Sport in the Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 124, 16 August 1927, Page 12

Sport in the Province

(From THE SUN’S Correspondent)

HAMILTON JUST WINS IN PEACE CUP MATCH SATURDAY’S GAME REVIEWED In a hard-fought game on a slippery ground at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Saturday, Morrinsville nearly effected a surprise in the Peace Cup match, when Hamilton had a close call and only retained the trophy by three points to nil. The teams were about evenly matched, and if there was any disparity in weight the advantage rested with Morrinsville whose forwards showed a partiality for the loose work and were associated in some sweeping rushes. Hamilton had the better of the tight play and the hookers got more than their share of the ball. The Morrinsville backs showed themselves to be speedy and resourceful. Clemett scored the try which gave Hamilton its win in the third quarter, but the issue was in doubt until the end, and the game might just as easily have favoured Morrinsville. Indeed, the challengers would have got no more than their due if they had returned home with the trophy. INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS At fullback for Hamilton Badeley acquitted himself well, his kicking being as consistent as ever. An element of luck enters into his play, however, and his clearances are sometimes remarkable. S. Thomas, his vis-a-vis, was his superior on the day's play, and the Morrinsville fullback gave a good exhibition. While a choice is sometimes difficult when relative merits are considered, lie seems to be Waikato’s best fullback. Clemett, as wing three-quarter for Hamilton, played an excellent game. His forceful running often carries him across where others would fail. Kemp, as the Hamilton centre, was as full of enterprise as ever, and played cleverly. He handled nicely and made some good openings. With him was associated Fitzgerald, the second fiveeighths, who also acquitted himself well. F. Buckingham appears to be a little stale. On Saturday’s display lie was nothing to enthu&e about, and Rugby followers would like to see him reproduce his old form. Dil Carter was responsible for a lot of good work and defended well. He, with Tuck and Fitzgerald, had a hard row to hoe with the Morrinsville forwards sweeping through consistently, but he got the ball away as smartly as could be expected. Playing at a disadvantage owing to an injured leg, Tuck stuck to an unenviable task behind the Hamilton scrum with great gameness and battled hard against the Morrinsville forwards. Tlie Hamilton rover, Bayly, played a good game, while the forwards were a hard-working pack, with little to choose among them. Scott and Charleston were conspicuous in the loose work and followed up well, while Courtney, Montgomery, W. Christie, Bincham, and Ardern, were in the thick of the fray, Boneham doing well in the tight, while Courtney’s solid bulk was very handy in initiating rushes. MORRINSVILLE STARS The Morrinsville backs must be given credit for a very sound defence, and were capable on attack. The fiveeighths, Anderson and C. Cameron, did all that was expected of them, while the three-quarter line played with dash. K. Campbell was in particularly good form and made some nice runs. He caused some excitement once when Roach sent him away in a fast swerving run to beat Buckingham badly and come to earth within a few feet of Hamilton’s line in an attempt to hurdle Badeley. The outstanding player on the field was Roach, who gave a finished exhibition behind the Morrinsville scrum. He is entitled to catch the eye of the Waikato selector. The Morrinsville pack was a hot one and made some great rushes. F. Thomas played a very solid game for the challengers, while Welch and Haycock were prominent in a good set of forwards. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL The semi-final of the junior championship provided a great struggle between Hamilton High School and Marists. School led by six points at one stage. Pratt kicking two good penalty goals, but Clarkin goaled for Marist and fast play followed until Marist obtained a converted try almost on time, giving it the lead by 8 points to 6. High School suffered a severe loss early in the second spell, when O. Morgan, the speedy winger, was compelled to retire with a dislocated shoulder. At League on Saturday Frankton had a convincing victory in the Morrin Cup, defeating Ngaruawaliia by 10 points to 3.

The game was somewhat marred by th<? cave-man tactics of Wells, of Hikurangi, who was fortunate on several occasions to escape the eye of the referee. KAMO V. MANGAKAHIA Kamo had a somewhat easy win over Mangakahia, although the scores, 12 to 5, did not indicate a runaway. The game was mostly in favour of Kamo, which kept its opponents on the defensive almost throughout, but lacked the necessary finish to run up a bigger score. Tries were scored for the winners by Taylor (2), and Finlayson and Nicholls added three more points from a penalty goal. For Mangakahia. Pollock notched a try, which Saunders con.verted. In the junior representative trials A beat B by twelve points to five. For the winners tries were scored by Fvffe, Beasley and Dunn, and Harrison kicked a penalty goal. For the B team. Potter scored a try, which Waltford converted.