RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15263, 13 June 1923, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SAGE MEMORIAL CUP.

The position of the teams engaged in the Sage Memorial Cup competition

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Drop Kick.") City—Old Boys. City addd another win to their long list of victories on Saturday when they defeated Old Boys by 14 to nil, though the game was much. closer than the scores indicate. Neither team was at its full strength, though City had live better reserves lo pick from. Mac Johnston and Mouagctti. (City's principal goal kickers) were absent from their club, while Old Boys were without the services of Tanner Lenihan, Ewan Smith, and Bbardman. Despite the heavy ground and greasy ball the handling was particularly good, the City backs in particular shining out in this respect. In fact, they seldom made a mistake. The same, however, cannot be said about some of the Old Boys back division. The first five-eighth was much at fault, and seldom held a pass. To my mind this player was the chief contribution to Old Boy s downfall, and it is a wonder to me they did not shift him early in the game instead of at the finish.

City held the upper hand for the •-two quarters were rougiit out in deter-

mined fashion. In fact the last quarflrst half of the game, but the last ter was the best of the match, the ball travelling up and down field at a terrflic rate. The players must have been in good trim to have stood up to their work the way they did. Old Boys were exceedingly unlucky in not scoring on two or three ocoasions in the second half of the match.

Considering the day some fine football was witnessed, both teams endeavouring to open up play whenever opportunity offered. This is the kind of play that appeals to the spectator. Judging by the crowds that attend Steele Park every time a game is on it seems that the play is more popular this season than ever before in Hamilton.

For City Hunt at full back was a tower of strength to his team. He had plenty of solid defensive toil to do, and got through it in able style. The three-quarters (Beaver, Marcroft and S. Clarkin) all shaped splendidly, especially the two former who have never been seen to better advantage. Clarkin, however, has not regained his form of the last couple of seasons. Lemon and F. Buckingham were both responsible for fine work. Young Buckingham had previously played a hard gam c in the City-High School junior contest. Lemon as usual was prominent on defence, and he is a player that gets going quickly. This player is one of the gamest and most consistent backs in Hamilton and should be a certainty for the rep teams this year. A. Buckingham was in good form behind the pack, and always got his backs going smartly. *He, however, had a tendency to interfere too muoh with his own backs when they were taking the ball. N. Johnston (rover), a brother of Mac Johnston's, played for the first time for. the club and shaped very well. Sowman, who only struck his best form on Saturday, stood out as the best forward in the City team, and gave a vigorous bustling display. S. Clarkin and Scott were the best of the others. Christie is a young player of promise. For Old Boys Gilmour gave a very sound display at full back, cleverly saving his side on numerous occasions. Gibbons made his first appearance in the team this season, and gave a sound exhibition in the three-quar-ter line. He played closer up to .the scrum last season, and would have made a vast difference to the team had he been in the five-eighth line on Saturday, • E. Carter (centre) was taken out o'f the junior ranks and was responsible for some fine play. Johnston (another junior) made some nice runs, though his handling was faulty. He appeared to be on the nervous side. Kemp (five-eighth) with the exception of one bad blunder Which cost his side five points, gave a sparkling exhibition. The way he got through the City backs at times was a treat to witness. Mitchell was in good form behind the pack. The forwards worked very hard, though they rarely got the ball from the scrum. Gray was easily'their best forward, and now seems at the top of his form. His line-out play and fast following up were the outstanding features. Wade and Cooper were the most prominent of the others!

Frankton—Suburbs.

The game in which Frankton and Suburbs were engaged on Saturday, provided an interesting exhibition in which the new team held their own well for a time, and caused the wearers of the blue and black livery many anxious moments. In the later stages of play the more experienced Franktonites had the better of affairs, though they required to show their best paces to offset on occasions the thrusts of Suburbs. Bayly was again an outstanding figure in the Frankton backs, and, on one occasion, scored a try from his own twenty-five, in which pace and determination were the strong characteristics of the effort. Bayly's game is improving every week, and, if given the chance to distinguish himself in tthe best of company, this writer is quite satisfied that he will produce the goods expected of a wing three-quarter of his all-round qualifications ' for an important position. Other of the Frankton backs shone out at times. The forwards worked hard on the day, with Warren, who scored two tries by the way, playing a game that was perhaps a shade more prominent than those of his confreres.

Suburbs backs, who were a man short on Saturday, are a rapidly improving lot, and with a general like Peach to take their cue from they will enhance their value as time goes on. On Saturday they performed quite; attractively on occasions behind a vanguard set that, while It may not be finished, is certainly aggressive, and imbued with the spirit of "doing its best and playing the game for the game's sake." Marists—United.

Marists played perhaps their best game of the season when they accounted for United on Saturday. The Green and Whites were strengthened by the inclusion of ex-League players from Taupiri, and the leaven of new blood promises well. It was to the forwards that success was primarily due, their ground rushes in the second half of the play being especially noticeable, and requiring a power of stopping. United did not shirk duty in this respect, but the constant onslaughts eventually told. Reynolds was the outstanding man in the tight work for Marists, while Bishop again shone in the open. The backs were not above ordinary, but were giving more assistance to the pack than is usually to.be found, Matheson's game being once again a very sound one. Although beaten, United were by no means disgraced for a team that is in its first season of big football, and one can look to them to do better before the curtain is rung down finally.

JOTTINGS. The promising young half-back, Del Carter, has been confined to his bed for the past week or so owing to illness. He donned the jersey in the City-Old Boys junior game a short time back, and was the chief contributor in the defeat of City All admirers of this bright and clever footballer will wish him a speedy recovery. Injuries to footballers generally this season have been responsible for keeping men out of the game every Saturday. The majority of the players absent from the City-Old Boys match on Saturday were standing aside owing to this reason.

Paste this axiom in your hat: The side which makes openings and runs with the hall is the one to score, most points. The result of the match played between the Maoris and Waikato signifies nothing. Last year the team drew with the Wellington team, G-all; but improved out of sight in Australia. And a befeat by 14 points to 11, on the margin of a penalty ffoal only, means that the Maoris have not yet the combination which later they will possess.—N.Z. Times. Mr E. E. ("General") Booth has been in Wellington Ihe past few days, having f.rrivcd here from Australia He has been coaching the Y.M.C.A. team in Sydney. "General" journeyed up the line 1.0 have a look at the Ranfurly Shield match between Hawke's Bay 1 and Wsirarapa,

'VARSITY TOUR. Versus Metropolitan, lost 2 2—14. Versus Sydney University (first test), drawn, 11 all. Versus Manly, lost, 13—8.< Versus Sydney University (second test), won, 26 —18. Versus Sydney University (tMrd test), lost, 37 —IL, Points for 70, points against 101. There has been no more hopeful portent of the chances of New Zealand teams in Australia this year than was revealed, by the tour of the New Zealand University team. Three losses, a draw and a win are nothing to pride oneself on, but when it is considered that the touring team was practically a second fifteen, when it held its own against the Sydney University team, halving the honours in the test matches, and went down honourably to Metropolitan (almost a New South Wales rep. team) and Manly, the champion team in the Sydney contests last year, and one which had the advantage of the visitors, the score in one case being 22—14 and in the other 13r—8, we have no cause to worry about the manner in which, the boys have acquitted themselves. In tries, New Zealand have secured eleven as against having their own line crossed-twenty-one times. Diack was their star performer. In five matches he has scored one try, potted a goal, kicked five penalties, and converted seven tries, a total of 39 points.

in Hamilton is:— P. W. L. D. For Agr. Pts. City 6 6 — — 69 16 12 Fraakton 6 5 1 — 101 31 10 United 7 3 4 — 51 78 Old Boys 8 2 i — 5-f 58 ■1 Marists fi 2 4 — 13 83 4 Suburbs 7 1 6 — 50 102 2