FOOTBALL.

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2028, 24 April 1939, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF SEASON Matamata Results SENIORS .Matamata 8, Wardville 5. Patetere 9, Wairere 6. JUNIORS Wardville 8, Old Boys 3. Walton 8, Patetere 3. Hin.uera 11, Wairere 0. THIRD GRADE Hinuera beat Walton by default. Matamata beat Old Boys by default. The 1939 Rugby season opened in the Matamata district with cold, wet weather after weeks of drought. Rain fell throughout the games, and the ground was greasy with the sting taken out of it. Considering the conditions there was quite a gobd attendance of spectators at Bedford Park, who were re'* warded with lively fast football, which roused keen interest and cheers in spite of the fact that the slippery ball was difficult to handle. On No. 1 ground Matamata gave a disappointing exhibition or Wardville surprised with their dashing play, according to the view of the spectator. On the face of *. it looked as if the Matamata forwards had, in endeavouring to master the new scrum formation, forgotten to break quickTy and move instantly on the ball. Only their fitness stood them in •good stead. On the other hand, Wardville hooked raiore frequently, proved fast and sprightly in the loose, and were, perhaps, unlucky not to have made a draw of the game.

Football seen augurs well for the season, which promises to be one of the best the district has ever had. Childs, the Waikato representative player, was unable to turn out ■for Matamata owing to sickness. MATAMATA 8, WARDVILLE 5 There were few new faces, and •the teams lined out as follows: Matamata: Vincent; Kneebone, G. Ryan, 'Ralph; Cole, Sutherland; F. Burke; Fitzgerald, N. Burke, Me-. Laughlin, Gibson, T. Ryan, G. Burke, McKean, Madill. .Wardville: Saxon; BaskeVille, Newson, Dunlop; Carroll, R. Adams; Raethel; : Pettigrew*/-' Wine, jFifce, Gill, Monro, Finlay; • Smith,- J McMillan. . i;,.. Referee: Mr. N. Johnston.

Matamata opened with the wind in their favour ' and immediately attacked. The ball proved elusive,

however, and scrambling pfay followed near the War4ville ? libe. Glose to midfield Newson broke clear'and controlled the ball w.ell past the fullback. But Cole came with a great burst of speed to pick up and clear with a left-foot kick over his shoulder. Baskeville gathered near touch and-, again Wardville looked dangerous. The defence held, however, and Ralph booted to the other end. Here Matamata consolidated, and a very pretty piece of close passing ended in McLaughlin getting over. Fitzgerald converted. Matamata 5, Wardville O'.

Matamata showed evidence of early coaching and training, but Carroll’s generalship and his team’s opportunism eonter-acted. The game was fast and open, with Baskeville .going close with a drop at one end, and three Matamata players claiming a try at the other, all within a minute. The referee rightly respond- * ed to the Matamata appeal by giving Wardville a free kick for an infringement. Madill stood out in early Matamata rushes, the rest of the forwards being slow on the ball. On the other hand the STardville forwards proved lively and bustling in the loose. Saxon misjudged a high kick by Sutherland and let Matamata in, but they could not hold ,f position. Carroll and Raethel outkicked Matamata and worked to their opponents’ line, where Fitzgerald saved grittily. In spite of wind and rain facing them, Wardville kept play at midfield. Vincent kicked nearly 40 yards to touch.. Munro broke clear in reply, but his pass went astray. Cole gathered and streaked clear, but- tripped at the critical moment. It was open, fast play. The Wardville forwards returned in a body, but got offside at the Matamata 25 and were driven back past halfway. Matamata were disppointing and no match for Wardville when it came to speed on the ball. A 60-yard diagonal rush by the Wardville forwards again put them on attack and a penalty was gained on the Matamata 25. Carroll kicked a grubber near the posts, which his forwards got to. Cole miskicked from the scrum, but Baskeville could

not gather for a try. Adams next

secured and short-punted near the posts. Vincent was bustled by the blues, but Sutherland cleai’ed and BurkeV carried play on past halfway. Within half a minute Wardville were back right on the Matamata line. They took a scrum instead of a lineo.ut and just failed to score. From the five-yard scrum Raethel was just held up and later Gibson cleared. These were all good efforts by Wardville, whose forwards, well backed by Carroll and Raethel, were much better than the Matamata pack at this stage. On the play the scores should have at least been equal. Just before the whistle went Vincent had to touch down hurriedly from Baskeville.

With the wind in their favour Raethel put Wardville on attack. ■ Raethel twice neatly drew the defence from a scrum aud sent Dunlop away clear, but lack of finish and support ended each good effort. Matamata were now definitely beaten by a quicker moving pack, which received better support from their backs. Fitzgerald, Gibson and McNaugliton dribbled well to the blue 25,| hhd roused their supporters’ hopes,' but the blues, went right back. Carroll dribbled and then picked up cleanly, but his pass hit Newson’s shoulder when the centre was clear and; sup-’ ported. Sutherland retaliated with, a solo dribble, at the end-.of which Burke secured and passed out. Matamata got over and Cole, Burke and Kneebone fell on the ball, but “ dead ball“ was tWe decision. It was lively, fast football of a fair standard considering the weather. Twenty seconds later the blues were hammering at the Matamata line, which held, however. Matamata forwards were lasting better, and showing up more as a combined force for the first time in the game, but Carroll, - Raethel, Saxon and Adams always bobbed up in time. Raethel fooled the Matamata defence at halfway and cut it in two. Wine next hndled and served Dunlop, who was well tackled ten yards out. It was the best combined movement of the match. Carroll next made hacks of the Matamata defence and the blues swarmed over the Matamata line. Half a dozen players missed the ball, which Raethel finally secured. Saxon converted from halfway out. It was a well-deserved try and evened the scores with the run of the game. -• ■ Matamata 5, ; Wardville 5. , • Excitement became intense ’ as the blues 'again - ’ Swarmed’ to’ thb'vajttack. Matamata .forwards rallied, *butj darroll ' found gaping holes •in the ’ defence. Wardville supporters roared themselves hoarse as Canjoll dribbled 40 yards to the Matamata line. The! black and white forwards, as fit as fiddles, charged to the other end in -reply. , Saxon had ,;to lie on the ball to save. Fitzgerald, from the penalty at an acute angle, hit the bar; A melee -resulted and Matamata secured. Sutherland barged into and drew the defence, to leap and send a high pass to Cole. Ryan and Ralph next handled, but the winger was held at the line and a five-yard scrum resulted. Excitement was now at a high pitch as Wardville drove Matamata back.Carroll kicked out near the Matamata corner flag, and Raethel followed with a cross-kick to the posts. Ryan mulled and the blues were all but over. Again the Matamata forwards cleared to their opponents’ 25, where a further penalty was gained. Fitzgerald missed and Baskeville found touch near halfway. Another penalty came to Matamata on the 25 and this time Fitzgerald goaled: Matamata 8, Wardville 5.

Each side hammered at the other’s line in turn, with the crowd appreciating the sudden changes in play. In the last few minutes Matamata attacked hotly but the defence held, and the game ended with Matamata slightly lucky to take both points. Raethel and Carroll were the outstanding hacks on the field, with Madill (Matamata) and Munro (Wardville) the best of the forwards.

PATETERE 9, WAiRERE 6 The teams met on No. 2 ground, and a lively but scrambling encounter ensued. Wairere played a dashing if unscientific game, and never let up throughout. Patetere missed many chances owing to the greasy ball and should have made further points. For the winners Tyrrell scored twice aad Bell kicked a penalty goal. For Wairere Movrie Malone and J. Wharawhara scored tries. Referee: Mr. M. Miles. .. HINUERA % PUTARURU 6 With only 12 men Hinueva defeated the Putavuru representative team entered for the Stag competition, by 9 points, to 6. Lea Carter and W. Brown were outstanding 1 uu eer, ' ** ;

JUNIORS Wardville 8, Old Boys 3 In spite of the fact that they ed three men short for most of the game, Old Boys, last' year's champions, made a great showing against Wardville. They had only themselves to blame for their defeat, as they had quite as much of play as the visitors and scored first. Weakness at five-eighths lost them the game, and presented Wardville with scores. Wardville played as individuals rather than as a team, but were worthy of their win. For Wardville D. Smith scored two tries and N. Schaare converted one. For Old Boys Sutton scored a try. Referee: Mr. D. Cannell. Walton 8, Patetere 3. Walton proved the more stubborn team in this contest and deservedly won. For Walton, G. Watson scored a try which A. Walker converted, and G. Adams kicked a penalty -goal. For Patetere Gray kicked a penalty goal. Referee: Mr. Ferguson.