SPLENDID RUGBY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4732, 13 August 1935, Page 5

SPLENDID RUGBY

WAIKATO WIN BY SINGLE POINT. LARGE CROWD PRESENT. The Waikato and King Country teams last Saturday staged the most exciting game that has yet been played on Rugby Park, and the large crowd, judging by the cheering, fully appreciated it. The points could hardly have panned out in a more exciting manner. In the first half Waikato ran up 15 points—three converted tries, while King Country's score remained at nil—and looked like remaining at nil, for on not one occasion had they looked like scoring. But three minutes after the resumption the backs swung away with a beautiful movement and J. Barlow was enabled to open their account. King Country, 'now as much in the ascendant as Waikato was in the first half, went forward to raise, their score to 19 with a penalty goal, two converted tries and one unconverted try. It appeared to be King Country's game, but about ten minutes before time Peake instituted a Waikato back movement that resulted in Carlson crossing, and then converting, making the score: Waikato 20, King Country 19, a score that, despite all King Country's efforts, remained the same when the final whistle was blown. It would be hard to state just what made the tremendous difference to the King Country team in the first and the second halves. On their showing in the first spell things looked very black for them. The backs hardly ever saw the ball. From the lineouts, in the scrums, and even in the loose the Waikato forwards sent their rearguard away; Stuart, Cameron and Carlson, were particularly capable, while Griffith's speed on the wing made him an ever present danger in the first half. The Waikato backs were strong runners, though inclined to spread across the field, remarkably clean handlers in the first half, and ready to try the blind side, the scissors, or other refinements of play when occasion demanded. That they only went over three times in the .first half shows that, so long as they were not drawn, the King Country backs were solid in defence.

King Country's backs were rearranged in the second half. Amadio had to retire owing to an injury very early in the game, and Crossmantook his-place on the wing. In the second, half Crossman took his customary place of first five-eighths, and the backs were shifted out one place, Barton going to second five-eighths, Bathgate to centre, and Bryers to the wing. They were better fed now by the forwards, and, heartened by the success, of their initial movement, they piayed with dash, zeal and fine anticipation for the remainder of the half. Barton was King Country's star man. He made mistakes, but quick off the mark, a very strong runner and capable of passing well in difficult circumstances, he equalled his good reputation. The loose, fast forwards seemed the only ones to have sting on Saturday. At different stages of the game Kemp, Craig, Pickrang and Nelson were doing good work, but King Country will have to show improvement in scrum and lineout. Waikato had played together twice before, and this no doubt helped them, especially when it came to screwing the scrum, and though King Country's loose work worried them, Waikato's forwards were better than King Country's in many aspects of their play. Carlson's superb kicking gave Waikato a great advantage—each of his four converting shots sailed almost dead centre between the posts. The following were the teams: —

Waikato: Bell; Griffiths, Lisette, Peake; Carlson, Cameron; Stewart; forwards, Pardington; Cassidy, Muir, Tristram, G. Leeson; Sharpe, Catley, J. Leeson.

King Country: McLeod; Amadio, Bryers, J. Barlow; Bathgate, Barton; Simpson; forwards, Craig; Pickrang, Turner, Trust, Wheeler; Bradshaw, Kemp, Nelson. Mr. H. Delves, of Taumarunui, was referee.

The game started with the visitors on the ball, the breakaways being ready to stop any King Country movement. Had Peake been able to carry off the scissors which he and Lissette attempted he may have opened the scoring. Bathgate was forced to find the line deep in the 25 area, but Kemp led his forwards upfield from the lineout. Back came Waikato following up Cameron's kick, McLeod being hard pressed under the goal-mouth. Trust, Nelson and Amadio harried play back to midfield, and the latter was injured and had to be replaced by Crossman. By lifting in the scrum Waikato were penalised and McLeod had a shot at goal. He missed, but a man in front of the ball would have nullified his efforts in any case.

Barton and Bryers both made breaks, but it was the Waikato backs who were getting, the ball. Heady play on the blind saw Barlow unable to deal with both Cameron and Griffiths, and the latter sped right down the line. Successive penalties kept Waikato away from their line, though they were dangerous, especially when kicking down in the hope that Griffiths' speed would carry him first to the ball. A well judged up and under kick by Barlow saw Bathgate put King Country momentarily on the offensive, but inside the minute the Waikato backs had handled cleanly out to Griffiths. McLeod and Barlow managed to account for him in the nick of time. Peake, following an "up and under,' with Stewart in attendance, looked dangerous, but was pulled up for a knock-on. From the scrum Stewart sent his backs away, and Griffiths was forced out right on the corner. _ The situation was relieved by Craig dribbling through to collect. He passed the ball out to Kemp, but the latter's heady crosskick was fielded by the Waikato backs. Bathgate and Barlow nullified work by Carlson, but Waikato soon got the ball out again. Lissette sped down to give the ball to Peake. The latter was caught, wriggled free and crossed, but was hauled back for putting his foot out. Griffiths' speed carried him fir3t to the ball, and McLeod was hard pressed to halt him. Heavy packing work i followed on the line, Griffiths trying

to cut through it. He was unsuccessful, but Cassidy snapped up the ball and when the pack had sorted themselves out was awarded a try. A beautiful kick and Carlson had placed the ball right between the posts. Waikato 5, King Country 0.

With Waikato still pressing Cameron came round on the blind to cross-kick, and J. Leeson was just too late under the ball, and King Country cleared. However, from the lineout Stewart sent out a splendid pass, and Cameron, collecting in his stride, was over within a few seconds of the throw-in. Again Carlson converted.

Waikato 10, King Country 0.

Right on top of this Griffiths snapped up the ball, and was away at top speed dowh the line. He passed McLeod before the latter could get across the field to him and came round right under the goal. Carlson converted to make the halftime score:

Waikato 15, King Country 0.

Within two or three minutes of the kickoff King Country had scored the prettiest try of the day. Bryers fielded the ball in midfierd and swung across to connect up with Barton and Bathgate. The latter adroitly cut play infield again by passing the ball to Barton. J. Barlow swung away in attendance and Barton fed him with a long, beautifully timed pass, and Barlow dashed the 25 yards to the line to end a movement that foreshadowed the' uncanny anticipation that was to be displayed by the King Country backs. McLeod missed a fairly easy kick.

Waikato 15, King Country 3.

With new vigour King Country attacked. The forwards began to play - up in the loose, and pressed play ' downfield. From a lineout in the 25 area King Country secured the ball. Barton tried to cut through, saw it was impossible and then recovered to send on to Bathgate and on to Bryers, who crossed. McLeod converted from near the goal. / Waikato 15, King Country 8.

With the forwards dominating the loose play King Country resumed the attack. Barton again tried to cut through the pack, but was pulled down. Then he fielded the ball, and doubled around the pack to speed down the line. He was hemmed in but Bryers was in attendance, and a long inpass gave him his opportunity. He was held, but his strong running won him free, and he crashed over for a try. McLeod failed to convert. Waikato 15, King Country 11.

Within a few minutes Waikato were penalised fairly well out, but McLeod made no mistake about the kick. Waikato 15, King Country 14. / .The vigour, dash and straight running of the King Country backs were" gaining them even more penetration than had Waikato in the first half. The backs went away inside the 25, the ball.passing right out to Bryers, but Waikato were marking him too well. However, from the resulting scrum King Country managed to get the ball and claim a try on the blind side. McLeod's conversion was a magnificent effort, and King Country assumed the lead. King Country 19, Waikato 15. Realising their position, Waikato rallied. Carlson tried a long penalty shot, but was unsuccessful and Craig and Nelson swept play out of the 25. Then Peake secured the ball in midfield and swept in to give through Muir to Lissette and Carlson, and Waikato were rewarded with a try in a fairly handy position. When Carlson had put over the kick the score was: Waikato 20, King Country 19. Down swept King Country in one last effort. Pickrang nearly bullocked across from the lineout. Hard battling in and around the 25 area followed. Bathgate doubling back through the pack, tried a snap for a field goal, but failed to raise it in the air. Waikato were bottled in the 25 and King Country were out for a win, but time came with the scores unchanged.

The Curtain-raiser.

The curtain-raiser was played between .Maniapoto and Taumarunui junior representatives and resulted in a win for the visiting team by 6 points to nil. Maniapoto failed to get going throughout the match. They played with a light breeze during the first half, but the only strong exhibition was that of McNeil, the fullback. Ma'niapoto had the weight in the scrum, but the backs saw little of the ball and were not impressive. Thus, though Maniapoto had the best of the first half, there was no score at half-time.

'ln the second half the visitors' half-back opened the scoring by whipping round the scrum o'n the blind side, and this was later added to when the visiting forwards crossed from the lineout.