WEEK-END SPORT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 July 1928, Page 6

WEEK-END SPORT.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. CARTERTON v. OLD BOYS. These Iwo teams met on the Cameron Park on Saturday under ideal conditions, and before a record crowd of spectators as far as this season's games are concerned. The game decided the championship, and Carterton won comfortably- by 15 points to 3, in a game that was theirs practically from start to finish. The Old Boys were on the defensive for the greater part of the game, and were hard put to it to stem the splendid rushes of the Carterton pack, whose brilliance in the tight and open was the deciding factor. But for the magnificent defensive work of Cooke, Smith and Cormack, who were repeatedly called upon to face those determined rushes of the Maroon pack, the score would undoubtedly have been much bigger. There was no doubt as to which was the better team on the day’s play, or the best team in the competition. Carterton never left the issue in “doubt. They played vigorous football from start to finish, and though the Old Boys stood up to it well In the early part of the game, the onslaughts of the visitors’ vanguard was more than they were able to cope with all the time.’ The Carterton backs, though indulging from time to time in short passing stabs, were content for the most part to play safe and leave it to the pack to win the game, and it was the right policy, for the Carterton torwards, trained to the minute, never let u]>, and hammered away with a consistency that must have been dishearten-

ing to the Whites. At least three of the White rearguard were below the form they should have shown, and this caused extra burdens to be placed on the shoulders of Cooke, in particular, and also Smith and Cormack. Carterten took no chances with Cooke, and he found his sphere of operations considciably restricted, being repeatedly smothered before he could get going properly. Nevertheless, he put in some tip-top work, and his defence was of the utmost value to his team. Smith, too, played a game out of the bag in defence, but the deadly collaring of the Carterton pack and their smothering tactics greatly impeded his attacking efforts. Cormack was cool and safe, and got his side out of many very tight corners.

The Old Boys were outclassed in the forwards, and the fact that the Mai0011s obtained the ball from the scrums with almost monotonous regularity severely handicapped the White bucks, who rely on back movements to win a match. McCalmont and Be Quesne (who received a nasty bump on the head) were the most noticeable for good solid -pork. There is no doubt that the Cartcrtoji pack is a great one, Their play commanded the utmost admiration. Form and combination were strong ppints in thoil' work, and they tire tall like Hfiny times Bill Irvine broke away with the ball and set either his backs or forwards in a passing rush, which only the deadly collating of 'Cooke, Smith or Ccrmaek would stop. l rv Wv, Rdd, Fair-brother and Oliver played football good enough for any forward team anyAvhere in the Dominion, while the other member? of the vanguard contributed ihetf share towards the splendid display the Maroon pack gave. Against these tough forwards the Old Boys pack battled gamely, though ineffectively. Cooke sot away with one or two of those lightning dashes of his, and on one occasion threaded his way light through the Carterton team for what looked lick a certain score, when he Avas taken from behind by Fitzgerald with one of those deadly tackles for Avliieh the Carterton back is noted. On one occasion in the first spell, Avhat A\as probably a sure score' for Old Boys, follOAving a pretty back movej’bent, Avas lost through Bunny attempting a pot. In the first spell Old Boys played Avith the wind and sun against them. The run of play Avas nearly all in faAour of Carterton,. avlio started off at a hot pace and kept the Old Boys busy. lc Avas a .spell iu Avhich the Oarteiton forwards predominated, and was noticeable for some good retaliatory rushes by the Old Boys-’ forwards, and fine A-.ork by Cooke, Smith and But Carterton Avas always ready to return to the attack. For quite the greater part of the spell the Old Boys beat off their opponents, while they gave occasional 'flashes of good play which removed the scene of operations to safer territory. But with Carterton always returning to the offensive, it soon became obvious that no defence could continually withstand the vigorous onslaughts of a great pack ot forwards such as Carterton possessed. W. Irvine, rail-brother, Eeid and Oliver did splen- ~ ! v ,-ork all the time, assisted by some 1 t.luv bv -Cox and Knowles. Cor.U mere than once drove the Maroons MU V' his good defensive tactics, while Smith on one occasion saved a certain score by a nippy piece of def nMve work. Cooke was ever on the if hut he was having a strenuous alert, but be t pack, and ,h ” C Sl’fon £>,e Cp.a«L«Uy loft more than once 1 „ift and fight, the battle o ri £ o ‘; u . jtmg ream, opposite the blind side and then n' t direction with -such rapidity .-it only

RIGBY IN WAIRARAPA.

Carterton Beat Old Boys.

And Win Championship.

a Cooke could c-ope with the position. There were bursts of attacking efforts on the part of the Old Boys, and from a movement following a kick by Cooper, McAllister just missed a score under the goal posts, Carterton accepting a force. A little later there was an outburst of hooting when a Carterton forward shouldered Cormack, who had got rid of the ball, a free-kick following. 'J'his same forward was most unjustly hooted later on in the game for a perfectly legitimate tackle, a section of the crowd having apparently let their feelings get the better of their eommonsense. But continual hammering will tell its tale, and it was obvious that Carterton would sooner or later score, and it came towards the close of the spell from a serum, after Carterton had been attacking for some time. Hart swung the ball out to Denby, who transferred to Fitzgerald, who passed it to Knowles, the latter scoring near the corner. C. Irvine converted with a splendid kick. There was no further score in the spell, during the greater part of'which Old Boys had been on the defensive.

It; was thought by many that in the second spell the Old Boys would show to better advantage, but the “hard heads,” knowing the worth of the Carterton pack, were dubious about a recovery to any considerable extent sufficient to produce a victory. Some play in the centre, a tricky kick by Cooke, which gained much ground, and then Bill Irvine started the Carterton forwards away again. A great solo effort saw him come right through for over 20 yards, to be firmly grassed by Cormack. A brief piece of open play, followed by a dash by Le Qucsnc, a smart save by C. Irvine, and a break away by Cooke, who was grassed by Fitzgerald, was followed by another Carterton forward effort. However, the Old Boys removed play into Carterton territory, but it was only a temporary effort, for W. Irvine, Cox, Fail-brother, Reid, Burling and Oliver in a bunch swept down the field, where later Hart swung the ball to Burling, who scored well out. C. Irvine failed with the kick. For a long time, Carterton were the aggressors-, there being an Old Boys’ flash when Faulknor came away and centred, ’but C. Irvine saved. Then some hot play followed in front of the Carterton goal, and a free kick in an easy position ended in Cooke putting the ball between the posts. But from this on, Carterton had charge. A great run through by W. Irvine was brought to a stop by a deadly collar by Cooke. Then C. Irvine added four points to the score with a splendid pot, and just on the call of time Bill Irvine made a great run, the ultimate end of which was a score by Denby, which C. Irvine failed to increase. The bell went, leaving Carterton winners by 15 points to 3. Mr McDonald, was referee, GREYTOWN v. RED STAR. Red Star were defeated at Greytown by the local team to the tune of 31 points to 33. Mr A. Grimstone refereed. . The game was- played in a care-freQ spirit, and di<J set attract a very large attendance. For Red Star, Hood potted & goal from the field. Pearson, AVilikens and Jeffcote each scored a try, GLADSTONE v. UNITED. Playing at Carterton, Gladstone proved si/perior to United in a game which ended 21—3 in their favour. Mr I*. Reid refereed. POSITION OF TEAMS.

JUNIOR. Carterton 27, United 0. Masterton 9, Red Star 3. GreytoAvn 29, Old Boys 3. THIRD GRADE. Carterton 10, Masterton 8. •High .School 43, Old Boys 0. FOURTH GRADE. Red Star 17, 'High School 0. ■llikurangi 14, Masterton 0. FIFTH GRADE. •High School A 16, Carterton 0. Red Star 42, High School B 3. Technical School forfeited to Master-, ton. AUCKLAND DEFEAT WAIKATO. AUCKLAND, Sunday'. The first representative Rugby match this season took place at Eden Park on Saturday', Avhen a return game A\'as played Avitli the Waikato representatives. The previous game Avas at Hamilton on June 4th, Avhcn Auckland Avon I>A 30 to nil. The ground on Saturday v,a-9 very heavy and affected the play,

which was not of a high repreesntative standard. Auckland won by 23 to 12. Minns (2), Finlayson (2), Badeley and Jeffries scored tries for Auckland, Butler converting one and kicking a penalty goal. 'Cameron, Courtney and Vospcr scored for Waikato, Quin kicking a penalty. IN OTHER CENTRES. WELLINGTON. ’Varsity 22, Oriental 11. Athletic 7, Eastbourne 3. Marist 15, Bcrhampore 13. Old Boys IS, Wellington 5. Ponekc 17, Petone 0. Championship points: Ponekc Hi, ’Varsity 33, Oriental 14, Athletic 13. LEAGUE CODE. ENGLAND BEATS N. QUEENSLAND BRISBANE, Sunday. At Rugby League, at Townsville, England defeated North Queensland by 30 to 30. —Australian and N.Z. Press Association.

Saturday's matches completed the senior competition for the season, the positions of the teams being as follows: Pts Pta Ch Won Lost D For Agt Fts Carterton .. 9 0 1 141 59 19 Old Boys .. S 2 0 224 105 liG G.reytown .. (j a 1 202 102 13 Gladstone .. 370 75 177 6 United ..... 2 S 0 99 197 4 lted Star .. 1 9 0 94 195 o