RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3178, 17 May 1932, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WAIPA 'CHAMPIONSHIPS. LAST SATURDAY'S GAMES. Seniors — Te Awamutu 8 v. Rovers 6. Waikeria 13 v. Kihikihi 0. Juniors— Arohena 14 v. Ohaupo 9. Rovers 15 v. Te Mawhai 3. Pirongia 15 v. Owairaka 8. Ngutunui 6 v. Te Awamutu 3. ThirdsHigh School 15 v. Te Awamutu 0. Te Mawhai 15 v. Rovers 3. THE SENIORS. Te Awamutu v. Rovers.—This game, on No. 1 ground, under the direction of Mr R. Cadis, was the chief attraction, and both teams were at practically full strength. Te Awamutu opened the attack, and were pressing Rovers hard for several minutes until a penalty kick for an infringement saw Pollard boot the ball well past halfway. After some strenuous scrums, in which the packs were evenly matched, Rovers attacked and were within an ace of scoring. But the defence held, and Te Awamutu gradually worked upfieM. There was plenty to interest the spectators, for line-outs and scrums were frequent and some strenuous tussles resulted. Eventually Te Awamutu kicked the ball over the line, past Pollard, and in a race for possession Howarth touched down, with K. Jones right at his elbow, amid much excitement. Lash . converted with a good kick. The Rovers tried hard to equalise and they were pressing Te Awamutu hard, tackling well and trying to keep the ball in tight rucks, in which they had a slight advantage. After a minute or two, however, the Te Awamutus developed an attack that took them into Rovers' 25, and Lash had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty, 40 yards out. The game was fast and strenuous, play surging up and down and each side having to call forth every ounce to ward off attacks. C. Pollard opened Rovers' score with a successful penalty kick, and Rovers kept up the pressure for some time, but Quin's long punts and good tackling by Martin kept them out. Rovers were still attacking when the the half-time whistle sounded. On resuming Rovers were doing best, and they were almost over the line two or three times. Seizing an opening, Sinclair and Scott bolted through and the ball went to Jones near the line, but he knocked on, and a scrum followed. There was a good deal of scrambling right in front of Rovers' goal, but the Te Awamutus could not get over the line. Lash had an unsuccessful shot from a penalty, the ball going just outside an upright. A minuate later, he succeeded with a nice kick. Rovers returned to the attack again and again, and eventually in a rush by their forwards which was led by the Thomson brothers they crossed the line, and Quin, slipping in an attempt to force, T. Thomson got a try. Pollard's kick went just outside the post. Heartened by the success, Rovers bustled hard, and some lively work was witnessed, the ball seldom coming out into the loose. Te Awamutu got relief with too penalty kicks awarded for over-eagerness by the Rovers pack;,but Rovers returned again and again. Play surged up and down field, with little real advantage to either side. Tickelpenny raced up the line, only to be grassed, and next Sinclair would adopt similar tactics, but for the most part it was a game between the forwards. The game ended with the scores: Te Awamutu 8, Rovers 6. Waikeria v. Kihikihi.—This game was played on No. 2 ground, with Mr R. H. Annibal as referee. It was bright and interesting throughout, but it did not appeal to the public so much as the Te Awamutu v. Rovers clash. Waikeria opened with a stiff attack, and they held on tenaciously for several minutes, Kihikihi having to force three times in' as many minutes. Then the Kihikihi rearguard developed a passing bout in which the Jackson brothers (3) and La wry took play right to the corner, Lawry being forced out within a yard of the goalline. There was no score at halftime, but on resuming R. Jackson received the ball from a line-out early in the spell and essayed to pot a goal, the ball going just outside. Waikeria's five-eighth failed with a penalty kick a minute later, but almost at once he scored a try right under the cross-bar, and a successful kick made the score five —nil. Ten minutes later, after a series of passing bouts, with good spoiling tactics to combat, Waikeria forwards went over again, but were called back for a knock-on. However, they kept up the pressure for several minutes, and when they eased up a bit Kihikihi seized the and had them in difficulties. A mistake in handling gave Waikeria relief, and piay was gradually .worked along the line into Kihikihi's territory, where the ball was promptly shot well out from a line-out and it went to Waikeria's rearguard, the wing threequarter pecuring and running right round to score behind the posts. A goal resulted, making Waikeria ten to nil. Almost from the kick-off Waikeria attacked again and actually their five-eighth went over, but a knockon spoiled the effort. Kihikihi forced to gain relief. Bright play developed on the other side of the field, and a Waikeria back grabbed the ball to race over for a well-earned try. The kick at goal failed. Kihikihi tried hard to get into Waikeria's 25, but the easterners were too nippy, and they broke down all attacks. There was no further score, and the game ended in victory for Waikeria by thirteen points to nil. THE JUNIORS. Rovers v. Te Mawhai. —Mr R. L. Adams had charge of this game on No. 1 ground. Rovers opened the attack, but could not hold the advantage, and when Te Mawhai had worked into a favourable position R. Gage kicked a nice penalty goal. Stung by the reverse. Rovers attacked hotly, and the ball eventually reached K. who raced over for a try, which M. Pollard failed to improve upon. However, a couple of minutes later Snowden kicked a penalty goal. The play was fairly even, the coun-

try lads showing - considerable improvement on their previous displays. Just before half-time Shepherd punted right to the corner* flag, but the defence was too solid and a try was averted. After the interval Rovers threw the ball about more, and made ground, but the next score came from a scrum, where the ball was smartly heeled out to L. Wilson, who rushed straight over the line. Snowden's kick failed. Snowden failed a little ™ r?, a penalt y kick ' but the f t me 252 ard] y been re-commenced when O'Connor bored his way over lil f • i ry ' Pollard a^ain failed with the kick. With the ball coming out S Vjf Ioo « e more of ten Te Haate hn? *s?¥ tlmes t 0 dr °P- ki <* a goal, but failed narrowly each time Rovers were clearly having the best of £,« a + t this stage, and before the Sl Wh i stle sounded O'Connor got another try, which was not convertMawha?3 game neded: R ° Vers 15 > Te

Pirong, a v. Owairaka—This game JW g char§ ?- piron^ia went right off the mark with a bustling rush by the forwards, and they had Owairaka, who started with onlv a dozen men, bustled, and from one rush Punch registered a try. Bed failed hL ~Ja mmor points > bu t very soon he potted a nice goal. Allport was next to score for Pirongia, and Ellis converted. Owairaka were not getting down to it right, too many of the players reaching for the neck instead - u • Ji ne , es ' Ho wever, in one bit oi bright play they had Pirongia hard pressed, and Hunopo kicked a beautiful penalty goal. Three minutes later Heta scored a try, which Hunopo converted. The second half was more even, though the pace v/as not so fast, and the only score was a try by J. Mac Ewan for Pirongia. The game thus ended: Pirongia 15, Owairaka 8.

Arohena v. Ohaupo.—Mr E. Maddern had charge of this game on No. 3 ground, and it was quite a bright display, especially by Arohena, who have improved each week; After five minutes' play Bainbridge opened the scoring with a penalty goal for Ohaupo, but soon S. Bent'ey equalised with a try, got from a pass just in front of the goalposts. He converted his own try. The same player essayed a penalty goal a little later but failed, and Hamilton and Karl carried play well down field. However, the attack was not sustained and "the boys from the bush" soon had them back on defence again. C. Jowsey received the ball near the side line and he cleverly dummied his way over for a well-earned try. The kick failed. A few minutes later J. Prendergast cut in nicely for another try, which also was not improved upon. Arohena were clearly having the best of matters now, but Ohaupo stood up gamely to it, and in one sally into Arohena's 25 L. Karl secured the ball and rushed straight for the posts, only to lose possession a yard off his objective. The Arohenas got out of the danger zone, and after a period of even play J. Gordon scored a try, unconverted. After half-time Ohaupo did a good deal better, and it may have been that they had the sun behind them. They stood up to all attacks, and at times were pressing Arohena hard. Cavanagh and C. Ryburn each scored a try, but neither was converted, the game ending: Arohena 14, Ohaupo 9. THE THIRDS. High School v. Te Awamutu.—This game was played on No. 3 ground with Mr D. Wallace as referee. Within two minutes S. Ahier opened the scores with a try, breaking through the whole team, to grass the ball between the. posts. He converted his own try. School were going great guns, and had the opposition in trouble time after time, but occasionally the Te Awamutus (who only" had up to a dozen players) attacked. J. Bevin and T. Shepherd each added a try, and Ahier kicked a field goal. Final score: High School 15, Te Awamutu nil. OTOROHANGA MATCHES. Seniors: United, .13 (tries by Tainui, Finlay and Warren, two converts by Kino), v. Kio Kio, 8 (Rogers a penalty goal. Ellis a try, converted bv Dav): Old Boys, 9 (penalty goal by Liddy, try by Atkinson and try by Hughes), v. Otewa, 0. Juniors: Otorohanga, 5, United 3; Honikiwi, 15, Old Boys, 3.