RUGBY SEASON.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18004, 26 April 1930, Page 8

RUGBY SEASON.

SAGE CUP COMPETITIONS. FIRST GAMES TO-DAY. RESULTS OF CURTAIN-RAISERS. Beautiful weather prevails for the inauguration of the Rugby season in Hamilton to-day. As we go to press the first matches of the Sage Memorial Cup competition between Frankton and Old Boys and Techinical Old Boys and City are in progress. There is a big crowd of spectators at Rugby Park, keen enthusiasm being manifested by rousing barracking. THIRD GRADE MATCH. VICTORY FOR TECHNICAL. On No. I Ground a curtain-raiser was played at 1.30 between third grade teams representing Frankton and Technical Old Boys. Early in the first spell Monds crossed the line for the blue-and-blacks. The work of the backs on both sides was poor compared with that of the forwards. Frankton were pressed on several occations, most of the play eventuating in their 25 in the first spell. Technical’s perseverance was rewarded when Sykes scored a try after some brisk forward skirmishes. In the third quarter Technical made spirited assaults on the opposing citadel, Tiller getting over between the posts. McGrail converted. Technical had another chance 1o score spoilt by a forward pass. Play livened up in Ihe last session, the handling of the hacks improving on both sides. Frankton were frequently worried at. the finish of the match, which resulted: Tchnical 8 Frankton 3 Mr E. Thorpe was the referee. WIN FOR SCHOOL. OLD BOYS B DEFEATED. The curtain raiser to the Old Boys v. Frankton match was the game beween High School and Old Boys Junior B, School winning by 14 points to 6. Early in the first quarter Chitty scored a try for School from a neat back movement. Play was even throughout the remainder of the quarter, and the second quarter saw High School with the territorial advantage, though Old Boys were dangerous just before half-time. High School 3 Old Boys B 0 In the third quarter School were holding their own until near the change over, when Michell went across for Old Boys, and made the score even. Almost immediately after Taylor pushed through, supported by Anderson, the latter crossing the line. The kick failed. Taylor and Reid drove Old Boys into their twenty-five when they appeared dangerous. School pressed the whole of the final quarter, having Old Boys bustled with their repeated attacks. Just before play ceased ! Hubbard received the ball after it had travelled through the backs, scoring beneath the posts. He converted his own try. High School 11 Old Boys B 3 Soon after Taylor broke away and sent on to Hubbard, who ran half the field to score beneath the posts. Anderson failed to convert. A little before time Johnston scored for Old Boys, the score being convertedHigh School 14 Old Boys B 6 AN OLD-TIME MATCH. HAMILTON v. HUNTLY. MR D. MCKENZIE’S RECOLLECTIONS. Those Hamiltonians whose memories can carry them back 35 years will appreciate the The Ilam-ilton-lluntly match was the event of the Rugby season. Feeling ran high in those days, and participants in the fixture had to oc prepared lo take hard knocks. Mr D. McKenzie, the prominent Rugby supporter, was asked in Christchurch the other day what he regarded as the most interesting game he had ever refereed, and he replied that it was between HunLly and Hamilton. He was,visiting Auckland and was persuaded to talse the match. Much to his dismay he learned just before the start that the year before a parson had refereed the match and had required a police escort on the way home. However, the match passed off quite pleasantly for the referee, although he did not find out for some time that it was merely because the spectators had got the idea that he was the famous “Offside Mac,’’ and were not game to question the decisions of such an authority. Another incident Mr McKenzie has told very few persons occurred iu the first match he refereed, a Wellington junior match. lie was new to the job, and refereed in a white sweater. One of the teams was an old hoys’ team, also in white. Mr McKenzie at one stage nipped round the side of the scrum to see Where the ball was going, and next instant the late Johnny Baumber, the well-known halfback, had him flat on his hack, and was shouting “offside, sir."