MORE RUGBY UPSETS IN RANGITIKEI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 7

MORE RUGBY UPSETS IN RANGITIKEI

RANGATAHI HELD TO A DRAW MARTON SURPRISES ATHLETIC. (0.C.) Marton, July 20. The glorious uncertainty of Rugby was again demonstrated in Rangitikei to-day. Fresh’ from administering Hunlerville's first defeat of the season last week. Athletic failed to infuse the same vim into their play to-day and succumbed to the other local team, Marton. Previous to this match Marlon had won only one game this season, and strangely enough that was against Athletic. By their victory, Ma. ton captured the Raymond and Rangatahi Cups. By holding Hunterville to a draw, Rangatahi still retain their position at. the head of the championship by a margin of two points. Incidentally, this was the third time this season that Hunterville have had to be content with a draw. The two surprises in the lower grades were the drawn junior match between Hunterville and Athletic, at Hunterville, and A.T.C.’s win over M.D.H.S. It will be recalled that last week Athletic defeated Rangatahi by the narrow margin of one point. They followed this up to-day by holding the leaders to a draw. A.T.C, registered their first win of the season when they accounted for the school fifteen. While the Rugby Union on Friday afternoon decided to postpone the third grade match, Marton v. Bulls, because of the unfit state of the cricket ground, arrangements were made this morning for the game to be transferred to Bulls, where it was played. A feature of the day’s results was the low scoring, eight of the ten senior and junior teams registering not more than three points. Marton seniors had the privilege of being the only team to record double figures, which, incidentally, was their highest tally of the season . Results at a glance:

Senior. Marton 13 v. Athletic 3, • Ohingaiti 3 v. Bulls 0. Hunterville 3 v. Rangatahi 3. Rata a bye. eJunior. Rangatahi 6 v. Marton 3. Athletic 3 v. Hunterville 3. Thirds. Bulls 38 v. Marton 0. Rata 27 v. Flock House 0. A.T.C. 11 v. M.D.H.S. 5. Hunterville a bye. Fast and furious was the phrase used by a correspondent at Kakariki in describing the Rangatahi-Hunter-ville senior match. Towards the end of the game, play came a little “heated” in the forwards. There was very little between the teams, and a draw gives a reliable indication of the run of play. Play for the most part cem tred between the two twenty-fives. G. Piraha scored a try for Rangatahi and D. Young kicked a penalty for the visitors. MARTON DESERVE VICTORY. After a sustained struggle, Marton repeated their first round performance and emerged victorious over Ath letic by 13 points to three. Territorially, there was not the margin of superiority suggested by the scores, but without a doubt, Marton deserved their victory. Their forwards played a slashing game in the loose, and effectively harassed the Athletic inside backs, forcing the maroon rearguard to adopt a cross-country type of game. On the other hand, strengthened by the return of McLennan and M. Wysocki, the Marton backs acquitted themselves well, their handling showing a great improvement on the previous week. On defence, the Marton backline was almost impregnable. The game was patchy as far as a game of Rugby was concerned, but interspersed bright interludes kept a full grandstand well interested in the run of play. The fact that both were local teams, added to the rivalry. The teams were: Marton.—P. Johnston: I. Stewart, J. Barry, N. Northover; D. McLennan, M. Wysocki; D. Kane; R. Morrison, R. Fittler, D. Stewart, N. Miles; F. Morrison, E. Zander. K. Lampp. Athletic.—J. Hutton; R. Whale, M. Whale, G. Willcox; J. Jobberns, W. Taite; P. Paurini; T. Perawiti; D. Hart. P. Wrigglesworth, I. Ngarangioni, F. Calkin; H. McLean, T. Kane, Soon after the kick-off Athletic were penalised in front of their goalmouth and Johnstone kicked a penalty.—Marton 3, Athletic 0. Stung by this reverse, Athletic launched an offensive and kept hammering at the Marton line. Kane relieved the pressure with a ty: z al dash in possession round the side of the scrum. A stab-kick was fielded by the kicker and Kane passed to Lampp, who transferred the scene of activities to inside the Athletic 25, with a hefty kick. Fast folowing up, Marton forwards had the Athletic defence at sixes and sevens, but M. Whale made a timely clearance with a strong kick to touch. A slight drizzle now began. Assuming aggressive tactics, Athletic made determined efforts to open their scoring. Once Paurini was nearly over in the corner. N. Miles, who was playing a brilliant game in the loose, returned play to neutral territory with a good dribbling rush. McLennan, Lampp and I- Stewart, were associated in a pretty move, but the last mentioned’s infield pass to McLennan was forward. From rucking play just, inside the Athletic 25, Kane shot a pass to McLennan, to Barry. The centre steadied himself and dropped a neat field goal.- Marton 7, Athletic 0. A neat sidestep by I. Stewart enabled the Marton winger to evade Hutton and Wilcox and run down the flank. With the way hut thinly blocked, he elected to go too far, when he had four men on his inside, and Hutton pounced on him. A sure try was lost. When an Athletic forward was caught off-side coming round the side of the scrum to molest Kane. Johnstone had a shot at goal, but missed an easy three points. The Marton rearguard began a bright move, but a neat, kick by Barry was collected by M. Whale. The Athletic centre, with a great hurst of speed, ran up the sideline and transferred the ball infield to Willcox, but a sharp tackle by Wysocki enabled the Marton forwards Io clear from a dangerous position. Half-time came with the score—Marton 7, Athletic 0. A heavy shower of rain fell during the interval, making the ball slightly greasy for the resumption of play. With the cbiecl of sharpening up the attack, Athletic re-arranged their backline lor the second spell, Hutton going to second five-eighths, changing places with Jobberns, and M. Whale moving out to '.he wing and R. Whale

going to centre. Murton applied the pressure soon aflei the commencement of i>la\ Northoveu Iniliated a move with a good run ivofield, but fell to a tackle Fioki the resultant melee, the ball came tu McLennan, who 'dummied" two men and veered mfield. He was . lackled on rhe line, but the ball came iooso and Lampp was awarded a try in a handv position. Kane? missed the conversion. Marton 10. Athletic 0. Endeavouring Io open up the plav. Marlon unravelled several bright move:-, but all were halted. A glngerv movement hy McLean. Harr ;»nd Willcox enabled the Athletic team to as-

sume the attack, and play was carried to the Marton goalposts. Here, a Marton forward found himself offside when the referee pointed a reproving linger. Hutton raised the line umpires’ flags with a good kick.—Marton 10, Athletic 3. Within three, minutes, Marton had advanced their score by another three points. Led by Miles, the Marton forwards surged upfield, and with the assistance of Lamop and Fittler, carried play to the Athletic line, where Fttler touched down. Kane’s kick hit an upright and bounced infield.—Merton 13, Athletic 3. Hutton broke away and sent a pass infield to McLean,’ to Tolicy, but Northover smartly “downed’ his opposite number. Kerr and Kane made desperate effort to cross, controlling the ball well wi<n their feet, but Johnstone brilliantly picked up in the face of the onrushing forwards and a long kick found touch outside the Marton twenty-five. Just before the final whistle. Hu'ton attempted to goal from a penalty, but it fell short. The final score was— Marton 13, Athletic 3. Mr. G. Harre refereed.

RANGATAHI’S SECOND-SPELL EFFORT. Scoring all their points in the last ten minutes of play. Rangatahi defeated Marton juniors in the curtainraiser at Marton Park. The first half was evenly contested, with the Marton forwards predominating in the loose, but Rangatahi had the better backs, but did not make the most of the opportunities presented. A try by N. Andrews gave Marton a lead of three points at the interval. For the final fifteen minutes o£ nlay, the ball hardly went outside Marton’s territory, and for a Jong time the visitors wore parked inside Marton’s twentylive. A penalty goal by R. Bishop raised Rangatahi’s hopes and urged the team on to greater efforts. Reward came just before the last whistle, when P. Omotahi scored. Mr. R. Penn held the whistle.