RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6243, 17 June 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FINLAY CUP MATCH WAIPA DRAW WITH MORRINSVILLE The first rn'atch for the season for the Finlay Cup, the major trophy of the Waikato Rugby Union, played at Morrinsville, resulted in a draw. Waipa outplayed Morrinsville in the forwards, while the Waipa backs were also slightly better than their opponents. It would be impossible to say who was the best forward that Waipa had, as all packed well with the exception of Forkett who was inclined to forget that 'he was a forward and play too loose a game. Of the backs, Hull played his best game to date, combining well with Foote, while "Whitehead and Haycock were always dangerous. It was pleasing to note that the two babies of the team credited themselves well in their first big game, McKinnon in the for■vards and Crotty on the wing. The latter’s centring kicks proved dangerous to the Morrinsville side. With plenty of hard training the Waipa fifteen will prove a hard team to defeat, and if they keep hard at it she i ild be successful when they play for the Peace Cup.

The teams were as follows: Waipa: Bell, Law, Haycock, Crotty, Whitehead, Foote, Hull, Forkett, Jowsey (capt.), J. Hinton, Bob Hinton, ’ McKinnon, McDonald, Connolly, Rodgers. Morrinsville: Chase, Walton, Aitken, Ruston. T. Lithgow, Hardy, Russell, T- Clarkin, J. Lithgow, D. Johnston. Leeson, Duncan, Ensor. Waipa won the toss and defended the western end of the field and Aitken kicked off for Morrinsville. Play Was confined to Waipa half for the first few minutes until Whitehead kicked to Morrinsville half and from a lineout Waipa were penalised for Morrinsville to line in Waipa territory. Bell was caught in possession and was penalised for Aitken to have a shot which missed. Waipa forced down. Play went up and down the field until Whitehead kicked too hard and Morrinsville forced down. The line kicking by both teams missed badly at this, stage until Foote was successful, and then from a series of lineouts Morrinsville forwards carried play to the Waipa 25 where they were penalised, for Forkett to line in Morrinsville half. An exchange of kicks saw Morrinsville with the advantage and from a lineout in Waipa territory, Russell sent his backs away for the ball to go to Walton who scored in the corner. Aitken missed the kick. Morrinsville 3, Waipa 0.

Immediately after the kick-off, Ciotty cut in from a lineout and passed to Whitehead who set off for the line, and passed on to Haycock, who scored. Forkett missed the kick. Waipa 3, Morrinsville 3.

Morrinsville were penalised, for Forkett to line inside the Morrinsville half and from a lineout Morrinsville forwards came through for R. Clarkin to score. Aitken missed the kick again. Morrinsville 6, Waipa 3.

Not long after this, when Morrinsville were attacking Aitken missed a dropkick. Play went up and down the field at this stage and some hard forward play was evident, with a series of lineouts and scrums. From a linecut inside Waipa’s 25 Bob Hinton was penalised and Aitken kicked a splendid goal. Morrinsville 9, Waipa 3. Crotty sent the ball out to the backs again and Haycock dribbled through- From a scrum, Morrinsville kicked through for Bell to be caught in possession but Morrinsville was penalised. Crotty set off down the line and inpassed to Hull and from a lineomt Waipa carried play well into Morrinsville territory and from another lineout Morrinsville were penalised for Forkett to make the score Waipa 6, Morrinsville 9. Half-time came straight after. Morrinsville took play to Waipa territory after the kick-off, but Ruston failed to line and Crotty centred for Chase to mark. From a lineout the ball went out to Law who lined in Morrinsville territory. Waipa forwards were going well now and had the better of the game at this stage. From a scrum} Iqull cut in and passed to Crotty who went across to score. Forkett just missed the kick. Waipa 9, Morrinsville 9. Whitehead kicked through but failed to line and Lawrence (who had replaced Chase), lined with a nice kick. Morrinsville had a go at attacking now but the defence cf the Waipa players was sound. Morrinsville were away but knocked on and Whitehead was caught and the ball went to Walton who lined right on the goal line but McDonald cleared to halfway. First R. Clarkin was penalised and then Rodgers. Aitken gained relief by lining in Waipa territory. Law gave a forward pass and from a series of lineouts in Waipa territory Waipa were penalised and Aitken missed the kick at goal. Rodgers was accidentally off-side and from the scrum Ruston kicked through but Bell lined. McDonald caught Lawrence and Bell lined from ensuing play. Waipa carried play ito Morrin-ville line, but were penalised. Aitken did not gain much ground and from a lineout Morrinsville were penalised for Haycock to have a kick which just missed. From a lineout Law missed his pass and Morrinsville came through but were penalised from the scrum. However, a man in front, saw another scrum and Hull sent to Foote who kicked through and Morrinsville were penalised, but Haycock missed the kick again and Morrinsville lined. Hull sent to Foote again who cut in and was nearly across. Waipa were definitely on top now, Crotty’s centring kicks proving dangerous, but they could not bring success to their efforts and the game ended in midfield with the score:— Waipa 9, Morrinsville 9. Mr> H- Kirkham, of Cambridge was the referee. Results At A Glance

Seniors: Waipa A 9, Morrinsville A 9. Morrinsville B 6, Waipa B 5. Juniors: Rovers 12, Ohaupo 11. Hui Mai 9, Te Awamutu 0. United 21, Air Force 11. Old Boys 11, Parawera 10. Third Grade: Trial Game, A team 22, B team 9 Fourth Grade: School A 6, School B 3. Te Awanratu 15, Ohaupo 6.