MOASCAR CUP MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19056, 29 June 1925, Page 12

MOASCAR CUP MATCH.

TE AUTE COLLEGE WIN. PENALTY GOAL TO NIL. NEW PLYMOUTH'S FINE RECORD. [HIT TELEGIUI'H. press association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. The Moasear Rugby Cup changed hands to-day, when Te Ante College (Hawke's Bay) defeated New Plymouth Boys' High School by 5 points (a penalty goal) to 0 in a gruelling match played in the rain on a sodden ground. "Since gaining the cup from Auckland Grammar School in 1923 New Plymouth had successfully defended it on five occasions, on two of which To Ante were the challengers. The To Auto team averaged well over a stone heavier than the New Plymouth boys, but the game was very even, and the football good under the conditions. The next three, challengers for the cup in order of application are Wanganui Technical College, Whangarei High School and Mount Albert Grammar School. A DOGGED STRUGGLE. " WORST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS." [BY t TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday. The match between Te Auto College and the New Plymouth Boys' High School for the Moasear Cup was a titanic struggle in the mud, under the worst, possible weather conditions. Victory came in the dying stages of -the game, when C. Chesley was able to kick a penalty goal for Te Aute from an easy position. In spite of their big concession in weight the High School boys held their own during the greater portion of the game. The match was played in Pukekura Park, and in spite of heavy rain which fell throughout the morning and continued until the first spell was practically ended, spectators attended 4000 to 5000 strong. If one merit was apparent more than any others among the losing team, it was their magnificent display of tackling. Time after time they were called upon to stem the dangerous onslaughts of their opponents, and they did not fail onco. Tho gem of the day was when Brown, brother of H. Brown who made his school famous in Rugby, saved a try when he came across the width of the field from his position on the far wing and felled the speedy Ruru, tho To Aute captain, when ho had only to fall over the line to score. Tho Te Auto forwards were good. Pahewa, the lock, was splendid in the line-out, and he and Manoa led a uniformly good pack. In the High School vanguard there was not a weak man. Read, Wotere, M. Fletcher and Brodie were always to the fore when a loose rush was taking place, and in the tight and gruelling work S. Fookes, the captain, Abraham, Penman and Crawford, bataed continuously. ~111 t The conditions pre-vented tho backs ot either side from showing their capacity, but on their play on Saturday High School would probably have been clecidedlv superior on a fine day. 1 he;y were * " nippier " and more resourcetut than their opponents, and gave evidence of careful and capable coaching. In the early stages of the game they made several spirited dashes, movements in which combination was well in oviden.ee. brant, at halfback, could hardly have played bettor. He sent the ball out quickly, and was an adopt at working the blind side to advantage, or kickiing for touch when required. Stewart and rictehei were good both in attack and defence without being brilliant. Tho best of the threcquarters were K. l'ookes and Brown. Both showed a pretty turn of speed, and their tackling was deadly. The To Auto backs were soundness personified. Little Potaka fed his backs consistently, and the two and Seymour were to be feared at all times. They changed tho direction of their attack with facility, and the Chesleys esoocially pierced tho opposition by stab--531 nor sdonco that triumphed, but a ' Lun -mnHe bv Med lev when he lay too long on the ball and gave the penalty I that robbed his team of a draw.