RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 224, 16 May 1932, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S GAMES WHAKA PUTS UP CRICKET SCORE AGAINST . HIKUWAI WAIKITE DEFEAT NGONGOTAHA A further stage in the sertior and junior Rugby competitions was decided at Arawa Park 011 Saturday. Under ideal weather conditions some five hundred spectators turned out to witness the various matches and were rewarded with some keenly contested • games which, for club football, were above the usual standard. The feature of the day was Whaka senior's score against Hikuwai the former com piling 52 points to their opponents' 0. Whaka v. Hikuwai Backed by a strong wind, Hikuwai certainly had their share of the territory in ( the first spell of the game, and for this eredit must be given to N. McKinnon, the big Hikuwai forwai'd whose powerful kicking, helped by the wind, usually found the line in Whaka's 25. But to off set this Whaka hooked the ball whenever they wish xd and domineered in the lineouts. From the first score, early in the game, which started when Whaka's backs received from a lineout in their 25 enabling Waerea to dummy his way through the opposition and scor -■ well out, it was obvious that Hikuwai were up against a far superior side. Immediately following, Whaka scored their second try which also started from a lineout in their own 25 and ended in M. Morrison making a brilliant run of 50 yards, shaking off all opposition by sheer pace, and getting over in the corner. From then on, Whaka threw the ball about in great style and when the Kukume-Hamiora-Waerea trio got goI ing, tries came fast. Whaka's total S was 2G-0 at the conclusion of the first | half. Second Spell j Although Hikuwai in the second spell, fared no better from the seorI ing point of view, several changes made during the interval improved the side and enabled them to make a better showing, and on two occasions they were unlucky not to score. However, Whaka kept the game interesting with many spectacular passjing rushes. The ball at times traveljled the length of the field, 'each nfan jconiing around for the return pass, land by this method they added ani other 26 points to their half-time [score. | For the winners, tries were gained [by Waerea (3), M. Morrison (3), [livan (2), Hamiora (2) and Kukume land Leonard one each. I Hamiora converted four, Sullivan j Itwo, B. Kukume one and B. Waerea j lone. I The third of the senior fixtures saw j |a hard fought game between Kahu- j Ikura and Rotoiti, in which the final j iscore of 11 — 6 in favour of Kahuikura fairly indicated the margin be- | feween the two teams. The superior 1 Irearguard combination of Kahukura j Kffset the more rugged play of the j Rieavy Rotoiti forwards. B Waikite v. Ngongotaha ! ■: The match between Waikite (yel- j ■ow and black) and Ngongotaha ! wblack and white) was perhaps the i Kiost interesting game of the day to Eyatch. Ngongotaha fielded a slightKjr superior pack, but owing to a Rreakness in their inside backs were wadly handicapped, and by employ- j Big an open style of play, and throw- j Hhg the ball about well, Waikite manKged to carry off the victory by 17 Bfive tries, one converted) to 10 (two Hpnverted tries) . Play in the first half Bas very even, and mostly confined B) the forwards, so that at half-time j Be score was only 3 — 0 in favour of Baikite. In the second half, howjjajyer, the Waikite backs saw more of ! Be ball, and by throwing it about | Bth a will, soon ran up a lead of B points. BWaikite kicked off against the sun, Bt with a strong wind behind their Btcks. A period of even play folBwed vound about half-way, with i Bjither side gaining the advantage. Born a scrum near half-way, the j Hgongotaha half-back secured and : Hc ball went out to Martin at cen- ! B/ who short punted. Bad defence ! &B(1 fumbling by the Waikite rear- j BKard allowed the Ngongotaha for- i MBrds to take the ball down the field, | &St a good scoring opportunity was i ■t, when the ball went out near •fikite's line.

3B Waikite's First Score ^KFhe first score came as the result good piece of passing by WaijBr; From a scrum in Ngongotaha |Britory Hulton, the Waikite half, wRained possession, and set his backs IBRnotion. The ball went out to Moron the wing, who dashed up Vpnc to score in the corner. The §» failed. Waikite three, NgongofiB nil. ^ngongotaha now penned their op^H^nts in their own 25 for some flB and Waikite had to defend stubSBly to pievent Ngongotaha f/?om n»ag. At one timo Waikite were ^ngd right back on their goal line, ^^>the situation was saved when half-back fought his way ■Hpgh the opposing pack, and sent ^■Jhall out. Half time came with ^^■hange in the score. fl^fethe second half, Waikite came W attack with renewed vigour, sj^Bplay remained in Ngongotaha's :BKpr a period, with frequent atBHp to score by Waikite. Erom a Waikite hooked the ball, and ^n^ along their baek line to 'wlio made a splendid opening BBpassed to Davis near the corner. j^Batter crossed Ngongotaha's line, jj^nound, and grounded under the Morrison made no mistake JHntbe kick. Waikite eight, Ngonmma nil. '■jnpm the kiek-off, the Waikite pack the ball down the field again Passing rush was instituted in ^^Bopponents' 25, M. McRae crossjBB&l16, near the. corner to score s third try. The angle provgaeat for Morrison. Waikite j^^Hgongotaha nil. jgjSK Lead Increased ^Bfejng°taha were still being held |^Kr own territory, and after some

even play, Waikite secured possession from a line-out, and Martin McRae j broke through with the ball, closely i followed by Morrison. McRae transj ferred to Morrison, who returned the I pass after a spectacular dash down ' the field. McRae eluded an opposing ! back and made a successful dive for I the goal line. Manahi made a great I attempt to goal, but the ball just j fell short. Waikite 14, Ngongotaha nil. During the last ten minutes of the game, Ngongotaha made a valiant effort to reduce the margin, and scored two tries in rapid succession. The Ngongotaha pack battled gamely and Waikite were continually on the defensive. After some strenuous play near Waikite's line, several of the Ngongotaha back line participated in a good passing movement, Martin scoring under the posts. Yates con- ! verted. Waikite 14, Ngongotaha five. Almost immediately, Ngongotaha swept the ball up the field again. They had the wind to help them, and the sun had by now set. There was i a period of scrummaging within a few yards of Waikite's line, Young finally going over well out. Yates again converted with a great kick, amid the wild excitement of the Ngongotaha supporters. Waikite 14, Ngongotaha 10. In the last half minute of play, the Waikite pack swept down the field, and the issue was put beyond doubt, when Allen scored in the corner, The kick failed. Immediately afterwa,rds the final whistle went, making the score, Waikite 17, Ngongotaha 10. Mr. L. Dixon was the referee. Saturday 's results were: — Seniors Kahukura 11, Rotoiti *6. Whaka 52 v. Hikuwai 0. Waikite 17 v. Ngongotaha 10. Juniors Kahukura 0 v. Old Boys A 0. Whaka 14 v. Waikite 0. Rotoiti 3 v. Horo Horo 0. Ngongotaha 25 v. Old Boys> B 0.