MOASCAR CUP

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 173, 21 June 1928, Page 11

MOASCAR CUP

TE AUTE RETAINS TROPHY. MAGNIFICENT FOOTBALL. BRIMFUL OF EXCITEMENT. A Rugby contest reminiscent of that of twelve months :igo when the Palmerston North High School first fifteen journeyed to IV aipaw a to fulfill their challenge against To Ante College lor the Moascar Cup was witnessed yesterday when a further match was staged at the Showgrounds as a show attraction. Heavy rain overnight had left the playing area heavy and. as was witnessed on that .earlier occasion, superiority in poundage in the lrontal division played a material part towards To Aute retaining their hold on tho trophy. It was a 'sporting action on tho part of To Auto College to permit of tho fixture being considered a challenge match, they thereby loregoing what is generally accepted as an advantage by playing on their own territory, although tho local area lias been the venue of many a game where tlio Hawke’s Bay College team has participated. Tho holders were fortunate enough to field a big percentage of last year s fifteen, the local school team, on the other hand, having undergone changes to a marked degree, and the opposing teams which filed out to do honour lor their respective schools wore as under:—

To Auto (maroon and black). —11. Wickcliffo (11.1), J. Burn (11.3), O. Piper (10.4), J. llei (11.11), It. .Dune (10.3), N. lvilii (11.0), P. Gommell (10.13), VV. Walker (11.0), J. Greening (11.10),' J. Kerctene (11.4), T. Tinirau (11. S), N. To Kawa (12.6), It. Paenga (13.3) Iv. Lawson (11.3), VV . Turei (11.3).

High School (white) —M. O’Keefe (9.10), It. McCluno (10.0). E. Fletcher (10.2) A. Trcmewan (10.2), 1). Spring (9.8), L. Bradley (10.7), E. Metcalfe (9.4), A. Scott (9.12), N. Naylor (10.6), I). Fraser (11.4), L. Dunsliea (11.0), VV. Miller (12.3), H. J. Swindell (15.4), 1. Wilson (10.7), M. Jordan (11.3).

TRIUMPH OVER CONDITIONS. , High School elected to play with the angular sun in their laces, defending tho northern goal and immediately following tho maroons bringing the ball in to play tho local boys secured the territorial advantage and from a free kick Miller had a fruitless shot at goal. Te Auto invaded, but a return from Wickcliffo was accepted by O’Keefe, who came across to open up, Fletcher cutting in prior to handing on to Tremenwan, only for tho winger to bo grassed. The rods essayed a movement along tho right wing, but tho pass went unaccepted. Employing their weight, Te Auto fought their way to tho whites’ territory and a movement opened which saw Rei complete with lino dash at the corner flag, O’Keefe just failing to get him. To Kawa kicked a grubber. Te Aute 3 High School 0.

A free kick enabled the whites to enter foreign territory, a period of exchange kicKing terminating in the ball passing into toucli at the red twentylive flag. The stay was of but brief duration, for picking up in tho scrum cost tho attackers a penalty and the whites lined out at tho centre. Again tho maroons returned, but a pass which was fumbled resulted in Gommell coming in to accept offside.. Two short movements along the alternate wings carried To Aute to tho danger zone, O’Keefe making a good recovery to lino out. Although withstood, there was very apparent danger, from tho onslaughts, good tackling by Fletcher doing much to prevent their fulfilment. A smart piece of work by Rei offset a stretch of territory gained by Fletcher. O’Keefe stepping into the opening to halt a dangerous movement by tho rearguard. A pass out was intercepted by Fletcher, who burst clean away and, although Wickeliffe headed him off, lie turned and dodged till McCluno came up to accept the final pass and go over wide out. Millar failed.

High School 3, Te Auto 3. Although the maroons went to the attack immediately, a pretty cut in by Bradley set the whites on the attack, but lie was grassed before he could send on his pass. Sensation followed sensation, the whites going with one sustained rush right to the goal line prior to the movement being halted. A cut in by Spring offered a great opportunity, but, wliilo halted, Fletcher snapped up the leather to cut through and dive for the chalk line to fall inches short. A free kick brought relief to the maroons, but Swindell accepted the kick to open ui> to his lino and Fletcher went through prior to handing on to MeClunc, but the winger was swept into touch in goal—a lucky escape tor the maroons, although the penultimate pass appeared somewhat doubtful. Back came the whites with almost irresistible dasli and half-time found them hard on the attack, but with the score unaltered.

The opening and. closing stages of the spell had been strongly in ravour of High School, but To Aute had hold the territorial advantage for probably the greater period of xhe 40 minutes. TE ATJTE AGAIN SECURE LEAD. On the teams re-entering, To Auto attempted to swing their rearguard into action only to be halted. A penalty gave Ruru a long shot at goal, but the ball hung low. A bout along the right wing terminated in Ruru being grassed just short of the line, a free kick bringing timely relief. Working the blind side Gcmmell whipped a pass across the back of the scrum to bring Piper into action and a period of assault closed with Scliool submitting to a force. A counter-assault was forthcoming, Tremewan threatening danger in a handling bout along the right wing, while O’Keefe came up to again set the winger in action without result. A pass out by Metcalfe set Fletcher and Tremewan in motion and only a bad pass prevented a certain score. Inability to handle the greasy ball resulted in Spring being oyerswarmed and away went the maroons in a bout which terminated midway between the whites’ twenty-five and goal line. Across field the visitors worked to the goal front—a ground kick momentarily saving—but they were quickly back storming in the south-eastern corner. Disappointed in one direction, a further heel te Gcmmell enabled the half to whip out. a pass to Rei on the left wing for him to go over at the corner. To Kawa failed.

To Aute 0, High Scliool 3. Stung by the reverse, High School went to the attack, a mark by Medium being accepted by Wickliffo to line out nicely. Tremewan burst along the right wing and a ground kick passed into touch well 'within the visitors’ twenty-five where Millar was offered an opportunity to even the accounts, but lie could not lift the ball high enough to find tlm uprights. The whites’ reward came when Metcalf