RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3796, 17 August 1936, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA COMPETITIONS. LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. With the senior rep. team away at Otorohanga, senior matches were not played at Albert Park on Saturday, and there was, consequently, not a large attendance. The Waipa Rugby Union staged three junior championship games—two at Albert Park and one at Waikeria; besides two thirdgrade championship games—one at Albert Park and the other at the school grounds. Results:— Juniors— Ngutunui 3 v. Tokanui 3. Waikeria A 36 v. Waikeria B 3. Te Awamutu 14 v. Old Boys 6. Thirds— Old Boys 9 v. High School 6. Suburbs 13 v. Te Awamutu 9. THE JUNIORS. Ngutunui v. Tokanui.—Mr I. F. Vickers had charge of this game on No. 3 ground, and the first few minutes were very even, with the ball chased up and down field at a fast pace, but invariably the attackers lost possession, and the defenders were able to extricate themselves. Tokanui did most of the attacking subsequently. with the wind behind them before half-time, J. Hughes kicked a penalty goal for Tokanui, and just jefore the whistle Owens equalised with a penalty kick. The second half saw both teams exerting every effort to score, but thq defence held, and the game ended in a draw. Te Awamutu v. Old Boys.—This game, on No. 2 ground, had Mr R. H. Annibal as referee. Te Awamutu opened with a strong attack, and they made every use of a following wind. L. Lawry was first to score a try, but the kick failed. A little later Ward also scored a try, and again the kick failed. The third try came When R. Pritchard bustled over the line, and T. Dalziel added the minor points. In the second half Old Boys attacked solidly, but it soon broke down, and a pretty passing rush by Te Alwamutu ended in J. Macky scoring a try, the kick failed. In the closing stages G. Kidd kicked a penalty goal for Old Boys, and Cavanagh scored an unconverted try. From then on there was little vim in the Old Boys’ efforts, and the game ended without further incident. THE THIRDS. Old Boys v. High School.—This game 'Was played at the School grounds, with Mr L. Retter in charge. Old Boys were hard put to it at times, but the final whistle sounded with them winning by nine points to six.

Suburbs v. Te Awamutu. —Played on No. 1 ground under Mr C. Sergeant, this game was good to watch most of the time, but there were lapses. Suburbs commenced with the wind behind them, and alter a halfhearted attack by Te Awamutu, the country lads pressed hard until MacEwan forced his way ovqs for a try. Grace concerted. Five minutes later Grace scored a second try for Suburbs, but this time the kick failed. Te Awamutu were rather lucky to force when Grace bustled over the line with the ball at toe. Just before half-time S. Allport scored Suburbs’ third try, and Grace converted. Brown opened Te Awamutu’s score with a penalty kick. In the second half K. Orr and A. Mac Ewan each scored a try for Te Awamutu, and the game ended in victory for Suburbs by thirteen points to nine—and incidentally gave them the grade championship for this season.

REPRESENTATIVE PLAY. WAIPA v. OTOROHANGA. Playing their first game this season as a combined team, the Waipa senior Rugby reps, gained the decision over the Otorohanga reps, at Otorohanga on Saturday by 12 points to 3. The heavy rain in the earlier part of the morning had done nothing to improve the state of the field and the general playing conditions were not altogether ideal. The teams lined out as follows: Waipa: McKinlay, Young, Tombs, Cruickshank, Bell, Hanna, Wilson, Turney, Wynyard, Daniell, McAlpine, Spence, Holmes, Willis, Grace. Otorohanga: Kewish, Sanders, Kemnthorne, Childs, Kawa, Kitty, Cameron, Lake, Guthrie, Schwartzfigger, Finlay, Lydart, Prescott, Broadhead, Emery. In the opening stages of the game the visitors took the major part of the attack and gave the home team plenty of defensive work to do and at times it was only the steady play of Kewish at fullback that pulled his team out of difficulty. His manner of handling the his sure kick, ing left little to be desired. Although they were decidedly lighter than the Waipa pack the Otorohanga forwards did well in the set scrums and time after time they took the ball away. This factor gave Lake, at halfback, a good deal to keep him occupied and he acquitted himself very creditably. Kempthorne also toiled hard and Sanders made some very handy breaks down the side-line.

Waipa’s account Was opened after a few minutes’ play when Hanna sent a hard kick well down the field for Young to come into possession and go through on his own. He outpaced the opposition and scored in the corner. The kick dt goal failed. Waipa 3, Otorohanga 0. The home team rallied considerably following this set-back and although they had Waipa on the defensive for a good time they were unable to bring their movements to a successful conclusion and half-time came without addition to the score.

Lysaght looked like scoring early in 'the second half when he made a wood run into foreign territory, but the defence was safe and his movement was nullified. A penalty gave Otorohanga a chance and Kewish made no mistake with the shot at goal. Otorohanga 3, Waipa 3. A hard-fought battle ensued with neither side gaining a. great deal of the advantage and play was in neutral territory for a lone time. Following a period of fluctuating play the visiting forwards went well into opposing ground and . suddenly the ball came out to Young who gave nothing else

a chanee with a characteristic dash for the line. He scored in the corner and Bell converted with a beautiful kick from the side-line. Waipa 8, Otorohanga 3. The Waipa team seemed to settle down more at this stage and the game was becoming considerably brighter than it bad been in the earlier stages. Kitty was tackling well for Otorohanga and more than once made his presence felt when the Waipa forwards went e<way on a fast rush. Play fluctuated a good deal and Otorohanga looked like adding to their tally when they were awarded a free kick in Waipa’s territory. However the ball came into the hands of McKinlay shortly afterwards and after making a short run in-field, he sent a smart shot at goal across the bar. Waipa 12, Otorohanga 3. Determined to reduce the deficit of nine points, the home side attacked solidly time and again but somehow just failed to reach a successful conclusion to their movements. Kempthorne and Kawa were both toiling well and sent their team away time after time. However the home side’s efforts were in vain and the game finished some time later with the score unaltered. The referee was Mr T. McCready. WAIPA THIRD GRADE REPS. FINAL CUCKSEY CUP MATCH. The following team has been selected to represent Waipa, defending the Cucksey Cup from Morrinsville challengers, on Saturday next at Te Awamutu: N. Blair, P. Gedge, D. Paul, W. Beet, Brown, McEwan, McEwan, Sifleet, Duggan, Grace, Donaldson, Savage, Allport, Goodall and L. Clarke. Reserves: Thompson and Hinton. This is the team that defeated Matamata and Taupiri challengers, and is almost identical in personnel with the team that earlier beat Cambridge. The players are a fine combination, though lighter than their recent opponents. However, win or lose, their effort to retain possession of the Cucksey Cup should provide a game well worth seeing.