RUGBY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19353, 5 September 1934, Page 11

RUGBY.

PEACE CUP MATCH. TROPHY CHANGES HANDS. UNNECESSARY ROUGH PLAY. The bid by Matamata for the Peace Cup—tlie emblem of the champion sub-union in the Waikato—promised a hard,exciting match and the record crowd that attended the Recreation Ground, Morrinsvillc, on Saturday, was not disappointed. The game was exciting; tensely exciting. It also was 'hard; on occasions unnecessarily hard and rough. It was apparent that bad feeling existed before the match commenced and the ugly incident early in the game when W. Cameron attempted to kick Carroll off the ball did not Improve matters. Feeling often ran high and with tempers frayed the match, at intervals, looked more like a gladiatorial contest than a sporting game of Rugby. The match was not spoiled by these incidents, although the best game in the district this year was certainly marred by the tactics adopted on occasions.

Unpunotuallty in' Commencing Play. Although there was only a meagre attendance at the final of the Clarke ■Cup competition at Rugby Park on Saturday, the spectators were not very well catered for as regards punctuality. The game was scheduled to commence at 3 p.m., hut when the appointed time had arrived and the bell had been rung, the teams were not ready to take the field. The crowd had to wait for a considerable time and the bell had to be rung again before the players filed on to the ground. Whether or not it is the fact that the end of the season is near at hand, and is causing the players to become lax, it is a poor way in which to start a game marking the end of a competition.

An Exciting Matoh. When the teams marched on to the field for the Peace Cup match at Morrinsville on Saturday the spectators anticipation of a really great match could be felt. The atmosphere was tense with feelings bottled up and the hush, following the rousing receptions the teams received as they filed on to the field, keyed the crowd up to further excitement. The thrill the spectators felt as the ball was kicked off and the game put in motion has not been experienced before this year. Morrinsville held the trophy all last year and successfully staved off four challengers this season but, as was expected, their colours were lowered by Matamata. Morrinsville were kept on the defence throughout the first spell, an unusual game for them, hut in the second session they often looked likely, and although Matamata’s wonderful defence was responsible in a great measure to their failure, Morrinsville were also unlucky. Matamata’s victory by 16 points to 6 was, however, well deserved.

Bteady Juniors. . .In the match between'Frankton and Technical Old Boys for the final of the Clarke 'Cup competition at Rugby Park on Saturday, both teams included Junior players. Most of these had already participated in a junior game Just prior to the senior match, but, nevertheless they showed plenty of stamina and stood up to their second tussle very well. One might have expected the juniors to tire considerably, but towards the end ol’ the game when some of the seniors were showing signs of weakening, the younger players still had plenty of dash and were always to the fore in the rushes. Soored All the Points. • Malamata’s captain, W. IT. Carlson, had the honour of scoring all Hie points for his team against Morrinsville on Saturday. A big man for a back lie would be the Ideal smashing typo of five-eighths if lie could hold some passes. When he represented Waikato he made the same mistakes, but credit must be given him for always being where the ball was on Saturday. His goal kicking was of a big standard and he was Instrumental in smothering several attacks.

Smart Back-line Co-ordination. A neat example of perfect combination was given in Frankton— Technical Old Boys’ match at Rugby Park on Saturday, when Haughey and Allen, two Technical backs, took the ball the full length of the field In the face of strong opposition. Technical were on the defensive in their own twenty-five, when Haughey secured the ball and gained about 30 yards before he transferred to Allen. Allen made more ground and when opposed passed back to Haughey, who was running alongside him, Haughey carried the ball close lo the Frankton line before returning it to Allen, who scored a fine try. More combination such as this would do a great deal to Improve local Rugby.

Was Bustled. Mclvor, Morrinsville’-s full-back, lias played some splendid games for his Union, but on Saturday Carroll’s stabkicks had him bustled and he did not display anything like his previous form. In fact he gave a very poor display. The wingers, 'Campbell and Vivian, did not see very much of the ball, but were eager and sound on defence, Campbell being the most outstanding.

Cambridge Team's Prospects. Cambridge has a light and very young team this season, but nevertheless one tiiat includes a hard-toiling, vigorous vanguard and one or two versatile backs. Their ability was demonstrated against Hamilton’s elect recently, when they were narrowly beaten 17—13, after being 11 down at half-time. Then on Saturday last, they decisively beat Te Aroha, fore and aft, by 24 points to 9.

Aitken Again Falls. Aitken has given several disappointing displays this season and hopes have been entertained that he will strike form. However, again on Saturday against Matamata he failed to produce representative form. His defence could show considerable improvement, but 'it must be admitted that he was well watched on attaok. W. Cameron, after his display of temper early In the game, did not appear to settle down again and missed, for him, some very easy kicks. In the second spell his running too far with the ball lost two tries for Morrinsville. Consistent Substitute. The most outstanding junior filling a vacancy in the Frankton team in the Clarke Cup game at Rugby Park on Saturday was Batchelor, who played in Edwards’ place. Batchelor was always to the fore and showed great consistency after playing in a junior game a short while before. Everest, who replaced L. Denz at half, was also prominent.

Unlucky This Season. K. Reid, the ex-Grammar player, has been unlucky this season, starting off with an injured leg. He has not struck form in recent games, though on Saturday last he displayed a bit of his old form In the second half of the game. He will probably be In again as full-back against Hamilton, and may fully reproduce his good college football.

Versatile Solomon. The Waikato and Matamata fiveeighths, D. Solomon, played full-baok for his Union on Saturday owing to an injured shoulder and he further enhanced his reputation by his grand display. Fielding the ball faultlessly and always finding the line with the opposing forwards right on top o-f him, he saved Matamata on several occasions. Once or twice he side-stepped and swerved through the approaching forwards' before kicking. One or two Morrinsville players crossed the line in the second spell, but on every occasion Solomon took the ball off them and forced it. A very sound defender and brilliant attacker, Morrinsville were fortunate that injuries kept him so far back. The Matamata wings were speedy, but like D. Carlson, centre, hardly saw the bail.

Carroll’s Outstanding Game. The half-hack and first five-eighths ■for Matamata, Settle and Carroll, caused Morrlnsvllle a 'great deal of trouble. Settle was very sound on attack and defenco, while Carroll was, perhaps, the outstanding player on the field. The Waikato second fiveeighths was moved to first five-eighths, owing to Solomon’s Injury. Early In the game he kept feeding W. H. Carlson, hut when lie found his captain could not "take” a pass he changed his tactics and used the stab-kick. Kicking into a gap with wonderful accuracy Carroll upset the Morrlnsvllle team. Once again his defence was of the highest order and lie and Solomon appear to be well in the class l'or a trip to England. A Good Full-back. Of the two full-backs in the Frankton—Technical Old hoys’ game at Rugby Park on Saturday, Pratt was superior to Lewis. Although some of his kicking was not as sure as it usually Is he defended well in the first half and would not be bustled. Lewis, on the other hand hesitated several times on gaining possession. In the second, half Pratt moved up and changed places with Snodgrass, and continued to play well. Two Important Games. 'Cambridge has its two most important games yet to play. On Saturday next the sub-union’s fifteen will play Hamilton at Rugby Park, Hamilton, in a return game and while they may not be strong enough to turn the tables on the Yellow and Blacks, it should be a good "work-out” for the Blue and Whites in preparation for their Peace Cup challenge against Matamata on the following Saturday. For this Saturday’s game Cambridge will have a slight re-arrangement in the backs, making it a little stronger than the combination which met Te Aroha.

A Nippy Half-back. Half-back L. Russell had a hard day for Morrinsville on Saturday, but again impressed by bis nippiness, lie shot his passes out like lightning and varied Ids play judiciously. Bis useful line kick was of great help to bis forwards. Robson, the second five, with Russell, was the best of Morrinsville’s backs. Running straight and feeding his wings where possible he attempted to make the game more open and give Morrinsville their only chance. His defence was particularly solid and lie marked big Bill Carlson very well. Met Their IWatoh. The Morrinsville forwards met their match on Saturday when they played Matamata. in the previous Peace •Gup fixtures they have dominated tho games, giving their backs a plentiful supply of llie ball, but the Matamata van beat them in flic majority of scrums and line-outs, and also held Hi cm In rucking and loose rushes. The winning pack worked magnificently with Story, Ensor, NVarrender and McLeay always prominent. J. Leeson showed that be bad learned a thing or two in Australia, and he was ably followed by Faulkner, Garter and Muir. A. and C. Cameron played the man too much instead of the'ball and were not as effective as usual. Versatile and Nippy. ■Cambridge has Iwo inside backs tills season that for nippy play and versatility are not far behind anything in the Waikato. They arc W. Stewart, the half-hack, and ex-Thames Valley half; and Tommy llogan, first “five." Un Saturday lliese two diminutive players, along willi 11. Henke, who was playing on one wing, cut Iho Te Aroha defence lo ribbons on occasions. Peake played for Tc Aroha lasi season, lull is a Cambridge boy. II is likely flint lie will go in lo ihe centre position against Ham il I on.