RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3190, 14 June 1932, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA COMPETITIONS. LAST SATURDAY'S GAMES. Dull weather prevailed for the Waipa Rugby Union's championship competitions last Saturday, but 'there was a fair attendance of the public at Albert Park, where most of the games were played. Results:— Seniors— Te. Awamutu 15 v. Pirongia 3. Rovers 9 v. Kihikihi 6. Juniors— Te.Awamutu 6 v. Rovers 3. Nguturiui 11 v. Arohena 3. Pirongia 8 v. Ohaupo 0. Te Mawhai won by default from Owairaka. . THE SENIORS. Rovers v. Kihikihi.—This game was played on No. 2 ground with Mr R. Caliis as referee. Rovers opened with a solid attack that nearly took them over, but over-eagerness spoiled the effort, and' A. Jackskon cut in cleverly to; ward the danger off. Then W. Polltird and McNaughton rushed play upfield, the ball going out at Rovers twenty-five flag. Rovers secured possession and keeping the ball in close they were soon attacking again. Even play followed, until Elliot accepted a pass from W. Macky and scored wide - out. -G. Wo'od failed with the kick. -Rovers continued to force the issue, ■and the Kihikihi backs were kept very busy warding off the repeated attacks. In one effort Wood picked up smartly on#the 25 line, and bustled almost to goal-line only to lose possession, and Kihikihi forced. Half-time came without further score. On resuming the game had only been in progress a few minutes when Kihikihi had manoeuvred into position, and an infringement let N. Jackson kick a good goal. Rovers, swept down on the attack again and a forward rush ended in L. Thomas forcing his way over. Wood failed with the minor points. Rovers were clearly having- the best of it, despite solo efforts by Kelly and R. Jackson, and soon the Rovers backs took part in a passing rush that resulted in H. Bennett scoring wide out. Wood again failed with the kick. Kihikihi rallied momentarily, and a penalty kick by N. Jackson narrowly missed. A few minutes later A. Jackson shot the ball out smartly from behind the scrum to D. Christie, to Wynyardi, to Kelly, who was within a yard of scoring," but he was bustled, and Rovers forced. Keeping up Kihikihi were almost oyer- several times, but the defence held? However, an infringement let N. Jackson have another shot at goal, and this time he made no mistake. The game ended without further score, Rovers thus winning a hard-fought contest by nine points to six. Te Awamutu v. Pirongia. This game was refereed by Mr McCready on No. 1 ground, and proved very interesting to the public. Pirongia, from the kick-off worked to Te Awamutu's twenty-five line, but were soon driven back, and the locals opened rhe play by flinging the ball about. However, E. Bell cut in neatly,.and had Te Awamutu hard pressed until Lash ■ booted the leather well down field. Again the westerners attacked, but once more Lash relieved, and Martin and Sinclair carried the ball well down field. A good line kick by E. Bell steadied the rush. Askew and Grace led a Pirongia forward attack up to Te Awamutu's twenty-five line, where in a melee Howarth was injured, and Bulford replaced him. Soon afterwards Lash kicked a good penalty goal. The Te Awamutu backs were passing erratically, and two or three opportunities to score were missed. Eventually D. Donaldson bored his way over for a try. Lash failed with the kick. Pi- | rongia were kept on the defensive for v a time, until J. Macky flashed round and punted to safety well down the line. Martin had to do a good deal of defensive work to keep the Pirongias out. A passing rush started with Sinclair and carried on bv Ashton and Lash looked dangerous, but Glasson collided with Lash and both fell. In another effort, Glasson almost got over. Lash had another unsuccessful shot at goal from an infringement, but a minute later he succeeded with a beautiful kick. Craik headed a solid Te Awamutu forward rush, but W. Bell cleared nicely. Just before ," half-time Te Awamutu were again St pressing hard but could not get over. After the spell Pirongia set up an

attack that looked dangerous, F. Beet | ; . prominently, a little later that -'- -player"scored wide out. The kick now began to assert themselves: and --attacked hotly, with Turney and Loveridge shining most, but the defence ' ■was. sound. Pirongia worked down : ?.6iid with lineouts and line kieks, and P. Grace had an unsuccessful shot 'at goal. Te Awamutu were hard % pressed, but managed to stave off the attacks. Ultimately play was taken to midfield, and a little later Tunisy js); broke away and raced right over Pi- ■ - fohgia's line to get a splendid try. The :-..* kick failed. Another forward rush .saw Donaldson in the lead, and he , . bustled over for a try wide out. The v kick was a good one, but fell short. Keeping up the attack, Te Awamutu had .their opponents defending solidly, . but a force "relieved. Lash was kick- '.*,. oing well side line, saving his : S forward's cleverly. W. Bell had - plenty of work to do as Pirongia's f ull- . : back, but he did it effectively. The rest of the game was fairly even. ' ,; - THE JUNIORS. ' "Te Awamutu v. Rovers. —This game - was staged on No. 1 ground, with Mr ,E/;Maddern in charge, and proved to , be!? one of the most "exciting of the afternoon. Play was very even, and £;«:_ there.was no score for the first twenty '•••'-' minutes, but then Brill kicked a nice ■';.■ ; goal from a penalty for Te Awamutu. ' A little later T. Dalziel intercepted a pass and raced through right to Rbv.ers* fullback, and then kicked, but he ; stumbled. >'Quinlan carried on, and

actually went "over the line, beating ::.:''.Wil'i6h;to.''fee\'i»uch-dp'wh', r '.'but a force. ' v .-,,■ was Awarded. - The play was up and ■down the field for the rest of the - spell.- ''■.'■ A few minutes after the spell M. Pollard kicked a penalty goal for ■:.'• . Rovers; thus equalising the scores. ':. There was" not a great deal of back play.! but the forwards were kept ;;••■ y-v.strenuously.at:;'it, ; .and; eventually J.,: Parsons bustled oyer for a try, put- ! ting Te Awamutu' in the lead. Prill i

failed with the kick. Rovers made valiant efforts to equalise, and on one occasion looked like doing so. Pollard placed the ball for a penalty kick, but before he could kick the ball rolled over, and the referee awarded a scrum. Despite this disappointment Rovers attacked hotly, but the defence held, and the game ended without further score.

JNTgutunui v. Arohena.—Playing on No. 3 ground., with Mr Annibal in charge, this game was bright and lively, but the standard of Rugby was not good. Ngutunui opened the scoring when Armstrong slipped round the opposition to score a try. Waretini failed with the kick. After the interval Arohena did most of the attacking, but the weakness of their wing-three-quarters missed opportunities. Rouse was next to score, and Armstrong added the minor points. A little later Watson scored, cutting in cleverly to grass the ball near the uprights. The kick failed. In the closing stages the Arohena forwards bustled the opposition badly, and Jowsey and Conning headed a rush that let Conning score a well-earned try. Jowsey failed with the kick. The game ended a few minutes later.

Pirongia v. Ohaupo.—This game was played on the High School ground with Mr R. L. Adams as referee. Pirongia had all the best of the game, though at times they were hard pressed to keep the Ohaupos from scoring. The game ended in victory for the Pirongias by eights points (a try by Bardsleyj-converted by Ellis, and a try by Punch) to nil. THE THIRDS.

Rovers v. High School.—This was another match played on the High School ground, with Mr G. Jeffs as referee. This game was rather ragged, and though Rovers could not cross High School's line they succeeded in registering three penalty goals, while school's score was made up of a penalty goal and a converted try. Ohaupo v. Te Mawhai.—Mr T. Martin had charge of .this game on No. 2 ground, and the Ohaupos quickly proved that they had a better knowledge of the game, and this, added to an advantage in weight, gave them their decisive victory. They opened with a hot attack, and maintained it practically throughout the first half but at times the Te Mawhais were the invaders, and only lack of polish prevented them from scoring. Tries were scored for Ohaupo by Douch, Ennion, Teddy, B. Beechey (2) and Morris. While Te Mawhai's only score was a try by T. Pehi, who bustled through from about half-way to go over near the goal posts. Murtagh failed with the kick.