NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 167, 15 July 1907, Page 3

NOTES ON THE PLAY.

The Buller reps, wer-e outclassed in every department of the game, and on a dry ground would have suffered a very siibstantial beating. They play a hard, determined game, but are not up to the finer points. They have some good material at their command, however, and are ii "willing lot. so that. wiln more frequent playing against first-class teams, they might develop into a v«ry fair side. In the first spell the scrum work of the Aucklanders was below the mark, and it looked as though some "loafing" was going on. The hookers got the ball practically every time, but when they had whipped it back it did not come out cleanly, nor did the pack break up and start downfield witii the ball at toe. in the second half, however, they put far more vim into their play, and there was a remarkable difference noticeable both in heeling and breaking up. The' 'Buller hookers very seldom got the ball, and Kiernan's demands for the 'Tiut" were complied with on practivaliy every occasion. In the first half Hall and Hayward were easily the best of the forwards, HaH playing a very heady game, and, with Hayward, doing a rare lot of following.

In the second half the work was much cleaner all through, and a deal of good work was accomplished. The back play on the line was very fair indeed, considering the greasy state of the ball, the handling being acurate, and the passing, taken on the whole, very fair. Several of the runs would have been more than creditable on a dry day. Kiernan got in a power of work behind the scrum, and his management of the team was as good as ever. He had a hand in every try, and opened out the game very nicely. Magee was very safe at five-eighths, and Wynyard, though he made one or two mistakes, excusable in view oi the state of the ball, more than compensated for them by flashes of brilliant play. The three-quarters ail played well, but Newdick, at full-back, was below rep. form. Of the visiting forwards, Richards and

Ferguson were the best, while G-ibbs and Woods both played well on the wing. W. Brown, the half-back, was the only back on the Buller side to show good form, though Colvin was very fair. The backs were wise enough not to attempt the passing game when the ball came their way.