RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XI, Issue 40, 29 August 1921, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SENIOR GRADE FIXTURE.

WAIPUKURAU BEATS AVAIPAAVA.

The senior grade competition fixtures fixtures were continued on Saturday, when AVaipukurau met AVaipawa on Russell Park qnd registered a comfortable win by thirteon points to three. This was the third game between these teams this season, each having won a match previously, but the result, whatever it had been, could not have displaced Waipukurau for tho Cup honours this year. The match, however, shelved the superiority of the local combination.

The game did not attract the attendance expected and the display was not up to. the standard either team have reached this season. Waipukurau held the advantage in both the forward and back divisions, and were more frequently on the attack. There appeared to bo an absence of combination, although the local backs indulged in some bout-, of passing, and Mclntyre was conspicuous in making openings with short, low passes when occasion demanded it. The Waipawa backs fumbled the ball a great deal, and some of tho forwards showed an inclination to “go” for the player instead of the ball. It seems to be an incurable habit with some players.

Draper notched the first try for AVaipukurau. From a scrum in AVaipawa territory, Mclntyre tossed the ball out to Collins, but it bounced off him to Draper, who dodged over in a good position. Chambers .converted. The next score was made by Basil Nichalls, who accepted a pass from Mclntyre and raced over at the corner. Chambers’ kick fcllsh ort of tho . bar., In the second spell Spencer got over from a forward rush and Chambers added the extra points.

Joe Fogarty played on the threequarter wing in Carroll’s place and gave a- good exhibition, as also did Cameron in the fivo-eigths position. Gecnty, Collins, McKay and Draper were all very safe, but Mclntyre was thc most prominent in the backs. Haldane, Laing, Christie and Nickalls were conspicuous in thc forwards, Mr. F. Sharpin controlled The game with his usual efficiency. THIRD GRADE MATCH.

The Waipukurau thirds played Waipawa at Waipawa on Saturday and scored a win by'll points to six. Tries for the winners were scored by Booth, Borthwick and Drower, and Borthwick converted one, SCHOOL MATCH. WAIPUKURAU v. ONGA ONGA. The final match between the Waipukurau Standard VI. and Onga Onga teams took place on Russell Park on Saturday morning. There was a good attendance of spectators, a pleasing feature being the number of Onga Onga enthusiasts who came over to see their team’s display in the final. The teams were fairly evenly matched, but the splendid combination of the local backs and forwards was too mucn for the less experienced Onga boys. Onga won the toss and chose to play with the sun at their backs. Wells kicked over, but Onga failed to field and fast following up by Burgess, Spotswood an'd Brain saw Onga hard pressed. Rob (Black) found the line. Smales put his backs in action, and after a good passing rush King touched d,own. No goal resulted. Immediately after the kick out the Blues car ried the leather into the Onga twentyfive, and by splendid work Spotswood scored far out. Soon after Adams and King, by good passing, were on the goal line, and Adams scored. Burgess was the next to cross the line, no goal followed. Half-time sounded, with Waipukurau 12 points in the lead. On resuming, the Blues again took up the attack with vigour, and it was not long before Spotswood again scored. The next ten minutes saw some good passing among the Blue backs, which resulted in King scoring two splendid tries in quick succession. Onga now put more vim into their play and a good dribbling rush saw Rob, a hardworking forward, score "a meritorious try. From now on the Blues attacked continuously, and King, Adams, R. Spotswood an'd Caskie each scored a try, two of which Butler converted. The game ended Waipukurau 34, Onga 3. The local forwards played, both individually and collectively, good football an'd deserve praise. King, on the wing, is a hard player to stop when he stops out, 'Meining, on the left wing, had an easy time, but was always up to his work. Smith, as full-back, was safe when it came his way. Smales, Adams and Butler did good work. Of the Onga boysf Rob, Mclvor, Coles, White, Neilson and Tierney were the pick. Mr. Costello controlled the game. Standard Via, by beating Onga, have had an unbeaten record in their own grade this year.