Rugby At Mount Maunganui

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15058, 19 August 1949, Page 5

Rugby At Mount Maunganui

Solid Senior Forward Play Juniors Provide Fast Exhibition (By "Full-Back") Cadet Old Boys senior and junior fifteens were in action against Mount Maunganui teams en Saturday last when tiomc good individual play was witnessed. It was refreshing to nolo that at long last, the Mount Maunganui seniors were able to Held a full team. The captain of the Mount Maunganui team appeared quite- embarrassed when no less than 1? players arrived to jbin in if required. Certainly thev were not all regular members of /the team and difficulty was experienced in placing them in positions best.suited for combined play. McDevitt, usually seen m tne vap of forward attacks, took up the position of centre three-quarter and filled the position with credit. Smith a tall type of player, aided the forwards for the first spell, but changed with Carruthers to wing threequarter after half-time. The Mount Maunganui players are certainly versatile and changes such as this have been necessary during the past few weeks. Now that some spares are available, it might be a wise move to select the man for the position and keep him there. Practice makes perfect. The senior game was not spectacular, but provided the spectators with an exhibition of c olicl forward play during the first half hour. The teams were very evenly matched in this department and by gaining possession in the earlier scrums and line-outs' the home team temporarily deprived Cadets backs of an advantage which later turned the tide. For Mount Maunganui,' Edwards. Carson, Smith and Cowdrey ware prominent in fast movements which not only gained valuable ground, but broke up inside back movements which Cadets seemed anxious to initiate. Many of the scrums were badly packed and players on both sides appeared to break awav before attempting to lend weight. If pressure was given, the scrum collapsed and a strur'glmg mass of forwards prevented the ball from coming out cleanly. As a result, quite a few "penalties were awarded. This type of Rugby was not appreciated by the spectators who "'ere keen to see the backs in action and advice from the sideline was rather pointed. However, the teams folowed their particular programme and from it some good movements emerged just before the interval. Fast following up by Blackburn •■vas rewarded with a try after Ellis, Ryan and Welch lvvl bundled in a good movement. Ellis made no mistake with the kick from 30 yard., cut. The Backs Take Charge The second spell saw an all-round change of play. Cade's proving in no uncertain manner that they possessed fast, heady backs, capable of penetration when.the ball was available. Hopkins, at the base of the «f'rum, sent out smart passes which Rvan and Ellis handled cleanly. With Welch in support lh-v m-xle deep thrusts into the Mount 25 which only determined tackling halted. Time and again the inside hammered at the line, Welch and Ormbsy on the wings assisting with dashes along the side-line, but failing to pierce the defence over the last few yards. Credit for the Mount Maunganui successful defensive play must be eiven to Gedge, Smith and McDevitt who at times went down on the ball in the face of solid and sustained attacks. Stab kicks by Dwane and backing up by Edwards Carson and Carruthers allowed the Mount to recover from serious situations. The continued pressure by Cadeis was rewarded towards the end of the match when Trottrnan crossed the line. The full-backs, Sutherland (Cadets) and Mitchell (Mount Maungauni) were kept busily engaged throughout the game, their line kicking being wed directed. A good crowd assembled early to witness some bright Rugby between the Mount Maunganui and Cadet Old Boys junior fifteens. A fast display was anticipated and the younger players provided a good exhibition

of Rugby. The game opened at a fast pace, the Cadet forwards led by Hartley. Cooper and Mansell pressing the home team a few yards from the line. A line-out' followed by several scrums saw the visitors still in possession of the ball and-quick action on the part of Royal in transferring to Maxfield who snap kicked to the side-line, saved an early try. The home forwards carried jolay to half way, Nicholls, Friis and Bates paving the way for much-needed relief. A free kick to Cadets enabled their forwards to secure the ball following a high punt, and Geraghty crossed the line. Speeiiy Mount Backs This early setback was soon overcome by the Mount fifteen which. lost no time in opening up the play. Packing tightly and putting every ounce of their weight into the scrum the home team won the boll repeatedly for Weal to set his backs in action. Possessing plenty of speed, Woodcraft made some spectacular thrush; before transferring to Davies'. The latter, while inclined to kick too often, combined well with Royal at centre. Well served by Maxfield on the wing, the backs were a constant source of danger to Cadets who were required to defend strenuously for most of the match. It was quite common to see Wells, Pevreal, Friis and Nicholls linking up in passing movements, while the backing-up generally was con'ducive to the fine tally of points secured when open play was resorted to. Bates, Lilley and Moxharn toiled well, the former making reveral solo breaks from the lineout to gain ground. The Cadets team, following a very fine display in the first ten minutes, could not match the speed of their opponents. Ardern, who usually shines behind the pack, saw litt'p of the ball, but on occasions gave a taste of his skill. West and Simpson made svome penetrative clashes, Pye and Blackburn on the wings being in support, but misdirected passes upset calculations at times and correct tackling did the rest. Revel! at full-back had a torrid time throughout but acquitted himself well. The score Mount 16, Cadets 3. was' a fair indication of the game. Cadets were weakened by the inclusion of players in the representatives while Dixon, a Mount Maunganui inside back was also selected.