THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1939, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

WAIRARAPA CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITIONS OLD BOYS GO UNDER CARTERTON DRAW LEVEL. GLADSTONE BEAT RED STAR. The upset of Old Boys, hitherto unbeaten, was the feature of senior Rugby in Wairarapa on Saturday. Carterton scored a decisive victory over Masterton and now share the championship lead with Old Boys, both teams having suffered one defeat. In the other match Gladstone accounted for Red Star after a close and interesting game. Players generally showed improved form. Mr K. Reid, sole selector for the Wairarapa Rugby Union, attended the match between Carterton and Masterton at Masterton, and it is understood that the team to travel to Hawke's Bay for the match on June 5 will be announced early this week. RESULTS at a glance,. Senior. Carterton, 21 v. Masterton, 3. Greytow'n, 6 - v. Old Boys, 0. Gladstone, 6 v. Red Star, 0. Junior. Greytown. 15 v. Red Star, 5. Martinborough, 28 v. Masterton, 0. Featherston, 6 v. Old Boys, 3. Carterton, 22 v. Opaki, 3. Third Grade. Gladstone, 5 v. Dalefield, 0. Red Star, 34 v. Greytown, 0. Masterton, 16 v. Carterton, 3. College, 16 v. Featherston, 6. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WIN FOR CARTERTON. MASTERTON BEATEN BY 21—3. Better, understanding in the rearguard, combined with extra weight in the pack, were the deciding factors in the defeat of Masterton at the hands of Carterton, at the Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday. Carterton scored five tries, while Masterton could only muster one.

The game was not as one-sided as the score would indicate, and it was only in the last fifteen minutes that Carterton gained the upper hand to score four tries. Both sides endeavoured to open the game up, and at times there were glimpses of brilliance, only to be counteracted by bad handling .and weak tackling. The Carterton forwards, thanks to the Matheson brothers, dominated the. lineouts, while the scrums until near the finish, when • Carterton’s weight began to tell, were very even. Masterton had slightly the better of any loose play, while the Carterton forwards were superior in the tight. A notable feature of the game was the fact that the Masterton pack seemed either tired or unfit, as they hardly ever followed up, thereby losing two certain tries.

Of the Carterton backs, Brown, at centre, Thompson on the wing, and the five-eighths, J. Loader and Fitzgerald, impressed most, Thompson in particular playing good football. He is very fast and once in full stride was very hard to bring down. In the paOk, H. and D. Matheson, closely followed by Trass, caught the eye both in the loose and tight. M. Braggins played well at half for Masterton considering the heavy pack he was up against. M. Hargood. at second five-eighths, showed patches of form, while the fullback. W. Workman, appeared to be safe, although his kicking could be improved. I. Percy was the outstanding forward in a pack thatwas without two regular players in Ford and Morris. L. Reiri also toiled well in the tight.

Carterton attacked from the word go and J. Loader cut through, going to the fullback and kicking, but Workman saved brilliantly. Again the Carterton back swung into action and Brown scored after a determined run. Loader had no difficulty in adding the extra points. Masterton rallied and Hargood went through a gap but a dropped pass spoilt what might have been a try.

A clearing kick by Thompson was charged down by Percy, who made a break of 50 yards before the ball rolled into touch. Masterton pressed, and from a loose ruck on the Carterton line Braggins secured to dive across. The kick was unsuccessful. Just on half time the Carterton backs handled nicely, Brown putting in a good run to have his in-pass fumbled. On resuming, Masterton attacked, but solid defensive play kept them out. Mishandling by the Carterton rearguard saw Gray boot over the line, but the ball slipped from underneath him. Again the Masterton backs handled, Gray making another fine run down the sideline before sending infield to his supporting forwards where the ball was lost right on the goal line. Carterton backs now began to take an interest in the game and a blind side movement by Lipenski gave Brown a try in the corner. Fitzgerald converted from the sideline. Carterton gained possession from a .scrum, but Loader’s short kick rolled into touch-in-goal. From the drop out the ball went io Gray and Thompson intercepting streaked f«r the lino to score in a handy position. The kick by Fitzgerald was successful. Soon after Thompson scored after fielding a weak clearing kick. The kick was unsuccessful. A blind side movement in the middle of the field ended when Thompson’s in -pass was gathered by Rasmussen, who scored. No goal resulted, leaving Carterton the winners by 21 points to 3. Mr. W. Grantham was the referee.

GLADSTONE v. RED STAR. FAST, THRILLING GAME. In a fast, open game that was full of incident, Gladstone beat Red Star at Gladstone on Saturday by six points to nil. Gladstone scored two tries, both being scored from melees by Mason, who was the outstanding forward on | the field. Grantham rhissed tWe eaiy

penalties for Red Star and Henson was unsuccessful with one attempt. The Stars would have been lucky to win and on the other hand were unlucky to lose, and a draw would probably have been a better indication of the game, as Gladstone's tries were in a sense lucky ones. The Gladstone forwards had a slight lead in the scrums but the lineouts were more even, although Red Star did not have an advantage in that respect. The Stars were all over the opposition in the loose, while in the tight Gladstone had slightly the upper hand. The Gladstone rearguard was good on attack and defence, while the Stars, although excellent on the offensive, seemed weaker than usual on defence. O'Kane, the elusive Star five-eighths, was in good form, but he was prone to hang on, with the result that several good movements were spoilt, and the men outside received very few chances on attack. Missen, on the wing, was the other Star back who caught the eye with his strong running and sound defensive play.

E. Henderson, the Gladstone second five-eighth, played soundly, his defence was all that could be desired, and his cut-in often left the Stars grasping at thin air. The Gladstone full-back, Foreman, greatly impressed with his strong line kicking, brilliant tackling and excellent positional play. The forwards on both sides toiled hard all day and with the exception of Mason were all on a par. Mr. E. Miller was the referee. GREYTOWN BEATS OLD BOYS. TWO PENALTY GOALS TO,NIL. In a dull, scraggy game played at Greytown, Old Boys, leaders in the championship, were defeated by the home team by six points to nil. There was no score in the first half, the Greytown points came from Brunton, who kicked two penalties. Old Boys had an advantage in the rearguard in the first half, but after the change over they were not allowed to function as freely. In the early portion of the game the Old Boys inside backs were very weak, and several good chances were missed as a result.

The Greytown forwards played better than Old Boys, who were only very fair. The Greytown pack oni the other hand was not brilliant but they gave a solid display. With the exception of Parker, the Greytown full-back, the players Were even, it being exceedingly hard to sort out anyone in particular. Parker was always steady and safe.

IN OTHER CENTRES

Wellington—Marist Brothers Old Boys 8, Hutt 8; Wellington 18, St Pat’s College Old Boys 6; Petone 11, College Old Boys 8; Poneke 14, Eastbourne 5; Athletic 6, University 6; Johnsonville, 12, Oriental 11. Auckland—Marist 12, Ponsonby 3; Grammar 8, Technical 0.8. 6; North Shore 11, Training College 11; Grafton 17, Manukau 9. Christchurch: Merivale 15, Air Force 3; Sunnyside 19, Varsity 6; Southern 8, Christchurch 3; Albion 14, Technical 14; Athletic 16, Linwood 9.

DUnedin—Southern 18, University A 12; Pirates 28, University B 3; Kaikorai 17, Taieri 8; Union 12, Alhambra 11; Zingari-Richmond 3, Dunedin 3. ; ’

Wanganui.— Wanganui and Old Boys 8, Pirates 8; Technical College Old Boys 7, Marist 3; Kaierau 9, Taihape Old Boys 3; Waverley 17, Taihape County 3. Manawatu. —Kia Toa 4, Palmerston North High School Old Boys 3; St Patrick's 6, United 3.

Hawke’s Bay.—Pirates 19, Celtic 6; Technical Old Boys 9, Maori Agricultural College 3; Hastings 22, Napier High School Old Boys 0; Hastings High -School Old Boys 11, Havelock North 0.

Central Hawke's Bay: Waipukurau 22. Omakere 11; Porangahau 11, Rangers 0; Old Boys 8, Otane 0; Takapau 30, Waipawa, 11.

Horowhenua.—Shannon 21, Wanderers 3; Kuku Manaka 20, Athletic 3. Southern Hawke’s Bay.— Old Boys 9, Excelsior 0; Weber 8, Athletic 6.