THE RUGBY PASTIME

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14777, 17 October 1921, Page 6

THE RUGBY PASTIME

MORRIS CUP. PRINTERS DEF.EAT GROCERS. A good deal of interest was centred in the match for the Morris Cup beIwT.on the above learns. The Cup is one presented by Mr Morris, to bo played for annually bet-ween shops and trades, and the Printers are Lh<- first to be the winners of this valuable trophy. The game was very evenly eonteste.il, arul though [lie Printers won Hie result may easily have gone the other way. There was little or nothing bcUvecn the teams, and it was just a matter of which way the luck went. The Printers were the aggressors immediately the game started and h. Taylor had a long shot from a penalty, but the ball fcTl short. Bag-nail, with a fine piece of play for . Grocers, put Printers on the defensive and Gibson tried an ineffectual attempt at goal, the ball falling under the bar. The Printers, aided with a nice run by Fraser, made a desperate onslaught on the Grocers' line, but Crawford with a good mark relieved the pressure. However Prendergast made a great opening, beatingseveral men, and sent on to Dufty, who also eluded a couple of opponents and grounded behind the posts. Taylor made no mistake with the kick. The Printers were attacking as the bell went for the change over. Stewart, who was playing a great game for the Printers, his following'up and deadly tackling being a couple of his noticeable features, took play right on to the Grocers' line, but Gibson clever!p extricated his side and took play to midfield, where it hung for some time. Betts and Grbson combined cleverly and looked like scoring, but Eadn cleverly nipped the movement in the bud. However, a penalty gave Gibson a shot for Grocers, but if was ineffectual. Shortly after, when the Printers were attacking, a penalty gave Taylor another shot, but it was resultless. .lust before half time the ball went up and down the field at a great rate. Stewart and Conradi (forwards) and Dalgcty (back) being prominent for Printers, while Betts and Hoffman (forwards) and Gibson (back) were doing great work for the Grocers. However, the spell ended with Printers five to nil.

After the interval Morris for Grocers sot dangerously close to the Printers' line, and a score looked imminent, but Wills cleverly cleared the line. The Grocers, however, kept up the pressure, and Printers-were forced twice in quick succession. At this stage a sweeping ground rush, headed by Prendergast and Conrad], saw the leather over, the line, Marsh' just missing a score. The game at this period was fast, and a nice concerted movement, in which Shannon, Betts and Morris participated, just missed a score. The Grocers kept up the attack, fur a.force was the result. Prendcrgast was prominent in clever defensive play, but Shannon looked dangerous, while Carlhy also made a fine dash for the line. However, the tackling of the Printers was very good, Macgrcgor shining out in this respect- P'rendergasL and Taylor were now associated in a line run, but Gibson stayed them. At this period Morris snapped up, and with a great run, beating several men, scored a line try with Macgrcgor hanging on to him. Gibson's kick just missed the post. There were yet several minutes to go and time for the Grocers to win, but though they did ■most of the attacking there was no further score and the game resulted— Printers 5. Grocers 3. Mr W. Cuthbcrt was referee.

After the match Mr Morris, in a very neat speech, presented the captain of the Printers' team (Mr Prendergast) with the cup, and at the conclusion Mr Mori-is was heartily cheered by both players and spectators for his generosity in presenting such a handsome trophy. The match was one of the most evenly contested that has been played this season, and if there was the least bit of bad luck it ■ was against the grocers. The teams are that evenly matched that if they played again it is just a toss up which side would win. The game was played in a very friendly spirit, and was entirely devoid of rough play. Considering-the pl.iyers did not have much condition on (excepting the Printer's' skipper) the game was very fast, and a good one to watch.

For the winners Dalgety was the best of the backs, being ably supported by ijadc till the latter injured his knee. Stewart was the star forward, Prendcrgast also doing great work. Morris, Gibson and Spencer were the most conspicuous backs in the Grocers' team, while Betts, Bagnall and Hoffman were the most noticeable Torwards

L. Taylor, who will be remembered for his great kicking ability a couple of seasons ago, donned the jersey on Saturday. This player iiad to stand down for a couple of seasons owing to an injury to his knee, but it is more than likely that he will he wearing the blue and black jersey next'season.