RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17408, 22 May 1928, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

MORRINSVILLE GAMES. k SATURDAY’S BATCHES. i Favoured with another fine day, there was a very large attendance at the football matches at Morrinsville on Saturday. Last season the weather was must unfavourable at almost every match played., but so far this season the has been splendid, and football is even more popular than j ever. The play on Saturday was par- j ticularly interesting, the match he- j tween Terriers and Kercone being one of the best witnessed this season. • Terriers, by winning the match, are ! now one point ahead of Korconc, who j won the championship last season. > Right- through the game there was j very little to choose between the two ; teams. Every man . seemed to play up to his best form, the forwards doing particularly good work. In the match Tafuanui v. United the former had the best of the game throughout. Their forward pack was j the best on the ground, and when their backs get a little more expert at handling l-he ball they will be a very | hard team to beat. The veteran, Mr i C. R. Ff Campbell, is devoting a lot of > time to their schooling, and they cer- j tainly do him great credit. They had i the best of the game right from the j kick-off, and won by 17 points to 6. j The Junior matches were also watched with keen interest by the large crowd on the ground, a large contingent of Maoris being again present 1.0 barrack for their countrymen. The Maori team from Kiwitahi, who raised llic hopes of their supporters in their first game, have in their last two matches been disappointing, their play being very patchy. The forwards occasionally, by their superior weight, made some determined rushes, but always failed at the critical point, the Kercone backs being much 100 clever for, them. Kercone played a good all-round game, and won easily by 17 points to 3. The other two Junior matches were very evenly contested. Waitoa beat Terriers by 0 points to 3, and Springdale and Tahuna drew, with 6 points each. For the first time this season Third Grade teams were playing on the ground, United and Kereone being the two clubs represented. The boys, who varied in size and weight, from 4ft 9in to close on 6ft in height, and from 7st to 12st in weight, all showed plenty of enthusiasm, and the way that they flung the ball about and raced after it was a treat to see. r lhe boys of the United team were fully haif as heavy again as their opponents, Kereone, and Iheir weight, more than their superor play, gave them the

game by 17 points to 0. Out' Morrinsville correspondent writes: — According to present arrangements the Junior teams are only allowed one hour for their matches, from 1.30 to 2.30 p.m., and the Seniors the rest of the afternoon. Considering that some of ihe Junior matches are now as interesting to watch as the Seniors’, and it is from the Juniors that all the clubs will have to look for. recruits, many people think that at least half an hour’s more time might be given to them. Terriers v. Kereone. The game between Terriers and Kereone on Saturday was decidedly the best exhibition of football seen on the ground this season. As the championship l'or the season largely depended upon the result, every player did his utmost. The game was close and exciting. With the wind against

them, and a bright sun in their eyes, Terriers were somewhat handicapped in the first spell, but managed to keep play in midfield, the bulk of the work being done by the forwards. AH attempts by Terriers’ backs to make an open game failed, and the first spell ended in neither side scoring. With wind and sun against them, Kercone opened vigorously, and setting a free kick took play to terriers cjuarters. From a penally kick Thomas failed to score and even play across the field followed. A good passing run by Kereone was spoiled by a knock-on. From a mark Terriers took play to midfield and hard forward play followed. Kereone, gaining D*T*minri .and uetling a free kick in a

good position, looked like scoring, but Thomas’ t kick struck the post. Exciting play followed, Terriers making a strong rush down the ground, but they were stopped by Thomas close to the Kereone line. From the line-out out Kereone forwards relieved, but an

exciting rush by Terriers got over in a good position. O’Brien just failed to convert. Terriers 3, Kereonc 0. Hard open play followed in Kereone’s favour, but Terriers’ backs kept midfield until half-time. In the third speJl Terriers were forced back close to their line, and after a great fight Kereonc got over and score. Three all. From open play Terriers took play down the ground, but Kereone soon

relieved. Some good passing rushes by both sides kept the game even but very exciting. McNaughton got the ball' and had a shot at goal, but just failed. Exciting play followed in lavour of Kereonc,. and any attempts at passing were stopped by good tackling. From an exciting scrum close to Terriers’ line F. Thomas got but S. Thomas’ kick just failed. Kcrcone 6, Terriers 3. On changing over play was Acpt close to Terriers’ line, and Thomas nearly got over.- Terriers relieved by a good passing run, and took play to the Kereonc line. From a line-out lerriers got a mark but failed to score. A good rush by Kereone forwards clear&d to midfield, and Thomas, in an exciting run, nearly got over. Soon after Terriers were awarded a penalty kick,' and O’Brien goaled. Six all. In the next spell Terriers pressed hard, and kept play for a lime in Kercone quarters. Prom some wiki passing Kereone gained ground. From a scrum Terriers were awarded a free kick and O’Brien scored. , Terriers J, Kereone 6. Hard forward play followed until the bell rang. The referee was Mr B. Chapman.

PIAKO UNION. \l a meeting of' the Piako Rugby Union at To Aroha on Saturday the following draw was made lor .he Poland Gup;— . j, in e 16—Piako v. Wailu, at Waihi (Mr E. Smith) ; Paeroa v. Plains, at Ngalea (Mr T Turner). June 30—Waihi v„ Paeroa, at Pac - roa (Mr J. Reid); Plains v. Piako, at Te Aroha (Mr A. W. Du ns Bin). Julv 14 —Plains v. Waihi, at Ng.uca (Mr W. T. Jonas) ; Paeroa v. Piako, al Paeroa (Mr N. Emmett). Sharebrokers’ Gup.—JUG • lj • * lal '° v Waihi, at Te Arona; Paeroa v. Plains, at Paeroa. June 3»: V\afhi v. Paeroa, at Waihi; Piako \. P ams, a Ngatea. July 14: Plains v. Waihi, at Waihi; Piako v. Paeroa, at. Te Arona,

TE AROHA MATCHES. Waihou Rangers 19 v. City Juniors 6. The Rangers and City Juniors met at Ilerries Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon, a fast and open game eventuating. The City Juniors were represented by S. Nolan, L. Stewart, Rarneka, A. Stanley, H. Heathoote. C. Hines and Tuki (backs), and R. Biggs, | J Keanev, B. Caulton, F. McGaskill, R. Lecce, A. Dalton, E. Stewart and 7. Healhcole (forwards). The Waihou Rangers’ players were: A. Christiansen, li. Johnson, G Stewart. R. Dowling K Hill. W. Stewart and Goodfellow (backs), and D. and T. Thompson, Dixon, Blackman, Hiea'tt, Itodewaid' L. Mikkclson (forwards). From the. kick-off the Rangers took up the aggressive but Ilealhco'tc relieved with a nice kick, which found the line. Waihou again set to work but a fine rush was well stopped hi Ramcka. City’s territory was then invaded by the Rangers but the fullback saved nicely. H. Johnson marked, but little ground was gained. Not. to be denied, .the Hangers forced the position and G. Goodfellow crossed the-line. The kick at goal was successful. Shortly afterwards Stanley (City) marked and goaled. Rangers o, City 3. . ... The second spell opened with Goodfellow and R. Johnson showing good concerted play, the latter being run out well up the line From a scrum the Rangers got the >all, and from a penalty G. Stewart kicked a goal— Waihou 8, City 3. Heath cote scored ground foi his side and Lecce, and Tuki put in fine work in the loose. From a penalty Stanley increased City s score b> Ihr points. Good passing play up and down tire Held left the play at midfield at half-lime. On resumig, Waihou soon got int their opponents’ twenty-five and from loose play near ihe City line Hill sc ore d P in fine style and Hicatt convei'led. —Waihou 13, Citj 6. Open play continued and Blackman scored but the kick at goal failed. Hill, who was well backed up by Johnson, put Citv on the defensive, but Mikkclson relieved Hie pressure— Rangers 16, G The concluding spell was stubbornly fought out. Tuki and Leece plajed weU in the open and with a long kick found the line. Then Lit* rallied and Rangers accepted a. force. In the last ten minutes Blackman scored for the latter and the game ended 19 to 6. Mr W. Jonas was referee.

Terrier Seniors 5, City 3. Qj[ V —l. Keancy, A. Reach, __ M. Fivnn, G.. Reid, T. Pilkington, H. bemmens J. Nicholson, 1U Samson, R. Fvt'o J. Stevenson, J. Riddell, W. McLaren, C. Campin, T. Fergusson, W. F. Goldsbury, J. Towers, S. Goldsbury, E. Stewart, E. E\c. , H Wallace, L. Garrick, A. stevenson, j Mace, W. Smyth, O. btace, W. Whitten, K. Munro, C. Twigg and From °the kick-off City set out to make the play open Terriers were awarded a penalty kick, but thebal fell short Ground was gamed by the Terriers, but K. Munro sayed his side in a rush. From a _ free-kic Campin scored for the City. ihe Terriers pressed and from a scrum nr>ar the City line Samson relieved. A series of long kicks generally found the line and a City rush was relieved bv sSoe From a mark Campm kicked well up-fleld. City bad the best of this spell.— City 3, Terriers Give-and-take play was the order of the second spell. From loose play i„ me forwards City were foic-cd, anu just afterwards good concerted acUon bv the Terriers resulted m Rhodeb crossing U» Hi*. ing a nice goal.—Terriers o, Ul . City set off to make the play last. , iS raA was compelled to save Kvpntv _fi V e “1 - , 4 eK nature characterised ulo remainder ot this spoil and tire sC ln°the a nno ”spe C in'lic play was vigor- - hnth sets of forwards playing S J. Mace Wetted well up the line R Wallace and R. Samson weie conspicuous in stopping rushes, and Sro ro %. the scores o to 3.