RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 15

RUGBY.

MANUKAU'S HARD LUCK. MANY EARLY SEASON CASUALTIES. Hacl the Manukau Rovers been compelled to field a senior fifteen to-day the side would "have included several juniors, and extreme difficulty would have been experienced in getting a halfback at all. The regular player in that position, Hunter, is absent iu Taranaki, while his substitute Webster is out for a good spell with muscle trouble. Hadfield, the senior B half, fractured a wrist against Eden at Gribble-Hirst Park last week. Two forwards, Johnston (a front row man whose knee has gone) and Pearee (concussion), were among the other latest casualties.

Apart from these misfortunes there has been something radically wrong with the combination of the rearguard. Since Ron Stuart went to Christehurch (where he is placing for Merivale) his brother Charlie has been most disappointing. His defence has been unsatisfactory, and although he has made several nice runj he has been often caught in possession, a fatal failing for a second five-eighth whose duty it is to utilise his three-quarters instead of attempting to side-step as a stock line of attack. Perhaps the coach, Stanley Clark, will take advantage of Saturday's bye (win by default from Training College) to try Stuart on the wing, where his present characteristics should make him a more dangerous opponent.

Arnold Berridge, at full-back, has been playing wonderful Rugby, and it is a great pity that so much work has been left to him. This is certainly no fault of at least one member of the team, Benjamin (front row), being conspicuous for his stopping, besides which ho has been displaying fine all-round form.

There is no more popular side in Auckland than the black and silvers, and it is to be sincerely hoped that Saturday's let-up will be a sufficient respite for reorganisation of the fifteen.