CLARKE CUP.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 11

CLARKE CUP.

THE FINAL DECIDED. CITY DEFEAT OLD BOY?. GOOD OPEN GAME. Under ideal playing conditions, before a large attendance of Rugby enthusiasts the final of the Clarke Cup was decided on Saturday when, after a fast and exciting contest, City defeated Old Boys by 14 points to S. The game from start to finish was a splendid exposition of the code and [was all the more interesting on account of the fact that Old Boys had a good'winning chance up to the last few minutes when the combination of City sorely tested the Old Boys' defence. The second half opened auspicuously for Old Boys when they obtained the lead but City came to light in the closing stages of the game and monopolised the play. Though many passing bouts were started the majority were'nullified by faulty handling or frustrated by keen tackling. The teams took the held as follows: — . C ity—Backs: Going. lleywood, Brown, Clemett, I. Johnston, McGregor Buckingham, Shullz; forwards W ' Christie; A. Christie, 11. .Johnston, Courtnev. Stubbs, Hume, C. Christie. 0M boys.—Backs: Badeley, Hawke, Brown, Simpson, Kemp, Fitzgerald, Tuck' forwards: Johnston, Frazcr, Corlett, Carter, Brough, Wilson, Bonham, Head. The Play Described. Old Bovs started the ball rolling and willing play ensued. Old Boys were the first to press, and look the ball wMi them to the. City line where a vVc bv Simpson put the City in a f l'in"-erOUS position. An infringement liroiuriit relief and taking play to the Oki Bovs' half the City backs swung

into action only for the rush to bs smothered by the Old Boys' rearguard. Old Boys retaliated and amid great enthusiasm made a bold bid for City's line. They only missed their opportunity when the ball went into touch. Offside play by Brown again brought relief for City and pTay w T as transferred to the Old Boys' territory, where Fitzgerald started a pretty movement and play was once more centred on the City line. The city defence held however, and Going cleared with a good kick, sending Courtney and the forwards in hot pursuit. City Open Scoring. With the scene of action in the Old Boys' quarter the City backs made strenuous attempts to pierce the defence. A scrum on the line looked dangerous but Tuck short punted to save the position. Continuing to press City gained their reward when securing from the loose, Christie snapped up the ball and shot it out to Heywood who scrambled over in the corner. The attempt at goal failed. City 3 Old Boys 0 Matters took a dangerous aspect for Old Boys when Fitzgerald was caught in possession and a try looked imminent, but a lucky touch down spoilt City's chance. Old Boys, bent on making up their deficiency, put up a spirited attack but kicking brought relief to City and in a counter-offensive they swept down the field for Hume to finish the effort by scoring in the corner. The kick failed. City 6 Old Boys 0 Old Boys Retaliate. With the change over City went on the offensive determined to add to their score. Tuck cleared and initiated an Old Boys rush which was checked when Buckingham marked. City broke through from the scrum and taking play again to the Old Boys' line the ball was kicked dead. Play continued to City's favour until relief was given to the defence by Brown who brought play up field. A line-out in City's territory gave a free kick to them but no apparent advantage was gained, however, and play continued in City's half until from the scrum Boneham threw out the ball for Brown to receive and terminate the movement successfully by crossing efficiently. Badeley converted. City . • G Old Boys 5 City went to the attack again but good kicking kept the line clear. A scrum in front of the goal saw a long pass sent to Johnston who made a spectacular dash, but his pass was not accepted and a punt brought relief. The City back division were proving themselves a dangerous combination and numerous movements failed only through deadly tackling. The Second Spell. Old Beys took the offensive in the opening stages of the second half and before many minutes had elapsed Simpson brought the spectators to their feet. Taking the ball finely he made an excellent opening for Tuck, who scrambled over for a try. The kick, a difficult one, failed. Old Boys 8 City , -. .. 6 Old Boys, heartened by their success went to the attack with vigour and their margin of two points was nearly increased when a penalty luck saw Badeley miss the cross bar narrowly. Give and taken play continued, Old Boys doing the attacking. A free kick brought Old Boys' into a prominent position near the line but Johnston brought play back to' midheld where from the line-out low passing spoilt the Old Boys' backs' movement. With play in the Old Boys' quarter infringements on City's part cost them valuable ground and before long the ball came back to City territory where the Old Boys' forwards made the pace a hot one. With a line-out in the City corner Old Boys' chances looked promising but pretty back play by City reversed the position, only for Old Boys to once again break through from the loose. Simpson stopped a City rush at this juncture and sent his forwards away. The Old Boys' back division initiated a smart movement but failed to reach their objective when the ball went into touch.

The Final Stages. The last quarter opened witti City on the offensive but a sound defence by Old Boys kept them out and willing forward work settled in the City half. Play see-sawed back. The City backs sarove to penetrate a sobd defence. Finally success came their way when Johnston fell over the line on the ball to put City in the lead. City 9 Old Boys 8 Hard play followed, City taking the offensive. The backs opened up some line passing movements but in this respect the Old Boys' rearguard was a match for its opponents. Following a series of attacks on the Old Boy's line the defence was eventually again broken when I. Johnston went across. Scliultz converted.

City 14 Old Boys S City in the last stages of the game continued on • the offensive. Cutting round the scrum Clemctt went away but a forward pass to Brown stopped the movement. Securing frojn the scrum the Old Boys' backs swung into action but Christie marked and reversed the position. The City backs went away well, when from a line out, the movement was checked for an infringement. The whistle sounded with the score. City 14 Old Boys 8 Mr Mannering controlled the game efficiently. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The game was a fairly open one, but, as is often found towards the end of the season the energy of players and the enthusiasm of spectators were not so sustained as usual. There were several bright phases of open play. Old Boys held the lead for quite a while but City eventually wore them'down and paved the way to victory. City had the better of the scrums and the line-outs. I. Johnstone played a particularly fine game among the City backs, scoring one try very attractively. Brown, Hawke and Fitzgerald played reliable football for Old Boys. The latter's lighter pack adhered well to their heavier opponents. MORRIS CUP SEMI-FINAL. The semi-final of the Morris Cup competition resulted in a victory for Stock Auctioneers over Public Works Electrical by 15 points to 3. Electrical Workers defeated Dairy Co. by 12 points to 10.