REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXXII, Issue 8997, 21 August 1944, Page 3

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

OTAHUHU DEFEATS WAIHI

MARGIN OF TWO POINTS

ItAIN and mud affect play

Playing under the worst ground and weather conditions experienced so far this season, the Waihi senior representatives were defeated by Otaliuhu by S points to 6 on Rugby Park on Saturday. Steady rain fell throughout and the ground was soon in a very muddy state, making handling and kicking of the ball uncertain. The score was a fair indication of the merits of the teams on the day and the game, though

strongly contested, was, of course, mostly of a forward nature, there being little combined back play. The teams were as follow: Waihi: D. Guldens, D. Shaw, H. Huon, R. Jordan, W. Dunston, J. Woodland, I. Neate, W. Vince, W. Lurie, K. Hughes, P. Lindsay, RAinsley, W. Comes, J. Jesney, I. Blackmore. Otaliuhu: Tanner, Cooper, Bennett, E. Enwright, Hedge, Conway, Parker, Glover, Billings, Castles, Gabolinski, Carlton, Richardson, J. Enwright, Christian. Run of the Play Waihi attacked and hooking from a scrum, Dunstan sent the ball out to Woodland, who lost possession

close to the scoring line, a penalty kick relieving for Otaliuhu and Cooper making a run with the ball from half-way to take his team to the home quarter. Play quickly returned down field, Shaw leading a rush and a scrum going down close to the scoring line, Woodland taking a penalty kick which hit the post and bounced outside, the ball being forced. Giddens went down on the ball to block an Otaliuhu attack but Conway and Bennett punted through when Waihi mishandled, the forwards scrumming and Ainsley and Vince clearing. Dunstan got away with the ball but his transfer was not taken. Shaw kicked and followed up to tackle Tanner before he could clear, the ball being kicked over the line, Jordan following across for an unconverted try— Waihi 3, Otaliuhu 0. E. Enwright sent play to the home quarter before being blocked by Giddens linekicking and the forwards scrummed for a spell, Neate, who had been having a hard time of it at the base of the scrum, going down on the ball in the mud and Durie breaking away well supported by the rest of Die pack, Hedge picking up and finding the side-line. Blackmore and Jesney were at the head of a forward movement, but from a scramble in the visitors’ half Bennett and Cooper returned. Consid-

ering the state of the ground and the ball, play was fast and travelled

quickly back and forwards between the two quarter-marks, a scrum eventually going down close to the Otahuliu goal-line, Waihi hooking and Jordan kicking across but the ball being forced. Both teams failed in attempts to handle the ball following forward play in neutral

ground and Billings led a dribbling rush to the home quarter, the attackers hooking, Parker passing to Conway, to Hedge, to Bennett, to E. Enwriglit, who raced over to score a good try, the kick failing—Waihi 3 Otahuhu 3. The forwards kicked the leather about in the mud in front of the stand till Blackmore and Ainsley reached the Otahuhu quarter, and half-time sounded. The Second Half

Forward play in the home quarter marked the opening of the second spell till Dunstan picked up and made a clearing run, Tanner sending a good line-kick back. Jesney and Comes punted through from the tight and play went to the visitors’ corner. Conway kicked back straight down field and with Hedge in support went through till blocked by Huon for another forward scramble from which Ainsley and Neate got away with the ball, Woodland continuing on till Tanner blocked and line-kicked. Keeping the ball at their toes, Ainsley and Iluon went to the scoring line, a scrum going down and a penalty being awarded Waihi, Vince sending the ball over the bar —Waihi G, Otahuhu 3. Play had resolved itself into a succession of forward rushes up and down field, players finding great difficulty in keeping their feet in the mud with which most of them had become lib—-

orally plastered. Hedge sent liis team to the attack with a short kick but Huon marked, play remaining in the home quarter however, and the ball being kicked across field in front of the posts Conway followed over for a try which he also converted—Otaliuhu 8, Waihi 0. A short kick well backed up had Waihi on the defensive again, Huon and Shaw clearing but Cooper returning. The home men remained on the defensive for a spell till Jordan, Jesney and Ainsley kicked through, the latter being just beaten to a touchdown. Woodland returned and the home men tried desperately to get to the line but a force followed a scrum on the line and the game ended. Mr E. Policy was in control.

In the match for the Barry Cup the Waihi schoolboys defeated Pacroa by 2S points to 0.