FOOTBALL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1410, 26 June 1923, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

UEPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. SENIORS. YYaipa v. Hsiinflton. The match between the Waipa and Hamilton Sub-Union reps, drew a good crowd of spectators to Albert Park on Saturday. The weather was fine, although a cold wind was blowing across the field, but the ground was remarkably dry despite rain on Friday. The spectators were rewarded by witnessing an even and exciting game, and at times some glimpses of good football. Five minutes before the end of the game Hamilton were •leading by 9 to 6, but excitement ran high when the Waipa forwards swarmed over the line and made the score 9 all—two tries and a penalty goal each. On the play Waipa undoubtedly were the better team and for the first half had Hamilton doing their best defending) The Teams. Hamilton fyellow and Hack): Hunt. Vercoe, Clarkin, Litt'lewood, Campbell, Castles, Mitchell, Gilmore, Scott, Hopa, Hogg, Cooper, Keeiey. Neil and Magnet-. Waipa (red and black): Quin, Noble. Prendeville, Wilson, Harrison, Bell, Griggs, Kerr, J. Holmes, C. Beet, E. iHolmes Macky, E. Beet, It. Crotty, C. Crotty. The Play. Waipa kicked off and Hamilton immediately started a passing rush. Magnet- sending the ball to Campbell to Vercoe. Prendeville, Bell and Noble were then associated in a passing bout which returned to Yellow's territory, Gilmore relieving with a mark. E. Holmes returned the kick and transferred play to Yellow's 2a, Hunt relieving, and returning play to midfield. Waipa forwards, led by C. Beet broke away to Yellow's 25. where E. Holmes secured and ansferred to Harrison, to Bell to Prendeville, to Wilson, but the latter was forced out at the corner. Play lingered in Yellow’s 25. but Castles relieved with a long kick which Wilson marked between the 25 and half way marks. Taking a drop kick Wilson opened the scoring by landing a good goalvWaipa 3. Hamilton 0.

From play in midfield Wilson and J. Holmes transferred to Yellow’s 25. From a line out Macky took the ball through at his toe, but Hunt forced in the nick of time. 5 ellows, by a forward rush, took up the attack for the first time and the backs initiated a passing rush in Red’s 25, the ball going straight across the field. By good following Macky and J. Holmes smothered a return by Hunt and play was in Yellow’s 25, where Reds were awarded a free kick. E. Beet had the kick at goal, but missed. Reds kept up the attack and from loose play Bell secured and after cutting in nicely passed to J, Holmes, who got over the line but could not ground the ball. The first quarter ended without further score.

Waipa took up the attack on changing over, till Keeiey secured and ran straight down the field, but was well tackled by Quin. Castles secured and took up the running, but when near the line spoilt a good chance with a bad pass. For offside play Yellows were awarded a free kick, which Gilmore landed between the posts, making the score three all. By good f.rward work Yellows again pressed, Bell saving. Yellow.; -, m returned to the a tack, and through Macky and Wilson both attempting to take a high bal.. woe nearly ove\ Quin -aving. Vercoe next took the bail over the line, bn* Quin fe:c:l. From loose forward play near Reds’ 25 E. Holmes secured and passed to Prendeville, to Noble, the latter punting high when stopped. Following up fast Noble smothered the return, the ball goingout near the corner flag. Yellow forwards, with 'loose rushes, returned to midfield, when Hogg broke away, and getting a good bounce near the line was almost over, but Wilson got up in time to force him out at the corner just as half time sounded. Play in the third quarter was very ragged, both sides being close to scoring on a couple of occasions through bad tackling. The only score was secured by Hamilton. From a line out in Red’s 25 Hopa secured and forced his way over the line and scored. Gi'lmore failed to convert. — Hamilton 6, Waipa 3. Just before the change over Reds went close to equalising the scores. Griggs with a good run, was nearly over but kicked too hard when near the line. Kerr also got oyer the line but was penalised for taking the ball out of the scrum.

With the score 6 to 3 in Hamilton’s favour play in the last quarter was exciting right through. After play in midfield Wilson and Kerr dribbled the ball over the line, Mitchell forcing. With a long kick Yellows attacked. Littlewood secured near the half way line and running straight down the field staved off tackles by Quin, Wilson and Macky and scored as he liked between the posts. Castles took the kick, but the Red forwards charged it down. —Hamilton 9, Waipa 3. Despite this set back Reds commenced to put more vim into their play, and soon had Yellows defending. From a scrum on the 25 line Griggs secured and shot the ball smartly to Harrison, who heat all the opposition, but when grounding the ball lost possession. J. Holmes, who was following in his wake, dived over the players and touched down, making the score 9 to six in Hamilton’s favour. From the kick off Reds were soon attacking, and had Hamilton doing their best to prevent them scoring. Bell marked in a good position but failed to goal, and play was transferred to midfield. From a line out Macky secured and after putting in a strong run minted high. Several Waipa players followed up fast and carried the ball over the line, four diving to touch down at the same time, and vri’mt the players sorted themselves out Noble emerged with the ball in ’”N accession. Kerr fai'ed with the kick, the scores bemg 9 all with only <a few minutes to go. closing stages were very exciting. both teams having a turn at attacking, but the whistle sounded without further score. Rev. H. White refereed.'

JUNIOR. I Hamilton (18) v. Waipa (0). The Waipa junior representatives journeyed to Hamilton last Saturday to try conclusions with the Hamilton junior reps, and after a very interesting contest they sustained defeat at the hands of the home team by a decisive margin. The Reds (Waipa) kickdd off, but were soon placed on the defensive, the Yellows (Hamilton) throwing the ball about among their backs with a precision and skill not yet attained by their opponents. The Reds were forced twice in quick succession, and were being penned hard on their line when an infringement by a Hamilton forward gave relief. Ferguson sending the leather well down field. Soon, however, the home backs set up another attack, and a pretty bit of play by Jones and Fitzgerald ended in the latter scoring a dlever try. Johnson’s kick was a poster. The Waipas essayed passing tactics, but offside play gave the Yellows another shot at goal, which went a little wide of the posts.. Johnson had another shot at goal a minute later, but this again went wide. The visitors were still on the defensive when change over sounded. , The game had hardly been resumed when Buckingham snapped up the ball and with a nice swerving run eluded four or five of the visiting backs and grassed the ball right between the posts, amid applause in recognition of a. beautiful piece of work. The Reds carried play into enemy territory and essayed to keep the ball among the forwards. Half time came without alteration of the scores. A minute after the kick out the Yellow forwards dashed over the line again, but the try was distil lowed for an infringement. Still keeping up the pressure the Hamilton lads had the visitors strenuously defending, and presently tut opening was availed of by a Hamilton forward who dribbled the ball over and registered the third try. This was not converted, and at the end of the third spell the scores were: Hamilton 9, Waipa nil. Though there were occasional flashes of concerted play by the visitors, with hard luck in evidence once or twice when a score seemed likely. Hamilton had the best of it, and by a clever feint which drew the Waipa backs to one side ball was sent out to Anderson, who badly beat Jackson and scored between the posts. The shot at goal again proved abortive. At this stage the Waipa captain. Finch, met with injury in trying to collar one of the home forwards, and had to retire. The game was still fast and ful'l of incident, but the visitors were not so nippy and quick to take advantage of openings its the home team. Buckingham scored two tries its it result of quick dashes, but again the attempts to convert failed. With 18 points scored against them the visitors realised that they could not win, but they kept pegging away, A. Johnson and Tunolto putting in good defensive work, with now and again a dash up the line, but each time they were grassed before they could reach their objective. The game ended without further addition to the scores. Mr Dun ford ably controlled the game, which was clean and bright throughout. The Waipas were beaten but not disgraced. They were up against a team that has a better knowledge o f ' the game. The Hamilton team undoubtedly has a higher standard of play. It was a treat to see the way their backs grabbed the ball anf tossed it about with short well timed passes, while the swerving and dodging by the back division quite nonplussed the Waipas. Man to man the visitors were not a bit inferior to the Hamilton forwards, with perhaps the exception that the home hookers got the ball in the scrum more often.