SATURDAY'S MATCHES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 531, 15 May 1933, Page 6

SATURDAY'S MATCHES

BRIGHT FOOTBALL STAGED f AT ARAWA ) PARK j ' IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARD ) The standard of 'Rugby served up > to the spectators at Arawa Park on ' Saturday was an improvement on fprevious games. In the senior grade the Rotoiti- Waiariki match was a j 'keenly co.ntested match with a draw -'as the result. Waikite, However, proved too good for Whaka and scored :by a big margin of points. The junior games were well con- • \tested and particularly in the Old 'Boys A-Rotoiti A game both sides , flung the ball about.making the play ^interesting to watch. ROTOITI AND WAIARIKI DRAW , The Rotoiti v. Waiariki senior clash was a case of :a strong pack against ' a better set of backs and ia draw was / a fair indication of the game. 1 From the kick-off Waiariki took up ' the offensive after a series of midfield scrums in which several collapses occurred. Speeulators by backs on | both sides -saw Waiariki in the black zone and when Garry fumbled it look- ! ed as if the Greens would score but Vercoe relieved the pressure. It was only~fnomentary for the Green pack swept into action and fed their left wing only to cross the line and lose ' ■the ball into touch in goal. From the | drop, Rotoiti took up the attack and thanks. to an advantage in an exchange of kicks between the two full i backs worked down to half way where Vercoe set the Black backs function- , ing, all handling until a dropped pass gave a respite and a free to Waiariki for offside gave them a chance to (

elear which was missed through overeagerness. Heke marked for Rotoiti but his kick went wide and Sullivan put in a punt which did not find the line, and was snapped up by a Black three-quarter and a passing rush resulted in Len Mackie opening Rotoiti's account. The. kick was feeble. Rotoiti 3, Waiariki nil. Rotoiti were heai-tened by this success and kept up a series of attacks through their back line twice going near scoring, once, more pai'ticularly Avhen Mackie exploited a cross kick reminiscent of Mark Nicholls and Freddie Lucas in the Test at Auckland but the defence held and Waiariki forced. Then the Greens took up the offensive and, working their pack with dribbling rushes, had Rotoiti sternly defending. Twice the Green backs were all but over but strong scrummaging held them after they had nearly notched tries. Vercoe was again in the limelight when he cleared and Garry was unlucky when a fair catch was missed. However the side got out of it all right :a.nd the lemon time came with the score unaltered. After the resumption up and down play followed foh a while both sides being in attacking positions in turn, but lack of finish seeing the movements break down. Twice Sullivan set the Greens on attack but too much kicking saw the openings missed and the chances degenerate into scrummaging. Once Greens crossed the line but were reealled for a forward pass. The change in the tide came when P. Cooper bullocked through a loose ruck and sent to Hulton who drew the defence and sent out but the pass was wild and the movement broke down when it looked most promising. Blacks then launched attack after attack, all of which broke down through faulty handling and passes sent at the attacker's feet and from one of these the Greens centre three-quarter intercepted and set a movement going which resulted in Green going over finding the defence out of position and scoring for Waiariki. The kick was wide. Waiariki 3, Riotoiti 3. Overeagerness now became manifest by the number of free kicks against each side for offside play and scrum infringements and the Greens had a sitting shot from a penalty which went wide. In the last few minutes the Blacks swep't to the attack and could do everything but score, slinging thd ball about in fine style. The ' defence was too solid and Dr. Wallis's whist'le closed a drawn game. The standard of Rugby shown was a definite improvement on former games and was fast and open. Waikite 32 v. Whaka 6 On No. 2 ground Waikite easily defeated the Whaka fifteen by scor•'ing 32 points to their opponents' 6. 'Although the losers failed to cross 'their opponents' line (Whaka's points /being the result of a brace of free 'kicks) nevertheless the game was fast and full of incident and at times some interesting f ootball was witnessed. For the first twenty minutes from /the kick-off a fast pace was set, good movements being spoilt by infringements. Offside play by Waikite gave their opponents the chance. to open : ■the scoring and Hamiora assisted by /the wind, made no mistake with the [kick. Whaka 3, Waikite Nil. Shortly after Whaka infringe3 and 'Waikite evened up the score by the same method. Waikite 3, Whaka 3. From the halfway kick play was taken to Whaka's 25 where from a scrum Waikite started a back passing rush, McRae finishing off a nice movement by scoring behind the posts. T. Morrison converted. Waikite 8, Whaka 3. Another good passing rush by the. Waikite rearguard starting from halfway completely broke u^ the opposition's defence T. Morrison in possession cutting in to • score wide out. The. kick failed. ^ Waikite Ti, Whaka 3. ( A disorganisation of the Waikite- ]

pack allowed their opponents to break through with the ball at the toe, A. Kepa starting a passing rush which went across the field, the ball going out 10 yards* from Waikite's line. From the ensuing line-out play veered to the centre of the field, where offside play by Waikite saw Hamiora gain three points with a good kick. Waikite 11, Whaka 6. A combined forward movement by Whaka again took play to their opponents' 25. Davis received the ball from a short kick by Kukume and with a nice kick turned defence into attack. Play was taken to Whaka's 25 where a Waikite rush tSrminated with James knocking on within a few yards of the line. From the scrum Whaka hooked, but Thompson failed to hold the ball and Motu snapped up from the loose and dived across the line to score a good try alongside the posts. T. Morrison ad'ded the points. Waikite 16, Whaka 6. The score remained unaltered at halftime. Immediately on resuming Waikite attacked strongly with a dribbling rush, taking play to their opponents' line and Oneone gaining possession scrambled over in the corner. M&nahi's attempt with the kick from a bad angle was unsuccessful. Waikite 19, Whaka 6. From now on the result was beyond doubt, and although Whaka made several excursions to their opponents' 25 Waikite threw the ball about in great style and were at no time hard pressed. The next score started in Whaka's 25, McRae making the opening for M. Morison to score behind the posts, T. Morrison adding the 'minor points. Waikite 24, Whaka 6. .From a scrum in Whaka's 25 Mitchell initiated a passing rush the ball going to T. Morison who with a smart run took play to within five yards of the line before transferring to James who knocked the ball on. From the ensuing scrum the ball went out to James who raced over to score in the corner. The kick failed. Waikite 27, Whaka 6. The final try started from a scrum at half way, the ball travelling to McRae, to (T. Morison to James back .to Morison the latter kicking the ball over the heads of the opposing [backs but James was too slow in following up and in a race for the ball was beaten by a Whaka [player who was compelled to force. Waikite gained the ball from the drop out, and T. Morrison cross-kicked the ball being gathered up by M. Morrison who outpaced the opposition to score behind the posts. McRae made no mistake with the kick. Waikite 32, Whaka 6, was the final score. Mr. L. Clarke had control of the game. Junior Games In the junior grade some very good games were witnessed. Both '.Old Boys A and Whaka registered big scores against their respective [opponents. High School suffered defeat at the hands of Awahou after having the better of the play, during most of the game, but in the latter , stages the school pack could not ,stand up against their heavier opponents, Awahou taking the lead to -■win by three points. The defeat of /Kahukura caused a bit of a surprise •to the blue and white supporters, but the usual combination among the /backs was missing, the score being a 'fair indication of the day's play. Wai- / kite backs proved too good for the t Utahina rearguard, although the \score, 15 — 0, was not the margin between the teams.