LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16043, 21 July 1924, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SUNSHINE LEAGUE CUP. HAMILTON AGAIN DEFEATED. VICTORY FOR LOWER WAIKATO. The annual contest between Hamilton and Lower Waikato for for possession of the Sunshine League Cup, eventuated before a good attendance at Huntly on Saturday. The Cup was given at the commencement of last season by an anonymous donor for annual competition between the two teams indicated, the proceeds of the match to go to the funds of the Waikato Hospital Patients' Sunshine League. ' The ground was m first-class order for the game, but a strong, cold wind sweeping the field made matters rather disconcerting to the players. The game was not up to the standard usually provided by the two, teams, hut it served to 'Show that the Lower Waikato thirteen is trained to the moment in preparation for the clash with the Englishmen. As a combination they were superior to the Hamilton men, and the scores indicate fairly the respective merits of the teams. The unfortunate incident of the game was the accident that befel the Hamilton skipper and South Auckland rep. half-back, T. Peckham, who received a hard knock on the leg, causing an old ankle injury to re-assert itself. He had to be assisted off the field, and cannot take his place in the field against the Englishmen on Wednesday. The Hamilton hooker, E. Vcrna'll, received a nasty kick on the bridge of the nose, strange enough ■from a too vigorous member of his own team. The teams were as follows: — Hamilton (black and white) —Jacques; Grogan, Hemmingway, Appleby; McGearty, Robinson; Peckham (capt); Payne, Dufly, Dent, Vcrnall, Muir, Duncan. Lower Waikato (red, white and blue) —G. Rayner; Paki, S. Raynor, DJohnson; Jackson, Jackaways; Lornie, Stephenson, McConnell,, Ilutt, Miki, Allen, Wilson (capt.). The Play. Lower Waikato kicked off with the wind behind them, and Jacques returned the leather to mid-field. Johnson made a short fun, and following up, took play into Hamilton's twentyfive, where from a scrum Lower Waikato were nearly over. Peckham with a nice run relieved the pressure, and play returned to mid-field. Johnson secured possession, but after beating several men slipped near the line, Robinson forcing. An infringement in mid-field resulted in a free for Lower Waikato. Paki intercepted smartly, but his subsequent pass was "mulled," and Hamilton again forced. From a scrum at mid-field the Hamilton forwards broke through and took the venue of play 1 for the first lime into Lower Waikato's territory. A nice kick by Miki returned play to the other end, where Hamilton were penalised, S. Raynor, however, failing. Vernall was injured, and Davis replaced him in the pack. Illegal play by Hamilton's forwards gave S. Raynor another chance with the ball, and this time he was successful. Lower Waikato 2, Hamilton 0.

From the kick out the Hamilton forwards took play to Lower Waikato's line, where the ball went into the "dead'' area. For a time play centred in mid-field, the tri-colours eventually working their way back to. the visitor's end.of.the field.- From a flvo-yards' scrum Lornie obtained possession, transferred to Paki, to Jackson, to Jackaways, to S- Raynor, who touched down. The scorer, however, failed to add the extras. Lower Waikato 5, Hamilton 0.

Lower Waikato were pressing hard at this stage. Bad passing among the Hamilton backs enabled Jackson lo break through, but the ball went "dead." From the scrum Lornie fed out smartly to his backs, S. Raynor touching down. Ho again failed to convert. Lower Waikato 8, Hamilton 0.

Shortly afterwards Hamilton had again to force, -but gradually worked the leather back to neutral territory. Peckham made a good run, but the ball bounced into touch. A free to Hamilton was not taken advantage of. Good line kicking put Lower Waikato once more on the attack. Johnson came along the line at a fast pace, but was run out. From the scramble following the .scrum break-up, Wilson touched down. Miki converted with a good kick. Lower Waikato 13„ Hamilton 0-

Good loose play by the Hamilton forwards took play into Lower Waikato's territory, where Payne gathered to score. The same player converted- Hamilton 5, Lower Waikato 13. Hemmingway failed to take a long kick, with the result that play was sent right on Hamilton's line. A nice piece of work by Jackson and Johnson nearly resulted in a score. Paki ran over to touch down, but forward passing brought him back. The half-time bell then sounded with Lower Waikato pressing and the scores unaltcre* The Second Half. Lower Waikato pressed from the commencement of the second half. Johnson kicked across field to Paki, but tho latter failed to. gather up. The Lower Waikato forwards hemmed Hamilton to their lino, Hutt forcing his way through to score between the posts. Miki's kick fell short. Lower Waikato IG, Hamilton 5. The tri-oolours attacked hotly again. Wilson put in a great googly run that took play right on to Hamilton's line. Johnson came through the opposition with a brilliant run, but over-stepped the side-line. Play swung back to mid-field. Appleby moved away smartly, but without support. Hamilton attacked for a short space, S- Raynor, however, clearing. Taking a down-Held kick smartly, G. Raynor fed out to Paki, who with a' good run led play into Hamilton's end again. The Lower Waikato • backs were put in motion; the bail going out to S. Raynor, who scored, but failed to convert. Lower Waikato 19, Hamilton 5. Play swung up and down field at a smart pace. Offside play by Lower Waikato was responsible for another free being awarded Hamilton, but Dufly's kick fell short. Grogun, with a good kick up field put Hamilton on the attack. Duncan secured and passed to Payne, who scored in the corner. Dufty's kick fell short. Hamilton 8, Lower Waikato 19. Paki found the line . well into Hamilton's territory, but the black and whites, who were now playing a better game, returned play to the other end, Lower Waikato being compelled to force.. The Hamilton forwards broke through again, but Johnson, with a grent burst of speed, beat Payne to the ball. Hamilton maintained their advantage, but a movement initiated by 0. Raynor carried play down to the other end. Grogan punted up field, and following up fast, left the forwards an excellent chance of scoring, Muir racing over to touch down! PuHy converted, and the game ended— Lower Waikato .. .. 19 Hamilton ....... ..13 Mr Waring was referee

JUNIOR GAMES. As a curtain-raiser to tbe HamiltonLower Waikato contest the Huntly and Ngaruawahia colts met in the knock-out competition, victory goins to the former after a good game by 12 points to 2. At Hinemoa Park Whitiora maintained their unbeaten record but were a little lucky in defeating Athletics by 10 Do 3. WEDNESDAY'S BIG GAME, SOUTH AUCKLAND TEAM. Next Wednesday's match at Claudelancts Racecourse is creating considerable interest in South Auckland football circles. The South Auckland representatives were chosen on Saturday evening and the combination, judging from Saturday's Lower Wai-kato-llamilton match at Huntly, will prove a tough proposition. The English team contains all the "hop-no tchers" of Northern Union football in England, ojid on its displays in New South Wales and Queensland, is one of the finest combinations that have visited 'our shores. "Cynic," of the Sydney Referee, was asked how the N-Z.R.U. "All Blacks" compared with tho English League team, and making his comments just after the first N.S. Wales-All Blacks Test match, considered that the All Blacks would not have been fast enough, either back or forward, to hold the English League team. Be that as it may, the English team must be a good one to retain the "ashes" against Australia's best. The team, as a result of the Australian tour, will have worked up a perfect combiLation, and its football should be of a thrilling nature. South Auckland boasts of a reputation in League football second to none in the . country, against overseas teams. Against previous English and N.S. Wales teams, South Auckland has proved the toughest proposition, and wilii the material in the team chosen lecal supporters are confident that South Auckland will register a win. Given a fine day on Wednesday the match will assuredly attract a record attendance, and the game should be one wf the finest seen in these parts. It is hoped that Hamilton business people will grant facihtdes to as many of their employees as possible <lo witness the match. The South Auckland team is as -follows : Full-back: S- Rayner. Three-quarters: D. Johnston, J. Hemmingway, B. Paki. Five-eights: J. McGerly, F. Jackson. Half-back: A. Cains. Front row: L. Hutt, R. Stephenson, J. DuftySecond row: P. Miki, A. Payne. Break-away: S. J. Wilson. Emergencies: (backs) G. Rayner, T. GPo>gan, (forwards) M. Allan, J. Duncan. S J. Wilson has been appointed captain of the team.. The most notable absentee is F. Peckham, who was injured in Saturday's game, while Bishop and Sheeran are also unable to play. The team nevertheless is a very strong one, especially in the back line, and should give a good account of itself. Mr G. S. Saunders, of Hamilton , will referee the game, while Mr W. Young, of Taupiri', will officiate as South Auckland's line umpire.

SOUTH AUCKLAND BODY. EXECUTIVE MEETING. A special meeting of the executive cf the above League was held in Huntly on Saturday evening, the president, Mr R. T. Hill, occupying the chairA limited number of complimentary tickets was received from the controlling body, and the distribution of these was lefl in the hands of the president and secretary. Appreciative comment was made regarding the support accorded the officials,by both the A. and P. Association and the Trotting Club, with referencct o the Claudclands grounds. Tlie Lower Waikato League advised that arrangements had been completed for tho English mulch at Ngaruawahia on Monday, July 28th. A letter was received from the Wellington Rugby League advising that the League contemplated sending a team to Hamilton later in the season. A letter from the Huntly Club was received by the N.Z. League, asking for a ruling-on a certain matter. The South Auckland League empowered its secretary to inform Huntly Club that Rule 21 (alterations to rules) in the Rules, By-laws and Constitution of Ihe Lower Waigato Rugby League covered the question. The N. Z. Rugby League granted peniiission- to play the Lower Waikato Junior' Reps. v. Hamilton Junior Reps, as a curtain-raiser to the Eng-land-South Auckland fixturo next Wednesday. ■* AUCKLAND REP. TEAM. The following have been chosen by the Auckland selectors to represent Auckland in Hie match agffinst the English team, to be played at Carlaw Park next Saturday:—Gregory; B. Davidson, Welherall, Brisbane: Dufty, B. Lamg; Pilson; W. Stcrrnont. Townscnd, Herring, Gardiner, Avery, Bass. Reserves: (forwards) McDonald, Douglas, Somers; (backs). Dclgrosso, Brown, LangPL AY IN AUCKLAND. Marists 13, v. City 2. Ponsonby 0, v. Dcvonport 3. Athletics 25, v. Richmond 0.