COLLEGIATE RUGBY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 169, 16 June 1927, Page 10

COLLEGIATE RUGBY

HIGH SCHOOL’S GREAT WIN. AGAINST MOASCAR CUP HOLDER* THRILLING BATTLE WITH TE AUTE. Played on the oval at the Show grounds yesterday, the surface o which was in a somewhat treacherou: condition, the meeting of Te Aute Col lege, the present holders of the Moascai Cup, and Palmerston North Boys’ Higl School, following a lapse of some years was productive of a contest which thrill ed the thousands of spectators whc filled the stand to capacity and linec the fence several deep to the fullest Both fifteens were somewhat anxious at opening and the early portion of the game was marked with a chain oi scrummages and exchange kicking, bui as it progressed the contestants settlee down and furnished glimpses of Rugbj at its best. With a deficit of six points at the interval Te Aute set out with a will to wrest the honours which were passing from their grasp. High School were fighting with their backs to the wall for a lengthy period and had to submit to one crossing by their opponents, the goal kick leaving but a bare point between them. However, in the concluding stages the local boys hurled their opponents back on to the denfensive and a thrilling battle terminated without further scoring. THE TEAMS ENTER. Both teams were met with a riotous reception on their entry into the arena, Te Aute (red) being called upon to face a slight breeze from the south-west. Thompson’s kick passed direct into touch and from the first scrum the white hookers secured the advantage, but shaky passing nullified the early efforts of High School to open up. Despite fighting against superior poundage in the scrums, the whites were securing the major portion of the ball and, following Rose having a long shot at goal which proved fruitless, Norris set his rearguard in operation, Page dashing through the inner defences prior to sending on to Seymour for the winger to dive oyer at the corner flag. Rose’s kick failed, but High School had secured the all important lead. High School 3, Te Aute Nil. A long kick to touch by Prebble set the reds in an attacking position, but the assault was repelled and, with play at midfield, Norris again sot his backs going, Page making a determined bid along the right wing, his opportune pass enabling Bryden to complete the movement. Again the angle proved too much for Rose. High School G, Te Aute Nil. Playing with surprising dash, the white packman followed fast upon a kick through to prevent a return, a melee ensuing directly in front of the red goal. A loose ground kick finally cleared to Paey who essayed a pot at goal, his kick passing under the bar. A wretched pass out by Norris failed to reach its objective and Thompson snapped up the leather to set his line racing away, only deadly tackling preventing the movement reaching fruition and half time found High School with their six points’ advantage still intact. TE AUTE’S SUSTAINED EFFORT. Immediately following the kick Te Ante went to the attack and smashing tactics by their forwards, aided by close hand to hand passing by their rearguard, sorely tested the white defence. While the siege would be momentarily lilted, back would come the visitors and right and loft they attempted to storm the home citadel. Following Thompson having a shot at goal from a penalty which went the way of the other attempts, Wickliffe whipped the ball out tc Thompson, to Haenga and the latter, with his way barred, sent out a short return pass to Thompson who dived over in a good position. Wickcliffe reduced the deficit to a bare point with his kick. Te Aute 5, High School 6. High School had a narrow escape when Wickliffe proved a shade astray in his judgment of a kick fl'om a penalty, but the whites finally fought their way into foreign territory and, from a short throw-in to Norris and return to Bryden, the winger was forced into touch just short of his objective. Although play swung to and fro in the closing stages, High School had again assumed the ascendent and two great dashes by Page went very close to success, while magnificent work by the white forwards saw them storm the visitors’ lino repeatedly without being able to find a breach. And so a hard struggle, which sorely told upon the physical strength of both sets of participants, terminated with the honours with the home team. High School 6, Te Aiite 5. Mr Hands capably controlled the game. Early in the game Biel, the home rover, had to retire with a torn ear, sustained in a tackle, while in the concluding stages Itei, the visiting centre, suffered an injury to his leg which necessitated his retirement.