THE FINLAY CUP

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3045, 29 August 1933, Page 2

THE FINLAY CUP

HAMILTON 15 V. CAMBRIDGE 14. BEST TEAM LOSES. NORTHERN WIN FLEMING SHIELD. It is not, uncommon in tlic game ol Rugby to soo tlic best team lose on points, and this was actually the experience of the Cambridge senior representatives on Saturday afternoon last when they played Hamilton’s elect at Rugby Parle in the final of the western division of the Finlay Cup and lost by the narrow margin of .15 points to 14. With an altered team Cambridge displayed a surprising reversal of form on the previous Saturday, when they were easily beaten by Waipa. Cambridge held the upper hand throughout the game and it was only due to Hamilton scoring two snap tries in the first eight minutes, and to Cambridge’s failure in goal-kicking, that prevented the home side Being decisively defeated.

With the services of K. Reid, of the Auckland Grammar School team, who is homo on vacation, at full-back, the Cambridge backs played with the greatest confidence. They gave a sparkling exhibition that delighted the Hamilton spectators and surprised enthusiasts from Cambridge. The Hamilton defence was frequently pierced by the Cambridge attack and at least nine points were thrown away by minor infringements. The Hamilton pack was beaten by the visitors both in the light and loose play, and only excelled in the line-outs. As the Hamilton officials freely remarked, after the game, Cambridge were most unfortunate not to have the honour of playing Matamata in the final of the competition.

The Fleming Shield competition was finalised on Saturday in favour of the Northern Club. Northern and Hautapu played a no score, drawn game am] Leamington beat United by 17 points to 9.

Regrettable incidents occurred in the latter game, ttvo Leamington players and one United player being ordered off for fighting and using bad language. results at a glance. Einlay Cup— Hamilton 15 v. Cambridge 14. Fleming Shield — Northern 0 v. Hautapu 0. Leamington 17 v. United 9. Other Results: Auckland 22 v. Taranaki 17. Ranfurly Shield — Canterbury 8 v. Otago 5. Morrinsyille 17 v. Taupiri 16. CAMBRIDGE V. HAMILTON. The teams were: Cambridge: K. Reid; F. Tapper, Allwood, Frank Shaw; N. Holmes, L. Shaw; Byrne; Fred Shaw, D. Bourkc, D. Wilson, P. Beer, Hooper, Miller and Reid. Hamilton: Clarkin; Paterson, Portcous, Whorskcy; Snodgrass, Gilling; McDol; Hedley, Weatherly, Robinson, Tristram, Clough, Hogan, Roach, Prescott. The Play. Cambridge won the toss and had the early advantage, the blue forwards being seen in a good rush, Miller and Frank Shaw in the van. Cambridge continued to press and then Frank Shaw missed a return. The bounce of the ball beat the blue winger and Whorsky, the Hamilton winger, taking the ball, in his stride ran three-parts of the field with Reid after him to score a sensational snap try. Clarkin added the extra points. Hamilton 5, Cambridge 0. Resuming, Hamilton attacked in the loose, Porteous ami Hedley being in the van. After a line-out Byrne put Cambridge back with a good kick, but the advantage was short-lived. The local forwards rushed it through in a light rush and then the local backline, McDol, Snodgrass, Paterson and a forward, Tristram, handled for the last-named to score from an original offside situation. Clarkin had no difficulty to add the extra points. Hamilton 10, Cambridge 0, and play only in progress eight minutes. Continuing on Cambridge were seen in a pretty movement in which Byrne, Holmes, Shaw, Allwood and Tapper handled nieelv, but tlic defence held. Cambridge kept up the attack and now Dan Bourko set up a forward rush with A. Miller and Chapman prominent. Dan Bourkc went over the line but was held. However, A Miller was there to score a deserved try. N. Holmes kicked a fine goal. Cambridge 5, Hamilton 10. Cambridge continued to have the better of matters and again Beer, A. Miller and Chapman rushed the leather through with Fred Shaw, and Hamilton had to kick behind to save. From a, free Holmes missed a shot at goal. A slight breeze was favouring Cambridge and the visiting forwards con-

tinned to beat Hamilton and play remained mostly in the home tcrritoiy. Fred 'Shaw was playing well and lie and Hooper took Cambridge well down. From the line-out, Byrne received to send R. Shaw away, who ran well, and then threw out wide to F. Tapper and lie went across in the corner for a dashing try. Holmes missed a difficult shot. Cambridge B,' Hamilton 10. Shortly after this Fred Shaw and N. Holmes came through well, but CTarkin made a fine save. Even centre play followed and then Reid, the visiting full, put, in a. wonderful line kick to Hamilton’s corner flag. From the line-out and tight Byrne secured and ran the few yards to the line. He could have scored on his own account but threw a low one to Tapper and the effort just failed. From a scrum Hamilton forced. As the result of good line-finding by Clarkin, Hamilton went, into the Cambridge territory. Now came a sensation. The blues kicked through and Chapman and Fred Shaw kicked on to catch the locals napping. In his stride A. Miller secured to race over for his second try. Holmes missed the conversion. Cambridge 11, Hamilton 10. Up to this stage Cambridge forwards were easily superior in the loose and tight, and were only failing in the linc-outs. The Cambridge rearguard was also playing a dashing game. Half-time came without addition to the scores. The Final Session.

The second session had onlv been in progress three minutes when Reid made a great opening, but the ball went out at Hamilton’s 25. From the line-out the ball went into the open where it was kicked across to the north side-line. Here at half-way R. Shaw received to badly side-step Paterson and run well to send F. Tapper over for a fine try. N. Holmes nariowly missed the conversion. Cambridge 14, Hamilton 10. Continuing on Frank Shaw and Ailwood were seen in a good break for the locals. From the loose and line kicks Hamilton went into Cambridge’s 25, but Dan Bourkc, G. Reid and Fred Shaw brought it back to half-way. Line-outs followed in Cambridge’s corner. Hamilton secured twice, but the defence was sound and Gilling was tackled with the ball the second time. From this situation Fred Shaw, Allwood and R. Shaw broke away. F. Tapper then received and with only the fullback to boat gave a forward pass to R. Shaw. Play came out into the open where Clarkin lined in the visitors’ corner. The advantage was short-lived, the Cambridge forwards coming through with Dan Bourko, Reid and P. Beer prominent. Open play followed when Frank Shaw received to badly beat Porteous and Snodgrass. He was grassed and then the locals ■were penalised for offside. K. Reid missed the shot at goal narrowly. A long kick by Clarkin put Hamilton well down and then from a serum Hedley came away to swerve and go over near the posts for a clever try. Clarkin had no difficulty to goal and put hi e side a point ahead. Hamilton 15. Cambridge 14.

Paterson put Hamilton into Cambridge’s corner, but Byrne cleared. Hamilton came back again when Snodgrass put in a wonderful line-kick. Line-outs followed, but the defence held. Good work by G. Reid, Chapman and Byrne put Cambridge back to half-way. Clarkin now mulled a high return, but he was lucky to recover it and save what looked li.kc a try for the visitors. Hamilton came back to the blues’ 25, but a free against the yellows for lifting enabled Holmes to line at half-way and the game then ended with the final score;*: Hamilton 15, Cambridge 14. Mr R. Ballis, of Te Awamutu, controlled the game. FLEMING SHIELD GAMES. HAUTAPU V. NORTHERN. The first, game at the Square between Hautapu and Northern was ragged and uninteresting with Northern doing most of the attacking in the first half. They were unlucky not to score on several occasions. A back movement by Hautapu took place to the other end of the field and Mclvee was dangerously near to scoring, but was well tackled near the line. Halftime sounded with no score. The second spell brightened considerably, Hautapu attacking with several snappy movements, most of which were led by McKee. Hautapu spent several spells on the Northern line, but lacked the finish to score and the game ended: Northern 0, Hautapu 0. Mr J. Wilkinson refereed. UNITED V. LEAMINGTON. This game also resulted in a poor display of football, Leamington fielding 13 men and United .10. Early in the game Leamington rushed the ball up to the United line and a few minutes after Garland crossed the line and then converted his own try. Learnington 5, United 0. N. Hall led a dribbling rush which resulted in McLcish scoring from a scrum a few feet off (Continued on Page 7).