MANIAPOTO V. HAMILTON

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 190, 13 September 1909, Page 2

MANIAPOTO V. HAMILTON

Win for King Country. The meeting between the representatives of the Maniapoto Rugby Union and the Hamilton players had been looked forward to for a considerable time. Earlier in th 3 season the local players journeyed to the Waikato centre and after a keen hard game suffered defeat by a narrow margin. In the meantime the Maniapoto representatives have improved considerably, and strengthened by the inclusion of a number of Taumarunui players it was felt that their chance of victory was really good. The weather was perfect for football and a fair number of spectators witnessed the match. Hamilton kicked off against the wind and rushed the ball to the local 25. From a scrum the ball was sent out to the Hamilton backs but the local forwards smothered the pass and headed by Kothery, Warren, and Boles broke away. Shaw and Black pushed ahead the advantage and carried play to their opponent's territory. Rothery again broke away but the Hamilton full back saved well. A passing bout by the Maniapoto hacks saw Shaw beat a couple of men and make a good opening but Turei failed to take the pass. The pressure was kept up and another passing run in which the ball travelled quickly from Turei to Shaw to Rushford and on to Hikaka, saw the latter cross the line near the corner flag and score. The kick nt goal proved fruitless and the score stood Maniapoto 3, Hamilton nil. Hamilton livened up and rushed play to the local 25. Black relieved with a line kick and a i free kick to Maniapoto transferred I play to the visitors' goal line. Turei obtained a mark in a good position, and Rushford had a shot at goal but no score resulted. Loose play followed and Smith broke away with a run to the local 25. Matters looked serious when Shaw got back and stemmed the rush. Shortly afterwards Rushford

broke away with a good run, and barked up by Dewstow looked dangerous but the pass was mulled and the ball went into touch. From a serum in Hamilton 25 the ball wag heeled out to Black who sent it on to Dewstow on the blind side. The threequarter with a fine, dodgy run beat two men and scored Maniapoto's second try. Shaw's j attempt a goal fell short, 6—o. After | the kick off Hamilton broke away i from the line out and coming through i to the full back a score seemed imminent but Gray saved the situation. An exchange of kicks followed and Hamilton again broke away to the loca! line. Gray again came to the rescue with a good run and kick. At this point Dewstow had to retire with an injured leg, and Brown came on as full back, # Gray going up to threequartr-r. The forwards next broke away he-a 'ltd by Warren, Coles and Fuller. and Rothery made ground with a hi;_ r h kick. From a scrum close to the Hamilton goal Black got the leather and feinting to pass, cut in and beat the ; l opposing backs cleverly, the try being ; . obtained close to the uprights. Black converted making the scores 11- -0, ■ 1

just before the whistle blew for half ! time. j The second spell wa3 not so prolific ! of incident as the first. The hot pace in the early half had probably told its tai\ and matters slackened considerably. IJuwevcr. there were stirring should have scire 1 though at no t.'crarr: instead of kicking ran well up the a;.other loose rush looked like scorir.cr. Lut Rothery intervened and carried the bail back to Hamilton's 25. Good line kicking by the visiting backs gained ground, and the advantage being j

pushed home with a sweeping forward rush from a line out, a try resulted. The kick at goal though a good atsiie looked like scoring again, and scores: Maniapoto 16, Hamilton 3. Notes. j The game v.-as eupected to resolve j itself into a res: between the visiting ' backs and the local forwards but the : game hardly bore cut this opinion. In lar'y noticeable on ore or two cocaball among them and only had to beat one or two of their opponents to s:tr-:-. ;On the other har. -j the:r opr:r:::r:::e; i from scrum wcrk were not frccuor.t. i Their line kicking however was sound ; and frequently gained ground, sr.d as- ■ sisted their forwards. Ike visiting j pack was fairly solid End though :.itted against string opponents held its own well. There was little tcehc:sc in scrum work hut in Ifse rushes the home team she •.vet to advantage. Of the local backs Brown who came on as full back a:c:r Dewstcw g-t hurt played a sound game. He fiolf-d the ball really well and thtugk his kicks were not powerful they always found the line. He varied his play on one ] occasion by running and nassing to ' Hikaka. a derarturs v.hich almost led ito a try. The tkreequarters shaped ! very well. Hikaka who is always | dangerous near the line scored a try. j while Dewstow's try was a nne etriort. j and this player had hard luck in rei ceiving a tad hump. Jkcsltfcri's i kicking was usee':;!. Tore: at:: i'ltaw ! at five eighths did a great amcunt cf 1 open play and on cue occasitn uric .tie: the rushes, efficient manner.