WAIKATO’S RUGBY WIN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20870, 31 July 1939, Page 11

WAIKATO’S RUGBY WIN

BY II POINTS TO 8 BAY OF PLENTY BEATEN HOME FORWARDS GET A LESSON Beaten, fop tho most part of the game, at its particular tactics of wet-day prowess, the Waikato Rugby representative team was somewhat lucky to scramble home by 11 points to 8 in its third representative Rugby match of the season, against Bay of Plenty at Rugby Park on Saturday. The Waikato team was two points behind ten minutes from the end of the encounter. It was not a day for good football, however, and as the two teams floundered through the mud one could but imagine what might have happened had the day been favourable to fast, open football. The ground was literally a sea of mud and the players, muddy and soaked, were confronted with the most difficult of tasks in keeping a footing. The crowd was not large. Under leaden skies the representative teams lined out on the soggy ground as follows : Waikato Fullback: J. Ensor Threequarters: \V. J. Phillips, A. J. Aitken, C. Perkins Five-eighths: .1. Cole, E. Taylor Halfback: P. Tatzlaff Back row: W. YVarrendcr Side row: .T. G. Wynyard, T. Macky, A. Thomson. J. Flannae-an. Front row: J. M. Taylor, E. 11. Catley, A. E. Hall Bay of Plenty Fullback: H. Rayment Threequarters: Donovan, R. Lees, Gregory Five-eighths: M. Lees, E. Howell Halfback: It. Jones Hack row: Satherly Middle row: Itubinson, Whitley, Hughes. McNeil Front row: Hayward, Farron, Nicholson. Weather reminiscent of Springboks Day 1937 welcomed the Hay of Plenty players as they filed out on the field to the accompaniment of thunder and lightning. Bay kicked off into a sea of slush as the small crowd dashed round the ground looking for what -helter they could find. In an early scrum Waikato was penalised and Donovan fielded the ball upon Waikato returning the kick and ran round to place all his backs in attacking array. Nonplussed. Waikato was swept into unwilling defence and fleet as a deer. Gregory flashed after the ball on the closed stand side to beat Ensor and Perkins. He pounced upon It in a glorious scoring effort. M. Lees converted to give Bay of Plenty an early ; command. Bay of Plenty 5 Waikato 0 When the Waikato forwards chased after the ball in relatiation. Aitken made a poor attempt with a penalty kirk to reduce the visitor’s command. Revelling in the conditions. McNeil showed the form which had won him North Island honours when he dashed after the ball to seize upon each Waikato mistake. His dribbling was wellnigh consumate and unwilling to cede in inch of territory, the Bay van was proving a stout opponent for the previously invincible Waikato pack. Mr T. French, of Gisborne, one of the North Island selectors who was present, must have seen some prospective talent among the great array of forwards on parade to-day. Brilliant Penalty Goal Slugging through the squelching mud. Macky, Flannagan and Wynyard led the home offensive which culminated in Cole a brilliant penalty goal. Bay of Plenty 5 Waikato 3 It was Just two years, almost to the day, that the Springboks were in Hamilton under similar atrocious Rugby conditions and tho display that H. Rayment was giving in picking up the ball from the feet of charging Waikato forwards was reminiscent of that great South African custodian. Gerry Brand. He repulsed several concerted movements. The All Black winger Phillips sent Waikato surging through the mud and Wynyard and Cole came into the dribbling movement to hem the Hay team into defence. Farron was the spearhead time and again in the defenders’ defence, but Wynyard was doing bis job as leader of the Waikato team and generally the home side wore down the persistent Bay reversals. Right on Hie line, after Catley, Taylor and Warrender had carried the attack. Bay of Plenty infringed, but Cole’s task was almost impossible and the kick failed. Waikato maintained the offensive but twice a twenty-five kick saved the Bay team. Sparkling Movement Capped Rain was still pouring down when Waikato disdaining the elements, staged ..ne of the finest wet-day movements seen at Rugby Park. Tetzlaff. taking advantage of consummate hooking, whipped the sodden ball to Taylor, who, hesitating just a moment, cleverly shook off Howell to secure a clear passage. It was good to see such passing on a wet day, but the best was yet to come. Aitken came into the picture to add the speed that was necessary and the centre sent out a beautiful pass that was equally well accepted by Perkins. Then the winger clapped on the pace, and oulpaced :iie speedy Gregory to score a brilliant try in the corner. Cole’s kick tailed. Waikato G Bay of Plenty 5 Bay was immediately on the offensive following this reversal and at halftime play was centred in midfield.

THE SECOND SPELL

The wind blew from behind Bay of Plenty in the second half and immedi-it-'iy upon !VMi:n;,?i..n the visit in? side S‘ t •■>ut ! • overtake the one point nc tadies \ : llanx of fast forwards, whose ball-control in dribbling was a lesson to the Waikato men. followed McNeil's lead and ploughed through the nmd right on to ? he line. From the ruck, Hayward broke through the vigilant Waikato defensive and scored. M. Lees missed the kick. Bay of Plenty 8 Waikato 6 Inspired to new efforts to save the wet-day reputation tiu-v had earned at Auckland, the Waikato forwards shot int • ict m ig i n. Lob judiciously kicked to Rayment who was forced down. Then Mucky Jed the attack right on to the 111)-- but Hatley infringed. Hhar-ing int • the fray, Phillips went right through tlic defence but his pass to Aitk'-n was intercepted. The Waikato backs had another flutter towards the line before McNeil, -Satherley and Hughes fanned out to marshall the Bay of Plenty team into action. Elisor was practically trapped in possession and the position for Waikato again became dangerous until Wynyard and Thomson, both of whom had been playing classic games in following up, turned the tables on the Bay of Plenty defensive Waikato was securing the ball from the scrums but the inside backs were trying to throw the ball as if the day were line and time after Lime the fast breaking Bay of Plenty forwards harried through to upset Waikato calculations. Waikato's tactics were not sound for the conditions under which the teams were playing. •J. M. Taylor was injured 20 minutes after the second half had opened and he was replaced by Stewart. Sun shone through the leaden skies for the time but the only change in conditions for the men was that a harassing rellection came off the sea of mud. Everest Makes His Debut Floundering in the mud, Bay of plenty was offering all the resistance that Waikato could cope with. The home team's task was becoming more dillicult as E. Taylor was injured and ,f. Everest took the Held for the first time as a Waikato Rugby representa- j live, to replace him. It was hardly favourable for his debut. M. Lees was injured in the Ray team also and he was replaced by Oswald. Dribbling like an All-England Association representative, .lira Everest got into action early. He piloted tinway t«» the ever-persistent Thomson and the speedy Flannagan but the Bay forwards turned the tables with similar tactics. Farron and Nicholson, two of the best of a great Bay of Plenty pack, were carrying the dav with resolute dribbling and running through to retal ite against similar Waikato tactics. The Bay forwards had infinitely more control on the short work with the ball at foot. Waikato's Hashes of attack were only momentarily sustained before the Bay forwards, almost without requiring any assistance from their backs, whipped defence into an attack. - V. _ .... Waikato reinstated itself with the crowd which had been dulled with the sight of its team being over-power-ed, when Jimmy Everest nipped a short kick over the head of the Bay fiveeighths for the forwards to pounce upon Rayment who had no chance to extricate his team this time. Catle> dashed on to the loose ball and dribbled finely to the line where Stewart came into the picture to score a good try after following up very well indeed Aitkcn's kick was a glorious conversion. Waikato 11 Bay of Plenty 8 Waikato was still attacking when Hie game ended. Mr W. A. Moxom , Morrinsville) refereed.