RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 13

RUGBY LEAGUE

AROUND THE CLUBS

NOTES ON PLAYERS

In the Rugby League competition last Saturday St. George's defeat of Newtown was not unexpected. The surprise was the 40-point margin in favour of the former champions. Jumping into action early St. George scored four tries quickly. Sheer speed in the back line, open ball-play, and backing up were the contributing factors. Newtown as a team were early shaken in confidence and resorted to individual rather than concerted play. Nevertheless, possible try-getting openings were made by Newtown players, but these were lost because Newtown players did not back up the teammate in possession of the ball. Close attention to the development of teamwork will bring results for Newtown. D. Mustchin, St. George second-row man, was the outstanding forward. Sound in scrummage and ruck, he revealed sound handling and speed an scoring three tries and making the opening for one other. Detracting features of Mustchin's play are tendencies at times to delay the pass and carry the ball in one hand. Against experienced opponents the latter is a dangerous and, sometimes costly fault. W. Spencer, full-back, fielded the ball in the air and along the ground faultlessly, and gained long stretches of ground with powerful punts. Although not severely tested in the tackle, the game was Spencer's best this season. W. Baillie (scrum-half) and G. Franklin (centre) were new players brought into the St. George thirteen. Franklin made openings and promises to develop into a good attacking player. In P. McManus and A. Gosney, St. George has two solid hardworking forwards. Both these scrummagers are devoid of all "shining" tendencies and revel in the heavy "work. Honours in the Newtown rearguard went to A. Drew, scrum-half. With his forwards beaten, except in straight hooking, Drew had a torrid time, and in football parlance took a "thumping." This did not stop him from getting the ball away and defending solidly. A surprising feature of the match was A. McLennan's success as hooker. Formerly an inside back, McLennan succeeded in out-hooking the St. George rake J. Carrol. STOOD OUT. H. McCormack and L. Rierson stood out in the Newtown forwards. Both men played in solid fashion and did not relinquish effort. Rierson's reward came in the concluding stages of the game when the ball rebounded from the goal posts and enabled him to score a lucky but deserving try. Newtown has a fine senior reserve grade team. To date an unbeaten record is retained. This should continue throughout the premiership competition if present combination and teamwork is continued. MIRAMAR CLUB. The season to date has taken a severe toll in injuries in the Miramar ranks. Among the three teams, players now on the injured list are:—D. Spiers, J. Sage (seniors), and P. Webster (reserves). All are shoulder injuries. In the match between Miramar and Petone outstanding players for Miramar were Askew, Wickham, Gollop (backs) and Stanaway, J. Minnoch, W. Dalley (forwards). G. McDonald, last year's reserve forward, who has just returned from Canterbury, will be seen in action next Saturday. In the reserve grade team Elsworthy and Rigby (forward's), F. Brittain and Ward, both new players, were outstanding. By defeating St. George decisively by 32 points to nil, Miramar juniors showed themselves to be possibilities. The Boyd brothers Duck and Mclntosh in the backs played well. For the forwards, R. Bryant, the Cairns brothers, and Coveny played good rugged football, whilst the weight of P. Garland, a newcomer to the code, was an asset. Superior-fitness told the tale in the Randwick-Central game played at Randwick. The game became heated at times, but Mr. McCaskill's control of the match was excellent. L. Duff, who played wing-three-quarter for Central, has been moved into his proper place, five-oighth, and on Saturday this player revealed form. He is equally good on defence and attack, with only one fault, a tendency to throw bad passes. In the Central forwards O'Halloran was always prominent The Cootes brothers played sterling football, J. Cootes scoring a great try from a determined run down the side-line. W. Clarke played a heady forward game, paving the way on one occasion for an excellent try, while Finnigan and Coglan were tireless workers, and were always on the ball.