RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2217, 2 October 1928, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE LOCAL SEASON ENDS. WAIPA JUNIORS DEFEAT MATAMATA. .The Rugby football season locsJly was brought to a close on Saturday afternoon, when glorious weather prevailed for the final game of for the Waikato Junior Championship Cup for representative teams of sub-unions in Waikato. Waipa met Matamata, and when the team swalked on to the field the many supporters of Waipa began to doubt, for Matamata the- previous Saturdayhad beaten Cambridge by 13 points to 3, and they looked a sturdy and capable fifteen. However, their back division was not up to standard, and although the bustling tactics of the forwards had Waipa frequently doing their best, the attacks were invariably broken down, and the Waipas immediately set up attacks that ended in tries. Undoubtedly the better team won, and Waipa continued its winning sequence, the season ending with seven wins in sqven games, and 128 points scored for Waipa with only 17 points against the : m. The teams were. Wiaipa. (White): C. Pollard, W. Lee, R. Sinclair, A. Brill, R. Jackson, A. Jackson, G. Balme (captain), R. Parish, C. Craig, A. Murray, J. M. Askew, F. Hagen, W. Pollard, P. Grace, and J. Turney. Matamata (black): Castledine, Shaw, Brooks, Fitzgerald, Tonge, W. Carroll (captain), Sutherland, Howard, Johnson, J. Carroll, Hill, Mulligan, Amoore, Gunn, N. Hill. Waipa defended, with the sun behind them, and kicked off. The leather was returned to half way, and Hagan was penalised for of£-side from a scrum. Then the Wiaipa forwards raced down, and Shaw forced a hard punt by Lee. The whites kept up the attack. A penalty gave relief, and than a free off Hagen let them up a few yards. But W,aipa backs set up a passing bout, Sinclair sending to Lee, who c,ut in and then grassed the ball wide out. A. Jackson’s kick was a poster: * Waipa 3 Matamata 0

Again the whites set the ball going, but Carroll broke through to half way. Some lively play ended with a penalty to Matamata, and a scrum followed. Thein a hot attack by Waipa pack was stopped by Carroll with a serviceable line kick. Then, from a line-out, Jackson sent a pass to Sinclair, who raced over. A. Jackson failed with the kick: Waipa 6 Matamata 0

Matamata attacked, but the Waipa full-back marked, and sent them back. Castledine,' saved. Howax-d came through with a solo dash, and his team was attacking at the changeover: j Waipa 6 Matamata 0 With a slight breeze the visitors did better, but a brilliant run by Lee and an in-pass to Sinclair made Matamata force. Waipa backs were throwing the balll about. Then a loose, rush with Turney at the head, took him over to touch down. Jackson kicked a beautiful g'oal: Waipa 11 Matamata 0 Howard led a splendid rush, and his pack looked dangerous, a forward pass spoiling it. The visitors were doing really well, and a penalty let Fitzgerald have a shot, which went outside the posts, and Pollard forced. W. Carroll had another shot from 35 yards, and Lae found the line at the quarterway. The visitors were getting the bail from the scrums. Again the Waipa rearguard attacked, but Howard cut through, and from the next scrum he was penalised for off-side. A penalty right in front of Waipa’s goal let Fitzgerald have ,a, shot which went just outside. A**hard punt by W. Pollard made Matamata force. A cijose-fieid kick found Lee seteure and race round to score. Sinclair’s kick failed: Waipa 14 Matamata 0

HALF-TIME. Wja.ipa kicked off, and attacked, with Parish and Hagen in front, and the ball came to A. Jackson, who outpointed the opposition and scored a try. Sinclair converted: Waipa 19 Matamata 0 1 Lee cross-kicked, and Matamata obtained a penalty, and a moment later another one, but A. Jackson cut in and kicked, W. Pollard securing and racing over with Hagen beside him. Sinclair converted: • Waipa 24 Matamata 0 The locals were forcing the pace, and had their opponents defending hard. Tonge saved with a clever tackle, and play came back to mid-field. C. Pollard cleared and raced up, only to have the. ball returned, but A. Jackson found tihe line. The visitors were gradually making progress, 'and Pollard was hard pressed. However, he found the line. Matamata looked to have a good chance to score, but Shaw failed to secure on the side line. Then Waipa attacked, and A. Jackson cut through and passed to Sinclair, who sent on to Lee. The latter raced over. Grace’s kick went outside: Waipa 27 Matamata 0 A brilliant dash by Bialme and A. Jackson was almost successful. Castledine forced, but a scrum five yards out was ordered. Waipa hooked, and Lee was over, but a forward pass entlailed arjether scrum. A penalty gave the visitors relief. The local pack were hooking the ball and giving their backs opportunities. J. Carroll and Amjcore broke away, but A. Jackson bustled through, dribbling, and was almost over. Castledine cleared, and the third quarter ended: Waipa 27 Matamata 0 The final quarter was entered on with both teams tiring. The visitors attacked, and Balme cleared cleverly, only to have thdm get a penalty that

Eitzgc/rald failed to convert from an easy position. Sinclair found the line AVeil down, . but ..Brooks reversed the advantage with a long grubber. Not t,o be denied, Wiaipa attacked hotly, and looked dangerous/ only to have J. Carroll 'open 'and put Matamata on the rally. The. visitors attacked, •’and M. Can-oil went overeat the corner, but he had stepped out. Waipa made ground gradually, until Carroll had a penalty shot from 35 yards 1 out. C. Pollard forced. Murray came through with dash, and sent to W l . Pollard, but the latter was grassed right in front of the goal. After a minute Lee raced liound and kicked over Castledine’s head. He fell, but Murray was there to touch down. A Jackson failed with the kick: Waipa 30 Matamata 0 Some finej forward rushes gained ground for the visitors. A. Jackson broke through, but a penalty relieved. Scrums followed, and then Craig dummied through a forward pass spoiling it. The game ended soon afterwards with the scores: ' Waipa 30 Matamata 0 Mr D. Freeman gave every satisfaction with the whistle.

THE TEAMS ENTERTAINED. After the match both teams were entertained by Waipa Rugby Union at the Central Tea Rooms, the president (Mr F. Quin) presiding. Mr Quin expressed the Union’s fhanks to Matamata for electing to come to Te Awamutu to play the final game for the Wiaikato Junior Championship Cup. He was very pleased that Waipa had won the trophy, but he would have very heartily congratulated Matamata had the victory gone to them. After explaining the conditions of the competition, Mr Quin handed the beautiful cup to Mr G. Balme (captain of the Waipa junior representatives) amid a storm of applause. Mr Balme, replying, said the contest that dlay had been mlost enjoyable, and he assured Matamata players of a hearty welcome when they came back next year. Waipa team had been in scoring vein, that day, and we're, very proud of having won this year the two principal trophies for inter-union junior competition. He concluded by expressing all players’ appreciation of Mr Clark’s thoughtful generosity in donating a cup to encourage junior play. (Applause.) Mr D. Roigard, manager of t.hci Matamata team, said they always tried to be sports, and all sincerely congratulated Wiaipa on the win. The local players were a really fine team, and it was fitting that Waipa should be the first namq engraved on the junior championship cup. Matamata hoped to be second ! (Applause.) Mr R. McCready, Matamata, congratulated the referee on his. fair decisions and full control of the game. It was a pleasure to play under him. (Applause.) Mr Freemlan, replying, said it was gratifying to hear that he had given satisfaction. It was his first year with the whistle, and he hoped to do further service for Rugby football. Matamata’s captain, Mr Carroll, thanked Waipa for the. good, clean contest that day, and for the hospitality extended. Waipa was undoubtedly the better team. He then led cheers for the visitors.

Waipa’s captain announced that he had been entrusted with a very pleasing duty—that of presenting to the team’s sulector, Mr A. A. Reese, a framed phofrigraphed enlargement of the players that he had encouraged so consistently. Part of the joy they had experienced in winning the Junior Championship Cup and the Boyce Cup was because their friend was so keen to win. Ail the players appreciated his interest, and hoped he would accept (th 2 token as a memento of pleasant associations. (Applause.) After Mr Reese had suitably replied the chairman explained that the Waikato Union had sought, unsuccessfully, to have the Boyce Cup placed undejr its jurisdiction, like the Finlay Cup, but the donors (the family) and the Cambridge- Rugby Union preferred that the present conditions be continued. The Waikato Junior Championship Cup would, therefore, take precedence over the Boyce Cup in any challenges for the future. The gathering then dispersed, and the Matamata team motored home.

WAIPA JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. The achievements of the Waipa junior representative team this year constitutes a record. - They played seven games, and won them all, gaining the Boyce Cup two months ago and the Waikato Junior Championship Cup last Saturday. Results of thej games played are: Versus Cambridge, 6 —3; v. Otorohanga, 44—0; v. Cambridge (Boyce Cup), 5 —3. v. Otorohanga, 17—8; v. Hamilton, 9 —3; v. Raglan, 17—0; v. Matamata, 30—0. Totals: For 128, against 17. The. last three games were for the Waikato junior championship.