AN EVEN GAME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 585, 17 July 1933, Page 6

AN EVEN GAME

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL BEATS ROTORUA BY THREE POINTS HOME BACKS WEAK i The main attraction at Arawa Park on Saturday was the annual match between Hamilton High School and Rotorua High School. Hamilton scored a meritorious win after a hard even game by 11 points (a try, a converted try and a penalty) to eight (a penalty and a converted try). The teams were: — Hamilton: Gobby, Patterson, E. Tukere, Haycraft, R. Tukere', Boucher, Nolan, Kebble, Robertson, (Ryan, Robinson, Smith, Davenport, Shannon, D. Ellis. Rotorua: McRae, Cochrane, Matthews, Steele, Dawson, Hinton, Simpson, Tapsell, Robertson, Oulds, Munro, Raharoi, Paul, Christophers, Barber. High School had an off-day, the backs being especially disappointing in view of their good showing during the past few weeks. They appeared ito ?have slipped badly and the first half was a series of lost opportunities. There was no sting and very little determination about their play. They made all sorts of mistakes, yet at times showed flashes of what they could do. Nothing could have been better than Matthews' try after a brilliant run from his own twenty-five, while Steele made a determined effort to score, only to miss by inches. The ball was too greasy to handle well, and in the first spell, neither set of backs was seen to much advantage. The second half saw both sides opening up the play and throwing the leather about but the wet ball made it very difficult. However, there were bright flashes of form on both sides, Hamilton showing more cohesion and understanding than the home team. The brothers Tukere both played great games for Hamilton, although there was room for improvement in the play of the two wings, Patterson and Haycraft. Gobby, the Hamilton full-back, completely overshadowed McRae, and was as solid as a rock all through the game. He gdve the Rotorua backs an object lesson in line-kicbing, at which they were very weak. The Rotorua team still has a lot to learn. On Saturday's play they were not up to Auckland secondary school standard and will have to improve before they meet Takapuna Grammar on August 5. Simpson was the only consistent back for school and gave a very sound exhibition behind the serum. The main fault of the backs was a tendency to crowd each other. Steele was the main offender in this, and left Matthews very little room to work in, on the few occasions the ball did get past the secondfive eighth. Both Hinton and Dawson were hanging on and cutting in too much, instead of giving their threequarters a chance, thus throwing away several likely openings. The fast-breaking Hamilton forwards worried the home backs a lot and often had them completely disorganised. A bad fault was failure to go down on the ball when the visiting forwards were breaking through'. It was because of this that Hamilton got their first try.' There was not much to choose between the two packs oi' forwards. The Rotorua pack were out-weighed, but held their heavier opponents well, and • managed to get their fair share of the ball. Hamilton dominated the lineouts but were continually penalised for off-side and obstruction, especially in the second half. On defence, the Rotorua backs were good, particularly in the last fifteen minutes of the game, when the Tukere brothers were giving Rotorua some anxious moments. Dawson shone out in spoiling work among the opposing backs. The Play Hamilton kicked-off and carried play up field. School attacked in turn, Matthews kicking through and following up. Gobby took the ball well and found the line at half-way. After hard forward play in neutral territory, Hamilton took the ball up-field. From a scrum near Rotorua's line, the ball came back to Nolan who tried to force his way over, but was held up. Finally, Hinton cleared from a penalty. At this stage Hamilton were keeping Rotorua penned in their own territory and were winnlng most of the set scrums. IRtotorua pressed for a time, but R. Tukere sent them back to half-way with a good kick. A Hamilton player kicked through a gap and the ball went over Rotorua's line. Patterson followed up fast and beat Dawson for the ball. R. Tukere converted. Hamilton 5, Rotorua nil. School now attacked strongly, but the Hamilton defence was good and the backs could not get through. Fast following up by the Hamilton pack had Rotorua worried, but Christophers went down on the ball to be penalised right in front of the posts for holding on. Tukere's kick w-as just in_ side, and the half-time whistle sounded with the score: Hamilton 8, Rotorua nil. Second Spell High School attacked from the halfway kick, and hard play followed in Hamilton's .territory. A free-kick was awarded to Rotorua on the twenty-five line, and Christophers goaled. Hamilton 8, Rotorua 6. A strong passing rush by the visitors' backs ended when Haycraft was well tackled. Play was more open at this stage and there were some crisp movements by both sets of backs. From a scrum in Rotorua's twenty-five the home forwards hooked the ball, and Simpson sent his backs away. The ball went out to Matthews, who made a beautiful dash up-field with Steele in support. Side-stepping • Gobby's tackle, he scored near the posts. Christophers' kick was just inside the post. Hamilton 8, Rotorua 8. The excitement was now intense. From a forward scramible near the Rotorua line, Kebble snapped up the ball and went over in the corner. Tukere's kick went wide. Hamilton 11, Rotorua 8. Hamilton's superior weight was now beginning to tell. Robex*tson (Rotorua) was injured and had to go off, Murr-ay taking his place. Hamilton launched repeated attacks, but a dangerous situatdon was saved by a penalty to

Rotorua right on the goal-line. High School worked play back up-field, anu Steele put in a determined run up the line. He nearly went over, but was pulled down just short of the line. The final whistle went soon afterwards, with the scores: — Hamilton 11 Rotorua 8 Dr. W. S. Wallis was referee-.