SHIELD MATCH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10146, 8 August 1929, Page 3

SHIELD MATCH

GAME AT TAURANGA OX SATURDAY NEXT

THE ROTORUA TEAM

Given a fine day and favourable ground conditions the game between the representatives of the Tauranga and Rotorua Rugby Unions, to be played on the Tauranga domain on Saturday next, promises to provide a high-class contest. The Tauranga team is in good form and the Uotorua fifteen ha-s been training assiduously. Advices to hand from Rotorua indicate that a close and exciting*match i s expected, and this is based on the form displayed by the- Rotorua team against Matamata on Saturday last. Mr .C’has. Montgomery, of Tc Puke, has been appointed to referee . the match. Mr Montgomery was formerly one of the Te Puke Union’s outstanding backs on the Rugby field, anil a thorough master of' the code, ROTORUA RE PRESENTAT IVE TEAM. In view of the game against Tauranga for the Hurinui-Apamii Shield, it may not be oat of place to make a few remarks concerning the merits of the team which represented Rotorua at Matamata cm .Saturday (says the Rotorua Chronicle). Without thought of malice towards the selectors we ‘ would state that it is our candid opinion that a better team can and will be fielded to play Tauranga. Walter Scott, of course' needs no recommendation nor criticism. He is a natural player, who, if given his chance, would shine in big football. He outshines all the others in the team. Whether he best serves his side as hooker is a point that needs consideration. On Saturday the ball came from the hookers quite cleanly, not every time, of course, hut time after time it was held up after going through the lock. This did not give the half a chance, and it was not until the closing stages that the ball was properly heeled past the back row. , Quito frequently Steele had to dive into the scrum to get hold of the ball, which of course did not allow him to come out quick' enough to got it away. As stated, in the closing quarter Steele play-' ed brilliantly, owing to the fact that the pack suddenly proceeded to open up and let the ball through. All this, of course, when the other side did not get hold of it first, which was a shade less frequently than our own efforts. _Steele made some fine getaways, especially on the blind side, but Tupara Morrison seldom went with him on these occasions. Young, on the other wing, was an ideal man, for ho followed through each and every movement and was right on the game throughout. Given a fair show it is not thought that Steele can be bettered. Micholl and Thomas put in some good work, the former being very reliable, though he might, should <1 referee catch him, be responsible for penalty kicks against his side for collaring too late in the day. This is not actually a fault for all players should make sure of thenman, but it is also well to make sure he still has the ball when thrown. Thomas was very nippy but his passing was very hard to lake, being generally high and of the ‘ balloon type, there being no swing with it. Nevertheless this player was generally in the thick of things and was responsible for .some good bits of play, lie was inclined to watch th-g- man charging him and then to throw the at l .! somewhere where he though one of his own side might be. Going back to the three-quarter line- we must give Tern Morrison words of praise' for his clever and elusive work. Tim© after time he cut in most cheekily and got away. His defence work was not quite as good. Young, on the wing, took every, opportunity’ that came to him"and played a good game. Tupara Morrison, on the other wing, though responsible for the try which Wallace gained, did not do a great deal that he might have done. Several times his great speed carried him away and twice he caught men who'were away with dangerous hursts of speed, but his general following of the game was not up to representative form and it is thought that his place would be better filled by Pollard. Pollard, of course, will not follow, a straight line, but his general run of play is good. Bradshaw, on, top of his brilliant game at full-back when playing against the Forestry team, was totally disappointing. For a large part of the time he had very little to do, the inside backs muzzling most of the serious attacks, and this may have accounted for his vt-rv loose play When he did have anything to do. Sometimes he waited tor the ball to bounce and was fooled badly, and later he was found missing easy catches when he had plenty of time to admire tire scenery. The man for the fullback position at the present time, on consistent and Heady play, is Jackson, of Mamaku. Wo cannot understand why he has been overlooked. He has proved himself safe in every department throughout the Season, and he has the advantage of a fine burst of speed. Bradshaw should be retained m the team but sent somewhere closer ! to the half. , In the forwards Richards should be retained as rover, for he spoils manv advances by opponents and his speed carries him through at the van of many rushes. He is eertainlv not brilliant with his hand*, but he takes a deal of heading with tin- ball at his toes. Wallace. as breakaway, played a sterling game and was not seen loafing as has been the ease when playing in the rover’s position. The rover, of course, is there to do a certain amount of loafing-if he can loaf at the right time ! In' the pack, Wallace kept hard alter the ball, and his try from Morrison was a good niece of forward l>m\. To Don Hinton it would seem that the ideal lock has lieen found He field the hookers correctly and tle- ball .missed him cleanly each time it was hooked. Ot the otto or four. Allen was the shinny He was always on the ball in' tb - tight or loose. It might badded that ho is a pro tty nlaver for his size, a little tault te.t some gentle talking to by his eeai-le-s might rectify. Consideration migh be given to the matter „f ineludinf the other thro, ful

better men are needed, though it would be hard to say who should replace them. We would point out that our opinion is not infallible and we publish these remarks for every good purpose and no semblance of favouritism. The Matamata team was minusfour of their best players who were away at Auckland, so* it will be seen that our boys must needs knuckh; to some hard work during the coming week in order to attempt the wresting of the Apanui Shield from Tauranga. The following team has been selected to represent Rotorua: E. Bradshaw, Tupara Morrison, Pollard Tern Morrison, W. Young (one' to be omitted), M. Thomas, J Dawson, A. Mitchell (one to be omitted), N. Steele, L. Wallace, K. Richard (one to be omitted), W. Scott, P. Awatere. S. Parakuka (one to bo omitted), D. Hinton.. B. Heke, Kelso, W. Allen. Reserves: Forwards, S. Smith; backs, G. Mitchell. NOTES. There is every prospect of the Bay of Plenty making a, standing arrangement to visit Poverty Bay i for an annual Rugby football fixture, according to advice received by Poverty Bay union officials dur- j ing the recent visit to .Opotiki (says the Poverty Bay Herald). It will be .necessary to undertake ! a return 'visit every Reason, of course, but with the improvement of the road communications, particularly between Gisborne and Motu, there should "be no great difficulty in arranging this feature. The Railway Department is issuing cheap excursion tickets from Taneatua and intermediate stations on Saturday. This concession should be an appreciable factor in swelling the Shield "gate."' Included in the outward correspondence at the la.st meeting of the management committee of the Opotiki Rugby Union was a challenge from that Union for the HilrinuiApanui Shield, Opotik'i, by virtue of the fact that it held the Shield last year, having the right to challenge at the end of the present series. The; gate proceeds of the Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay football match plaveil in Opotiki on Saturday last amounted to £66, which the local officials considers! a fair return for their trouble in arranging the game. If was stated at the dinner tendered to the -teams after the game that i the d'isnlay of football Kiven'hv th> | respective Bav teams had teen the best seen this season in Opotiki.