RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19606, 19 June 1935, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SAGE CUP CONTEST. FRANKTON’S good prospects. TECHNICAL SHOW TRUE FORM. MARIST’S DECISIVE VICTORY. (By “Drop Kick.”) The Hamilton Rugby Union’s Sage Memorial Cup competition is likely to toe decided at any moment, as Frankton, last year’s champions, only require one victory to place them in an impregnable position. The interest in 'the club matches, however, 'will be sustained toy 'the Clark Cup, which will commence at Hie close of the Sage Cup competition. Hamilton’s challenge for the Finlay Cup against Morrinsvllle will toe played next month, while with the Peace Cup .still to toe challenged for, Hamiltonians may yet have •many weeks of good football before them. On Saturday week an endeavour is toeing made to arrange a fixture between the Hamilton representatives and the Grafton senior team from Auckland.

Poor Attendances at Park.

The attendances at Rugby Park have again been very poor this year. This is hard to account for, 'as the standard of play has undoubtedly improved considerably. Exciting and close contests, with bright football, have been the order throughout the first tw> rounds of the Sage Cup, but last Saturday, when one of the deciding matches was played there was only a handful of spectators present. This is extremely ■disappointing, not only for the Union officials, tout also for the players.

The Championship Table. The following are the positions of the teams competing in the Sage

A Deserved Win.

Technical Old Boys gained their second successive victor}' of the season on Saturday, when they defeated Frankton on No. 1 ground, Rugby Park, toy 17 points to 8. Attacking fully 75 per cent of the game, their victory was well deserved. Technical Old Boys have been a very unlucky team but now that they have struck winning 'form they should add further to their success.

Faulty 'Passing. The Marist-Old Boys game on No. 2 ground on Saturday was fast and open and it was a pity that occasional faulty passing marred what would otherwise have been a fine exposition of the code. There is nothing more exasperating to the public and more irritating from the team standpoint to have promising hack movements break down through the inability of one vital link in the attack to send out an accurate transfer to his support. Marist only too frequently on Saturday offended in this respect.

Had Plenty To Do. J. Heeps, Old Boys’ custodian, had ample to engage his attention on Saturday as for the greater part of the game 'his team was called upon to employ mainly defensive tactics. He ■stood up to his work well and his accurate tackling proved a stumbling block to several promising opposition movements. In this respect he outshone his vis-a-vis, Lewis.

A Promising Half. Trotter, the Marist halfback, played a sound game behind the scrum on Saturday and his passes from the base of the scrum were sent out with speed •and accuracy. He showed clever anticipation to score Marist’s first try and his second try, in which 'he beat the defence to score under the post, was another commendable effort.

Leader’s First Defeat. TBc leaders of the competition, Frankton, had their first defeat on Saturday at the hands of Technical Old Boys. Bui, for a spell of five nr ■six •minutes early in the game Frankton never looked like winning. Although they possess some really good individual backs and forwards Frankton, in their last three games, have shown little combination. They scored a run-away try from their own territory on Saturday and the previous week scored two runaway tries as the result of individual effort. Few of their tries have resulted from snappy •concerted play and they will have to regain the combination they 'Showed in llieir first two matches if they wish to maintain, their position.

Reliable Fullback. Dalbeth, Technical Old Boys 'fullback, played another sound game against Frankton on (Saturday. He was never hurried but cleared m plenty of time on every occasion. His kicking was accurate and lengthy, his taking of the hall splendid, and, ii? tackling very solid. He is one of the most reliable fullbacks in the Union. Edwards, for Frankton, took the ban well and tackled solidly, but often had his side in trouble by toeing too slow to kick. He was caught in possession more often than not.

Was Always In It. Lissette played 'his usual sound game for Old Boys on Saturday and was an example to his aide. While the Did Boys’ rear division were comparatively starved for the ball and his chances of opening up the game consequently limited, he made full use of what opportunities were offering. He paved the way to his side’s opening try and contributed to the tally with a good kick from a 'free. No Penetration. Frankton’s inside backs showed little penertatioii against Technical on Saturday and they gave tho'r outsides little chance. Snodgrass was solid, but not outstanding, and only displayed his last season’s power of penetration when, from a scrum on (lie twenty-five, he cut through smartly to score. His defence was solid as also was Everest’s. Newton, behind a beaten pack, did not have a great deal of ball, but 'threw out some wild passes. The forwards of tea broke past him.

A Good Try. Tom 'Cassidy was responsible for one of the best tries 'in the M'aristOld Boys match on No. 2 ground on Saturday and 'demonstrated that 'he is worth his place in any team when on his game. Marist were attacking 'at the time and Trotter, cutting through well, sent out :to Jones, who in 'turn transferred to Cassidy, who had come up on the outer in 'support. With the ball in possession Cassidy fended off Heeps and dashed for the line going over in the corner with Voice 'hanging on to him.

High-class Wingers. Technical Old Boys have two highgrade wingers in Allen end Porteous, but neither of them see as much of the ball as they deserve. On Saturday 'Porteous never 'had one opportunity, while Allen only received ball once in 'the first half. He waa well fed in the second 'session, when, despite injuries received, he upheld his reputation by again scoring a try. Liddy was not a good connecting link, dropping several passes and often toeing caught in possession by J. Denz»

Uses His Pace. A player that uses his pace to advantage is J. 'Denz, Prank ton’s centre. On Saturday he flashed up inside T. Keeps and collecting a .pass in his own 'territory left the opposition standing to score a run-away try. Denz always oomes up fast to a man with the hall hut after attacking does not get back to defend smartly enough. Keeps was not outstanding, hesitating before running when in possession. Marlst Get the Ball. The Marist hookers dominated the set scrums in the Marist-Old Boys match on No. 2 ground, Rugby Park, on Saturday, and it was this that contributed largely to Marist’s success in that it gave their backs every opportunity 'for opening up the game. Nicol was especially prominent, and was always in the thick of it, and it was he who was mainly responsible for his side getting the ball as consistently as they did. A Bright Half. Smart, Technical’s 'half, is playing good football at present and again on Saturday was a good 'connecting link .between forwards and backs. St. George showed Improvement, his dropkick while on the run across- field, being smartly -executed. Dalbeth also drop-kicked a nice goal, the 'eight points being very -handy to Technical although they would have won without them. Gibb mixed some heady work with some poor -passing and •hanging-on.

Hard-working Forward. Tietjens was a solid toiler in Old Boys’ pack on Saturday and both in the tight and loose he was continually in the limelight. His sound backing up had its reward in the early stages of flic game when following an opening engineered toy Lissette lie 'snapped up (o •aciro&s fov GUI opening try.

Played In Forwards. L. Denz, ex-Wailcato halfback, played in 'the forwards 'for his club team, Frankton, on Saturday. At the 'commencement of play he played as an extra back, but when he ■saw that, Technical were winning the ball from most serums he went Into the pack. Denz played a useful game here, but towards the end changed places with Newton. When he was behind the scrum the Technical forwards found it, harder to break through past him. Davies again dribbled well and was prominent traugnqul with Tristram and Geodall also always in the picture.

Easily Superior. The Technical Old Boys’ forward? wore easily 'superior to the Frankton van and the team owes its victory to their sterling play. Flannagan heralded his return to the pack by a welldeserved try, while Paldington, Clough, Peart and 'Templer were always prominent. Breaking fast they continually harrassed the Frankton backs.

IN OTHER CENTRES. t

, CAMBRIDGE SUB-UNION. REGENT SIDE-LINE AFFAIR. BEQUEST FOR RE-HEARING. (Special to Times.) CAMBRIDGE, Tuesday. The weekly meeting th ® v^ rI i b p \ , d fn Rugby Management Committee was held in the Power Board Buildings on Monday evening when the president, Mi XV. maim, presided'over a good attendance or delo B ' ate ' Fixtures. Fixtures for Saturday, next vero SSV onitM. square, i .30; Leamington v. Northern, btiuare -‘is- - Karapiro v. ,PuJ\,r'vUxnung‘iington No. 1, 2.4 5; Leamington v.MMingu tautari A, Leamington No. v. Hautapu, Leamington N°. 1, .30, i thorn v. Maungatautan B, Leamington no. “’Third Grade; United v Hautapu v. Leamington, -I.JO. Both game at High School. Clarke Cup Draw. The Waikato Union' advised the jumo championship (Clarke Cup) dim. as fol lows: First Round—July 1 3, Camhrmgc Mataniata, at Matamata; llaintiton v. Waipa, at To Awamutu; Morrinsville and Jaupii ~ byes. Second Round —August 3, M°m. ns 0 viile v. Taupiri; winners ol Nos. 1 and ~ to rrwas decided to accept August, 3 as a date for a representative match with Ham ilton at Cambridge. mnn , np „ nf Objection was raised to the manner or the Clarke Cup draw and it was decided to ask the Waikato Union why, with six teams entered, two teams weie given bjes in the first round. tri The Waipa Sub-Union wrote peeing to the representative fixtures Tor the -9th. Inst., as rollows: Cambridge A v. Waipa, at Te Awamutu; Cambridge B v - Waipa B at Cambridge. "Juniors: Cambridge A v., Waipa A at Cambridge; Cambridge B v. Waipa B at Waipa. , Karapiro applied, Tor the registration or C. Higgln's and W. Worms.— Granted Hautapu applied Tor the registration or Tal Hula (senior).—Granted. It was decided to invite Matamata to send t'heir senior representatives to Cambridge on July 27. The meeting offered congratulations to Waipa on the selection or Wynyard In’ the All Blacks’ team; and also to Pepper, of the Manukau Club. , . „ . „ It was decided that the annual ball be held on August 22, subject to the Town Hall being available on that date. Request for Re-hearing. The Hautapu delegate (Mr H. Roberts) preterred a request rrom ills club Tor a rehearing or the circumstances which resulted in G. Campbell, a Junior player, being recently suspended ror the rest or tiie season ror being ordered off the field for striking a player and ror striking a spectator on the side-line. The president ruled that the request was out or order and that through the subunion only Campbell could appeal to the Waikato Union against the sentence imposed upon him. Mr Roberts stated that his club considered the sentence upon Campbell xvas too severe as compared with Iho lighter sentences upon the Maori player ordered off and the two Maori spectators concerned. His club xvas prepared to bring further evidence.

WAIPA UNION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS. Sir J. G. Wynyard presided at tlie usual weekly meeting of the Waipa Rugby Union Management Committee on Monday evening. Matamata Union wrote offering to send Its senior representative team to Te Awamutu on Saturday, July 6, hut it was decided to reply regretting that the offer could not .be accepted, as club fixtures had to be played that day. Clearances In respect to R. Ensor, from Frankton Club, and A. D. Anderson from Cambridge Union, xvere recoived. On the motion of Mr Mairs, the secretary was Instructed to convey to Mr J. G. Wynyard the Union’s congratulations upon bis son’s inclusion in the All Black team of 1 935. The headmaster or tho District High School directed attention to the conduct or certain players at the School ground, using Tences Instead of gates and stiles, and also the amount of litter left about the grounds after a match. He asked for Improvement.—The letter xvas referred to tho Junior Advisory Board. Mr 'Reynolds xvas authorised to have repairs effected to one or the goalposts on No. 3 ground and tho secretary was asked to report on a suggestion to provide lights In tho dressing rooms at Albert Park. Fixtures for Saturday. Seniors; Suburbs v. Te Axvamutu, No. 1 ground, at 2.30; Rovers v. Tolcanui, No. 2 ground,' at 2.30) Juniors; Old Boys v. Te Mawhat, No. 1 ground, at 1 pan.; Suburbs v. Te Awamutu, No. 2 ground, at 1 p.m.; Rovers v. Tokanul, No. 3 ground, at 2.30 pan., Mr Vickers. Third Grade: Old Boys v. High School, at School grounds, at 1 pan., Mr Taylor. Te Awamutu v. Suburbs, No. 3 ground, at 1 p.m., Mr Maddern.

MORRINSVILLE UNION. FINLAY CUP GAME. The Morrinsville senior Rugby representatives xvere not Lilly extended to beat Taupiri op Saturday by a margin ol 1 1 points in the first match of the season lor tbe Finlay Cup, which is held by Morrinsvillc. Tbe next challenge is from PutaI'lii'u on June 29. MuiTlusville has always been' considered a bard team to beat, ami present indications show Unit it will lake a good team to wrest Luc cup from them. Morrinsville Pack. XX'itli J. l.eeson playing- in Hie dual All Black trial at Wellington, tile .Morrinsville pack lacked its usual leader and round itself up against solid opposition in the Taupiri forwards. When' il came I" open forward play Morrinsville had a decided superiority and swept Taupiri back in a manner for which Morrinsville are noted. U. l.eeson. Morrinsvillc's latest Waikato representative, forward, was in good lonu and was perhaps I lie most prominent of the Morrinsville forwards. Taupiri'.3 Forwards. Taupiri got a good share of t lie ball !roni tlie scrums, thanks to Hatley, their booker and well-known Waikato representative. The rest of the forwards all played well and held the formidable .Morrinsville pack, but unfortunately endeavoured to play Morrinsville at their own game, without getting anywhere. Morrinsville Eacks. Bussell and Altken were Morrinsville’s outstanding backs and played right up tu recent representative form. Altken scored a couple and Bussell went close to .scoring on several occasions. Mui-rlnsvillo’s lour tries were scored by tile three-quarter line, the xvings, Robson and Vivian, getting one apiece. \V. Cameron and Bodmin combined well at live-eighths, the former being again prominent with Ids long kicks which saved bis forwards. Angus Cameron, at full-back, played an excellent game. lie handled and fielded the hall perfectly. Taupiri Not Disgraced. Although beaten Taupiri was not disgraced. In previous years Hie Taupiri teams have not been able to make such air even game as was tlie case Hus year, for the score on Saturday rather nattered the victors. Last year the Taupiri team was beaten by a margin of 20 points. Poor tactics by the Taupiri Inside backs ruined the team's chances. At times they passed too much and other times kicked too much. These mistakes played into tlie hands of tlie .Morrinsville team. Grogan at liveeighths scored a nice try when' he cut in and caught tlie local backs off their guard.

Memorial Cup Team ■competition P. W. L. D. F. A. P. Frankton .... 1 0 75 66 10 Tech. Old Boys , .. 6 2 3 1 69 61 5 Old Boys ..... .. 6 2 3 1 70 78 5 Marlst i 0 86 95 3