STRENUOUS MATCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19375, 13 July 1937, Page 7

STRENUOUS MATCH

HOLDERS EXTENDED RUTLER-RROSNAHAN CUP (Herald Correspondent.) Waingake nil Iluia nil Ideal weather prevailed for the deferred match between Waingake and I-luia for the blue ribbon of country football, the Buller-Brosnahan Challenge Cup. The holders, Waingake, were caught napping and could only field 13 men, being very lucky indeed to hold their opponents to a scoreless draw.

The teams were: —Waingake (black and white). —Klapp, Whaitiri, Maro Pohatu, Jones, White, Buscke, E. Wykes, G. Shanns, Butler, H. Muir. Twigg, McPhail, and Lynch, captain. Huia (.black). —Les McKinley, L. Bell, R. McKinley, T. Martin, R. Russell, M. Moore, Summersby, captain, I. Cameron, L. Cameron, A. Dunstan, K. Hall, R. Muir, B. Dunstan, D. McKinley, and R. Rogers. The challengers attacked from the whistle, Summersby at the base of the scrub repeatedly sending his supports away. The inside backs, Moore, Russell, and Reg. McKinley, handled and ran strongly, but lost many chances through crowding their wings. Had the Huia backs run straight the result might have been different. Overeagerness by the defenders gave their opponents three penalties in easy positions, one kick going over the post. The Huia fullback kept his team on the attack by fine kicking, and it was only solid tackling that kept Waingake’s line intact.

Playing a man short in the scrum and without a centre three-quarter, Waingake’s two wingers, M. Pohatu and Whaitiri, and the fullback, Knapp, were called upon repeatedly and responded splendidly to the extra demands. , Many Opportunities Lost During the first spell Waingake made but few incursions into their opponents’ half, but on each occasion their combination and better positional play gave the challengers some anxious moments. The tackling of the Waingake rearguard showed a great improvement. Huia also tackled well. Buscke. at half, stopped many determined rushes. The visiting forwards were getting the ball from most of the scrums and were dominating the line-outs, but were conceding too many penalties for infringements. The footwork on either side was good, but many golden opportunities were lost by players attempting to pick up. Towards the end of the spell Waingake attacked strongly and Dawson Jones and T. White each had a pot at goal.

i With the wind and sun behind them j in the second half it was expected that the cup-holders would put up a | score through their better combinai lion, but the determined tackling of ; the Huia men kept the game even, i Twigg, Lynch and Shanks amongst ; the Waingake forwards showed up ! conspicuously in the closing stages, i The Waingake skipper made some de- | termined efforts to bring victory to his i side. .

The game was the most even seen on the local ground and the issue was in doubt till the final whistle. The challengers put up a most determined fight and with a little more polish should be a very hard team to beat. In the latter stages Waingake had several chances to score from penalties in good positions, but the teams left the field with honors even,, a scoreless draw. Mr. V. Norman was the referee.