RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 4031, 23 August 1944, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FLEMING SHIELD MATANGI STILL IN LEAD The Cambridge Sub-Union’s Fleming Shield competition was advanced a further stage on Saturday when conditions were again unfavourable for good football. By defeating United in the main game at Victoria Square, Matangi retained its one point lead in the Shield contest and brought the team’s tally to three wins and a draw in four starts. In the final series against Leamington, the Matangi side should have little trouble in maintaining their undefeated record and thereby annexing the Fleming trophy. f’l ! Good Forward Play. As in previous games Matangi’s bustling, hard-working (forwards were mainly responsible for the team’s success, but credit must be given to the backs for their sound defence. The ground conditions suited the maroons’ type of play, but had the United forwards worked as hard on attack as they did on defence the result could easily have been different. United again had difficulty in fielding a team and did well to hold their opponents to a nine-point margin when time was called. Karapiro In Good Form. The Leamington ground was, as usual, not showing the effects of recent rains and Karapiro, fielding a full team, to Leamingtons 10 men, were able to produce some snappy back play. Leamington put up a great defence, and the score of 21—0 against them was not a true indication of the run of play. In fact, the blue and whites were within an ace of scoring on, two occasions. The winners score was the result of five tries, three being, con-, verted, , ■ ‘i* ' Hautapu’s Close Call. Fielding only 11 players, the competition winners had a hard struggle with the Tauwhare team who had already had two wins in the Shield round and looked like adding another victory to its tally. Experience stood to Ilautapu who were able to get the verdict by 3 points to nil. With most teams apparently finding it difficult to field the full fifteen, the next and final series for the Fleming Shield, will see the season nearing a close. Points in this competition are as follows: Matangi 7, Karapiro 0, Hautapu 5, Tauwhare 4, United 2, Leamington 0. Junior Football. For the purpose of keeping the players in this grade in active football for future representative engagements, the Unions Management Committee, at the request of club delegates, decided to play a further series of games. The result on Saturday was, to say the least, disappointing, as only one game eventuated in which the championship winners, Hautapu, were defeated by 5 to nil, by the runnersup, High School. Waikato v. King Country. Played at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on a heavy ground* flic Waikato representatives proved too good for King Country and ran out winners by 24 points (five tries, three conversions and a penalty goal) to 11 (two tries, one conversion and: a penalty goal). The forwards were evenly matched, but the Waikato rearguard was superior and threw the heavy ball about in great style, as a result of which four tries were placed to their credit. Russell, the half-back, was responsible for the remaining try, when be broke away to run 50 yards, before leaving the forwards to finish oil’ the movement. Waikato were soon eight points up as a result of two . brilliant break-throughs by Everest, to send his wingers, Ensor and Collins, over unopposed in quick succession, Ensor converting the latter’s try. Poole scored under the* posts lor King Country after Barlow had “sold one” to Floranee. Coffin converted. Waikato’s next points came from a great penalty goal by Ensor, which was followed shortly afterwards by Russell scoring an unconverted try. From a set scrummage, the experienced Coffin held the ball in the back of the scrum to catch Russell offside and kick a goal from the 25 yards line. At half-time Waikato led by 14 points to eight. it was some time after the second spell opened that Russell made his brilliant run for Waterson to get the touch down, Ensor adding the extra points. The King Country forwards now took charge and swept the length of the field for Robertson to score. Everest finished off a good day’s work by cutting through the defence to score near the posts for Ensor to convert. The referee was Mr 1). S. B. Heather. For Waikato, Everest in the' hacks was outstanding on attack, while Reese the reserve gave a sound exhibition in the full-back position. Of the forwards, Chell’ was most prominent and always a

source of trouble to the opposing hacks. King Country’s half-back, Cumpstone, was always in the picture and spectators appreciated his game display, when he repeatedly went down at the feet of the Waikato forwards. The veteran, Collin, was as good as ever in all departments of forward play, while Hancor was noticeable in the line-out play. A. Harrison, who played in Cambridge, early in the. season, was brilliant in the loose play and a feature of his play was his fast following up.