BRIGHTER RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19841, 16 May 1927, Page 8

BRIGHTER RUGBY

— —.... SPRIGGENS PARK FIXTURES Kaierau’s Two Potted Goals Against Pirates —Marists Down Tech. Old Boys. DRIZZLING RAIN DOES NOT AFFECT ATTENDANCE If the standard of Rugby football provided for Wanganui patrons on Spriggens Park keeps on improving as the season progresses, as the displays staged on Saturday afternoon were a decided improvement on the previous Saturday’s games, it may safely be anticipated that there will be some thrilling encounters. The attendance was good and chief interest was centred on the clash betwean Kaierau and Pirates which was. as expected, a very even game, with the maroons proving victorious through the medium of two potted goals. The minor encounters resulted in the Marist team beating Tech. Old Boys, and Wanganui and Old Boys proving too good for the Metro- ' politan County team. There will be no more Cup competition matches at Spriggens Park till June 4, the day after the Taranaki-Wanganui encounter.

KAIERAU BEAT PIRATES NEITHER SIDE CROSSES DROPPED GOALS EARN POINTS In the best senior club game to date Kaierau defeated Pirates by eight points to nil. Thompson, the Kaierau full-back, was the hero of the match; ho dropped two very line goals in a spectacular display of kicking. Play was hard and clean throughout, Kaierau’s line pack or forwards putting their side within striking distance on many occasions. The maroons set up a hot attack at the outset and got dangerously close, but a long kick relieved. They were penalised inside Pirate’s territory and Head found touch in their twenty-five. Walls got away down the touchline and passed to Carrel, but that player stepped on the line and a good opportunity was missed. Thompson made an attempt to pot but a good effort fell short. A fine kick by Fitzgerald put Pirates on the attack, and Kaierau were hard pressed. Head centred nicely and lot Ross away to launch a pretty passing movement which carried play to the maroons’ twenty-five. Kaierau took a turn and in the blacks’ twenty-five Glengarry sent out to Simpson who essayed a short punt, to the corner flag. The ball, however, went into touch-in-goal. An exchange of kicks ended with the advantage to Pirates. The blacks handled the ball skilfully but they did not gain much ground. Fitzgerald kicked down the touchline ami in exciting play in the corner Walls secured and ran out. Wakeling took a lightning pot at goal but the kick was charged down. Pirates kept up the pressure and were awarded a penalty in a handy position. It looked a certainty for that, brilliant kick. Head, but the ball, which was inclined to be greasy, did not fly true. Then Waite made a good attempt to pot but the leather fell short. Not to be denied, Head took a turn and he dropped a hot. one which sailed over the post. A scrum five yards out followed but the maroons returned play to half-way and the spell ended without score. Two Scores in Second Half. Play resumed with an exhibition of kicking by both sides, Kaierau obtaining the advantage and tight play following inside the Pirates’ twentyfive. The leather was dribbled across the goal mouth by the Pirates’ vanguard, who sent the ball up-field to Thompson, the Kaierau full-back. Thompson ran up about five yards and then sent up a fine drop-kick which travelled dead between the posts.— Kaierau 4; Pirates 0.

Once more the Kaierau forwards got close, and once more the, ball came back to Thompson. Another attempt to pot followed, but this time the shot lacked direction. A high kick saw Fitzgerald secure in the corner, but that player was not to be bustled by the opposition, which hemmed him in. and he sent a perfect kick down the touchline, which transferred play to a line-out in mid-field.

Thompson broke away and transferred to Lockett, who gave Ross a forward pass close to the goal-line. Head relieved with another of his well-judged line kicks. Pirates charged down a clearing kick and lhaia was soon bustled in the corner. Pirates piled on the line, but Kaierau hooked the ball from a five yards’ scrum, and Glengarry cleared. Play was in Pirates’ twenty-five when the ball came back to Thompson again, and that player eclipsed his former feat by dropping another goal, the ball flying neatly over the crossbar. The crowd cheered enthusiastically.—Kaierau 8; Pirates 0. The maroon forwards, throwing the ball about, got close and Walls, who came very fast, almost finished the movement off with a try. Pirates attacked and inside Kaierau’s twenty-five Fitzgerald sent out a long pass to Head, which was intercepted by lhaia. Walls got away hut, although the maroons’ got close, the game ended: Kaierau 8 Pirates 0 Mr J. S. King was referee. ON THE FINAL WHISTLE WIN FOE MARISTS GREASY BALL PROVES TRICKY Marists were victorious in their game with Tech. Old Boys, obtaining a margin of five points over their opponents on the call of time. The game was an interesting one, but a greasy ball upset passing movements among the backs and made kicking difficult. Marist opened with vim, and soon had Tech. Old Boys defending their goal-line. The attack, however, was short lived and the ex-students soon invaded the greens’ territory, where a Denalty kick at goal by Stiver was

charged down. Then a forward rush saw the magpies in trouble, and their full-back, Moore, put a speculator over the touchline in the corner. The Marist half, F. Crotty, got the ball from the tight and with his backs strung out in a formidable line he sent out to Jones, who rather over-estimated his chances, and hung on until a good opportunity was lost. The greens followed up a high kick which fell at the goal-mouth. In the scramble which followed, the exstudents were penalised, but Narby, who had to contend with a greasy bail, failed to goal from a very handy position. Marist kept up the pressure and Narby made no mistake when given another kick at goal from a little further out in the field.—Marist 3; Tech. Old Boys 0. The ex-students rallied, and carried play to the greens’ twenty-five, where Stiver goaled from a penalty. —Marist 3; Tech. Old Bovs 3.

Marist got busy again and soon had the magpies hemmed on their goalline. Crotty shot the leather out to Jones, who sent out a ‘ 1 grubber” to Narby. But. Narby was not to be denied and he kicked up under the goal, just failing to score in the race with two of the, opposition. Marist lost another chance when .Nicholson dribbled down the touchline and was beaten when the leather went behind the line. The ex-students’ backs then took a turn and Ford was unlucky when he stepped on the line as he sent out to Dyke. An opportunity of scoring a spectacular try was thereby missed. Half-time sounded after Narby had failed to goal from another penalty awarded in a handy position, the scores being e*ven: Marists 3 Tech. Old Boys 3 Decisive Second Half. When play resumed Tech. Old Boys were in difficulties through Moore hanging on a little too long and allowing the greens to kick up over the goalline. The position looked dangerous but fortunately for the ex-students the ball rolled into toueh-i.n-goal. An exciting period of play followed, Tech, piling on the line and coming within an ace of scoring on several occasions. Dyke sent up a long kick and looked like getting across. An infringement, however, brought the leather back to the twenty-five. Off side play gave the black and whites a chance but Stiver’s kick at goal failed. Failure to take a high ball saw the cx-students in trouble under their goal, and they wore lucky when then were ■awarded a force in a scramble over the goal-line a couple of minutes later. The Tech, backs transferred play to Marist’s territory and Ford was away like a shot when he received a long pass from Stiver. But he could not pass a couple of the opposition and he was grassed with the ball in possession. Faulty passing by the Tech, backs in their own twenty-five allowed Murray to snap up a dropped pass and, outpacing the Tech, rearguard, he scored near the corner. Narby converted with a fine kick and the final whistle sounded: Marist 8 Tech. Old Boys 3 Mr W. H. Rowe was referee. A DEFINITE MARGIN WIN FOR OLD BOYS

COUNTY FORWARDS PROMINENT On the Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, Wanganui and Old Boys secured a win by a considerable margin over Metropolitan County. The score, 24—3, does not, however, give .an accurate indication of the play, for the game was generally o-venly contested and showed the County forwards to be a formidable pack. Most of the tries scored by Old Boys were the result of individual efforts of the speedy blue backs. Very few concerted attacking movements were attempted by the Old Boys’ back line, although the blues secured the ball from the scrums more than did their opponents. From the commencement play was of

an interesting order. County (red and white) crossed first, when W. Smith dashed over well out. No goal resulted. Give-and-take play ensued for a period, until N. Ball got away after a sustained blue attack, and went over in a handy position. Carlson failed to convert. Cox was responsible for the next piece of good play, when he picked up in midfield and ran straight through. Approaching the line, he handed on to Binley, who scored. Carlson converted. Half-time came shortly afterwards with the scores standing: — Old Boys 8; County 3. Fast Pace in Second Spell. Both teams made the pace fast in the second spell. Old Boys were penalised i for off-side play, but a difficult kick failed. Blyth sent the ball out from a scrum to Broad. The Old Boys’ winger made a strong burst down touch to cross for a good try. The kick failed. Good defensive work by the colours kept Old Boys back for a time, but, following up-and-down play, Carlson scooped up the ball in his own half and broke through for a spectacular try, and also added the major points. It was at this stage that County lost the services of J. Phillips, prominent in defensive work, through an injury to a. shoulder. Play was centred on the wing, when Ball picked up for the blues and broke through for a runaway try. Blyth converted. A mis-kick by a County back gave Binley, who had been playing consistently in the Old Boys’ van throughout, an opportunity, and he scored an easy try. Cox failed to convert. County were not done with altogether and made several good, but ineffectual, sallies into the blue territory. The final whistle came with the scores: Old Boys 24 County 3 Mr T. Hurley refereed. CUP COMPETITION SENIOR TEAMS’ POSITIONS KAIERAU AND MARISTS UNBEATEN The position of the teams in the Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby SubUnion ’s senior championship competition, in which three games have been played, is as follows, as a result of last Saturday’s matches:—

THE ALL BLACKS SCENE OF INTER-ISLAND MATCH CHRISTCHURCH MAY GET GAME (Special to “Chronicle.”) WELLINGTON, May 14. Christchurch is to be the scene of the inter-island match next year. That at least is thet intention of the present Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, which is to formulate the policy, to be followed up to the despatch of the All Blacks for South Africa next season,, as revealed' by Air S. S. Dean, chairman of the committee, to-day. The date is expected to be June 2, since the team will probably leave on June 11, and the inter-Island game will be followed by the Possibles-Probables match in Wellington on June 4. There is a growing feeling that the inter-Island game should bo played altornatetly in Christchurch, and Welling ton, says Mr Dean, the saving in travelling time and the question of players’ leave being big factors.

NEW ZEALAND AT PLAY RESULTS AT A GLANCE RUGBY Manawatu. Old Boys 21, Western United 3. Woodville 33, Feilding 0.8. 14. Feilding 7, Kai Toa 3. Rangitikei. Bulls 6; Hunterville 6. Rata 19; Alarton 3. Horowhenua, Shannon 12; County 3. Taranaki. Tukapa 16; Ohl Boys 3. Stratford 12; Elthain 6. Opunake 8; Patea 3. Inglewood 9; Clifton 6. Wellington. Bcrhamporc 14; Petone 3. Old Boys 8; Marist 3. University J 4; Welington 3. Athletic 9; Oriental 6. Poneke 26; Hutt 3. Auckland, North Shore 5; Training College 0. College Rifles 16;' University 11. Ponsonby 5; Grammar 0.8. 0. Grafton 3; Alarist 3. Taihape. Hautapu 6; Pirates 3. Nelson. Rivals 10; Old Boys 6. Hawke’s Bay. Celtic 17; M. 8.0.8. 12. H. 5.0.8. 14; T.C.0.8. 5 Hastings 15; Pirates 3.

Bush Union. Pahiatua 23; Mangatainoka & Konini 9; Southern United 0, Christchurch. Merivale 17; Technical 11. Christchurch 16; Albion 11. Old Boys 21; Linwood 15. Wairarapa. Carterton 18; Red star 0. Greytown 8; Alasterton 6. Dunedin. Union 16; Dunedin 3. University A 25; Zingari 3. Alhambra 9; Taieri 6. University B 6; Southern 6. Kaikorai 11; Pirates 8. Invercargill. Alarist 6; Star 3. Pirates 8; Invercargill 6. ASSOCIATION Manawatu. R.S.A. 5; Flock House 1. Athletic 5; St. Andrew’s 1. Foxton 3; Rangers 0. Christchurch. Technical 2; Western 1, Auckland. Roval Navy 8; Northcotc 2. Thistle 6; Y.M.C.A. 0. Ponsonby 6; Onehunga 1. Dunedin. Technical 0.8. 1; H.S 0.8. 0. Maori Hill 9; Y.M.C.A. 2. Northern 2; Seacliff 0. Southern 3; Mornington 1. Wellington. Y.MC.A. 2; Diamonds 0. Alarist 3; Thistle 2. Institute 4; Brooklyn 1. LEAGUE Auckland. Afarists 12; Dovonport 8. City 15; Richmond 15. Christchurch, Alarist 31; Sydenham 3. Waimairi 14; Addington 13. Hornby 13; Woolston 8. Dunedin. Christian Brothers 7; Pacific 4. West Coast, Buller 12; West Coast 3. WANGANUI RESULTS. DOWN THE GRADES RUGBY Senior. Kaierau 8; Pirates 0. Alarist 8; Technical 0.8. 3. Old Boys 24; County 3. Junior. Pirates 12; Queen’s Park 3., Afarists 7; County 5. Kaierau 20, Technical Old Boys 0 Third. Pirates 6; Kaierau 3. Fourth. Aramoho 8; Kaierau 0. ASSOCIATION Senior. Thistle 4; Workshops 1. Eastbrooke 1; Woollen Mills 1. Junior. Eastbrooke 4; Woollen Al ills 0. Thistle 3; Workshops 0. HOCKEY Men’s Senior. Hinemoa 3; St. Andrew's 2. W r esley 5; Old Boys 1. Meji’s Junior. Hinemoa 6; St. Andrew's 0. Wesley 3; Old boys 4. Ladies’ Matches. Aramoho 1; Wesley A 0. Tiki 3; Old Girls 1.

Kai era u . Won D. 0 0 Marist . . 1 0 Old Boys .... 2 o 1 4 Tech. Old Bovs .1 0 •«> Pirates . . .... 0 .1 1 County .. .... 0 0 0