Peace Cup.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 303, 29 August 1929, Page 8

Peace Cup.

, Matamata’s Challenge Fails. Hamilton 18, Matamata 11. The' attendance at Rugby Park, Hamilton for the Peace , Cup game between Matamata and the holders (Hamilton) was the largest for a sub-union game for a considerable period. There was a large contingent from Matamata and. a good following from Morrinsville ( and Cambridge, apart from Hamilton supporters, present. As the game openit seemed that the Hamilton backs would take charge of it—for "the first ten minutes they did. Prom that out it was a case of opportunities. Matamata had their share of the game and had opportunities to win; but Hamilton were the better in team work. Matamata made mistakes, the most cardinal of which was bad tackling early in the game and it cost them the cup. Tfiere were three sparkling stars in the game, Vosper, St. George and Carroll. Hamilton got a nine point lead early, all tries, which might have been stopped in the early stages had the Matamata backs dropped on ■ the hall. From this out the game was anyone’s, although Hamilton had a lead throughout. The fast pace was maintained through the final quarter, and both teams were likely to score, but Matamata had the upper hand. There is a question as to whether it would not have been better from the Matamata point of view to Have given the forwards a chance from two penalties instead of giving Carroll kicks at goal. Had both the latter come ■off, Matamata would still have been down on the board. The teams were:— Hamilton (yellow and black). — Fullback, Delaney; threequarters, Allen, Everest, I. Johnston; fiveeighths, St. George, J. R. Fitzgerald; half, Mitchell (captain); rover, Chapman; forwards, Scott, Hooper, Reynolds, Halstead, Bajdy, Charleston, Waters. Matamata (black). r Fullback, Stewart; threequarters, H. ICneebone, Vosper, C. Fausctt; fiveeighths, Egan, Carroll; half, Ake; rover, Story; forwards, Stevenson, Aoake, Simpson, Syme, Elisor (captain), Higgins, Flutey. f : Mr; C\N. Rabone was referee. The game opened with some bright passing movements by the Hamilton backs, but they were stopped for offside, and Egan sent right into the home 25 with a line kick. Matamata worked the line, but Aoake was caught lifting in a subsequent scrum I and the Hamilton forwards took play j to the other end. The ball came to j the Hamilton backs, and in a loosq | passinfi game Allen ultimately re- ] ceived and got over. Halstead’s kick -went across.

Hamilton 3, Matamata 0. Matamata went down on t , le sumption, but Ake miss- a . ball and Egan was too J ow to it and Hamilt" were again let into the black gt _ George worked a good which ul _ timately broke by offside. The Hamilton handling particularly - 3$ tjjfe stage and Reynolds Jfirew away a certain try throu •apparently thinking he was A. of the line. The Hamilton P inyrr was wer hut threw out a pass, which Stewart forced. The Matamata forwards then took a hand and Egan from halfway put in a beautiful line kick to within a few yards of the Hamilton line. From a scrum close in a Matamata forward kicked to the dead ball line. Stewart then put in some very clever work, going through at least six oppoenets to send Story, Vosper and Carroll on a mission. The last man to handle was well tackled by Everest. Matamata were now working better together and the backs were showing spasms of brilliancy. The next exciting piece of play was a smart send away by Mitchell to St. George to Everest to Johnston. Stewart got to the latter but Everest got his pass in and it took a great tackle by Vosper to stop St. George scoring. Play was in neutral territory when the quarter time bell was sounded. Egan put Matamata well on the attack with a clever line kick, but a short punt of Ake’s was charged down by Halstead. The black forwards worked down the centre again, and Ensor, Aoake and Stevenson 1 were all beaten by the bounce when on the Hamilton line. It was fast football and the concerted Hamilton back movements were stopped. Carroll had a kick at the Hamilton upI rights which just fell short, and then St. George had to put in some good work to keep the black forwards out. The next real Hamilton attack came from the yellow backs, through Fausett letting Allen through. The winger was stopped tty Stewart, but from the ensuing movement Mitchell intercepted to pass to.. Everest to 1 Johnston, who in-passed to St. George, who get over. The kick failed.

Hamilton 6, Matamata 0. Matamata were playing better than the score indicated, the challenging backs individually showing more initiative, but the riipvernents were not anything like exact, Matamata had not secured from a scrum up to this period. Ip loose play Matamata again got to the attack and Carroll had another lack from near halfway which just prent wide. Matamata had a let off a few moments later through an intercept tion by Chapman. He short punted to beat Stewart and just failed to stead the ball with three Matamata backs in attendance. The next Hamilton score was not long in coming, however. Carroll missed his ball and Halstead picking up caught the black backs out of position.. The big forward had Chapman in attendance, but dummied Stewart to get over at the corner. His kick failed. Hamilton 9, Matamata 0. Matamata were holding their opponents in midfield at half-time. A further score came to the holders within the second minute of the restart. Ake threw out a bad pass which on the bounce beat Vosper and Carroll. St. George following fast just beat Stewart to the ball. Halstead again failed. Hamilton 12, Matamata 0. From the kick off Vosper gained possession and cut clean through the defence to open a straight run in for Kneebone, who got over at the corner Carroll’s kick crossed the posts. The try was a gem from Vosper—one of those the crowd had been waiting for. Matamata 3, Hamilton 12. The challengers made play immediately from the kick off and Delaney had to kick over to the back street behind his own goal line to stop three Matamata forwards. The pressure was kept up from the five yards scrum and Hamilton were penalised. Carroll fulfilled | his trust with a goal. 1 Matamata 6, Hamilton 12. Hamilton temporarily got down, 1 but Fausett transferred with a smart pick-up and line kick to send play into the yellow 25. Matamata were having much the better of matters until Mitchell sent two backs away on the far wing, but Vosper got St. George to push him into touch. From the line nut Mitchell gathered in the loose, sent to Allen to Chapman, who dropwed over. Mitchell failed with the kick. Hamilton 1,5, Matamata 6. The next scoring chance was

;,° a ' .aat'a with a penalty, but the g ***, ‘ ad Under ” was too strong, and Je-'orge cut in beautifully in his n half with a clear run. He Jsiawed, however, that he was not feast. He had backs waiting for the pass and sent it out to Everest, who 1 dropped it. It was a gift thrown away. Stewart gathered and sent to near halfway.. Story was then penalised and Mitchell had a kick which fell short as the three-quarter time bell sounded.

Hamilton 15, Matamata 6. Early in the last quarter Aoake and Simpson headed a forward movement, but Delaney twice made good saves. The game was still keen and Stewart was called upon at the other end, but he had plenty of time and came through the centre. Egan continued on but kicked across to the Hamilton wing. Carroll next took a penalty which went well wide. Then came the most brilliant try of the day, which was from Ake’s best pass. He sent out smartly to Carroll, who cut in to the fullback to send to Vosper, who beat Everest to run round and score. Carroll converted.

Matamata 11, Hamilton 15. At near Halfway St. George essayed a drop at goal but sent well across. Stevenson headed Matamata back and Carroll had another kick, but sent it into Halstead’s hands. Matamata were doing all the attacking and Carroll again failed at goal. T t went to the other end from a brilliant run by Allen. Vosper go.t his man, but the holders secured from the line out. Then followed a scrum from which Mitchell was protected by Halstead to score. Allen failed to improve and the scores were: Hamilton 18, Matamata 11.

Matamata had a further chance with a brilliant cut in by Carroll, but he was called hack for a throw forward. The game was still fast and Everest ran right up to Stewart to short punt, but the fullback was able to get hack. Hamilton now took on 'one kicking and play was in midfield at the end with the scores:— Hamilton 18, Matamata 11.