SATURDAY'S GAMES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 250, 13 June 1932, Page 6

SATURDAY'S GAMES

WHAKA BEATS WAIKITE IN HARD FORWARD STRUGGLE REARGUARDS INDIFFERENT Good weather and ideal football conditions favoured the Rotorua Rugby Sub-Union in the inter-club competitions at Arawa Park on Saturday. The feature of the day was the WhakaWaikite clash and this game was followed by what must have been a record attendance for the season.' Although mediocre in the rear-guard play the game proved a desperate battle between two sets of battering forwards. The better condition of the Whaka team in the latter stages of the game, enabled them to win by six points to nil and maintain their unbeaten record for the season. In the other two senior games, interest was lacking and they attracted very small galleries. Rotoiti on No. 1 ground swamped Ngongotaha by 23 points to 3, while Hikuwai showed greatly improved form and registered their first win in the competitions by defeating a Kahukura scrateh fifteen by 24 points to 12, the score at halftime being 5 to nil in Hilcuwai's favour. In the junior grade, the Old Boys AHorohoro match proved a good even game for the wearers of the wh'ite jerseys are not giving the same display they showed earlier in the season, and on Saturday's play could consider themselves lucky to win by the narrow margin of three points .to nil. Kahukura added another link to their chain of wins by defeating Rotoiti by 14 points to 3. The combination of the Blue and Whites proved too strong for the team from across the lake. Old Boys B made another step toward capturing the wooden spoon by going .under to Waikite to the tune of 23 points to 3. ROTORUA Senior Whaka 6 v. Waikite 0. Hikuwai 24 v. Kahukura 12. Rotoiti 22 v. Ngongotaha 3. Junior Old Boys A 3 v. Horohoro 0. Kahukura 14 v. Rotoiti 3. Waikite 23 v. Old Boys B 3. High School 20 v. Ngongotaha 0. IN THE CENTRES AUCKLAND Grammar O.B. 9, beat Technical O.B. 8. University 3, beat Ponsonby 0. College Rifles 8, beat Grafton 3. Manukau 3, beat Training College 0. ' Otahuhu 19, beat Marist 0. WELLINGTON Eastbourne 15, beat Petone 9. Poneke 25, beat Berhampore 3. Hutt 17, beat Wellington 12. Athletic 11, beat Oriental 9. Old Boys 14, beat /Miramar 5. Marist 5, beat 'Varsity 0. CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch 11, beat Merivale 0. Sydenham 22, beat Old Boys 10. Athletic 13, drew with Linwood 13. 'Varsity 18, beat Albion 13. DUNEDIN Southern 20, beat Union 0. Dunedin 17, beat 'Varsity B 5. Alhambra 6, beat Pirates 5. 'Varsity A 14, beat Taieri 3. Kaikorai 20, beat Zingari 0. DISTRICT RESULTS OPOTIKI Old Boys 8, beat Country 0. Maori 6, beat City 0. Juniors. — Maori 14, beat Waioeka 6; Opotiki High School 41, beat Whakatane High School 0. TE PUKE Huimai 11? beat United 5. Maketu 36, beat Papamoa 3. Juniors. — United 6, drew with Huimai 6; Rangiuru 3, beat Stars 0. WHAKA 6 V. WAIKITE 0. Bustling forward play which became strenuous at times, dominated throughout the first half of the game, Waikite, content to play a spoiling game, gave the Whaka rearguard little chance to indulge in passing rushes, and although both sides had an equal share of the ball from the scrums and line outs, Waikite certainly had a big percentage of the territory. Many Infringements Occasional flashes of rearguard play by Hamiora, Waerea and Co. gave trouble to Waikite, but the advantage was often lost through infringements and lob passing. Had T. Thompson (Whaka's half-back) elected to let the ball out more often or punted over the scrum instead of trying to force his way through the opposing pack — as was continually the case in the first half — Whaka's scoring chances would have been better served. On two occasions when he did get the ball away, it proved very uncomfortable for Waikite, once when Morgan raced down the line finally being run out in the corner, and again when Waerea cut across beating four opponents, the ball going out 10 yards from the line. Fast following up by Rogers, Allen and Kensington was a big factor in keeping play in Whaka's 25, and this, together with a pack working as one man, compelled Whaka to force on three occasions. Mitchell, behind the scrum for Waikite served his inside backs well and was responsible for good defensive work. Several passing rushes started by him saw A. Mitchell, McRae and Papuni make^ great attempts to reach Whaka's line, McRae showing a fine penetrating run which often troubled the opposing defence. Whaka, however, always managed to get clear. Second Spell The second half opened with Whaka going to the attack, R. Thompson with the ball at the toe dribbling his way to Waikite's line where .hard _ scr ummaging 'ensued. 'G. Mitchell in possession came through the scrum and cleared his side with a good kick the; ball going out at halfway. A passing rush by Waikite's backs which A./ Mitchell, M. McRae and T. Morrison* handled saw the latter, by means of j a good kick, transfer play to Whaka's: : 25. Hamiora failed to field the balJ.j which was quickly smothered by the^j Waikite pack. Offside play by Wai- *

kite allowed their opponents to clear, play being returned to half-way. A good marlc by T. Morrison saw him find the line in the corner, Whaka again being in trouble. T. Thompson, who had been playing a sterling game cleared for his side with a well directed kick, and fast followipg up by R. Waerea and R. Thompson took play to Waikite's line where offside play by Waikite gave Hamiorg, a shot which just fell short. Another free kick to Wliaka, saw R. Waerea make a good attempt to open the scoring the ball again failing short. , . ^ •»_( Pace Telling It was apparent that the pace throughout the game was beginning to tell against Waikite, for their previous bustling tactics were losing snap enabling Whaka to use their backs to advantage. This resulted in Whaka making several excursions to Waikite's line but over-running passes and knocking on, nullified the efforts to score. A lot of bumping and offside play resulted in Waikite being penalised in front of the posts, and R. Waerea, with a fine effort, put the ball over, opening the scoring for his side. Whaka 3, Waikite 0. Sullivan who was playing full-back for Whaka in the second spell was responsible for stopping many rushes of the Waikite pack. Waikite had their chance to ev6n up in the latter stage of the game, but entirely failed to improve their position. Infringements by Whaka in their 25, gave Waikite a brace of free kicks in front of the posts. A. Mitchell and Haira each took a shot at goal but both failed to take advantage of good opportunities. A further penalty saw Kensington make a brilliant attempt from well out. It was evident from the play that Waikite were a beaten side and Hamiora soon put the result beyond doubt by scoring an excellent try behind the posts. The movement was a brilliant cut-in which completely out-manoeuvred the opposing backs' defence. The kick failed. Whaka now began to throw the ball about in their usual style, but time did not permit of any further score and the game ended at half-way with the scores Whaka 6, Waikite 0. Dr. W. S. Wallis had control of the game.