Football.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 304, 5 September 1929, Page 8

Football.

WAIKATO v. CANTERBURY. Brilliant, Fast Game. Won By Waikato. The Waikato and Canterbury ! liugby fifteens met for the first | time in football history at Hamilton | on Monday, and provided the best | homo representative game of the ! season. Admittedly neither team was at full strength, but both were prepared to make it open. Waikato 1 had an advantage of weight, particu- | larly in the forwards, and were much j faster in the latter department. The j Canterbury backs played the passing I game for all it was worth, but there j was nothing original in their attack, j Towards the end of the game the I ■visitqpsl- passing was wild and someaimless. Waikato lost Thomas early in the game, the Morrinsville player having to leave the field through a head injury. He was replaced by Delaney, who was a good substitute. In the latter stages of the game the home rover, Chapman, had to leave the field and was not replaced. Canterbury were a little unlucky on several occasions, but really lost the game through infringing the rules. The teams were:— Canterbury (scarlet and black). — Backs: T. Mullan, G. Hart, J. Harris, W. Merritt, G. limes, D. Hav; T. Hodgkinson; rover, G. Scrimshaw; forwards, T. Manning, T. Robinson, J. Manchester, J. T. Burrows (captain), W. Thompson, A. Carson, J. Kirkland. Waikato (red, yellow and black). —Backs: Thomas, Anderson, Kemp, Allen, St. George, Fitzgerald, A. Buckingham; rover, Chapman; forwards, Scott, Hooper, Simpson, Halstead, A. Cameron, V/. Bourke, P. Kelk.

Mr. S. E. Senior was referee. Conforming to the wishes of Canterbury the game was of two spells of 45 minutes. The opening exchanges were marked by a good line kick by Thomas. Within a minute the visiting backs worked back with some sparkling combined work, and Merritt got over right on the flag. The kick was ruled out. Canterbury 3, Waikato 0. From the kick Buckingham electrified the crowd with a dodgy run through the centre to get within a couple of yards of the black line. The pass went astray, and Anderson kicked to touch m goal. Waikato came again, and Canterbury were penalised for picking out of the scrum. Halstead evened the scores. Waikato 3, Canterbury 3. Waikato Ascendant. The game continued fast, and Hal- * stead caught a rebound to get well into the vis! 1,(17'::’ 25. Kemp came up unmarked, but knocked on a good pass. It was a golden opportunity thrown away. The score was only delayed, however, for after the resulting scrum Anderson gathered in the loose to dive over.

Waikato 6, Canterbury 3. Thomas and St. George were called upon to stop visiting attacks. Hodgkinson opened nicely on the blind side and sent Innes and Hart away. Anderson missed the latter, who punted, and Thomas misjudged the ball but Fitzgerald was there to force. The Canterbury score came almost immediately from Scrimshaw, the Canterbury rover, who gathered in the loose and outpaced the opposition. Merritt put the visitors ahead by converting.

Canterbury 8, Waikato 6. t Thomas was knocked out with a head injury, but continued on coming to. The only pronounced superiority of the visitors to this stage was in the line out work. The Canterbury backs were handling well, but the movements were orthodox and were not getting them very far. Waikato Again in Lead. Waikato got to the attack again by a kick and follow by Thomas, and Halstead landed a penalty goal from within five yards of halfway to put Waikato ahead again. Waikato 9, Canterbury 8. The home forwards were playing great football in the loose and made frequent incursions. The visiting forwards were penalised for disobeying the referee, and Halstead had another kick which was successful. Waikato 12, Canterbury 8. Buckingham next sent the home team to the Canterbury 25 with a clever kick. From tile line out Canterbury infringed, but Halstead sent across. Waikato 21, Canterbury 17. a

Thomas Retires. At this stage Thomas went oif, being replaced by Delaney. Harris next broke away to get to the Waikato full, Delaney, but his pass was intercepted by Halstead. Hay then marked in good position, but his kick at goal fell short. It was still a good, even game, with neither side making many mistakes. The next score came from halfway, where St. George gathered and cut in to pass to Buckingham, who beat Hay and sent to W. Bourke. Buckingham came on the outside to get Bourke’s j pass and send to Anderson, who got j over near the corner. The kick failed.

Waikato 15, Canterbury 8. The next score came to Canterbury. Hay put in a good' kick to touch within a couple of yards of the Waikato line. From the line out Innes took a brilliant one-hand pass and dived for the line, but fell short. Canterbury touched down, but were called back for a knock-on. From the scrum, however, Manning hustled his way through. Canterbury 11, Waikato 15.

St. George put in a nice cut through the centre, but was unsupported. Canterbury went to the attack and secured a further score through Merritt intercepting. He ran to Anderson to pass to Innes, but the Morrinsville threequarter got Innes also. The latter got his pass in to Scrimshaw, who touched down under the posts. The sitter failed. Canterbury 14, Waikato 15.

Waikato worked down immediately after half-time, the backs putting in some nice passing work. Mullan was now playing half for Canterbury, with Harris fullback, Hodgkinson on the wing and Mefritt centre The wind was now 'with the visitors. Canterbury made an incursion into V/aikato’s territory through a clever kick by Harris, but Bourke and Halstead cleared to halfway. Hart went away on the other wing, but his punt was taken by A. Camefon, who marked. The visitors were penalised when nicely placed, but Kelk sent them back with a well-judged kick to the line. On the other wing Delaney had to speculate to stop three black backs. Mullan next essayed a drop which went wide. The game was still fast and Canterbury were using the wind, but the home hacks were fielding well, and there was little advantage. Hart again put in a nice run, bqt Delaney got him near the Waikato line and Buckingham cleared. After some midfield exchanges Simpson was penalised for offside and Robinson sent the visitors well down into Waikato’s 25. St. George, Chapman and Buckingham were prominent in play which went to halfway.

Keen and Level Pla3 T . With half an hour of the spell gone play was still of a very even character. The home forwards were following fast, whilst with few exceptions the tackling was good. Both teams were making it open. Harris attempted a drop from near halfway, but was short. Hart then worked the grandstand wing and short-punted to within feet of Waikato’s line. Canterbury were penalised from the serum and Waikato cleared to halfway.

A Hot Attack. Canterbury now set up a hot attack, Hay and Merritt and Hart being prominent in several moves. When blocked Merritt kicked and a Waikato back sent into the dead ball area. Play was ultimately transferred, Anderson breaking away. 1-Ie was beaten foi pace by Harris and kicked, but the Canterbury player beat him again and forced. A moment afterwards Kemp marked and put Waikato further head with a goal. Waikato 18, Canterbury 14.

Play went from end to end at a fast' rate until a halt was called for a hurt to Kelk, who had been playing great football. Fitzgerald was penalised for obstruction, and Merritt narrowly missed the posts. St. George cleared to halfway, and Simpson continued on with robust play. • Canterbury’s Wild Passing. The Canterbury backs were still passing at every opportunity, but the passes were not now so accurate as in the earlier stages, and Waikato were profiting. Another score came to Waikato from combined work by Fitzgerald and Buckingham. The latter passed to Kelk, who bustled down and sent to Kemp, who cut inside two men to score. Waikato 21, Canterbury 14. A minute before close Anderson nussed his man and Hart got over. The kick, which failed, closed the match.

\ WAIKATO UNION.

Committee Meeting. A committee meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union was held on Friday evening, Mr. T. B. Booth presiding. There were present: Messrs. F. Udy and Whitny (Hamilton), Chapman (Putaruru), Mclntyre (Morrinsville), Yardley (Matamata), Quin (Waipa), Clarkin (Raglan), Cooper (Referees’ Association), Speight (treasurer) and Thompson (secretary).

Referees’ Reports. A report was received from Mr. Freeman (Waipa), who refereed the Finlay Cup game Matamata v. Cambridge. It was decided to write to the referee thanking him for the report, and to the Waikato Referees’ Association pointing out that it was seldom referees complied with the rules in respect to reports o-f representative matches, and asking it to instruct referees on the matter. Clarke Cup.

The Waipa Union wrote protesting against the holders of the Clarke Cup (Waipa) being drawn to play away matches. It was, suggested the union, an unheard of thing. Mr. Quin said he had to admit his union had made a mistake. It had Looked upon the cup as a challenge trophy, not as a kncck-out championship. Mr. Booth said Hamilton had since waived the result of the draw for venue, and had intimated that it would visit Te Awamutu for the next round.

Mr. Yardley questioned Hamilton’s position in the event of it winning the Waipa match. Hamilton would then have to play both its matches away. He would like to know whether the Hamilton Union was looking forward to having the final at home.

The Hamilton delegates assured Mr. Yardley that this aspect liad not entered into their minds. The venue for the final game would be decided by drawing. On the suggestion of the Matamata ,-Union it was decided that in fu .urc if any teams in this competition were level at the call of time two extra ten minute spells be played. Earlier Annual Meeting.

Mr. Chapman drew attention to the intention of the New Zealand Rugby Union to hold its annual meeting earlier—before Easier —nex: year, in view of the tour of the English team, and suggested that Waikato and the sub-unions should do likewise. It was decided to write to all sub-unions asking them to hold their annual meetings before the end of March next. Injured Players. At the request of Mr. Chapman, the selector furnished a record of the number of games »played by the respective Waikato players on the recent tour.

Mr. Chapman said it was remarkable the number of players who were leaving the field for injuries. He drew attention to a certain representative match last season when visiting players had left the field, being replaced and then gone on agan. The time was arriving when New Zealand unions would have to take, up a united attitude regarding replacements. It was a singular fact that when replacements were not allowed few men left the field. He thought there were too many going off with minor hurts. The speaker concluded by stating that he would support any movement made to bar replacements.

Ground Rent. At the request of Mr. Yardley the secretary was asked to furnish information regarding the arrangement between the Hamilton sub-union and the Waikato Union for the use of Rugby Park. The chairman incidentally asked whether members had ever considered purchasing a freehold ground under joint control.

■ Mr. Yardley: How can you purchase a ground when you wagte money on extensive tours of the East Coast ? I have been at you always to conserve your funds. Mr. Whiting also commended the suggestion to members’ notice. it was explained that the difference was that in a return match Waikato would have to pay its own expenses, whereas the holders recompensed the challengers in a shield match. Continuing, Mr. Yardley said Waikato had always repaid its visits and would eventually return to Wairarapa. The relationship between the two unions had always been amicable and he could not comprehend what was behind Wairarapa’s attitude. The officials of that union must have known that Waikato had undertaken a tour this year and could not be expected to make a second.

Messrs. Chapman and Mclntyre suggested that it should be made quite plain to Wairarapa that it had not been Waikato’s intention to send any old team down. The challenge would only have been gone on with if a reasonable Waikato team could be assembled. On the motion of Messrs. Chapman and Booth it was decided to write to the Wairarapa and New Zealand unions, stating that circumstances had arisen which prevented Waikato sending a challenge team away, at the same time entering an emphatic protest against the game being made a return fixture instead of a challenge match.

RANFURLY SHIELD. Waikato Challenge Withdrawn. Protest Against Holders’ Action At Friday’s meeting of the Waikato Rugby Union a long discussion took place regarding Waikato’s challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. In reply to a direct question by Mr. Chapman, Mr. Cooper, the Waikato selector, said he would be unable to get anything near his best team away for the match owing to injuries and the heavy season. The best team he could pick under the circumstances “ would not have a dog’s chance.” Mr. Yardley suggested that, apart from the possibilities of the team, the Waikato union should voice a protest at the treatment meted out I by the Wairarapa and New Zealand | unions. Both unions had accepted the match as a challenge fixture in the first instance and then altered it to a return match with the shield involved.

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY. Stars Have Retired. A Rugby .correspondent, writing from South Africa, says:—Bennie Osier, Dr. J. Van Druten and Tom Kruger, who played in the Test matches here against the All Blacks, have retired from the game, although it is thought that Osier and Van Druten will turn out before very long. There have been rumours that Stanley Osier’s injuries will prevent his playing for all time. It is sincerely hoped not, for his is a very popular little fellow.

Disturbance Recorded. As a result of a disturbance at Johannesburg in a recent match, two South African representatives, D. Devine and N. Pretoria, have been suspended for two months. Wentzel, captain of the “ Diggers,” was also stood down for four weeks. The other twenty-seven players engaged in the match were not penalised. The affair was looked upon as one of the most disgraceful chapters of Transvaal Rugby.