RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18349, 8 June 1931, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

GAMES AT WAIPA. ROVERS V. KIHIKIHI. Rugby football was well represented at Te Awamutu on Saturday afternoon. Rovers kicked off, and pressed to the 25 but Kihlklhi came through. Forward play returned, but Lee ied another passing rusli back. McNaughton failed with a penalty, and Pollard Just forced hi time. Pollard tried a speculator when bustled, and made amends with a groat line kick and Rovers pressed up to the line. Headed by Kelly and Kay, Kihlklhi came to midfield. The next item was a drop at goal by L. Broughton. Then Spiers cut through nicely, but defence held well till in a scramble on the line Storey dropped on the ball. Pollard converted. Kihlklhi came away but a hard kick enabled Rovers to force. Keeping up the pressure, Rovers had to defend. Half time saw the score: Rovers 5, Kihikihi 0. On resumption Rovers had Hie advantage and from a scrum In the goal mouth Spiers picked up and dashed over. Pollard failed with an easy kick. Kihikihi again attacked, Pollard kicking out, and then forcing. Kihikihi were feeling their shortage. -Pollard faled with a penalty. Then from a rush the ball came out to storey, who scored in the corner. Pollard again failed. Kihikihi rushed down and Jackson put over a beautiful drop kick from a penalty. Rovers 11, Kihikihi 3. Rovers were almost over but a penalty stopped them on the line. Rovers were having all the best of it, but Kihikihi came through. A. Jackson made a great run and then from a penalty he hoisted another goal. Rovers kept at it, but defence of Leo especially was very sound. Kihlklhi worked up to half-way. Barracking became Intense; but there was no further score. Rovers 11, Kihlklhi 6. Mr W. Macready was referee.

Lee played a great game as centre for Kihikihi who had Len Kay playing on the wing. 'Spiers was showing up well ' I half in the Rovers train and made some nice dashes. Storey w r as also showing out. The Jacksons as usual were well In the lime light, hut found tho attentions of the opposing forwards very troublesome. Kelly was hurt and had to retire, Bayne taking his place and playing in the forwards. Ate Jackson also played a great game, his two kicks were very fine efforts, also his dashing runs. Spiers was hanging on too much. Eric Storey was always in the picture, and bis scores were well deserved. Walkorla v. Plrongla. This game was played on No. 2 ground, with Mr Annlbal in charge of the whistle. Play opened with several forward rushes that wen almost the full length of the ground, and then the Plrongla pack, who were the heavier, kept the ball In close and had Walkerla In trouble. Snappy play opened the game and the easterners worked play back to Pirongia’s territory, but they could not break through. Soon the Pirongla forwards were on the offensive again, and a high punt midfield kt them over the line, J. Grace scoring wide out. P. Grace’s attempt to convert was a good one, but the ball went just outside the posts. The Waikeria’s were throwing the hall about at every opportunity, but their passes lacked precision. However, they made ground, and in a race for the ‘ball wide out the Walkerla centre three-quarter got there first and notched his team’s first score. The kick failed. With the scores even the pace Increased, but Pirongia forwards, with bustling tactics, skittled their opponents, and took play into Waikeria’s 25. Silvester struggled over near the posts, but again the kick failed. Just before half-time Waikerla equalised the score with a penalty goal. On resuming the pace was still fast, the Waikerias keeping their tactics of trying to make the game open, while Plrongla relied most on their forwards. The fortunes of the game fluctuated continually, and as time went on there was every Indication of a draw, but Just on the call of time the Waikerias got an opening ant flashed through, in a nice passing rush that ended In a try. The kick was a good one, and made Waikeria’s score 11 to 6. The game was brought and snappy', though with little of the thrills that punctuated the game on 'No. 1 ground. Te Awamutu v. Puketotara. This game was played at Pirongia with Mr R. Callis as referee. Early In the game it was clear that the town team were too clever for their opponents, and soon the score for Te Awamutu mounted up, while Pukctotara were kept on the defensive most of the time. The game ended in victory for To Awamutu by 25 points to nil.

JUNIORS. To Awamutu v. Rovers. Te Awamutu played with tho sun behind them and had Hovers penned for some time, hut gradually Rovers pressed them back. Snowden failed with a penalty. Shepherd was showing up well for Hovers. Tc Awamutu forced. Brown made a nice run and Snowden tried a pot at goal hut missed. Hovers wore now doing the attacking, till Tc Awamutu rushed play to midfield. Even play followed till a great rush saw Broughton almost over, being pushed out short of the line.' A great rush by Te Awamutu headed by .Murray went the length of the field, but the hall went over. Half time came without any score. The second half was even, till Murray made a dash. A penalty failed, Tc Awamutu gained with a fine line kick hut the play hung in midfield. A good line kick bv Brill put Tc A wanin'.! on the attack. Maeky led an attack that took the ball to midfield, hut again Brill dashed down, but was well grassed, and a great rush by Rovevs took the hall to the other end where Ihe ball went ton far. Another attack was more success!ul, Maj taking the hall through to score.»'l lie kick tailed. Rovers pressed hard but t.larke sent them back with a great run and fol-low-up. Another attack by Hovers kept them to the line hut Te Awamutu took Hm hall clean through hut Hovers forced in time. Another attack saw Murray dash over to add further points, and Smith converted. Time Went without further score. To Awamulu 8. Hovers n. Air R. E. Attains was referee. Chaupo v - Owtlraka. Mr L. Kay had charge of this game (Continued in next column.)

and neither team was at full strength. The Ohaupos were soon in command, and Gentry dashed over, and then converted his try. A little later the ball came to Spiers who also scored, but the kick failed. A quarter of an hour later Gentry added another try, which also was unconverted. In the closing stages Quealy made Ohaupo’s tries four. Again the kick failed and the final whistle sounded with Ohaupo fourteen points to the good. Ngutunul ,v. Kihlklhi. , This was the match on No. 3 ground, and Mr T. Martin was referee. The unbeaten team (Ngutunui) had the advantage over their opponents from the outset, for Kihlklhi started with only 11 players, and during the game only had one accession. However, they put up a really creditable showing, and Ngutunui had to do their best to win. From one Ngutunui attack the ball came out to Brewer and he dashed over near the posts, Whillon adding the minor points. A little later Kihikihi got its first points, when D. Christie scored a try, but Sutherland failed with the kick. Encouraged by this success Kihikihi kept up the pressure, relying more on attack than on defence, and the tactics proved fruitful, for Sutherland got a try wide out just before half-time. In the second half Ngutunui often hatf their opponents in trouble, and J. Rolleston scored a try that enabled Whitton to convert. Ten minutes before the final whistle Hilton added one more try for Ngutunui and the game ended in victory for the westerners by thirteen points to six. To Awamutu v. High School. Mr A. G. Wood had charge of his game, which started well, and occasioned a good deal of excitement along the side-line, but Te Awamutu were playing better football, with the result that scores were got by Lawry, J. Dalton (2), Lewis and Robottom, not one of which was converted, whilo High School's only points were from a try registered by G. Dalton. Te Awamutu thus won by fifteen points to three.

PLAY AT MATAMATA.

MATAMATA DEFEAT WALTON. Walton fielded a man short and put up a creditable game against Matain ala whose hacks failed to take advantage of the opportunities given them by the forwards. Matamata won by 13 to 3. Ensor, Egan and D. Carlson scored tries. W. Carlson and Fitzgerald converted two of them. Fausctt kicked a penalty goat for Walton. .Mr W. Quigg was referee. Patetece v. Wardvlllo. Patetere had a runaway victory over Wardvillc who played practically all through the game with eleven men by 27 (nine tries) to 0. Campbell (2), Fallon (2) Brown, Wilson, Fell anil H. Inman were the scorers. Mr W. Clover was referee. Juniors. In an even game Old Boys defeated Matamata by (1 to nil, N. Sutherland kicking two penalty goals. The Illnucra-Patetero fixture at llinuera provided a fast, even game, Patetere getting home by a potted goal by Foster to a try by Swap. Third Grade. Putaruru won from Wardville by 10 to 0. Tries were scored by Berg, Gawith 2 and Thompson. The hitherto unbeaten High School leam went down to llinuera by 17 to 3. Mann scored three tries and Germane one try. The latter converted one and kicked a penalty goal.-