RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15314, 15 August 1923, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. HAMILTON

GAME AT SHOWGROUNDS.

The game at -the Showgrounds on Saturday will be between Hamilton and Auckland's second fifteen. This was found essenlial owing to Morrinsyille and Matamata players being unavailable for Waikato selection. The Ham-

ilton team is a preity strong combina- | linn, and should put up a good contest with the visitors. Auckland is particularly well off for players this year and the standard there is very high, so-that spectators can look to a bright game on Saturday. j

CLARKE CUP CONTEST-

MARISTS GO DOWN GAMELY.

(By "Drop Kick.")

The meeting of City and Marists m the Clarke Cup game on. Saturday provided a highly exciting contest in which a weakened Marist team put up a great fight against the winners of the Sage Memorial Cup. While the standard of play could not bo described as high it had the saving feature ot being entertaining to the spectators by virtue of the fact that City looked like going close to sustaining defeat. It was onlv in the final quarter that they wore able, to get effectively to the front. Once that was achieved they were able to hold the advantage, but the opposition never let up till the final whistle sounded. . It was more the indifferent footbal of the City backs than any special merit in the opposition's play that placed the champions in jeopardy lor so long. .The many infringements which the team as a whole occasioned were .also a derogatory factor in thenplay. Seldom does one see so many fractures of the rules in a senior game as occurred on Saturday, and in which City were the principal offenders. However, that is',the only way to cure the recalcitrant ones, and referee Chile is to be complimented on his firm handling of the game. As a combination the City backs were atrociously bad on Saturday. It was not until the final quarter that they shaped up to the standard. Time and again they shirked the rushslopping that was occasioned by tho thrusts of the opposing forwards. With the liberal, one might also say, almost continuous, supply of ball they were getting, they should have shaped better. Of the few up-to-standard players among them, Beaver was bright on attack, and determined in defence. Hunt, the full-back, was also reliable, and got more work than he 1 should have, but he was there to answer the calls, and came through attractively. Buckingham worked hard behind the pack, even if it was not always effectively.. The defensive work of thc'Johnstones and Marcroft was far from being reliable, though Mac Johnstone's kicking, frequently turned oh the tide, while Marcroft was a shining light on attack in the closing stages of play. 'v, Monagetti played a good game in/ the loose. ..That he is a wide-awake forward when oh his game was shown, by the manner Tn which he opened out play after taking the ball from Litllcwood's faulty judgment in kicking out across his goal front. This gave City the long-looked for points to thwart the invaders.- Scott and Sowman were hard-working forwards, while Christie showed some flashes of his old form, and S. Clarkin roved well.

The opposition put up by the team, minus three of the regular men, to be beaten by only four • points is sufficient testimony to the game played by Marists. The forwards were out to tantalise, the City backs, and they succeeded very effectively, while Marists' backs and forwards were always alert to making profit hy handling, though the latter method failed as team work. .Matheson's fullback game was in keeping with the occasion, and, although he appeared slow at times, he always "got there." Littlewood was also a prominent thorn in the side of the opposition. He used pace and weight, 'and when he saw an opening he did not hesitate to turn it to account. His one serious error ■ gave City the winning points. .If Littlewood had marked, there might have been a different tale to tell, but, again, there might not! Guthrie, the five-eighth, was everywhere keeping not over-stable forces, as taut as possible, while Wilson, the centre, played coolly and was always where there appeared possibilities. The i forwards, comprising three substitutes, adhered to their task well, and were battling hard to the close. The tackling was very decisive in this branch of the teams. It seems hardly right to individualise in a pack "up against it," but Baldwin and Bishop in the loose and Reynolds and Magncr in the other departments were conspicuous on the day.

Obstruction tactics were very frequent and in which both sides were offending, but City were the principals in fhis respect. For the good of the game it is to be hoped that the referee's prompt detection of such flagrant breaches will have an exemplary effect and that players prone to - the habit will "cut it out."

OLD BOYS AT THAMES*

The Hamilton Old Boys and Thames Old Boys, -in their meeting at Thames on Saturday, played on a heavy ground with pools of water, which handicapped open play. Still the consensus of opinion of the spectators was that it was by far the best exhibition of Rugby witnessed by them this season at Thames. Play for the first few minutes was exciting, as Hook (Thames) had an attempt at goal near the 25, Hamilton having to force down. Thames again pressed and Gilmour, taking the ball from his opponents' feet, beat five men and then kicked well up field, following up .his kick. He was grassed by Goodwin, the Thames full-back, within the Thames 25. From a scrum a penalty was awarded Hamilton, but Gilmour failed. From the kick' out Thames made a determined attack on Hamilton, Tanner saving in good style. A penalty was awarded Thames for a pass forward, and Buchan goaled—Thames 3, Hamilton 0. Thames again rushed the ball down to ihe Hamilton line, and forced the visitors twice in a few minutes.

In the second quarter's opening Hamilton, through the assistance of Ewan, had Thames defending, Hook clearing to halfway. Play became very fast, the ball travelling up and down the field. Lenihan was .the next man in the picture. Ho cut in and beat seven'or eight opponents, to be slopped by good tackling by Morrissey. Hamilton came again by a loose forward rush and Meldrum scored; Gilmour missed the goal—Thames 3, Hamilton 3. Thames set off to score again, but found Hamilton were equal lo the occasion. Some very fine play was indulged in, both sides handling the slippery ball well. Passing rushes by both forwards and backs of both learns were the order of the day. .lust on half-time Hamilton made several back movements, all the backs taking pail, hut the best they could do was lo compel Thames lu force down.

From the kirk off after the interval Thames caught Hamilton napping, live backs participating in a passing bout for Buchan lo score. Ensor failed willi the kick —Thames G, Hamilton 3. Ewcn out in and kicked upfleld, Thames forcing. Tanner next endeavoured to score, but the defence was

ready, and from the scrum Thames took a turn at attack and shifted play to Hamilton's 25. From the return of a kick-out one of the finest passing bouts of the day eventuated, Wade sending it out to Mitchell, to Kemp, Tanner, Lcnihan, Kemp and Ewen, for the latter to score, the spectators appreciating the fine play with cheers and applause. The kick at goal failed. —Thames (i. Hamilton C.

Another fine passing bout was started by Mitchell, Kemp, Tanner, Lcnihan and Ewen, tho latter being grassed near the Thames line; Thames forced. From the kick-out the Thames forwards made a determined attack and swept down the field, and overcoming the opposition, Stewart scored, amidst groat excitement. Bock added the major points. —Thames 11, Hamilton 0. On the change over for the last quarter play again was unsettled, being up and down the field. On two occasions Hamilton lost certain scores through hanging on too long. Mitchell was getting'the ball from the scrum more often than in previous quarters, and made good use of the opportunity, sending his .backs on attack, but the condition'of Thames was-just a bit too good for Hamilton, and a most enjoyable game terminated with play in Thames 25.—Thames 11, Hamilton 6. Mr Vedder was referee.

Notes on the Play. It was admitted by all who witnessed Gilmour's exhibition at full-back that he was the best back on the ground. Prominent and old followers of the game in Thames consider that it was tho best exhibition given in Thames for many years? Mitchell, Ewen, Lenihan, Tanner and Kemp wore conspicuous in several fine passing bouts. «* • Wade, Buckland and Adams were consistent toilers in the forwards.

Stewart, for Thames, was the best forward on the ground. Morrissey, .Buehan, Hook and Goodwin, of the backs, played consistently.

The Hamilton Old Boys were entertained in the evening to a dinner and dance, and on Sunday morning a motor drive out to Tapu was arranged. The acquaintance made on the v visit of the Thames C. 0.8. to Hamilton on June 3 was firmly slinched into sincere friendship by the manner in which the Thames C. 0.8. treated Hamilton. It was unanimously voted the most enjoyable trip yet made by the Hamilton Old Boys' Club/