RUGBY FOOTBALL

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1240, 24 July 1947, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIKATO AND EAST COAST Official’s Reminiscences When the touring East Coast Rugby team plays Waikato at Cambridge next Wednesday, this will be the second meeting of these two unions. The first match was played at Ruatoria in 1929, when Waikato won by 15 points to 11 on a very heavy ground W. Bourke (Cambridge) was captain of the team for the match, and he recounts some interesting reminiscences. The East Coast had usually combined with the Bay for representative matches of this nature, said Mr. Bourka, but that year they were particularly strong and decided to field their own team. The touring All Blacks had just returned from France, and at least half of those players were in the East Coast team. George Nepia, the famous fullback, whose home town was Ruatoria, did not play, however, as he had remained in England to play league. The Team The Waikato team comprised W. Bourke, Dan Bourke, ,C. Robinson (Cambridge), A. Came Ton, S. Thomas, M. Anderson, J. Lesson (Morrinsville), D. Ensor, A. Storey, J. Vosper (Matamata), W. Fleming. R. Chapman, W. Mansell, M. Graham, W. Mitchell, A. Griffiths, D. Mills, I. Johnston (Hamilton), Len Kay, E. Quin (Te Awamutu), J. Litt (Taupiri). Mr. T. A. Cooper, who died recently, was selector, and Mr. J. W. Thompson, now a life member and former secretary of the Waikato Rugby Union, was manager. This was one of the last games played for Waikato by Bill Bourke. He had represented Waikato for seven years. His brother Dan continued to play for several years, and later 'became president of the Waikato union. Many of the other players have maintained an active interest in the code. D. Ensor has since been Waikato representative selector, and P. Quin has helped the Waipa union as coach and selector, and S. Thomas has coached the Morrinsville fifteen. It was after this tour that Johnny Leeson represented New Zealand in Australia. Len Kay, who played a great game against East Coast, was also a prominent Te Awamutu polo player at that time. Good Reception This was the first occasion a touring team had visited Ruatoria, added Mr. Bourke. The Waikato players were given a good reception when they arrived at the Manutahi Hotel, where practically all of the Maoris of the district had gathered. Apart from the goal posts, there was nothing to indicate the football ground, and -at - times there were difficulties in keeping the spectators from surging on to the playing field. (Five matches were played -on the tour, and with representatives from five sub-unions in the team, Mr. Cooper chose a player from each to captain the respective games. Soon after the kick-off the Coast opened their account with a goal from a free kick, tout Waikato pressed steadily and from a free kick Quin equalised the score. Shortly afterwards the home backs got away and Walford scored. Once more Quin equalised matters with another goal from a penalty. Just before half-time Robinson added a try to Waikato’s tally. After play re-opened, Kay secured and went over. Then the Coast crossed the line for a good try, which Raroa converted, making the score: Coast 11, Waikato 12. Just before the final whistle Chapman scored another try for Waikato and the game ended Waikato 15, East Coast 11. Maoris Rampant A Pujtanrru -official recalls that Ruatoria on that day was reminiscent of stories he had read and films ha had seen of the Wild West. In the morning the straggling main street was as quiet as Putaruru on a Sunday, but somewhere about 1 p.m. the natives.began to arrive on bronchos, wearing Tom Mix ten-gallon hats, and spurs that jingled like a 21st Lancer. They vaulted from thoir horses at the hitching post, and had the decided Wild West gait. After the match the sergeant of police warned the manager of the Waikato team that it might be as well if his players confined themselves to the precincts of the hotel as the natives wofe likely to do anything. Reports seen in newspapers over the years since point to the fact of the sergeant being just about right. Anything might have happened with the Waikato big blokes not likoly to stand any nonsense.