COUNTRY FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18770, 29 July 1935, Page 8

COUNTRY FOOTBALL

WAITUHI BEAT NGATAPA RUGGED PLAY In ideal footbr.il weather, the BulhrI'rosnaiian Cup match between the holders. Ngatapa, and the Waitujii Maori team was'pinved during tile weeknd. There was a‘large attendance of eiit !ius aslie barrackers, and altliougn tile game could not bn described ns a brilliant exhibition of Rugby it was not lacking in exciting incidents. Ihe Maoris included several old bands and Ngatapa were unfortunate in not having clierratt and the Smith brothers in their back line. The game was played on Mr. J. Hamilton’s property at Ngatapa. The following were the teams: —Ngala pa.—R. Mills. R. Swiiinerton. I l '- Reekie. M. O’Rourke, R>. lloils, J. . White. 1!. Amai, T. Atchison. Kolb, Stafford. Willcox. N. Ropolarii. <R White. Taliai, and P. Seiniuens. Waitiih.i,- T. Siniler, R. Edwards, K. Cojlins, 0. Tupara, R. ICingi, G. Batson, M. R.uru. Alokau. T. Tupara, H. Torero, A - . Tupara, G. .Rangialio, i). [’ere, K. I’evo, and N. Belmont. Air. W. Beets was the -referee. A’gat a pa. won the. toss.: and the. blues kicked off with ho advantage to either side. A- strong'kick by IS, Pods look ~la v to the. Maoris’ 25yds : area, when T. ' Siniler. who played brilliantly ns ‘fullbin:lt. saved with a lino -kick.. .The blues soon tool; the offensive and frequent passing bouts were indulged in by their backs. O’Rourke, 1 the X gala pa winger, was sound and prevented what looked like certain tries on more (lain one occasion. r ! hroughoul the game and especially during tiie second spell, play was decidedly rugged, individual players on both sides endeavoring to bullock their way tbiougli a close defence instead of adopting more scientific tactics conducive to good football. A forward rush led by Atchison saw ■he Maoris forced during the first speli. A blue player picking the ball out. ol the .serum gave Ngatapa a kick at goal. Reekie failing to put the ball over the bar. After an interchange of long kickthe .Maoris again attacked, and Batson, gelling the ball, sliort-puuted and billowed up. The red fullback failed to take a clean catch and Batson regained possession to scramble over and score Hie only try of the day. Tin*_ same player failed to convert from a difficult angle.

After a period of lucky play, l.eckie • s 'led a dribbling rush, the ball going over 1 the dead ball line. From the drop-out : plav was up and down (lie field, kicks into touch being the main feature am l 'infringements on either side being numerous. From a serum Ruin sent the ball to Batson, whence it quickly j Hissed ( t,, Iviugi. Collins and l-Mwnnls in a fine concerted movement, the last player passing inside again to Batson, who lost possession when a try seemed ( certain. i During the second spell the rods made , determined efforts to even the score. ( From the kick-off play remained in midfield for a while until Atchison led a { forward rush, but was soundly tackled ( by Alokau, Rum securing and passing ■ to Edwards, who cleared with a splendid line kick which gained about -10yds. Kdii and Atchison were frequently prominent in rallies made* by the reds, but Snider's ibd'enbe was- impregnable, the heaviest players being well tackled. Play now became strenuous and tin blues again attacked, but an infringement gave tlie rods a free kick, which 'was taken by K. Perc. Swinnerton fielded and returned tint ball to Burn, who found touch near the Ngatapa gold line. From the throw-in a loose scrum was formed, hut a tree kick bein' l , i i awarded the reds, Hods relieved with aj good line kick. Loose play continued until Ngatapa made their final effort and several serums went down practically on tiie ‘Maoris’ goal line. F.vcitc. ; mold, ran high, players being hampered byAncetator, crowding over the tonefi i line.' A free kick relieved tlie pressure j and time was ealhfd. leaving the Waii tnhi team victors by three points to !'nil. Next week-end slion'd witness ;< line game at Rainfall 1 . Waingake having I entered a challenge for the cun. Thi team showed good form a couple i.f works ago against I’alutaln, and i' l eludes some well-known players in its ranks.