RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20279, 23 August 1937, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PEACE CUP. ELIMINATION MATCH PLAYED. MATAMATA BEATS MORRINSVILLE ITlmes Representative.) MORRINSVILLE, Saturday. Playing on a dry ground and under Ideal oondltions. the Matamata representatives enhanoed their Peace Cup ohances on Saturday when they defeated Morrlnsvllle on the latter’s ground by 6 points to 3. The visitors fielded a much better team than they did on their visit a few weeks ago* and fully made amends for the defeat they suffered on that occasion. Morrlnsvllle more than held them In the latter stages and were unlucky not to score on two or three occasions. The teams lined out as follows: Matamata. —W. Carroll; A. Lowry, G. Hawke, J. Cole; P. Hawke, M. Strong; W. Brown; \V. Connell; P.. Munro, A. Clarke, W. Warrender. K. Fitzgerald. Blackett, Simpson, Inman, i Morrlnsvllle.—M. Bodmin ; T. Paaka, A. J. Aitkin, R. Clarkln; T. Mellow, W. Cameron; L. Russell; J. Leeson; T. Clarkln. G. Muir, D. Morris, E. Leeson, T. Wilton, G. Faulkner, W. Holes. | The visiting forwards broke away .’at the start, but E. Leeson tackled well and play soon returned to half-way, [where J. Leeson gained a good deal ! of ground with a fine dash. Fast following up by G. Hawke served Matamata In good stead shortly after, and they forced their way Into the homo side’s twenty-five. Paaka was too slow at getting away when he took the ball in a good position, and Cole pulled him down. In spite of a temporary relief Morrlnsyllle found themselves In difficulties again when the opposing forwards carried another rush deep into their (twenty-five. Matamata hooked cleanly from a scrum, but the home forwards, led by J. Leeson, held them safe until the visitors carried the ball at toe down to the back line. Although pushed back, they once more foroed j their way within striking distance, where a good effort was stalled by Altken's sound tackling. From play In the mld-fleld Russell passed to Wilton, but the latter was collared before he could make much headway, and the movement collapsed. Strong kicking shortly after gave Morrinsville a chanoe, but Carroll showed a safe pair of hands and found the line well down the field. Paaka raised the crowd to its feet when he got away in a spectacular run down the line, but again G. Hawke was ready for him and forced him into touch. Brown sent his backs away a little later and again the visitors’ bright attacking methods took them Into a handy position. A penalty award near the side line saw Hawke make no mistake with a fine kick. Matamata 3, Morrlnsvllle 0. Morrlnsvllle on Attaok. The home team took up the offensive after this set-back and soon had Matamata defending on their own line. The ball travelled out to Altlcen from a scrum movement, but his try at a field goal missed, and after a time play reverted to the other end of the field. Bodmin was -sorely pressed for a time, but managed to clear. The fast Matamata backs combined again, but solid defence gave them few chances. Taking the ball from the ruck, Russell gave a sample of his old form when he swerved his way | through the opposition and gained a good deal of ground before he passed, j Taking the ball well out In the field shortly after, Paaka gave a splendid exhibition when he traversed fully half the field. Carroll fell in attempting to collar him, but tripped Paaka, who fell Just short of the line. Strong cleared. Matamata had been on the defensive for some time, but now sot up a solid attack and forced their way into foreign territory. Fine line-kicking hv Carroll ctood them In good stead and half-time came shortly after with the scores: Matamata 3, Morrlnsvllle 0. The Beoond Half. Throughout the first session Matamata had shown definitely better form than they did on their previous visit and had given the home team few op - portunities. The forwards had packed well, and the backs, consistently fed | by Brown, had swung Into action [ quickly. Carroll, at fullback, had also played soundly. Morrlnsvllle were not slow to adopt offensive tactics In the second spell, and soon had the territorial advantage. J. Leeson looked like scoring near the corner, but lost possession and the play reverted to neutral territory. (i. Hawke took the ball from Brown near half-way, and kicked well Into Morrlnsville’s twenty-five. Bodmin was caught in possession near the line and Matamata looked like adding to their score. The ball was kicked into touch, however, and once again the fortunes fluctuated. A free kick near the side line was of no assistance to the home team, and they were soon on the defensive again. From a llne-out In the Matamata twenty-flve the ball went to Strang, who kicked 'veil down field. Fast Play. Another foray saw Morrlnsvllle In « handy position, and E. Leeson went close to scoring, when tie followed through well after a scrum. The local team kept up the pressure and several times It seemed as though their efforts would be rewarded. Warrender relieved the position when he took the ball at. his feet from a line-out. Illegal tactics by Matamata favoured the home team In a handy position shortly after, but Cameron’s kick went astray and Matamata had lit tic dlfllculty In clearing. A forward rush carried them well down, and they looked like ■coring, but the ball beat them into touch. They came again, however, and Bodmin had to And relief by forcing. Offside play by Morrisville cost them further points when P. lfawko made no mistake with a fine Kick. Matamata 6, Morrlnsvlllo 0. Again the home forwards rallied and again they went within an ace of scoring when they stormed the visitors’ fine. For several minutes they kept, the ball close, and their efforts were rewarded when K. Leeson scrambled rver the lime The kick missed. \Morrlnsvllle 3. Matamata 6. Paaka Inltltlated a fine movement In which every one of the home hacks participated, and again the visitors found themselves In a dangerous posi tlon. A line-out uear their line looked dangerous, but the position was cleared, and play centred in fin 1 midfield for a time. The visitors could not hold their ground, however, and seemed to be wearing down the constant attack of the home team. Unco more Morrinsville went close to equalising when meir packs operated

near the line. Play swung across the field a little later and Clarkln crossed the line near the corner, but was recalled for forward passing. Despite a temporary relief Matamata soon found themselves on the defensive again. Tiio venue was quickly changed when P. Hawke Intercepted a pass and, kicking clear, sent play to the other end of the field. Play finished a few minutes later with the scores: Matamata 6 Morrlnsvllle . . .. 3 Mr Dickie, of Hamilton, was the referee. WIN FOR HAMILTON. MANIAPOTO DEFEATED. (Special to Times.) TE KUITI, Saturday. The Hamilton Rugby representatives, despite the fact that players from the leading team, Technical Old Boys, were not playing, defeated Maniapoto at Te Kuiti on Saturday by 14 points to 11. The game was fast- and open, with the visiting backs too nippy for the home team, who possessed the better pack of forwards. HIGH 80H00L RUGBY. ROTORUA BEATS HAMILTON. MARGIN OF FIFTEEN POINTS. Ragged play by the visitors In the first half of the game was responsible for the Rotorua High School running j up 17 of their 20 points In the annual Rugby match with Hamilton High School at Rotorua on Saturday. The looal school lost by 20 points to 5. The second spell saw the Hamilton team playing much better football, and In spite of losing two of their mainstays they held the home team well. Only three points were scored by Rotorua In this division of the game, against Hamilton's five. Cramp, the visiting fullback, early reoeived a cracked collarbone. At the time it w-as not realised that he was badly Injured, and he played through the first half. Matters were made worse when Andrews, the halfback, had to go off. However, in spite of their misfortunes, the Hamilton team played exj cellent football In the seoond half, the backs handling well in spite of rearrangements. The forwards, who were heavier than their 'opponents, worked gallantly throughout. Hamilton’s only try oame In the second half when Eagleson, at second five-eighth, out in nicely to score under the posts. The kick went over. A. Shaw made a great run to oross the touch line, but he lost the ball and •Rotorua forced. WELLINGTON CHAMPIONBHIP. ATHLETIC LEADING CLUB. WELLINGTON, Sunday. The Wellington Rugby Union’s championship has been won for the second year in succession by the Athletic Club. Wellington College Old Boys finished se’cond, three points behind. * . WIN FOrt POVERTY BAY. OPOTIKI, Sunday. The Poverty Bay representatives met Bay of Plenty In the second match ! of the series for the purpose of selecting the East Coast-Poverty Bay-Bay of j Plenty combined team to meet the Springboks at Gisborne. The Bay of 1 Plenty team made a very poor showing. HOROWHENUA BEATS BUSH. LEVIN, Sunday. In a return match between the Bush and llorowhenua representative teams, here yesterday, llorowhenua defeated Bush by 24 points to 19. The weather was fine and the ground dry. Play was ragged with a spasmodic display of brilliance at long intervals by both teams. At half-time Bush led by 16 to 5.