Sport In The Province

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 474, 2 October 1928, Page 11

Sport In The Province

(From Our Own Correspondent)

RUGBY HAMILTON After weeks of mediocre Rugby during which "that end of season” feeling has been evident, the Hamilton-Auck-land Grammar Old Boys’ match played at local ’ headquarters on Saturday came as a refreshing change. The final score—9 all—was a very fair indication of the game. Several Auckland reps, were responsible for some pretty passing which delighted the big crowd. Hamilton had the margin of attack in the first half, the backs handling in snappy style. With six points ahead, Hamilton seemed confident after half-time, but the visitors touched down twice, and looked dangerous on more than one occasion near the end. A feature of the game was the Welltried drop-kick of Sterrett’s, the local wing threequarter, which hit the posts and bounced outwards. Then there was a thrilling dual race the whole length of the field by Allen and Corner, the Auckland half. Corner just managed to overtake him in time and effect a force-down. The home forwards had the best of most of the scrums, but the visiting backs were speedier. Despite this, many of their most promising combined movements broke down. The hero of the day was Pat Clarkin, the Hamilton fullback, who made many miraculous saves and supported with some fine line-finders. Going, who was mentioned last week as having made wonderful improvement on past performances, again proved a thorn in the side of the visitors, although his kicking could have been more accurate. In fact neither side was able to convert their tries. Going kicked one penalty and touched down for Hamilton, Allen gaining the other try. For Grammar Old Boys Wales, W. Batty and Knight secured tries. As a result of the large gate a substantial amount will be available to assist Mr. “Tussy” Smith, an old Rugbyite, for whom the match was arranged. Prior to the big match a bright junior game was seen, Marist defeating Technical, 13—S. MORRINSVILLE The last Peace Cup match of the season was played at Morrinsville on Saturday between Morrinsville (holders) and Paeroa. On performance it pointed to Morrinsville having an easy victory, so that, although they won comfortably at the finish, the run of the game contained an element of surprise. The game opened sensationally. Rare returned Morrinsville’s kick-off, and S. Thomas fielded but slipped. The ball went loose and Kilgour took it over to open the scoring for Paeroa. Within three minutes Mcßae kicked a penalty goal, so that the challengers were six points up. The Paeroa forwards were playing good football and were having quite as much of it as the home pack (recognised as a particularly good one). Paeroa made all the play through tho centre, and these tactics ultimately proved their downfall. Both Morrinsville wingers got tries in the second quarter to equal matters. Paeroa added a further three points by a penalty in the second half,- to take the lead, but from this on they were practically done with; they were a tired team. Quick passing movements among the Morrinsville backs in the last quarter enabled Campbell to score two tries and Anderson one. The latter also kicked a penalty and converted a try, making the final score 20—9.

The Paeroa forwards played really good football for nearly three-quarters of the game, but were unsupported by any back movements. Not once in the SO minutes did the visiting rearguard get going in concerted action, while the wingers were always caught out of position. With the exception of the penalty goal, all the Morrinsville scores came from the wings, far out.

With the exception of a picnic match at Tauranga next Saturday, this concluded the Morrinsville Union’s season, which has been the most successful in its history. Only two games have been lost; one against Matamata for the Finlay Cup, and a friendly against Putaruru, while victories have been scored against Cambridge, Piako, Hamilton, Matamata, Thames and Paeroa. Waipa and Morrinsville drew in the first Finlay Cup game of the season. Morrinsville can thus be classed as the champion sub-union team in South Auckland, Waikato and Thames Valley. THAMES Hopelessly beaten in the forwards, Coromandel battled gamely against its stronger opponents at Rhodes Park on Saturday afternoon when it met the Thames reps on a ground that was anything but perfect. The score, 27 to 5, could easily have been more, for the Thames pack led by Pollock Bros., Strange and Lomas outplayed their less experienced and lighter opposition. The Coromandel backs, especially, C. Darling, Wilcox and Johnston played heroic games for their side and their efforts, ably assisted iSy McNeil and Davis, stemmed many a likely looking scoring rush. The first-half ended with Thames 6, Coromandel 0. After the interval the gruelling the visitors got in the first portion began to tell, and Thames put on a further 22 points. In the last five minutes, Bell, following up fast caught Winder in possession, and securing the ball scored Coromandel’s only try. Darling converted. Mr. F. Vedder refereed. During the first few minutes of the game, W. Percy (Thames) dived over the line, struck the goal-post, and dislocated his shoulder. The final match for the cup donated by Mr. Howard Johnston, of Thames, for competition between junior rep teams in the Thames and surrounding districts, was played at Rhodes Park on Saturday afternoon, when Waihi and Thames, both with an unbeaten record, faced each other. The game was hotly contested and though the Thames boys won by 14 to nil, it was by no means an easy victory. In the first quarter Waihi looked liked winners, but in the second half the local team played bright football. The Thames scores were secured by tries by Wenzlick, Do veil (2), and R. Vedder converted one of Dovell’s tries, and also kicked a penalty goal. Mr. R. T. Henderson controlled the game most efficiently. The Paeroa third fifteen ran up 14 points to Physical Training’s 6 at Thames on Saturday afternoon. Mr. G. Mac Lean had charge of "the game. WAIHI The following team has been selected to represent Waihi against Paeroa in the final for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup at Waihi on Saturday next. Johns, McDermott, Garvey, Thornton, Dillimore, Saunders, Snodgrass, Price, Craig, Radford, Peacock, Walters, Rolleston, Robinson and Hume; reserves: Berryman and Pankhurst. LEAGUE HUXTLY Huntly have enough trophies to fill a jeweller’s shop, and when any team comes in quest of them, the holders find it hard to part with them, and fight accordingly. The motto of the Huntly Leaguers is: "What we have, we hold,” and Hamilton found this out on Saturday, for though they played hard to take the Draffin Cup» back

with them it was of no avail, for Huntly lay back for a finale, and in the closing stages never played better. The referee was perhaps a little too tactful. Hamilton appeared to hold their own in the first half, and the score sheet was light, but on resuming Huntly ‘‘went for the doctor” in sporting language, and played sparkling League, running out winners by the respectable tally of 46 to 19. Of the individual players for Hamilton, Parkes was a steady, reliable man, and Skelton ably supported him. though Everest was playing as good as ever till sent off. In front, Muir was out on his own. and was outstanding. For the winners, Smith and Jones were the best of the backs, and Timms. Trantvetter and Stephenson the pick of the front. Paki was solid in the rear division and made no mistakes. The fastest and hardest game of the season was witnessed when Glen Massey was beaten by the Huntly thirteen by the solo score of a free goal kicked by Lionel Broughton, and a good kick it was too. At times there was a little too much "boot” put in, and the same boots did not connect with the leather always, but sometimes an opponent’s frame, Healey stopping a solid one on the eye. The Huntly wing threequarters were poor on attack, and missed scoring chances, but were reliable in defence. Knapper and Ivosoff were very reliable, the latter stopping some very formidable rushes. Baker, Connolly and McNeill were the best of a good lot in front, while for the losers, Mclntyre and Evans (backs) and Connew (forwards) stood out. In winning, Huntly practically decided the junior division, as Hamilton will have to beat them twice to wrest the honour front them. SOCCER HUNTLY Claudelands Rovers having one match presented to them by Glen Massey defaulting took Huntly on at Hamilton for the Ansell Cup, and cleaned them up by 2 goals to nil. Being a working Saturday for the mines, Tluntly was not at full strength, but put up a good fight. To further the remaining competitions for various trophies to be wpn annually, “time is the essence of the contract,” and the locals are to be commended for stepping into the breach at very short notice and playing away from home. This is the right spirit, and one which characterises Soccer in these ports. Junction United and Pukemiro battled it out at Pukemiro for the Sunshine Cup under referee Jack Bate. Weather conditions were ideal. The J unction eleven, however, carried too many guns for the “Puke” boys, and put on four goals ere the whistle was sounded. It was a good game, how-

ever, and well worth looking 1 at. the winners playing a good football. There is no denying their combination, and after a season's play the finer points are specialised in and noted by the spectators, who reap the benefit in attractive play. Pukemiro will toe the line next Saturday at Hamilton against Rovers for the Ansell Cup. HAMILTON* There was a good sprinkling of Soccer fans at the match in which Claudelands Rovers goaled twice. Huntly failing to penetrate the defence. The game was a good exhibition of the code, the combination of the local side being outstanding. Huntly made several spirited onslaughts at various stages and looked like scoring, but were unable to goal. HOCKEY ROTORUA The hockey match between a team representing Mount Eden (Auckland> and the local representatives was played in brilliant sunshine before a record attendance of the public in the Government Grounds on Saturday. The game was fast and at times brilliant. It was more even than the scores indicated. In the first spell Rotorua representatives were leading by three goals to one. In the second spell Rotorua added three more goals and Auckland one. Miss G. Lowe scored for Auckland and Miss K. Rewhiti (2), G. Rogers (2), H. Garmansway (1) and T. King tl) were the scorers for Rotorua.

Messrs. E. Reed and A. Watts effi ciently controlled the game.