MARTON OLD BOYS NOT DISGRACED IN RUGBY MATCH AGAINST RATA

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 August 1947, Page 2

MARTON OLD BOYS NOT DISGRACED IN RUGBY MATCH AGAINST RATA

Despite the fact that live juniors were temporarily promoted to senior status for the day,.the Marton Old Boys senior team game a creditable performance against Rata at Marton on Saturday. Uie visitors winning by three unconverted iries to an unconverted try.

Play at times was fast and open. The home pack were beaten in the scrums and lineouts, consequently greater opportunities went to Rata, but in the loose and on the defensive, Old Boys played well. The Marton backline hadled well, but in the first half were inclined to lose too much time between passes with the result back movements were frequently broken by Rata tackling. There was an improvement in the second spei;. Frequent stoppages for injuries slowed the game down, and the Old Boys’ half, D. Kane, was forced to leave the field. For the first 20 minutes Old Boys kept Rata bottled up in their territory, but then J. Potaka, on the wing, scored a spectacular try for Rata. He intercepted a pass and in the run dcwnlield outstripped T. Goldsmith to touch down in the corner. Following a scrum on Old Boys’ 25. the ball travelled along the Rata backline and L. Gibbs went across. Half-time arrived with Rata leading by six points to nil

Flaying an improved game on resuming Old Boys scored their only try soon after the interval. The ball was handled by the biae backs and M. Whait, on the wing, kicked forwaid, the ball rolling over the Rata goal line. A. Kay, the Rata full-back, took the ball in-goal but was slow in grounding it, was tackled and 1. Stewart, who followed up fast grounded the ball which had rolled clear. A typical half-back try by S. Hartley was the final one of the match. Rata hooked near the Marton line and Hartley dived over. Mr. F. S. Adams was the referee. Keenly Fough Game. Athletic backs gave one of their best performances of the season on Saturday when the team beat Ranga-1 tahi at Onepuhi by nine points to six. It was keenly fought throughout and bristled witn excitement. Penalties were frequently awarded for obstruction and this marred and otherwise highly interesting game. On the day’s play Ataietic were the better team, the reargard in particu-

lar overshadowing their opponents. Weaknesses in attack were a major cause in Athletic s lailure to progress further up the ladder in the main competition, but the return of their former captain, Jim Hutton, has imparted that extra thrust that has previously been lacking. Towards the end ot last season Hutton left Marton to take up employment in the Wellington district and played junior football. He has now opened up a business of his own, in Marton, and Athletic ara benelitting. Once on Saturday he brilliantly cut out two men, before unloading a pass to Coles at centre, the last mentioned scoring unopposed. There was very little difference between the two packs, although Athletic shaded Rangatahi in the loose. There was a definite weakness in the Athletic scrummage. Time and again the ball was hooked, but it was held up behind the front row. Had the visiting scoring-mood backs seen more of the ball, Athletic’s victory would have been more pronounced. For a considerable portion of the second spell, the visitors had to play with only 14 men as a result of one of the backs being ordered off. Nuku Williams, who is easily the oldest player donning football togs in Rangitikei to-day, played superlatively in the Rangatahi pack. He played with grim determination and scored a good try. The other try for the losers was awarded R. Edwards. Athletic’s points came from tries by K. Coles and L. Murray and Hutton kicked a penalty. Mr. R. Penn was the referee. Fixtures And Referees For Saturday. The following are the Rangitikei Rugby fixtures and referee appointments for Saturday:— .Senior. Ohingaili v. Rata at. Ohingaiti, referee, Mr. S. A. Ramsay; Athletic v. Marton Old Boys, at Marton, referee, Mr. R. W. Lewis; Hunterville v. Rangatahi. at Onepuhi, referee, Mr. G. Havre. Junior. Marlon Old Boys v. Turakina, at Turakina, at 2.15 p.m., referee, Mr. N. Morgan; Rata v. Athletic, al M.D.H.S. ground, referee, Mr R. Penn; Bulls v. Rangatahi, at Onepuhi, at 1.15 p.m. referee. Mr. C. Cui pan; Hunterville a bye. Thirds. Hunterville v. Flock House, at Flock house, referee. Mr. O. B. Johnson; M.D.H.S. v. Bulls, at Marton Park, at 1.15 p.m., referee, Mr. J. Dickson; Athletic v Ohingaiti, at Marton racecourse, referee, Mr. N. Cairncross; Marton Old Boys a bye. How The Teams Stand The positions of the various teams in their respective grades are as follows: Senior (G)en Cup): Athletic 3, Hunterville 3, Rata 3, Marton Old Boys 2, Rangatahi 1, Ohingaiti 0. Juniors: Rata 18, Hunterville 16, Athletic 14, Bulls 13. Marton Old Boys 6, Turakina 4. Rangatahi 1. Thirds: Bulls 18, M.D.H.S. 15, Athletic 14, Marton Old Boys 8, Hunterville 5, Ohingaiti 4, Flock House 0. RAINFALL AT TUTAENUI. Rain fell at Tutaenui last month on 14 days totalling 2.22 inches, according to figures kept by Mr. W. B. Gray •‘Hazelhurst." The heaviest fall was recorded on July 17, with .86 inches. The total for the seven months of this year is 23.08 inche.. which is .18 inches more than was recorded for the corresponding period for 1946. Last year rain fell on 90 days up to the end end of July, but this year rain has fallen on only 74 days. July’s figures are: • 3rd. .05, 4th. .02, 9th. .15, 10th. .18, 11th .20, 15th .01, 17th. .86, 18th .14, 19th. .08, 20th. .04, 26th. 01, 27th. .26, 28th. .10, 30th. .12.

C AMERONS “RAID’’ TURAKINA. On Thursday the Marton Cameron Tartan Committee will "raid" Turakina with a dance in aid of their funds, a bus leaving Marton at 7.30 p.m. The gathering of all the "Scotties" in Turakina should be a good show, with old-time and modern (lances on the programme. A dainty supper is being provided of the usual high standard.