Hikurangi Again Clinch Rugby Champ.

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1938, Page 2

Hikurangi Again Clinch Rugby Champ.

Exciting Final With City; Country Forwards Last Better

TJIKURANGI ARE RUGBY CHAMPIONS OF ISUB. EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON SATURDAY’S GAME. HAD CITY, NEAREST RIVALS, BEEN SUCCESSFUL, THE THIRD ROUND WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. LEAVING HIKURANGI FACED WITH THE NECESSITY OF WINNING THE REMAINING TWO MATCHES TO AVOID THE NECESSITY OF A PLAY-OFF, PROLONGATION 19 NO LONGER CALLED FOR, AND THE BEST TEAM HAS UNDOUBTEDLY ANNEXED THE TITLE,

Conditions at Rugby Park, comparable for muddiness with the ground upon which North Auckland met Auckland last Saturday, were m-i suited to City’s fast-moving backs. Surprisingly enough, however, the metropolitans completely dominated play fn the first spell. Hikurangi forcing on numerous occasions and conceding one try. It was a different story in the latter part of the game. City hardly ever being allowed to pass half-way. and Hikurangi. the better in all departments, scoring two tries to win It— 3

Mudlarking on No. 2 ground, Old Boys earned too many guns for Maungakaramea, winning 11—5.

The leading team in the junior championship, Oncvahi. capitulated in Old Boys, who scored the only try of the match in the second half.

High School are assured of the fourth grade championship.

Contrasts In Final; City’s First Spell Bid

City Storm Line, v For tho next half-hour City were continually on attack. Drydon and McConnell once raised the siege, but Brydon waited offside, and Roos had a second unsuccessful attempt at a penalty goal. With a nice sense for an opening, Conaghan kicked across to the far wing, but Armstrong booted too hard for the ball to go dead. White cased the position and Cunningham, with a soaring kick, sent the ball just wide of City’s posts. Keeping tho greasy leather at their feet, Roos and Green dribbled the ball right back, and Hikurangi were lucky to force. City were rewarded at last when Thorpe, receiving in a handling bout, ran round the opposition, sold a clever dummy and scored. Roos missed. A first spell distinctly in City’s favour, ended with that team leading 3—o, A Different Story. Asserting themselves in every direction, Hikurangi went to the- attack at the beginning of the second spell and stayed there to tho finish. Breaking through heavy rucks, their forwards, with McConnell and Mclnnes leading, opened the game up for the backs and gradually smashed through City's defence. On several occasions B. Martin found gaps nicely With his boot, and went close to scoring more than once. The equalising try come when the ball came from a loose rush to Hutchings, to Rarity, to White, to Cunningham. whose pace and swerve carried him past two defending players and over near the posts. B. Martin failed with an easy one. Hikurangi Forge Ahead, Hemmed on the defensive, City forced several times, Conaghan coming right across from the far wing to save

Triumphing over the conditions. Hikurangi and City turned on a brilliant exposition of wet weather Rugby, the pack work of both teams reaching a very high standard indeed. With heads down in every scrum and controlling the ball nicely with their feet, the City forwards were on top until half-time, but then Hikurangi drew the cork and let flow a devastating series of hard-rucking rushes, unstoppable despite deadly tackling. Lacking the services of Codling and Gibson, the champions would have been handicapped on a fine day. However, the new alignment of inside backs —Hutchings, Rarity and White — worked smoothly and effectively. Outstanding throughout were Conaghan, Roos anfi Callanan (City), and McInnes, Cunningham and B. Martin (Hikurangi). Flying Intercepts. The game was not a minute old when Cunningham, attempting a penalty kick, 1 skidded the ball but five yards over the mud. Twice the Hikurangi centre went within an. ace of intercepting when going at top. but Roos, with one of his long line-finders, installed City forwards on attack. Green just missed diving round after a five yards’ scrum. Continually getting in front of play, the City pack, otherwise going splendidly, spoilt the chances which they had created, and enabled Hikurangi to counter-attack. City screwed a scrum five yards from their line, the ball bounced clear and, as two opponents dived for the try, Roos took a header to secure the force.

in this manner. Running into posi-

tion nicely, Thorpe made an opening

for Armstrong, out the slippery ball eluded the winger and Hikurangi came harannring back. With as clever a piece of trickery as has been seen, at Rugby Farjc I’m- many a long ’day. R, While paved the way for the decisive try. Running against one of his own backs, he transferred the ball to the other’s arms, but continued in his stride to draw (he defence With City still concentrating on White, Rarity was given what was almost, n clear rim m. The It id: missed After breaking through nicely with the brdl at his boot, the North Auckland rep might have scored on his own account immediately afterwards, but his final kick was not quite strong enough to carry past Taylor. City struggled hard but without avail, and a groat game ended with Hikurangi retaining the championship and Ihe score G—3. Mr H, Miller refereed.