RUGBY FOOTBALL High Standard Of Play In Representative Games

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL High Standard Of Play In Representative Games

-There was a good augury for tfie standard of senior football in the next few years on the West Coast in the fine displays given by the West Coast junior and third grade representative teams in their matches with Buller at Omoto on Saturday. The conditions were hardly favourable for bright, open football, but frequently the backs of both West Coast teams combined in excellent movements which would have done credit to senior teams on a dry ground. West Coast won both matches easily and on the relative displays the margins might have been much larger had the conditions been good.

The best features of the teams’ displays were in the back play, where some first class performers in the making were seen. The junior backs showed an appreciation of the value cf quick, snappy passing, with every man getting room to move in, and their positional play, for a team which had not been together before, was excellent. The forwards m both grades were good. They were eager to develop short-passing bouts and dribbling rushes, and were quick to heel the ball back to the rearguards when their progress was stepped. For the development ol these basic principles the club coaches concerned deserve credit.

Promising Youngster The star back in the representative third grade match on Saturday, was 1. Hay, who is captain of the Technical School first fifteen. Playing at centre he scored three tries and he played a fine all-round game. All the tries were not wholly made by him but he finished them off m the manner of a class footballer and a good future is predicted for him. He is especially dangerous on attack, with good hands, speed off the mark, and a dangerous swerve.

Lively Forwards M Herrick, playing m the front row of the West Coast junior pack on Saturday, was one of the best forwards on the ground and he promises to develop into a fine forward when he reaches the zenith of. his powers. He has some speed and is especially lively, and his handling, and ball control with his feet were features of.his play on Saturday when conditions were all against reliability in these departments. Another’ forward in the junior team, whose play took the eye, was D. Schroder, of Hoktika. He played an outstanding game.

The Best Back The best of the fine set of West Coast junior backs on Saturday was A. Dobbs of Hokitika. He played, at centre and showed a nice appreciation of positional play, combined with football sense of a high order. He handled and tackled well and was always dangerous with the ball, while still serving his wingers well. Dobbs was the best but all the others, certainly in the winning team, played well* especially R. Breeze at second five-eighth and McKenzie at half-back. These three, Dobbs, Breeze and McKenzie will be closely watched when they enter the senior ranks and many keen followers of junior football in the past couple of seasons will be surprised if they do not make their mark. Criticism Of Horrack

Extract from Hokitika Guardian report on West Coast v. Ashburton match: —For Coast. Horrack was slow and time and time again was caught by the Ashburton breakaways. (The Buller break-aways appeared very fast, but after Horrack’s exhibition against Ashburton, it seems likely that it was not Anderson and McHerron’s speed, but Horrack’s slowness. If Coast can’t find a better half than Horrack, then Walker, Rea, Stoop and co won’t be of much use to the team.

Outstanding Forward K. J. O’Connor, the 14st 101 b University forward, played what a southern writer called the game of his life for Otago against North Auckland on Saturday. His work in every respect was up to the best traditions of All Black play, and he was the best forward on the ground. He often joined in attacking movements, with his backs, and repeatedly came through from the line-outs in irresistible fashion to start passing in which forwards and backs joined. His covering work was of a high order.

Colquhoun’s Injury I. Colquhoun, the Otago, first fiveeighth, was admitted to hospital after the mat’ch between Otago and North Auckland on Saturday. He retired hurt after 10 minutes play and an .X-ray examination revealed that he had broken a bone below the eye. It is understood that he is unlikely to play again this season.

TEAMS SELECTED FOR SINGLE v MARRIED MATCH The following teams have been chosen for the Married v Single men’s match at Rugby Park on Saturday (assemble Star , pavilion 1 p.m.):— Married (amber and black). —B. Dixon (Star); R. Nelson (Blaketown), G. Henderson (Cobden), M. McDonald (B.); G. McLean (B.), N. Hopkins (S.); K. Horrack (C.); D. Wilson (S.), R. Hamilton (United), J. Walsh (B.); J. Pegley (S.), R. Birchfield (C.), A. Glen (U.), .A. Panther (B.); B. Constable (Cel.). Emergencies.—Back, K. Walsh (S.); forwards, D. Thurlow (8.),.8. Watkin (C.), H. Cloak (Cel.), W. Hill (Cel.). Single (black),—J. Lindbom (C.); N. Lawson (C.), L. Silcock (Cel.), K. Rea (Cel.); R. Olsen (C.), M. Thomas (B.); W. Hamilton (Cel.); R. Roberts (S.), K. Fisher (B.), W. Hill (U.); P. McNamara (Cel.), W. Butler (Cel.), A. Jackson (S.), N. Webster (B.); G. Gillespie (U.). Emergencies.—Backs, A. Laing (U.), J. Robertson (U.), M. Lines (B.), T. Williams (C.); forwards, E. Haddock (Cel.), Evans (C.), R. Carruthers (U.). South Westland Team To Defend Dittman Shield The South Westland Rugby team to defend the Dittman Shield against Westland on Saturday, is 'as follows:—

D. Mcßride; S. Nolan, E. Kirby, J. Sullivan; T. Nolan, J.’B. Muir (capt.); R. Vincent (vice-capt.); A. Mcßride, J. Minehan, J, Curtain; P. Hansen, G. Kerr, D. Kirby, H. Weenink, E. Renner. Emergencies:—Forwards, R. Rowley, D. McCormack; backs, A. Nolan, R, Nolan,