RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2766, 24 August 1931, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Representatives: Waikato, 17; Thames Valley, 12. Drysdale Cup: t Veterans, 6; West, 0. Juniors. Old Boys, 14; West, 0. Turua, by default from West. Physical Training, Thames, 13; Suburbs, 8. Third Grade. Paeroa, 8; Te Aroha, 3. WAIKATO DEFEATS VALLEY. EXCITING CONCLUSION TO GAME. LAST MINUTE VICTORY. ’ After an exciting and strenuous exhibition of Rugby in the game, Valley y. Waikato, at Te Aroha on Saturday last, Storey (Waikato), with the time bell ringing, the scores standing 12 all, and • the crowd rising to leave the field, put in a fine run to touch down for the winning try, which Carlson converted. This last minute victory caused no less surprise than the great fight that Valley put up against a team which, by many, was considered able to give Valley 20 points in. The team which finally lined out to represent Valley was not the fifteen men that the selectors had primarily chosen, several Te Aroha- men standing down, as an official remarked, because of an impirtant engagement next week. The home team, however, even though it contained a junior player in Rowe, and four new . forwards, Neil, Martin, Taylor and Jennings, besides being without the services of Jacob at full back, put up a splendid fight and every man justified his inclusion in the team. The same fifteen men, on Saturday’s play, should go very well against Auckland in the coming fixture, having proved themselves equal in strength to the best side that lined out for Valley in the recent tour. The team was: Goldsbury, Walford, Lysaght, Pilkington, Garvey, Madgwick, Moore, Thomas, Mathers, Neil, Martin, Rowe, 1 Taylor, Carrick and Jennings. Waikato was represented by Thomas, Carlson. Fitzgerald, Hook, W. Cameron, Egan, Denz, Storey, Welch, Robinson Cameron, Ensor, Leeson and Prescott. The Players. Again, as In' every representative game this season, Moore was the outstanding player for Valley. Lysaght played, his usual safe game, while of the remaining backs Garvey was probably the pick. Cleave, who took Madgw'ick’s jllace when the latter shifted back to replace Goldsbury, showed up well at times, though he is an opportunits and not a defensive player. All the backs played a good game, and did well to hold their more experienced opponents. Thomas again led the forwards in a fine style, doing a great deal of spoiling work among the Waikato back's. Carrick was the pick of the pack for a hard worker, though every forward did his full share of work. The tackling of the whole team was not as good as it might have been, and accounted for Waikato’s score. Of the Waikato team Hook, at threequarter, was the outstanding back. Thomas, full back, was safe and tackled well. W. Cameron also played a good sound game and Egan gave a bright display at five-eighths. . Storey, rover, with Leeson and A. Cameron, was outstanding among the forwards, these'three giving Valley considerable trouble. . The Game. > An exchange of high punts followed the kick off, W. Cameron eventually finding the line. Waikato backs were sent away, but Fitzgerald had to kick for safety. Hook was given the ball from the line and bad tackling let him through to Pilkington before he was grassed. Waikato sustained the pressure and A. Cameron from a line out, broke through, put in a useful run and passed to Storey, who went over fairly easily. Carlson missed the kick. Waikato, 3; Valley, 0. Thames Valley tackling was very weak up till this point. Following tight work at midfield, Waikato worked back up the line. Valley hooked from a scrum, but Storey was round on Moore, who found the line barely in time. - Storey and Leeson broke through in a good rush, but Martin stopped them with a mark. A man in front of the ball gave a scrum, Valley hooked,-Moore’s kick failed to find the line and Thomas placed his kick in good' position. Storey broke through from the line out, beat several men and sent on to Cameron, but a knock on pulled them up. Valley hooked and Moore found the line in a good position. Hook was given the- ball,- but :a forward pass to

Denz called a halt. Waikato hooked and the backs went away, throwing out long passes, but again the ball went forward and a good movement was spoilt. Goldsbury had the best of an exchange of kicks with Thoinas, and from the line Moore headed a combined back and forward rush into Waikato territory. He was pushed out. Thomas (Valley) was penalised for picking the ball from a loose scrummage and a long kick sent Waikato on attack again. The Waikato backs were set in action, but Egan missed his pass. Rowe lost a chance by failing to pick up and the ball went out. Waikato backs came again, Pilkington missed Fitzgerald, who sent on to Carlson. Goldsbury grassed his j man, however, and Walford relieved. Thomas (Valley) followed up a high kick, fielded, and looked dangerous until his inpass to Rowe went forward. Waikato came back, but Garvey caught Hook with the ball. Waikato went from the line out but Lysaght, stopping Fitzgerald who threw wide to Carlson. The latter sent on to A.' Cameron, who passed to W. Cameron, but the latter was forced to find the line. From a scuffle at the line out, Gleeson broke away and sefft to Hook. Goldsbury tackled and Hook sent out to Fitzgerald. Goldsbury was on his feet and dropped Fitzgerald, who sent on to Egan. Moore came round and tackled Egan, but he fell over the line, and,another three points was added to Waikato’s score, Carlson missing the kick. Waikato, 6; Valley, 0.

Goldsbury had been injured by a kick on the head in tackling Fitzgerald and had to leave the field. Madgwick went to full back and Cleave replaced him. Waikato forwards broke away and a try seemed certain until a forward pass saved Valley. A moment after Moore was penalised for hanging on to the ball. Carlson’s kicking was not good,, though he had hard luck to hit the post, on this occasion, Madgwick clearing. . Waikato backs were set in action and Fitzgerald inpassed to A. Cameron, a knock on spoiling the movement. Storey and Egan were ‘ dangerous until Garvey robbed them. A free kick to Valley gave Moore an opportunity to gain ground. Hook threw the ball well back at the line out and Fitzgerald, fielding, sent to Storey, who was caught with the ball. Thomas (Valley) broke away, put in a fine run and passed to Walford. Blocked by; Thomas,. Walford threw infield) but the pass went astray. Valley was awarded a free . for an offside by a Waikato forward, and Walford’s kick, from a difficult angle, fell short. From a line out Valley 'forwards bunched. Thomas took the ball and fought hi&ytvay. to the line'for a well earnfed try, Walford converted. Waikato,'6; Valley, 5.

Carrick found the line with a speculator, and from the line out the ball was knocked back to Thomas (Waikato). Madgwick' took the ball, but his kick went out all the way, leaving Waikato in a handy position. A free relieved, however, and Valley forwards followed through; but Hook headed a return rush. ' Moore and Madgwick both attempted to pick up the ball and Hook got past, ball still at toe. A try looked certain, but as Hook fell on the ball, Pilkington coming across.from his position at top speed, dived underneath to touch down. Waikato sustained the attack until half time, the score being: Waikato, 6; Valley, 5.

Waikato attacked from the kick, but Egan gave bad passes and spoilt the half’s work. Moore gained ground with a free kick; but Waikato forwards came back, Martin grassing Egan with the ball. Leeson picked up and forced, his way over. Carlson missed with the kick.

Waikato, 9; Valley, 5.

A. Cameron set Waikato on attack with a fine kick and Cleave, attempting to clear, lost ground with a bad kick. From the line, Denz worked the blind with Carlson, Storey carried on. Madgwick grassing him and Moore forcing. From a scrummage near midfield Moore sent to Garvey, to Pilkington,'’who was grassed. Carlson picked up, but Lysaght dropped him, Egan finally clearing with a long kick. Madgwick fielded, but his foot went out at the corner. A free kick relieved. From a scrum Denz worked the blind, sending to Carlson. Pilkington took his man, but Carlson sent .in, to Storey,, who went over. Carlson’s kick failed. Waikato, 12; Valley, 5.

Valley attacked, but Lysaght sent a bad pass' to Walford. Cleave snapped up the ball and potted a goal from a difficult position. Waikato, 12; Valley," 9.

Moore broke away from'the loose, but Hook took the ball off his toe, and Waikato came to the attack. Jennings, Martin, and Carrick headed a good return rush and the ball went but. Scrums followed in nuetral ground, Valley now having the best of a forward game. Mathers, Lomas and. Rowe gained ground with a good rush, but Storey snapped up, sent to

W. Cameron,.to Fitzgerald, to Hook, , then back to Carlson, who dropped his pass. Thomas broke away, Mathers in support, and gained good ground. Taylor picked' up and carried on to within a few yards of Waikato’s line, Thomas' forcing shortly after. Moore'and Thomas broke away again, and took the ball well up. Cleave picked up and carried on, but dropped the ball. Garvey gathered in and dived over in the corner. The kick failed to rise. / Waikato, 12; Valley, 12. With only a few minutes to go Valley forwards attacked strongly, Waikato again defending determinedly. ' The score seemed unlikely to alter and the time bell rang with play in midfield. Storey, hbwever, gathered in, put in a run and went over, Carlson’s kick converting. This termination to the match was rather surprising and somewhat sudden. Waikato, 17; Valley, 12.