RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3799, 24 August 1936, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA CHAMPIONSHIPS. LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. With the Waipa senior rep. team playing at Kawhia last Saturday, the principal interest for the spectators at Albert Park was the fourth match for the Cueksey Cup, when Morrinsville third-grade representatives were the challengers. Three other matches, in the junior grade were listed, but only two were played to a conclusion. In the other contest, Waikeria A v. Te Awamutu, the game had been in progress some time, when the referee, after ordering some player’s from each side to leave the ground for alleged rough play, decided to call the match off, apparently in the interests of safety. The matter will be renorted to the controlling authority. Results: Senior reps Kawhia 8 v. Waipa 3. Third grade reps— Waipa 17 v. Morrinsville 0. Juniors— Ngutunui 8 v. Old Boys 5. Tokanui 11 v. Waikeria B 8. Waikeria A 11 v. Te Awamutu 3.

THE THIRDS. CUCKSEY CUP RETAINED. This was a bright and interesting game throughout, and served to show that Waipa are clearly the champion team in tne Waikato (excluding Hamilton) for the grade, for they have successively withstood challenges from Cambridge, Miatamata, Taupiri and Morrinsville. 'lhq teams were:’— Morrinsville.—Reay, A. Donovan, R. Christian, Thompson, R. Bowers, W. Fussey, Peakin, Drabble, Cates, B. Donovan, Stewart, Haycock, Johnson, Hastie, Everitt. Waipa—N. Blair, Beat, Paul, Gedge, McEwan, Brown, McEwan, Grace, Goodall, Savage, Allport, Donoldson, Thompson, Clarke. Waipa kicked off, and attacked, but were penalised. However they were soon back again, but a forward pass spoiled what looked like a certain try. Blair got a penalty kick for a scrum infringement, and registered the opening points. WWpa 3, Morrinsville 0.

Morrinsville attacked hotly, and took play right to the corner, but they were beaten off, and then Beat anu Paul worked right up the line. A penaltv sent Waipa light back, but again they attacked, until Gedge was caught in possession. The game was lively, and when the ball was let loose McEwan streaked through to follow the ball over the line for a try near the posts. Blair converted. Waipa 8, Morrinsville 0. Play was in midfield, until Brown cut through, but his pass was mulled. Bowa:; and Fussey stopped another Waina rush. Promptly the Waipa backs swung into action, and only a forward pass to Gedge when McEwan was pulled down stopped a very promising movement. After a hold up due to injuries. Morrinsville attacked, but they were sent back, the Waipa forwards toiling solidly. Even play followed, and then the visiting rearguard made ground, with both wings showing initiative. Young McEwan went down under a solid Morrinsville attack, and got Waipa. out of trouble. Play was hard but not especially bright in the next few minutes, A penalty gave Morrinsville a chance, but smart work set Waipa going again, and Christian had to put his best foot foremost to force when McEwan raced after a rolling ball. Again McEwan led Waipa right to the line, but a force resulted. Keeping up the pressure, Waipa had the visitors worried, brft Donovan marked, sending play back to halfway. Then the Waipa backs flashed through, all handling well, for Brown to score wide out. Blair failed with the kick from a difficult angle. Half-time came with the scores: Wpipa 11, Morrinsville 0. Soon after resuming Morrinsville attacked, but it was not sustained, the home forwards pushing them back in scrums and rucks. Nearly all the play was in Morrinsville territory, and Waipa had the advantage of the wind behind them. A penalty for Waipa for scrum infringement did not gain much ground, but the forwards carried on, and soon they were almost to. the line. A scrum in favour of the visitors broke a solid Waipa attack, but they were quickly pressing again. Morrinsville forced. Soon from a scrum McEwan sent to Beet, and back to McEwan, who scored an easy one. The kick failed. Waipa 14, Morrinsville 0. The pace slowed for a while, and then the Waipa’s broke through with the ball at toe. Beet next secured, erdss-kicked to Gedge, but the advantage w|as lost. Then the Morrinsville’s broke through dribbling, but made the mistake of trying to pick up. There were five of them, with only the fullback to pass. Waipa promptly rushed play to the other end, for Thompson to score. Again the kick failed. Waipa 17, Morrinsville 0. Then the visitors attacked, and Thompson came fast to catch Gedge in possession right on the line. A syd scrum saw Waipa open up and rush play right to Morrinsville’s 25 line. Drabble dritlbled through, but Blair saved. Then the Morrinsville boys attacked hotly, and only bad luck kept them out. But Waipa exerted themselves, and had Morrinsville in trouble, but over eagerness spoiled the effort. Again Waipa attacked. and Brown narrowly missed a field goal. Bowers fumbled when he cut Ithrough with only Blair to pass. Play was soon back in neutral ground again, and then beyond Morrinsville’s 25 line, but a penalty eased the tension, and the fiinal whistle sounded with plav in midfield, and the scores: Waipa - 17 Morrinsville 0 Mr I. F. Vickers refereed.

THE JUNIORS. Tokanui v. Waikeria B.—Mr C. Sergeant refereed this game, on No. 1 ground, and the contest ended in a win for Tokanui, for whom Hughes scored an unconverted try, Ward a try converted by Hughes, and Muraahi a penalty goal, Waikeria’s