullick. Hudson raced up to score a "gift" try. The final score was. Leamington 14 Matangi 5. Mr C. G. Wallace was the referee.

The Cambridge Senior Representative team will provide opposition to a Waikato team at Memorial Park on May 29. The purpose of the game is to enable Waikato to develop combination with a view to the King's Birthday game against Auckland. Both teams are likely to try out different players during the game which should prove an excellent trial.

The following Cambridge players aro to attend a practice to be held at Memorial Park at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. K. Day, R, Hulse, G. Brunskill, I. Mc Kenzie, J. Fell, K. Kerry (United), D. Paterson, I. Paterson, P. Judd, Q. Gray, G. MeCandlish, K. Curran (Leamington), A. Arnold, T; Arnold, D. Scobic, B, Reese, M. Paton, A. Hjorth, J. Hogan (Hautapu), S. Peters, W. Scott, A. Bullick, J. Harper, D. Banks (Matangi). Keen interest is apparent in the Junior Competition, Hautapu again lending However, the teams are evenly matched The first round Special Tropin- for third-gracrcrs has been won by United whieh completed the series without defeat.