WAIKATO VICTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 212, 8 September 1927, Page 14

WAIKATO VICTORY.

DEFEAT OF WAIRARAPA. FOURTEEN TO EIGHT. HAMILTON, Wednesday. There was a large attendance of spectators at Rugby Park this afternoon to witness the Rugby match between Waikato and Walrarapa. As a result of the heavy rain which fell last night tbe ground was In a sodden condition, unfavourable to a display of spectacular football. However, the game proved Interesting and was fast and remarkably open under the circumstances. The match resulted In a win for Waikato by 14 points to 8. The first half was very even and the pace was fast from the outset. The Waikato forwards early proved themselves well able to hold their own in the scrums. Early in the game Cooke and Brunton forced to save the situation for the visitors. The Waikato three-quarters, Quin, Kemp and Thompson, were prominent In opening up the game, but Brunton, the Walrarapa fullback, was very sound on defence, and continually gained ground by bis ability in swerving and his accurate kicking. Good kicking by Stringfellow also drew applause on several occasions.

Walrarapa was the first to score. Hart sending the ball from a scrum near tbe line to Fuller, who scored in the corner. Hart converted with a fine low shot. The score was equalised shortly afterwards when Kemp intercepted and passed to Bayly, who scored after a good run. S. Thomas converted, the ball glancing the post. During the last few minutes of the first spell Waikato pressed strongly, and Bayly was instrumental in getting the ball away to the backs, who made several brilliant attempts to cross the line, only to be blocked by sound defence. At half-time the score was 5 all.

Early in tbe second half Ward scored for the visitors, diving over from a scrum near the line. The kick failed. Cooke was incapacitated at this stage of the game owing to a torn muscle of the shoulder, and his place was taken by Htrotl. The score was brought to 8 all when Bayly picked up the ball on the rebound from a Walrarapa player and scored. The try was not converted. The visitors failed to add to their score, although they looked dangerous on several occasions.

Harvey was prominent among the Walrarapa forwards and made great efforts to break through. The Waikato forwards were busy in the loose on Wairarapa's line during the closing stages of the game. Close on the call of time Kemp took the ball over the line from a dribbling rush and scored. The kick failed and the game ended. Waikato 14, Walrarapa 8.