RUGBY FINAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 10

RUGBY FINAL

CLARKE CUP MATCH FORM OF CITY AND RAGLAN CITY’S BIG DAY ON SATURDAY Winner of the Stag Trophy Rugby championship last season, the City Rugby team won the Clarke Cup this year by defeating Raglan on Saturday. Although Raglan appeared likely at several stages to secure victory, the game went in City’s favour from a territorial point of view and the side dominated the attack. It was an interesting match in which the ball was thrown around in a bright, though often unfinished, manner. Excellent Defence With City dominating the attack as a result of a greater share of the ball and generally more united effort, the team should have been able to add more points. Raglan’s defence was creditable, however, and often the team repulsed several heavy attacks, some of whicn were sustained for several minutes. In breaking up the City offensive, Raglan relied mainly upon a pack of solid rucking forwards who bustled City in the loose and often swept the ball from a tight situation to neutral ground. On several occasions Raglan had City on the run in loose attacks which bustled the defence. Many Kicks Missed Many penalty kicks were awarded during the game by the referee, Mr S. Heather, the majority going in favour of City. The kicking, however, was not particularly successful, although the standard was quite good. The main difficulty was the wind which provided a trial for the kickers. Often excellent kicks, judged to allow for the wind, turned into the posts and were then suddenly deflected by a sudden gust. M. J. Johnson, the City forward, made several excellent attempts to judge the wind but his kicks were blown wide at the last moment.

W. J. Phillips Ag:ain Making his first appearance in Rugby in Hamilton since his retirement from big football last season, the former All Black W. J. Phillips played for the Raglan Club on Saturday against City. Phillips was recently married. The game was not a tremendously important fixture and, therefore, Phillips could not be expected to be striving for merit, but his re-appearance created a great deal of interest. From the point of view of strategy former stars loose little after a spell in retirement even if form in other directions is not always the best. Phillips still has plenty of speed but the main feature of his game was the manner in which he anticipated. Raglan’s first try, which he secured, was due to clever following up at the right moment

Prominent Players Several of the players in the CityRaglan Clarke Cup final played good Rugby. The Raglan forwards contained several good rucking players with A. Robertson, the captain, leading the pack in great style. He was well supported by Amore, who played well in the line-out, while L. Phillips, brother of the All Black, played one of the best forward games in the match. Keen, Spiro, Flyger, and Barr were outstanding in the City pack. Perkins, Heyworth, and Dobson played well in the City backs. The standard of fullback play was not high but Brighouse performed better than T. Phillips, who made several bad mistakes behind the Raglan team.

Shield For Annual Game As a result of the action of W. H. Warrender, the Waikato Rugby representative from Hinuera, and Mr R. Hooper, coach of the City Football Club, in presenting a shield, an annual competition will be held between the Hinuera Club team and the City seniors. The first of these games will be played at Hamilton on Saturday afternoon. On the same day the annual game between the City veterans and the City juniors will be played in Hamilton and the day will be brought to a close with the annual re-union of the City Club in the evening.

Taupiri Team’s Success Last Saturday the Taupiri Rugby team played the Mangatawhiri representatives at Tuakau and won by 10 points to 0. At the end of the first spell Taupiri led by 4 points to 0, A. McNicol securing a field goal from wide out. For the most part of the spell Taupiri hammered at the line but the defence held. When the play resumed, Mangatawhiri, with the wind behind it, gave the Taupiri team some anxious moments. Gradually, however, the attack was repulsed and an attack was launched. From a scrum the ball went to Burke, on the wing, who short-kicked over the opposing fullback’s head and scored. The attempt to convert failed. Later E. Taylor cleverly dribbled the ball through and then kicked across for Burke to score again. Towards the end of the game Carter broke through on his own and dashed to within a few yards before he was overhauled from the rear. Vancouver Cup Match The Waikato Primary Schools Rugby representatives travelled to Paeroa on Saturday to play Thames Valley in a challenge for the Vancouver Cup. After having a lead of 6 to 3 at half time Waikato lost by 9 to 6 in a scrappy game which produced little constructive football. Both sides scored two tries and Thames Valley also had a penalty under the posts it made good use of.