FOOTBALL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4438, 20 July 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

5r TE AROHA V, WAIHOU. k —— ,f CUP FINAL. n TE AROHA WIN THE CUP. h t The long looked-for match betwe< i these two old rivals was decided < * Saturday last in the Recreation groum - Te Aroha. The day was anything bi - favourable for scientific football, an i before five minutes of the game ha progressed the players of both sidi 1 could hardly be recognised as the r were covered in mud from head to fool There was a good crowd of spectator present to witness the match, and th 1 barracking at times was almos deafening. Waihou entered the fiel 1 favourites, although they were withou the services of Weir, their best bach The supporters of the Te Aroha team however, were confident that their f me; 1 would give a good account of them selves, and the popular President of th team was heard to say that the “ Byes ’ would just about win. Mr Chris. Johnstone, of the Thame Rugby Association, had charge of thi game and gave every satisfaction, being associated oa the lines by Messri Timmins and McGee. Messrs Nuttel and Thomas acted as timekeepers. Tw< spells of 45 minutes were played Lennard captained Waihou and Buchar Te Aroha, the latter won the toss anc elected to defend the northern goal, Waihou kicked off in a shower of rain and at once got to work by getting in Te Aroha’s quarters, play stopped here for awhile Waihou making desperate efforts to score. McSweeney and Ellery of the Te Aroha team were doing good defensive work, while Lennard and Fisher of the Waihou backs were equally prominent in attacking. Waihou had all the best of the first spell and kept the blues hard at work defending their citidal. They had hard luck on two or three occasions in not scoring but overeagerness and kicking too hard spoiled their chances. On changing ends the blues (Te Aroha) at once got to work, and the forwards playing beautifully and well together at once had the reds in difficulties. Fisher relieved his side a little by kicking to half way. A moment after McSweeney getting possession kicked and fo'lowed up well and m a scramble on the line J. Jennings succeeded in registering the blues first try amidst a wild outburst of cheering. McSweeney failed with the kick at goal. Te Aroha .. .. .. 3 Waihou 0 The score roused the reds and they got to work quickly and for a few minutos kept things lively* The blue forwards were, not to be denied and they retaliated by a good rush to Waihou’s quarters. A little while after Allison secured and kicking for the line gave Buchan a beautiful chance to score and he availed himself of the opportunity by taking the greasy ball well on the hop and scoring an easy try. He took the kick himself but failed. Te Aroha 6 Waihou .. .. .. 0 On resuming the reds made desperate efforts to score, but the training the blue and whites had undergone for the last week told its tale and they came away with another rush headed by Millar who got over the line first, but was held back by a red player. The referee awarded the try to Millar on the ground of obstruction. A. made a good attempt to add the major points but a poster resulted and the score read Te Aroha .. .. .. 9 Waihou .. . .. 0 From this out Te Aroha had all the best of the game and left the field champions and winners of the P.R.U. cup ior 1909. NOTES. F r Waihou Joe Timmins, Alf. Lennard, and Fisher got in a lot of good pluy. Farrow Bios , Ripi, and Com erf ord shone out in the pack ; Jones and Borrie, on the wiDg, played well. For Te Aroha McSweeney, Eilery, and S. Wallace were the pick. Of the forwards it would hardly be fair to single out any particular one for special j mention, as every man played a good game. C. Cribb who played on the wing for the first time, acquitted himself well and was in the van of every rush. Past winners of the P.R.U. championship.

Season Team 1899 Waihou 1900 To Aroha 1901 Morrinsville 1902 Waihou 1903 Waihou 1904 Waihou 1905 Waihou 1906 Waihou 1907 Waihou 1908 Waihou 1909 Te Aroha The following table shows the position of the three competing teams for the 1909 championship.

Team Matches played. Won. Lost. g 1 A 1 to "s ‘3 A ’ Against. 6 Z I 4 'I To Aroha 7 3 1 3 21 11 I Waihou 7 1 1 5 11 18 s Moirinsville 6 13 2 8 11 I T Championship points, 9, 7, 4, rer 7 spectively. 1