PATRIOTIC RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 189, 13 August 1940, Page 3

PATRIOTIC RUGBY

MARRIED MEN v. SINGII AT MARTON WHY THE BACHELORS LOST .Own Correspondent.) MARTON, Aug. 10. For the past fortnight there had been a controversy raging about town as to which are the better footballers, married or single men. Heated debating was of little avail, so the parties decided to settle the dispute on the Marton Park, the proceeds to go to the Marton Patriotic Society. Any claim the single men had on the match was lost and with it “two gallons of the best." The married proved victorious by 11 to 6. and the patriotic funds benefited by £4. As a Rugby match there was much to be desired, but as an entertainment sometimes it was first class. Whether off-side or on-side it did not matter, the players’ one aim was to find the scoring line. Sometimes there were some good back and forward. moves and sometimes it was otherwise, but what dull play there was was relieved by the comical incidents. One of the best occurred just alter the second spell had started. I. Ross, a well-known referee, and H. G. Stewart, a vice-president of the Rangitikei Rugby Union, were "mixing” it very freely after play had shifted well down field. The referee’s attempt to separate the two was unavailing ana it was necessary to call on players for assistance. Needless to say the two “offending” players received marching orders." The game was then continued, but it was not long before the two players concerned, “unobserved" by the referee, had taken their places in the team again. This tom-foolery amused the crowd immensely. Other sidelights occurred when the Wilkie brothers were seen in a wrestling match, G. Haare's brilliant tackle of Moss, after the latter had made a great dash down the flank, the holdup of the game while another pair of trousers was requisitioned for I. Sicely, I. Jolly being the damaging agent, and frequent "attacks” on the referee, Mr. N. Cairncross.

The Third Echelon was well represented, there being six players, while there were three members of the Referees’ Association. It would be invidious to single out any players who did better than the rest. All gave their best, whether it was for the benefit of their own side or the opposition. The teams lined out: —

Married (green): G. Harre; J. Hammond, A. D. Bush, L. Barry; I. Ross, E. Lewis, captain; C. Calkin; D. Comrie, G. Milroy, K. Poppe; I. Jolly. C. Hamer, M. Griffen. A. S. Blackledge; J. Wilkie.

Single (blue): J. Duncan; I. Sicely. H. Wilkie, L. Moss; W. Wilkie, S. Ireland, captain; D. McLennan; J. Jackson, D. O. Hawkins, B. Dornbush; A. Duncan, G. Glasgow, R. Poppe, H. G. Stewart; J. Caulton.

The single men drew first blood, A. Duncan kicking a penalty, when a married player was penalised in a ruck. After a series of scrums near the blue line I. Jolly went over for a try, G. Harre missing the kick. Just before half-time Duncan missed a rather easy penalty, while Jolly’s shot from well out just went outside. Hawkins put the single men in the lead with a good try after a 25 yards dash. Duncan missed adding the extra points. Jolly instigated the next scoring move, sending a pass to Bush and after a momentary check J. Wilkie

went over in the corner. Jolly's kick hit the cross-bar and bounced infield. The score was now 6-6. In the last 10 minutes of the game the married men tried desperately to take the lead and they were rewarded just before the final whistle, when a weak clearing kick by the blues hit an opponent and bounced back. A single player received the ball and ran back into his goal-mouth but lost the ball and D. Comrie pounced on it to score. Jolly converted and the game terminated with the married triumphant by 11 points to 6.