RUGBY FOOTBALL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4699, 28 May 1935, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RESULTS. ’ Seniors. Te Kuiti 9, v. Waitete 3. Waitanguru 9, v. Old Boys 3. Pio Pio 12, v. Hangatiki 5. Juniors. Te Kuiti 0, v. Waitete 0. Pio Pio 15, Mangaotaki 8. POSITION OF TEAMS. Seniors.

Juniors, Southern Zone.

TE KUITI v. WAITETE.

KEEN GAME ON RUGBY PARK

The meeting of the two Te Kuiti Clubs, Waitete and Te Kuiti, both senior and junior divisions, aroused considerable, interest in football locally last Saturday, a good crowd being present at Rugby Park. Both games were well worth watching. The senior match was probably the best in the Sub-Union that has seen this season, the final score being 9 points to 3 in favour of Te Kuiti. Both sets of backs were out of the picture except in loose and individual play. For Te Kuiti B. Barlow played a fine game. J. Barlow was sadly missed, and had he been there it is certain that Te Kuiti would have made openings. As it v/as, the Waitete forwards, particularly in the first half, had J. Evans well hemmed in, and were aided by the fact that he had . a day off with the handling. The backs outside him did not get the chance to show up, but were flatfooted. Waitete are still endeavouring to find a halfback, and were handicapped here. Weo Wetere came up from fullback to play at first fiveeighths, and though he performed much work he often mixed fullback practice with that of his position. As a result the men outside him received few chances until the team was rearranged in the second half. Te Kuiti had the better forwards, but Waitete’s pack appeared to play the game more as a unit, and Kawe, who was almost invariably their leader, was the best forward of the game. His work in the line-out was particularly noticeable, while “Toby” Nielson was playing his sound and heady game. Len Wi was troublesome, but wild. On the Te Kuiti side Brown was working very hard in the tight, and “Darky” Turner used his weight to very good purpose. Several opportunities came Te Kuiti’s way soon after the commencement of the game, as when E. Evans chased up Barlow’s kick, and when Barlow tried a cut in when he was nearing the line. After this Brown handed the ball out of the melee, but Krogh was pulled up as he tried to go across, the pass ’to him having been forward. Not that the. Blues were out of the picture. Their better team work in the forwards and Kawe’s work caused Te Kuiti qualms at times, but Te Kuiti were' most dangerous during the first half, their forwards being better individualists. The only points gained during the half, however, came from a penalty, McLeod making no mistake about finding the posts with a long shot. At the opening of the second spell the Waitete pack rose to the occasion and the Blues kept up an . attack. Their reward came when Tipping suddenly obtained possession outside the 25 to make a determined burst. McLeod with a fine collar laid him low in th*e nick of time, but he managed to get the ball out through Elliott to Rees, who, amid wild excitement, crossed in the corner,. Weo’s kick, a fine effort, just missed the posts. 3—3. . Play swept, up and down field amid great excitement —a Te Kuiti crowd had at last been shaken , out of their apathetic silence. McLeod was called upon to make a great save when Len Wi burst through. Then Te Kuiti were very near to scoring when the Te Kuiti backs, getting the ball from a lineout in the 25, E. Evans cut in, but Waitete got him. After a steady offensive by Te Kuiti the Waitete forwards, aided by Weo’s kicking, were pressing away from the goal, when on infringement called a halt. H. McLeod took the long kick, and the ball bounced on the crossbar and over. 6—:3. , ' , Elliott and Weo, with mark and drop-kick respectively, both had long shots at the Waitete goal, the ball going each side of the posts. Waitete forced to the line, and Kawe was .very nearly over. Willison and Stringer headed the Blues back. Suddenly with Taylor breaking away there was danger for Waitete, but Krogh was hemmed in. The ground gained was not lost, for B. Bai’low sent the ball on to Roberts, who burst through the melee on the sideline to cross. McLeod’s good attempt missed the goal. 9 —3. For the remainder of the game Te Kuiti pressed an advantage. Wallis appeared to be across when, fielding E. Evans’ crosskick, he cut in, but a 5-yards scrum was ordered. Stringer, J.‘Evans and R. Barlow each tried to get across as the forwards battled hard to hold the advantage, but Waitete was watching too closely. At the very end of the game Rees made a dash upfield, but was brought down loy McLeod.

WAITANGURU v. OLD BOYS. The Waitang-uru seniors defeated the Old Boys team last Saturday by 9 points to 3. Old Boys were playing an unco-ordinated team, and their forwards were no match for Pickrang, Craig and Sunnex, who led the speedy Waitanguru pack. Pickrang again played a splendid game, and was probably the best forward on Rugby Park last Saturday.

W. L. D. For Ag. Pts. Te Kuiti . . 4 — — 63 15 8 Waitete . . 3 1 - 43 26 6 Pio Pio . . 3 1 — 29 25 6 W'tanguru 1 1 1 26 25 3 Otoroh’ga 1 2 - 15 31 1 Hangatiki — 3 — 20 51 0 Old Boys — 3 — 8 31 0

W. L. D. For Ag. Pts. United . 2 — — 13 6 4 Pio Pio . . 2 1 — 29 17 4 Te Kuiti 1 1 1 9 11 3 M’taki . 1 2 _ 25 29 2 Waitete . . 0 2 1 6 19 1