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Angus Gault

Angus Tait Gault was a rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in four matches in 1937 and 1938. In the process he became the 251st player to represent New Zealand. He played rugby union in the Waitomo area for Hangatiki, and represented Maniapoto in the early-to-mid-1930s before moving to Auckland and playing rugby league for the Manukau club. He went on to represent Auckland, Auckland Pākehā, the North Island, and ultimately New Zealand.

Early life
Angus Gault was born on 30 May 1912, in Aviemore, Scotland. His parents were William Gault (1871–1958) and Agnes Henderson Tait (1879–1918). He had 6 siblings, William Gault (1905–1977), Robert G Gault (1906–?), Alexander Gault (1910–?), Hugh McCallum Gault (1916–?), Agnes Tait Gault (1918–2011), and Elizabeth Margaret Gault (1918–?). Mother Agnes appears to have died giving birth to twins Agnes and Elizabeth as her date of death was 6 July 1918, the same day the twins were born. The death and births occurred in Aviemore, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Angus came to New Zealand aged 16 in 1928. He departed Southampton, England on 8 November on board the Tamaroa and was said to be a farmer on his shipping records.{{cite news In 1932 he competed in several athletic events in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region. The first reported one was the Mamaku Sports Club meeting on 20 February. Mamaku is a small village on the Mamaku Plateau in the Bay of Plenty. He entered the 100 yards, 120 yards, and 440 yard races.{{cite news ==Playing career==
Playing career
Rugby union in the King Country 1932 It is unclear exactly when Angus Gault began playing rugby union for Hangatiki. He was in the side which played against Pio Pio on 7 May 1932. The blue and black of Hangatiki lost 21–0.{{cite news 1933 The 1933 season began with Gault playing in the opening round match between Hangatiki and Te Kuiti on the newly opened domain ground on 6 May.{{cite news He returned to his Hangatiki side to play against Pio Pio and Nehe on 1 and 8 July respectively. Gault was mentioned in their 6–3 win when "play centred midfield until Gault, Davis and Grey led the blue pack into the yellow territory where a nice kick by the defenders enabled Trench to follow up fast and catch the Blue full-back in possession". Late in the match with the score 3-3 Gault "suffered a temporary injury" but was able to play on and Hangatiki scored to win. The King Country Chronicle said "Gault, Davis, Hare and Wiske were worthy of mention".{{cite news 1934 In 1934 Gault was elected on to the Hangatiki club's social committee for their "Waitomo" sector. The club also had a Hangatiki sector.{{cite news 1935 The 1935 season was to be a busier one for Gault. He played 13 matches for Hangatiki and 2 for Maniapoto. It was to be his final season playing rugby in the King Country. He scored a try in their opening round loss to Te Kuiti on 4 May by 26 points to 6. He was mentioned several times in the newspaper with the Hangatiki forwards "led by Gault and Hislop, kept battling almost to the end". Gault's good work led to a try to Koroheke early in the match, with his own try coming soon after half time when he "battled a way through a melee and claimed a score". The paper also said that Gault was "fit and started off the season with a great burst of energy".{{cite news Gault was then named in the Maniapoto side to play Waipā on Thursday, 18 July. Also named in the side was Frank Pickrang who was to join him at Manukau the following season.{{cite news Gault finished the season with three matches for Hangatiki. The first was against Waitete on 24 August, before a 16-11 semi-final win over Pio Pio in the Pukeweka Shield. Gault did "splendid work" for Hangatiki and was mentioned several times, and set up their last try after he "ploughed his way through the whole Pio Pio team… before Ted Davis got the ball across".{{cite news Rugby league (Manukau) 1936 At the start of the 1936 season Gault moved to Auckland to join the Manukau rugby league club. The side had re-entered the first grade competition for the first time in many years and recruited several good rugby union players from around the North Island including Gault, Frank Pickrang, and Jackie Rata from the King Country and several other players from other regions such as Jack Hemi from the Wairarapa.{{cite news In round 2 on 9 May tragedy struck the Manukau club with one of their founders, Albert Cowan suffering a fatal heart attack in their dressing room after congratulating the team in the dressing room following their 14–8 over Richmond Rovers. Cowan was buried on 12 May with Gault being one of the pall bearers at his Onehunga funeral, which was the suburb that Manukau were based in at this time.{{cite news On 6 June Manukau beat Marist Old Boys 39–18 in a fast game on Carlaw Park #2. He sparked an early try after he "snapped up in the loose" near halfway and fed Pickrang, then after a passing movement Watene scored. The Herald said that Gault was "outstanding" and in addition to the try he was involved with he scored two of his own.{{cite news The representative match that Gault had been selected for was the Auckland team to play Wellington on 23 June which was King's Birthday. He was selected in the second row along with Keane from Marist. On the same day another Auckland side was playing a Māori representative team.{{cite news On 27 June Manukau lost to Richmond 27–11 with Gault concussed and needing to be taken to Auckland Hospital. The Herald reported that "Angus Tait Gault, aged 23, of 312 Queen Street, Onehunga, groundsman" was "conveyed in a St. John ambulance" to hospital but his condition was not reported as serious.{{cite news Gault was chosen for a New Zealand trial match at Carlaw Park which would be a curtain raiser to the North Island v South Island inter-island match on 11 July. He was selected at prop with Flanagan at hooker and Bill Telford in the other propping position. They would play opposite the front row of the 'B Team' consisting of Clark, John Rutherford, and Bill Breed.{{cite news Gault was then selected for the Auckland to play England on 25 July at Carlaw Park. He was picked at prop along with Bill Breed, with Jack Satherley at hooker. The Auckland Star said that all the players were deserving of their place and that Gault had been "playing splendid football".{{cite news Gault scored a try for Manukau on 22 August in round 14 of the championship when they beat Marist 24–7. He was playing in an uncustomary position in the backs. The Auckland Star wrote that he "got through a wealth of good work on the wing".{{cite news In late December Gault was mentioned as a cricket player in the Possibles side in an Onehunga Cricket Association match to be played at Waikaraka Park, Onehunga. on 26 December.{{cite news 1937 The 1937 season saw Gault make his debut in the New Zealand side. He played 19 club matches for Manukau along with 3 games for Auckland, and a New Zealand trial match. At Manukau's annual meeting in late March before 250 members and supporters the success of the club was celebrated along with the individual achievements of several players including Gault's selection as a reserve for the New Zealand side.{{cite news In Manukau's first match of the season, a preliminary round match against Richmond on 17 April at Carlaw Park Gault scored a try in a 15–11 loss where he was "in the fore" with Brodrick, Kawe, and Phillips.{{cite news Gault then returned to the Manukau side for a stretch of 4 games. The first was a 7–3 loss to Ponsonby on 15 May where he was the pick of the forwards with Kawe and Rickett.{{cite news Gault's continued good form saw him selected at prop in the Auckland team to play Taranaki on 9 June at Carlaw Park. Such was Auckland's strength that they had chosen two sides to play, with another Auckland side playing South Auckland (Waikato) in a 1:30 kickoff with Gault's Auckland side playing at 3:00.{{cite news Returning to Manukau he "shone" in a 22–18 loss to Richmond in round 7 of the championship.{{cite news They returned to Auckland and continued the championship with a 31–11 win over North Shore with new recruits Rangi Chase and Tommy Chase scoring 2 tries each. Gault was one of their forwards who was "usually to the fore".{{cite news New Zealand selection and debut In late July, Gault was selected for a New Zealand trial in the Possibles side. He was named at prop with Bill Telford, and Bert Leatherbarrow at hooker with Joe Cootes and Bill Breed propping against them.{{cite news Gault was then chosen in New Zealand's 15 man squad to play Australia by selectors Thomas (Scotty) McClymont, Bert Avery, and Jim Amos.{{cite news in white, in the upper half of the picture The test was played at Carlaw Park on 7 August and saw Australia win a close match 12–8 before a crowd of 20,000 after the scores were locked at 6–6 at half time. Gault propped against Jim Gibbs and Ray Stehr.{{cite news He was unsurprisingly named in the second test squad to train during the week while the Australian side was due to play New Zealand Māori midweek.{{cite news Manukau and Auckland (1937 conclusion) Gault returned to the Manukau side for the concluding stages of the championship. They lost to Mt Albert 20–19 on 21 August which ended their hopes of the title. Gault scored one of their 3 tries and played a good game being "most prominent" among their forwards along with Painter.{{cite news 1938 Manukau, Auckland, North Island, and New Zealand The 1938 season saw Gault play 17 matches for Manukau and also play once more for Auckland, while he made his one and only appearance for the North Island side in their annual inter-island match. He was also chosen to go on the New Zealand tour of Australia. His first match was for Manukau against Ponsonby in a championship preliminary round game on 2 April which Manukau won 19–11.{{cite news Auckland and North Island selection Gault was selected in the Auckland team to play against a "Rest of the North Island" side as a trial match to help select the New Zealand touring side. He was named at prop along with Des Herring, with Jack Satherley at hooker.{{cite news For the North Island, Gault was selected in the second row with Manukau teammate Jack Brodrick. Des Herring and Joe Cootes who had played well in the losing 'Rest of North Island' side were selected at prop.{{cite news New Zealand Tour of Australia Following the resounding win over the South Island, Gault was selected in the New Zealand team to tour Australia. He was among the 22 players chosen which included 11 forwards. The side was unsurprisingly dominated by Auckland players with 18 in the squad. The Auckland Star wrote "Jack McLeod, Gault, Brodrick, and John Anderson represent the best type of mid row players in the game".{{cite news The Herald also published a piece with brief biographical information about each player; of Gault they wrote, "A. Gault (Auckland) is 24 years of age and weighs 13st. 2lb. He played representative football in the King Country and is a greatly improved forward. He has speed and is a good handler".{{cite news Before they departed for the tour Gault played one more match for Manukau against City in round 7 of the championship. They won 23 to 19 with Gault scoring yet again. He and Pita Ririnui were the "leaders" in their forwards.{{cite news On 30 May a ball was held for them at the Peter Pan Cabaret in the evening. Then on 31 May a civic farewell was held for the side with Auckland mayor Sir Ernest Davis leading proceedings at the Auckland Town Hall, preceded by morning tea at George Court's.{{cite news 's outstretched arm in the match against NSW at the SCG Gault was selected to play in the second row with Brodrick in the first tour match against New South Wales on 11 June at the Sydney Cricket Ground.{{cite news attempting to tackle him Gault was dropped for the second match against the same opponent with the selectors preferring the "slightly heavier" Jack McLeod in the second row.{{cite news He was selected again for the 3rd match of the tour against North Coast at Lismore on 15 June, with New Zealand winning 23–2.{{cite news Unsurprisingly Gault was omitted from the New Zealand team to play Queensland and then Toowoomba.{{cite news Gault was next named to play in a match for Manukau against City a week later, on 23 July.{{cite news Return to Manukau Gault then finished the season with several matches for Manukau. Their final championship match was against Ponsonby and saw them win 26 to 14 with Gault scoring two of their tries, both of which were set up by Rangi Chase. The result meant they leap frogged Manukau on the table and finished in 4th place out of 9.{{cite news 1939, final season The 1939 season was to be Gault's last despite being just 27 years of age. He played in 10 of Manukau's games, scoring 2 tries and made one representative appearance for the Auckland Pākehā side which played Auckland Māori before retiring from the game. He was named in the first Manukau squad of the year to play Ponsonby on 1 April. The season was starting early with a view to have much of the football played before the New Zealand touring team for England was selected.{{cite news Gault then played in seven consecutive games for Manukau in the Fox Memorial championship. The first was against Papakura on 22 April with Manukau winning 20–0. The Herald said that Gault, Ririnui, and Brodrick "played as well as the three quarters" and were "good in the loose", "playing fine games".{{cite news Gault was selected for the Auckland Pākehā team which had begun playing matches a few years prior with the rise of Māori rugby league in the Auckland area. The fixture had become a regular one that had been popular. Gault was named at prop with Richard Shadbolt the other prop and Bert Leatherbarrow at hooker.{{cite news Somewhat surprisingly Gault was about to play his last known game of rugby league. He played a good game for Manukau against Ponsonby on 10 June which Manukau won 10–6. The Auckland Star wrote "for the winners men who were never far away from where the play was thickest were Gault, Ririnui, and Marsh…"{{cite news It is unknown if he had any further involvement in rugby league or rugby union from this point on. He enlisted in the war in the early 1940s when he would have been around 30 years of age. ==Personal life==
Personal life
On 8 June a personal notice appeared in the King Country Chronicle stating "the engagement is announced of Edna May, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. McKenzie, of Whanganui, late of Te Kuiti, to Angus Tait, fourth son of Mr. and the late Mrs. W. Gault, of Scotland".{{cite news The electoral roll in 1938 stated that Gault worked at Waitomo Hostel near the Waitomo Caves and was an employee of the government. It was a position he had held since at least 1935 as it was the same in those electoral roll records also. As he was playing rugby league in Auckland in the 1938 season it is likely that he had been returning to the King Country in the of season. The same roll showed that his brother William was still living in the area and farming.{{cite news War effort In April 1941 Gault's name was drawn in the second ballot for overseas service after he had previously volunteered. he was recorded as living at 55 Onslow Avenue, Epsom at the time.{{cite news Marriage and working life Gault married Rona Hurst Aspden on 28 December 1940. They had three children, Peter, Gary, and Janice.{{cite news After returning from war Gault applied for a Continuous Good Service Licence in late June, 1945. Such a license was to allow the recipient to transport goods in a truck. He was living in Onehunga by this point.{{cite news By 1966 Gault had moved to Papatoetoe and was living at Edorvale Ave, working as a cartage contractor. It was a profession he stayed in while living in the same area until the 1970s.{{cite news Death Angus Tait Gault died on 23 September 1983, aged 71. His wife Rona died 3 years later in 1986 aged 71.{{cite news ==References==
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