RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18067, 9 July 1930, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

3 INTER-UNION CONTEST. ’ MATAMATA’S STRONG CHALLENGE. 1 - THEIR GAME WITH HAMILTON. t.. - ■ ' ’ (By “Drop-Kick.”) It was unfortunate that conditions f were so unfavourable for the loading 3 attraction at Hamilton on Saturday. This w-as the game between Hamilton and Matamata, which was looked upon . as a preliminary Peace Cup engage-, , ment for’the home fifteen, wtiich will _ defend the trophy for the first lime ! this season on Saturday next, when 1 .Rotorua will be the challengers. , The rain came down throughout [ the greater part of Saturday’s contest j. which terminated in favour of Hamilton by the narrow' margin of two points in a 14—12 finish. It was quite an interesting game despite the conditions of a heavy ground and a ( greasy ball. The homesters were a , little lucky to get out with the honours their way, although they left the ! impression that the backs would have been very troublesome with a dry ball. They attempted and carried out some neat movements. On the other hand, the visiting backs relied more on kicking and letting their forwards follow ! through, by so doing compelling the opposing backs to hasten to meet the challenge. Matamata possessed a pack who were very effective in the loose, their efforts in this connection being a feature of their play and a constant source of danger to the home side. The Game Summarised. The early stages of play left the Impression that Hamilton would have a ready win -but Matamata changed the scoring scene so favourably that the tally was but 11.9 against them with the game half through. The second spell undoubtedly 1 belonged to Matamata. When they had the lead twelve minutes from time their supporters were on good, terms with themselves. The home team) with the pack showing dominance, made a final sweeping rally to score a try and take the lead which they held. Matamata are Peace Cup challengers and if they get a tilt at Hamilton for that trophy, they i can be looked upon as formidable opi ponents. There were two alterations !in the Hamilton fifteen on Saturday j from, the .side originally selected, Dela- ! ney (full-back) and Mitchell (halfback) being unavailable. These addi-' lions, viz., Going and Mills respectively, will complete the fifteen which is to line out in defence of the Peace I Gup on Saturday. The First Challenge. While on this latter subject, it can i be pointed out for the information of ! those who like to ponder over events j past that Matamata and Rotorua met | j at Rotorua on May 31 when Matamata : j won 22—3. .It does not .follow, of! I course, that Hamilton’s task is going Ito he an easy one on Saturday. Rotorua, I am informed, have strengthened their foroes since then and strict atI tention has been given to training, I under the eye of W. J. Meredith, [ formerly of Auckland and 'until reI oently a leading referee. They are j coming to Hamilton hopeful of putting up a prominent bid for the trophy. The best is being made of the material the selector (Mr N. Hamilton) and the coach (Mr W. Fraser) have at hand locally. With a strong leavening of i last- season’s Peace Cup winners and ! retainers in the ranks', the latest team should acquit itself well. To return to Saturday’s fixture and A Review of Hamilton. Going, w'ho supplanted Delaney at .full-back, owing to the latter suffering the effects of injury the previous week, performed some good w'ork. There were times, however, when : j the visiting forwards bustled him a | lot and his team had anxious moments, i Allen was responsible for a solid j game, both in attack and defence. ! The wing three-quarter has played j very reliable football throughout the ! season and his services will bo of i value in the important games ahead if he retains his effectiveness. “Slip” Griffiths suffered in comparison with Allen. . His handling can be j improved and so can his defence, i Griffiths, under better playing conditions, should rise to the occasion. Fitzgerald played quite well. ' He had plenty to do 'in the centre position, anticipation not being lackng in his case. Mathieson, the first five-eighth, shaped as if he will fill the bill. He and A. St. George, outside of him, handled a difficult ball quite favourably. They were a pair to have their defence beaten when the opposition scored and made their total twelve, but even this aspect of their play was quite satisfactory under trying conditions. Mills, the half-back., who succeeded Mitchell, shaped quite favourably. He opened up the game neatly on many occasions. The visiting . forwards were very active in the second half of the game and Mills’ opportunities in this respect were curbed materially, but he shirked, nothing. The home forwards were an even lot. Although they had to give way often in the second spell they came again with a rattle towards the close which indicated that their condition was lasting. It will be mproved for the game ahead. Hooper'and Reynolds were ceaseless ■ grafters on Saturday, but the others were in it at varying periods. ! The Visiting Side. j Stewart, the full-back, must be one 1 of the veteran representative players in this area. That he is still useful he showed in this contest when he came to the call of his side on many occasions. There was no great length in his clearance kicking but it was effective and reached the- line on most occasions. There was not much opportunity to gauge the three-quarter line, except in Die individual aspect. Carlson,, on i Die wing, always took watching, but! Carroll (centre) and Fausett were responsible , for some useful support. Brown and Patterson, the fiveeighths, exploited the kick through many times as openings, which their forwards made profitable use of. Egan, the half-back, was.solid, and worked hard all through. The pack, worked tirelessly and will ,iave to be respected when they are again met. They were especially | effective with their sallies .in the | loose, which gave the home backs a j :-iot of trouble and were tactics which j suited the day. ' Story, the rover, | was a consistent grafter, while Ensor ! and Short were other toilers, but they ( were a set who did themselves credit.