MOASCAR CUP

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 204, 27 July 1927, Page 8

MOASCAR CUP

BATTLE IN THE MUD. CHALLENGERS FAIL. SUPERIOR WEIGHT TELLS. A memento of the 6tern days of the Great War when., in the intervals between the calls of duty, the opportunity was taken to stage contests to determine Rugby supremacy between unite in the various theatres of war, the Moascar Cup has been accepted as a trophy worthy of striving for . by secondary, schools of the Dominion, just as the eider brothers, uncles and fathers of the boys of to-day strove for those greater things in the years 1914-18. It was during the course of the campaign in Palestine that the New Zealand Army Mounted Division demonstrated its superiority in the Rugby field and proudly brought the fruits of their victory, in the form of a handsome trophy, back to ;their native shores. In 1920 the trophy, to which had been accorded the name “Moascar Cup,” was handed over by the military authorities for competition between the secondary schools of New Zealand. Christchurch Boys’ High School proved to be the first holders, but many local enthusiasts will recall the great bid for possession made by the Palmerston North High School in the eliminating rounds and in the final against the winders of that year. Since that occasion, two local challenges have been lodged for the trophy and in one instance High School made the trip through to New Plymouth in an endeavour to wrest possession from the Taranaki schoolboys who had previously wrested it from Auckland Grammar. However, it was not to be, and, although a challenge was again lodged last winter —the trophy having meantime passed into the keeping of Te Aute College —the match did not eventuate. During the present season the High School has built up a meritorious fifteen and following upon the victories over Te Aute, Wanganui Technical School and Wanganui Collegiate, it was deemed fitting to again go in pursuit of the highest honours in Dominion secondary school football. Yesterday witnessed the local High School’s challenge materialise when the Waipawa Coronation Park was the deciding area. Conditions could not have been worse, however, the ground being water-logged, while steady rain fell practically throughout. Despite these drawbacks, it was a contest which kept the crowd; which included some 500 Palmerstomans, on the qui vive right to the end, the large number of local enthusiasts, while disappointed that the trophy had not passed into new hands, being fully satisfied that their elect had fought a great fight under conditions which were not in their favour. THE CONTENDING FORCES. At 2.45 p.m. the rival forces, which were as under, filed out on to the area, the surface of which was, in places, lost to view: Te Aute (red and black). —King (11.12) Awarau (11.0), Thompson (11.4), Ruru (11.5), Piper (10.3), Wickliffe (10.10), Green (12.7), Collier (10.13) Keretene (11.5), Tinirau (11.13) Himona (12.12), Te Kawa (12.9), Bristowe (13.13), Paenga (13.1). High School (white)i— Pacey (11.6), Seymour (10.2), Fletcher (10.2), Bryden (11.1), Page (12.5), Rose (10.12), Norris (10.0), Biel (11.0), Danks (10.12), Clevely (10.2), Wilson (11.0), Tremewan ’ (14.3), Varcoe (11.2), Espiner (11.3), Cowley (10.6). On winning the to6s of the coin, High School elected to open with the wind and rain at their backs, Green setting the ball in motion for Te Aute, Rose lining out beyond the twenty-five line. From the throw-in, the white backs got moving and Fletcher cut through very prettily to again repeat it at the last line of defence. The initial attack promised to be auspicious for School, but with 10 yards to go, the white centre was overtaken and his hurried pass went forward. While defeated in their object, another opportunity was furnished the challengers when immediately following , Rose essayed a shot at goal from a penalty, but the angle proved too much and the all important first score passed by. Te Aute immediately demonstrated that handling was also Within their powers, some nice interchanges between Thompson and Awarau carrying them into foreign territory, but their stay was brief, Norris sending them hurrying back. A fast follow-up by the white skipper prevented King getting in his clearance and with the scene of hostilities again centred within striking distance of,:thre red citadel, the attack culminated in' a force-down from a kick through by Bryden. Rose’s return from the kick-out passed off the red fullback into touch and then ensued a series of “sacks on the mill” with the whites striving with might and main to force a breach, Hamiora finally, lift- ' ing the 6iege by kicking to touch - . Between the centre line and the red goal lipe the battle swayed, King, the red full-back, stemming the attacks at close intervals. The ball had fast become a treacherous leather, but Norris made use of an opening to 6et his line on the move. The attempt, however, broke down at Page and, although Pacey came to the rescue, his kick direct to touch lost the whites their hard -won territory. High School had been carrying all the attack and it was not till after, operations had been in progress some 20 minutes that Te Aute actually threatened danger. A fumble of a high kick by Biel saw the leather evade Fletcher and Pacey in turn and Thompson followed through fast to fall on the ball alongside the posts. Wickliffe goaled and following a period of strenuous defensive play, Te Aute were five points up. Te Aute 5, High School 0.

It was a bitter pill for the visitors to swallow, but they set out to redeem themselves, and in a flash they were away pell mell with the ball at their feet. Rose and Seymour dashed through along the left wing with Fletcher m support, and from the final kick through Fletcher raced up to ground wide out. The kick appeared to be too difficult to furnish the equalising points, but Rose sent the ball between the uprights with a magnicent effort and the scores were even. High School 5, Te Aute 5.

Stimulated by their success, the whites again went to the attack, and a misfield by Thompson presented danger for the Cup holders until Awarau stepped into the breach. An infringement by 'a forward let the reds free their zone, and although Pacey accepted the kick, a second return found the white full-back wanting, and the Te Aute forwards rushed through, a race to force finding Seymour the winner, ball and player skidding a distance of about 10 yards into the touch-in-goal area. With the territorial advantage gained, Te Aute essayed to open up the play, the handling of the ball being remarkably sure, and pretty exchanges between Piper, Thompson and Awarau preceded some anxious moments for the whites, the majority of whom were by this time garbed in white no longer. While the forwards fought their way clear, their supports were proving very uncertain in their fielding of the greasy leather, and Te lAute went close to turning the mis-

takes to profit on more than one occasion. A great clearance by Rose from a free kick finally enabled the whites to turn defence into attack, the hir terval finding them again conducting operations in foreign territory but with the scores unaltered. TE AUTE TAKE CONTROL.

On resumption following the interval, it was early evident tliat Te Aute, with their advantage of oyer a stone per man in the frontal brigade, were out to employ battering-ram tactics. By sheer weight and strength they forced their opponents back, the scrummagers slipping and sliding their way backswards yards at a tune in some instances. Two breaches in close succession halted their progress momentarily, but a fast break-away from •a scrum saw Green and Wickliffe follow through hard op. the ball, Pacey stayed their progress and from a later kick by Fletcher, Biel rushed to the red line. From a succeeding scrum Norris made a bid to cross on the blind side, but was held up, while from a mark by the same player, the scene of hostilities was transferred across field to the goal front, but the weak link in the defence could not be found. While the attack expended itsolf, the white forwards, who were standing up to their heavy opponents in laudable manner, battled their way back, but those last few feet could not be won and a ground kick through the centre let the reds to midfield. Whereas the holders were handling the ball in the air with confidence, the white rearguard were most uncertain and a series of mistakes allowed the reds to invade in turn. Then ensued a long period with the challengers hotly defending their line until, from a cross kick by Rose, Fletcher followed through hard to gain possession, but his cut-in brought about his undoing, he being tackled in possession with two supports outside him. Thompson was instrumental in again setting his side on the attack, the whites having to submit to a force and but a brief time later Rose was compelled to kick the hall into the dead ball area. Finally, Te Aute were rewarded when a rush into the corner saw Keretene fall on the leather over the line. Wickliffe failed, but the holders had practically made their position assured. Te Aute 8, High School 5. ■

With their physical energies taxed to the utmost, the challengers made a final supreme effort to recover the day and twice in close succession they made bids to hurl their opponents back, but it was not to be and the final whistle found Te Aute again in command and their points advantage intact. Mr Carr, of Onga Onga, controlled the game to the satisfaction of all, he employing the whistle very judiciously.

TROPHY HOLDERS. 1920. —Christchurch Boys’ High School. 1921. —Christchurch Boys’ High School. 1922. —Auckland Grammar School. 1923. —New Plymouth High School. 1924. —New Plymouth High School. 1925-7. —To Aute College. INTER-SCHOOL RECORD.

Since the inauguration of the Moascar Cup series in 1920, Te Aute and Palmerston North High School have opposed one another on three occasions. In 1920, the year when Palmerston North High School were the winners of the North Island section in the Moascar Cup series which were held to determine which school would meet the winners of the South Island section for possession of the trophy which came into existence that year, the local school met and defeated St. Patrick’s, Wellington (3 —0), Te Aute (3 — 5) and Auckland Grammar School (5 —0). The recent Show meeting was the next occasion when the two schools met, the victory on that occasion resting with the Palmerston North School by 6 —5.