SCHOOL RUGBY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3297, 6 August 1943, Page 5

SCHOOL RUGBY

NGATEA v. THAMES HIGH GAME FOR HILL BILLIES CUP A hard-fought game between two very evenly matched teams, resulted in a win for Ngatea High School boys over the Thames. High School fifteen, in a rugby match played on the Thames field on Wednesday last. This game is the first to be played for the Hill Billies’ Cup, a trophy which was won outright by the Turua Troop of the Mounted Rifles (Hill Billies) and since presented for competition between Ngatea and Thames 1 High Schools. Ngatea thus becomes the holder of the cup for this year. In a fine spirited game, the Ngatea forwards in particular packed well and both series of backs were denied any good opportunities by fast-break-ing forwards. There was no rain during the match and conditions were ideal.

Ngatea’s first try, was the result of a run by Prout, who came round the scrum and zig zagged to cross the line on his own. Shilton failed- with the kick. The half-time score was:—

Ngatea 3, Thames 0. In the second spell, Thames scored as a result of a goodmovement by the backs, nearly each man handling the ball before the wing three-quarter crossed the line.

McKenzie later scored for Ngatea, after a break-through by Prout, with the backs and Shilton particularly, giving support.

Thames High School suffered their first defeat this season, when the game ended in Ngatea’s favour, 6—3. Rev. Handy was referee.

Ngatea High School lined out as under:—Backs: Shilton (capt.), McKenzie, Prout, Adam, Burton, Hayes, Kurtovich. Forwards: Sheppard, Cocks, .Turner, Coxhead, Pye, Jones, Kellow, Leonard.