Strength In The Backs

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 16

Strength In The Backs

NEWTON IN LEAD.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

BRIMBLE BROTHERS' COMBINATION.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

On the principle that nothing succeeds like success. Newton have gone from one success to another in the Auckland Kugby League's championship, and are now in the lead as the result of defeating Papakura by a wide margin.

Last season Newton fared badly in the early part of the season, but improved as time went on, and showed both good teamwork and form. This season their form has confounded some of the critics, and they hold their present position solely on merit.

Ihe real strength of Newton lies in their back play, and particularly the fine understanding that there is between Wilfred Brimble behind the scrum, and hia brother, E. Brimble, at first five-eighth. Between them they show both sharpness and penetration, with the result that the men outside them get chances in attack which are up to now denied backs in some of the other teams. Duncan, on Saturday, gave a good wing display with strong running, and has the weight to carry him through, while Demp'sey's appearance gave to the .'.side one of., the best positional players' in the game.

•McNeight, the big forward from the South Island, is now playing in his best form, and' should have a good chance of seeing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the uear future. The play of Jury aud Ginders was of a very hign standard.

Although the .N'ewton pack are playing well together, they could still do witn another outstanding forward to make a really high-class composite six.

Had the l'apakura back play been in keeping with the exhibition put up by their forwards the result might have been different, as they have in Fogarty, Evans and Rose outstanding players. Crocker is giving good service at half-back, A. Burgees plays very brightly in attack, and Mclnnees is one of the best goal kickers in Auckland. His contribution on Saturday was four goals, and in the previous match he kicked five. New Players Probable.

It Jβ probable that the Papakura backs will be strengthened for future matches. A Wellington three-quarter Iβ likely to take the Held for tnem, and there are hopes of another player of note joining up. Despite the fact that they have not as yet won a match, the suburban team have won favour by their methods of open, attractive play. On Saturday they were without the services of 2>T. Campbell, the former representative pl&ver, whose experience and ability are invaluable.

The fact that the Richmond back play hae not come up to anticipations resulted in Richmond bringing up two players from their reserve grade for the match against Mari3t. They were Jack and Bramley, and both made a satisfactory debut, the former showing good form on the wing, and a good idea of how to go for the line by the most direct route. Behind their pack Richmond have in Watkins a good type of player who swings out rapid passes and varies his tactics intelligently, and two tried players in Bickerton and W. Tittleton to carry on an attacking movement.

The match was marked by very hard forward play, with honours practically equal. -The two forward sets showed that a game could, be hard without objectionable features, and in that respect it was a refreshing exhibition.

Tetley continues to shine in constructive play for Richmond, and Devine, the big forward from Wellington is getting hold of the finer points of the game. Breed, Woods and Anderson did their best to hold the Marist end up. 'Despite clever play by Grutte at the base of the Mariet scrum the Marist backs in attack did not work like a machine, but Midgeley, who is one of the best wings in the game, got two brilliant tries and demonstrated the value he is to a side

provided that he gets reasonable chances. Haslam provided a bright feature with sterling defensive p'ay. He got his man hard and determinedly every time with tackling that is an object lesson to eome of the other players. With clean handling and good long-range kicking, Uhlman is proving a goott deputy at full-back for Glover, but he was caught in possession a few times on Saturday. Thrustful Play. There was much merit in the Manukau victory over Mount Albert, and the quick, thrustful Manukau back play was the tactor that counted, as the Mount Albert torwards were definitely superior all the Hay m the eet scrums. Manukau have the reputation of being « ?n n i m . e , lcUna l. Bitle ln the championship, and their ability to turn chances to account pulled them through Last TfTV , °- bvi ;T ™ akn «*s was the want of a recognised hooker. This eeasrm +{,» gap ha. been filled by the incSn o Maguire, who has, decided talent ip that important, branch., of the game. RiHnui the hp, for ward from the Bay of Plenty'

is taking some time to settle down, but is now doing well, but the real star of the Manukau forwards continues to be Brodriek.

The Mount Albert pack shaded their opponents on Saturday. The Manuknii forwards packed too loosely, and a couple of them are showing the fault of trying to break too quickly into open r.li\y.

Walter Brimble, with s>peed and incisive dash, continually opened the way for Manukau attack, the Chase brothers teamed well, but was not too happily placed on the wing. Wilson, the Bay of Plenty player, has made good on the other wing, while Hemi'e full-back play and superlative kicking added sonic very bright spots to the game.

Mount Albert supporters hoped much from the advent of Marshall in their fiveeighth line; where the new player teams well with Mclnnarncy, the latter again disclosing the quick cu>in that marks a player of promise. McNeil did some brilliant things out on the wing, and would probably have got a try on one occasion but for the fact that Mineham in the centre unloaded too soon and gave Hemi the chance to get across and atop the

It wae rather paradoxical that, without Banham, who hae so greatly improved the Shore back play that the side should give their best exhibition this season of teamwork at City's expense. J. Smith continues to stand out as one of the best fullbacks in the game, and the return of Bennetts added strength to the threequarter line, while L. Scott appeared to be quite at home in the role of forward.

City, in patches, played well. Kata was as elusive as ever in the three-quarter line, and Hnpi showed speed and resource. \\>hner and G. McCarthy showed up •roll in the City forwards.