UNDER WAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19829, 2 May 1927, Page 5

UNDER WAY

RUGBY SEASON LAUNCHED Keen Play and Stirring Finishes Featured on Spriggens Park The 1927 Rugby football season opened in earnest in Wanganui on Saturday, -when a large crowd of enthusiastic followers of the oval ball code gathered at Spriggens Park to see the two big clashes, Pirates and Marlsts, and Kaierau and Old Boys. The day was fine, but a cold wind made spectators realise the fact that winter has arrived and the nip in the air kept spectators on the move. Some forty teams met in grade matches on various grounds in the city and suburbs, and the standard of play so early in the season augurs well for the success of the competitions. In other parts of the Dominion the national game is well under way. SENIOR GRADE RESULTS. MARISTS 6; PIRATES c KAIERAU 26; OLD BOYS 16 TECH OLD BOYS 17; METROPOLITAN COUNTY 0

A STIRRING STRUGGLE MARISTS AND PIRATES DRAW. In the struggle between Mhrists and Pirates seniors at Spriggens Park, the •public were treated to a fast and inter esting game with play alternating from one end of the field to the other and the issue in doubt throughout. There was a good deal of back play, but the forwards did their bit. Marists had slightly the better of the play in ‘he first half, but in the second spell honours were fairly even until the final stages, when Pirates attacked persistently. With the score at 6— 3 in Marists’ flavour, the crowd was on the tiptoes of expectation, but while a stern battle was in progress on Marists’ twenty-five, the timekeeper had lis hand on the bell. And it seemed that the attacking Pirates knew it. They put all their skill and strength into that last eflfort and were rewarded when Duncan secured, and with & tricky run, got across. There was breathless siispense as Head prepared for his kick from a difficult angle, but that consistent goal-shooter was this time out in his judgment and the game ended in a draw, six all. The match opened brightly with the leather being handed out cleanly, and Marists setting up attacking movements.. C. Crotty was carried off injured and Murray replaced him. From

a penally Narby failed to goal, but Marist continued to press. Johnston made no mistake with the kick when Marist was given another chance from a penalty. Marists 3 Pirates .. 0 Gibson ran round the ruck in the greens’ twenty-five, and Head got close. Then the greens got away when n pass was intercepted, and transferring smartly, they carried the ball to the blacks’ twenty-five, where Vangioni, who showed a rare turn of speed, was tackled in possession. A supporting player was out of position and a great opportunity was missed. Pirates attacked, Duncan, at half, sending out to Head, who got close. The Marist backs again got posses- i sion and were throwing the ball about in front of the posts when Vangioni secured and narrowly missed a drop at goal. Following up and down play, !ho leather came out from the Pirate half and a short kick following a passing movement s*aw the blacks dangerous. Gibson centred in front of the goal, but Cutelli saved for Marist with a long kick. Marist over-kicked, and the ball rolled out of play. Half-time sounded with the score— Marists 3 Pirates 0 The second spell opened with an irresistible rush launched by Crotty for

the greens, which was followed up by Narby kicking a penalty goal from a good position. Marists .. . • • • 6 Pirates .. 0 Pirates then took a turn, Lloyd being active on the touchline, but the.greens soon took command again. Play was in midfield when the greens were penalised just inside their territory and Head piloted the ball cldanly over the crossbar. Marists 6 Pirates 3 Duncan carried a Pirate attack dangerously close, and the blacks kept up the pressure, Marist finally escaping 1 from a tight corner with a dribbling' rush into Pirates’ territory, htided by j Kruse. J. Duncan transferred to die | greens’ half with a good kick, but the! Marist forwards were soon back again, headed by Kruse. Some lively play followed, and the blacks almost broke through, when a passing movement among the greens collapsed through failure to take a pass. Fast play con- 1 tinned .the Marist forwards showing a lot of condition. From over half way Head attempted a kick at goal, but ‘he markers blocked the shot. Another dribbling rush by the greens and Pirates forced. From a throw-in in the greens’ twenty-five, Duncan secured and flashed through the opposition to slave the match for his side. Head’s kick failed, and the game ended in a draw. Marists 6 Pirates 6 Mr J. S. King was referee. KAIERAU BEAT OLD BOYS TABLES TURNED IN SECOND SPELL. The feature of the Old Boys-Kaicrau senior game was the surprising turn of the tables by the latter team in the second spell. Old Boys, showing good forward play, put it all over Kaierau in the first half, and when the change over came their chances looked extremely rosy with the score at 16 —3 in their favour. But it was not in ho. When Kaierau made their second appearance from under the grandstand, they made the game <a. forward one, and the opposing vanguard tiring quickly, the onlookers were treated to ths specfac.c of swift rushes by the wearers of the maroon jerseys, which penetrated deep into Old Boys’ territory land as often as not resulted disastrously for the blues. In the second spell Old Boys failed to add to their total of 16, while Kaierau piled score on score until time sounded with the board indicia ting 26 points in their favour —a winning mar gin of 10 points.

At the outset Old Boys attacked and their forwards endeavoured to get the

ball at their toes in Kaierau’a twentylive. Carison was given a good oppoi tunity to goal from a penalty in a handy position, but t > leather went outside the post. Then the maroon backs look a turn, but a passing movement which emanated from the half, broke down before the ball reached the three-quarter line. The blue rearguard then took a turn and got close, f’iuy was in midfield when Broad was handed the leaiher, and streaking down the touch-line, sidestepped an opponent am! scored in the corner as he was tackled. Carlson’s kick failed. From a scrum near halfway, Cox, the blue wing-forward, picked up smartly and made a dash in the direction of the goal, but he was grassed on the twentytive line. Old Boys continued to press hard and from a penalty outside (he twenty-live, Murie dropped a pretty goal. Kaierau then took a turn, and the maroon forwards carried play to the goal mouth, where the blue full-back gave a chance when he failed to scoop up the leather. The ball came out to one of the attacking backs, but he was slow in securing, and another chance was missed. Then Walls intercepted in midfield, and running up, kicked over the head of'the full-back. Clapping on the pace, Walls got up to take his own kick on the bounce, but he was promptly grassed by the blue full-back, Fulton. Kaierau then put up their first figures, hen Simpson kicked a good penalty, awarded for offside play. The blue backs then invaded the maroon territory once more, and in a pretty movement down the touch-line, Broad got close, but was tackled, and the ball was smartly dribbled over by ’ Carlson, who dived on it and scored. Carison converted from a difficult angle. Play was in Kaierau’s twenty-five when Cox picked up and covered about 20 yards before Carlson took up the running and transferred to Old Boys’ speedy winger, Newton, who ran round behind the posts. Carlson converted, and half-time sounded immediately with the score— Old Boys .. .. .. .. . • .. 16 Kaierau 3 On the resumption of play, Kaierau attacked and threw the ball about in front of the posts, and their wing-for-ward, Brookie, did not let a gooefc opportunity pass, getting round the ruck to score. Simpson narrowly failed to convert. Returning play to Old Boys’ twentyfive, Johnston got in on the line-out and scored in the corner. Thompson failed to convert. The play of the blues lacked sting, and Kaierau were again on the offensive. Simpson made no mistake when awarded a penalty in front of the goal. In the play which followed immediately after, Johnston added further to the maroons’ points by scoring from a dribbling rush headed by Lockett. Simpson converted from the touch-line with the best goal-kick of the day. With the sudden turn of the tables the enthusiasm of the crowd wUs aroused. Thompson marked a high kick outside Old Boys’ twenty-five, and dropped a good goal. Johnston broke away down the touchline, and supported by G. Lockett, transferred to that player, who divert across. The kick failed. Kaierau launched another attack, and in a forward scramble- G. Lockett scored. The kick failed, and time sounded immediately, with the score— Kaierau .. .. • 26 4 Old Boys .. 16 Mr L. Fromont was referee. AN EASY VICTORY WIN FOR TECH. OLD BOYS. On Racecourse No. 1 ground, Teehaical Old Boys had played all their own way with the new senior team, Metropolitan County, the final score being 17 —0 in the former’s favour. Early in the game V. Reid scored /or the ex-students from a scramble near the line, which was followed shortly after by P. Stiver scoring in the corner after a hard dash from midfield. Stiver converted with a fine kick. The County team’s forward division became dangerous, but Ambrose went down on the ball and checked the rush. P. Stiver land V. Reid were associated in another attacking movement, but Reid was grassed and retired shortly :f--terwards with an injured knee. Veitch replaced him. Dyke showed to advantage in another offensive movement launched by the ex-students and scored from Another scramble in tho corner. The kick failed. County lost a good opportunity early in the second spell when the ball w3Ut out at the corner flag. Towards the close of the game Dyke and Veitch each scored tries for Tech. Old Boys, bringing the final scores to — Technical Old Boys 17 County 0 Mr J. Richardson was referee.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE WANGANUI. SENIOR. Marists 6 v. Pirates 6. Tech Old Boys 17 v. County 0. Kaierau 26 v. Old Boys 16. Junior. Tech College 16 v. Aramoho 0. Pirates 26 v. County 0. College 34 v. Old Boys 3. Tech. Old Boys 8 v. Marists 3. Queen’s Park 15 v. Kaierau 9. Third. Pirates 3 v. Queen’s Park 3. Manst 11 v. Old Boys 5. Kaierau 12 v. Aramoho 3. Fourths, Tech. Old Boys defaulted to Kaierau. Pirates 22 v. Aramoho 0. Fifths. Tech. A 26 v. Pirates 0. Midgets. Marists 8 v. Avenue 0. RANGITIKEI. Bulls 8, Kotahitanga 8. Rata 10, Hunterville 3. Marton 7, Ohingaiti 3. Playing at Sandon on Saturday, Bulls School defeated Sandon by 22 to nil. Tries were scored by R. Ellery (4) and ( K. Anderson (2), D. Stewart convert--1 ing two.

IN THE DOMINION. AUCKLAND. Rugby.—Grammar Old Boys 11, Training College 3; University 11, Grafton 8; Marists 14, North Shore 12; Ponsonby 28, College Rifles 5. Association. —Thistle 4, Ponsonby 3; Tramways 5, Navy 2; North Shore 5, Northeote 1; Y.M.C.A. 3, Onehunga 1. League.—Auckland 24, Cuaklon’s team 21. NAPIER. Rugby.—Hastings beat Tech. 0.8. 24 to 5; M.A.C. beat M. 8.0. 12 to 3. WELLINGTON. Rugby.—-Athletic 11, University 7; Oriental 11, Marist 6; Petone 3, Hutt 3; Old Boys v. Wellington, not played; Berhampore v. Poneke, not played. Soccer.—Scatoun 3, Marist 1; Y.M.C.A. 4, Institute 1; Porirua Hospital 4, Brooklyn 1. HASTINGS. Rugby.—Celtic 28, H.S.B. 8. NEW PLYMOUTH. Rugby.—Star 19, Clifton 3; Tukapa 8, Eltham 3; Stratford 11, Inglewood 6. CHRISTCHURCH. Rugby.—Mori vale 24, Linwood 9; Old Boys 18, Varsity 8; Christchurch 20, Technical 3. League.—Marist 13, Woolston 5; .’Hornby 11, Addington 8; Waimairi 21, Sydenham 3. Soccer.—St. Albans 2, New Brighton 1; Nomads 4, Villa 0; Western 2, Technical 1; Thistle 2, Kaiapoi 2. PALMERSTON NORTH. Soccer.—St. Andrew,s 8, R.S.A. A 1; Athletic 8, Foxton 1; Flock House 3, Rangers 0. INVERCARGILL. Rugby.—lnvercargill 20, Southern 6; Pirates 4, Marist 9. DUNEDIN. Rugby.—Kaikorai 6, Varsity B 3; Varsity A 37, Pirates 3; Taieri 19, Union 9; Zingari 24, Dunedin 17; Southern 13, Alhambra 11. League.—City 8 v. Kaikorai 9; Christian Bros. 32 v. Kaitangata 9- Athletic 33, Pacific S-. Socceij—Northern 3 v. Technical Old Brtys 0; High School Old Boys 2 v. Y.M.C.A. 1; Maori Hill 3, Mornington 0. WESTPORT. League.—lnangahua 13, Buller 12. MASTERTON. Rugby.—Gladston 19, Old Boys 9; Carterton 17, Masterton 12; Grey town 15, Bed Stars 6. QUEEN’S PARK CLUB. All Queen’s Park Football Club players are requested to attend practice at Spriggens Park at 7.30 to-night.