RUGBY FOOTBALL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4702, 4 June 1935, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Seniors. Hangatiki 11, v. Otorohanga 8. Te Kuiti 25, v. Old Boys 9. Waitete 6, v. Waitanguru 3. Juniors. Te Kuiti 7, v. Mangaotaki 5. United 10, v. Waitete 3. Otorohanga 11, v. Hangatiki 9. United (Oto.) 13, v. Kio Kio 3. . —— —/„—■■■■■ WAITETE v. WAITANGURU. The Waitete-Waitanguru match, the chief attraction at Rugby Park last Saturday, was, as expected, a fine even game, with little to pick between the sides. The score was 6—3 in Waitete’s favour. Waitanguru, despite very good efforts in the home team’s pack, had the best of the forwards. Craig played a particularly fine game. He played breakaway and his speed, quickness and determination should put him into rep. sides outside this Sub-Union. He and Pickrang—Waitanguru’s second star forward—collared clean around the ankles, and many a Waitete player can vouch how effective this tackling, so seldom seen here, was last Saturday. Hasselberg and Sunnex also played well and the fast Waitanguru pack buckled into the game from start to finish. The local team’s forwards were also playing a game out of the bag—Tuki was showing up well, while Kawe again demonstrated his consistent form. In ( the backs, Weo Wetere, though his unnecessary little sidestep did not please the crowd, could have taught every man in that game a lot about handling and kicking. The first five-eighths’ (Hurst’s) tactics were rather hard to follow seeing that Philps was the only back who could be accounted strong in the Waitanguru backs. In spite of the fact that Schroeder put over a good kick, a kicker in the visiting side should be an acquisition. Waitanguru were particularly unlucky in that two. minutes after the game started Dowie put a penalty kick over the goal, putting the Blues three points in the lead. Waitete had a chance of crossing o'n Tuki bursting found the pack, but play was give and take.

Following through by . Hasselberg pressed Waitanguru deep into their 25. The Waitete backs retaliated and forced a scrum in the opposite 25. The breakaways concentrated on downing Philps when Waitanguru, as usual, received the ball, and T. Nielson took it over to raise Waitete’s points to 6.

Waitanguru had chances when Craig caught Weo and the latter’s kick went wild, but the Green forwards could not get under the ball cleanly; and with the two moderate length penalty shots which Philps took at goal. However, Waitanguru’s • slowness at forcing nearly gave Elliott a chance to score for Waitanguru, and Len Wi nearly burst through heavy packing on the line. The visitors soon after began a long offensive —except for the last ten minutes they had the best of the second half. With the forwards packing in and the breakaways eager for a score, Waitanguru maintained their position in the 25. Lee fielded the ball at top speed from Dowie’s defending kick—though he was pulled down the forwards came found so quickly they were unlucky not to cross, Craig arriving just a second too late to fall on the ball.

They were also unfortunate when, Weo being pulled doWn, Philps kicked through—and the ball went out on the corner a split second before the forwards arrived. When their efforts were rewarded it was through a penalty, Schroeder finding the posts. 6—3.

Great excitement followed as the Blues stormed the line. Backs ahd forwards alike revived, and it- was only the excellent defence of the Waitanguru forwards that held them up—once they were within inches of the line, and the sudden sallies upfield were soon brought back. TE KUITI v. OLD BOYS. The match between the Te Kuiti and Old Boys seniors was a very scratch game, only 13 players taking the field for each side—the Te Kuiti team had no qualms as to the result, and gained 25 points, seven tries with two conversions, to 9 points, a try and two penalties.

HANG ATI Kl v. OTOROHANGA.

The senior game between Hangatiki and Otorohanga at Otorohanga, began with very" spirited action on the part of Hangatiki, who lost no time in trying to gain the ascendency. From a penalty kick shortly after the start J. Kite piloted a splendid kick over the bar. Hangatiki 3, Otorohanga 0. Not to be denied further points, the visiting forwards attacking in grand style, carried play to Otorohanga’s 25 where E. Davis picking up forced his way over, J. Kite again kicking a splendid goal. Hangatiki 8, Otorohanga 0.

These reverses so soon after the start appeared to wake Otorohanga up to the position, and the forwards playing strongly carried play to Hangatiki’s line, but stern defence saved time and again. Still following up fast in the open Otorohanga were endeavouring - by repeated thrusts to pierce the defence. An infrengement by Hangatiki resulting in a set scrum gave K. Cameron a chance to set his backs in motion, the ball travelling to Mclvor on the outside to finish a very pretty movement. The kick at goal failed. Hangatiki 8, Otorohanga 3.

The Otorohanga forwards were now playing a game out of the bag, and although a heavier pack opposed them, were Continually keeping Hangatiki hemmed in their 25. Numerous infringements, however, nullified their efforts, allowing the visitors to transfer play to safer quarters. The combined failure of Oto? rohanga backs to get the ball away cleanly lost numerous chances, and Hangatiki, with fast following forwards, were within an ace of scoring several times. The tendency of tackling players without the ball let

Hangatiki have several shots at goal which were unsuccessful. The visiting players at this time were hooking the ball in every set scrum and breaking fast. An Otorohanga back mulling badly allowed A. Gault to add three more points with a very determined try, the kick again failing., Hangatiki 11, Otorohanga 3. Halftime was called with no alteration in the score.

From the kick-off in the second half Otorohanga forwards rushed play to Hangatiki’s 25 but overruning pulled them up time after time, scrum after scrum taking place with monotony, until Hislop found the line with a powerful kick. Hangatiki keeping up the pressure were strongly attacking when the ball coming clear from the ruck saw A. Finlay snap it up and with a brilliant run from halfway break -through to out-' pace the opposition, placing the ball between the posts, this being the finest try seen in Otorohanga for years. t L. Cameron put the ball between the uprights. Hangatiki 11, Otorohanga 8.

From now onwards both sides were putting every ounce in, and several incidents of very rough play nullified efforts on both sides. Still some splendid sorties were witnessed which roused spectators to the pitch of extreme excitement. However, the splendid defence of Hangatiki kept Otorohanga subdued, the game ending in semi-darkness, with the score, unaltered. Mr. Carr ably controlled the match. JUNIORS. UNITED v. WAITETE. United (Mangapehi) defeated the Waitete juniors by 10 points to, 3 ori Rugby Park last Saturday. In the first half no score resulted in spite f of the fact that the heavy visitors had their opponents as neatly pinned to the 25 area as. they could wish to for the first 25 minutes. Time and time it appeared they must cross, but over-kicking, which permitted Waitete to force, lost their opportunities. \ :

Shortly ;after the commencement of the second half L. Cotter caught the Mangapehi winger and in the forward melee Searancke claimed a try, but failed to convert it. , The Green forwards some ten minutes later opened their account with a dribbling rush, the whistle being blown for a try near the posts. McNeil converted. Shortly before time McNeil went across from a movement and added the major points to put the game beyond question. For United, Dayet and O’Leary were forwards always on the ball and leaders in the rushes, while Wallace and the team’s old mainstay, McNeil, showed up to advantage in the backs. Bell, Nealon arid Searancke may be noted as among Waitete’s best forwards, and Anderson added to his reputation as fullback.