WATAROA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 10 August 1937, Page 2

WATAROA NOTES

fOur Own Correspondent] An energetic committee, composed mostly of ladies of the district, is working vigorously towards the raising of funds for the addition of a supper room to the local hall. Dances have been held and at present the needlewomen are plying a busy thread in preparation for a show and fair to be held in the near future. Competitions in a variety of crafts are to be held and it is hoped that there will be a big entry for all types of work. The first, for this season, of the annual home and home games in basketball and football between the Hari Hari and Wataroa Schools was held at Wataroa on Saturday in beautiful weather. These games are always keenly anticipated by the children, and in a very large measure by the adults also, and a keen and friendly rivalry exists between the two schools. Last season Wataroa had to take second place to their opponents on both occasions but on Saturday they successfully turned the tables and were the winners in all the games. The basketball was strenuously 'contested and Wataroa ultimately ran out winners by 5 goals to 3. The football was played in two grades, senior and bantam, and some interesting football was witnessed. However, Wataroa proved too strong in both classes, the bantams winning by 36 points to 0, and the Seniors by 23 to 8. The visitors were entertained to lunch and afternoon tea by the local residents and now both schools will be looking eagerly forward to the return matches to be' played some time In September. Football:

The annual match for the Sullivan Cup, presented by Mr. M. Sullivan, of Weheka, for competition between teams representing the South and North ends of the district, was played at Wataroa on Saturday last, under perfect weather conditions. Although it was the general opinion that the North would field the stronger side the prophets were once again upset and, in an interesting but somewhat ragged game, South proved the winners by 18 to 14. . South owed their win mainly to the fine work of their forwards, especially in the loose, and the strong defence of their backs. Although North won the ball from set scrums with almost monotonous regularity their attacks wilted against the stubborn defence and sound tackling of the South backline. The South forwards, led by Walsh, Beard and Heveldt, played with rare dash in the loose and opened the way for most of their side's points. The South backs seldom linked up effectively in good movements, but individually played sound games. Pat Nolan, in particular, gave a display of deadly tackling which successfully kept the speedy Wyatt in check. The North forwards were much the stronger in rucking and in set scrums and gave their half-back a feast of the ball. Jack Nolan at half-back gave a .dashing and vigorous display but Berry, at second five, failed dismally to link up and the speedy men outside him were practically starved of the ball, although they showed up in one or two fine individual runs.

In the first half, North always Jooked the most likely side and many promising movements eventuated,- Jim Nolan opening the scoring with .a try which Wilson failed to convert.

Shortly afterwards, Wilson kicked a good penalty to put North six points in the lead. South rallied and carried play to the other end, where McIntyre scored for Beard to add the extra points, 5—6. They did not hold the advantage long before, . from a fine forward rush, Colin Thiele, who played a fine game throughout, scored again for the North, who now lead by 9 to 5. The lead see-sawed in the second half. Shortly after the commencement, Walsh scored for South wide out and Beard, with a fine kick, added the extra points. South 10, North 9 North were not to be denied and soon regained the lead by a brilliant try by Kirby, who, taking the ball on the half-way line, staged a great run through the South backs to score underneath the posts. Wilson converted and North now led by 14 points to 10. Back came the South, and loose forward rushes swept back the defence and Walsh again scored for Beard to add the extra points. South 15, North 14. North tried hard to regain the lead, but a penalty to South, with which Beard made no mistake from almost half way, put them further in front. Full time sounded soon afterwards, leaving South the winners by 18 to 14. Mr. V. Pierson was the referee.