RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 May 1925, Page 6

RUGBY

SCHOOL RUGBY FIXTURES, KAPONGA GROUP. First Round. May 9.—Manaia v. Kaponga, at Manaia; Auroa v. Manaia Convent, at Auroa; Kapuni a bye^ May 10. —Manaia v. Kapuni, at Kapuni ; Auroa v. Kaponga, at Kapoiiga ; .Manaia. Convent a bye. May 23.- —Manaia v. Auroa, at Auroa; Manaia Convent v. Kapuni, at Manaia ; Kaponga a bye. May 30.—Auroa v. Kapuni, at Ka- * puni; Alanaia Convent v. Kaponga, at Kaponga; Manaia a bye. .Tune 6. —Manaia v. Manaia Convent, at Manaia; Kapuni v. Kaponga, at Kaponga; Auroa a bye. Second Round. June 13.—Manaia v. Kaponga. at Kaponga ; Auroa v. Manaia Convent, at Manaia; Kapuni a bye. June 20. —Manaia v. Kapuni, at Manaia ; Auroa v. Kaponga, at Auroa: Manaia Convent a bye. June. 27.—Manaia v. Auroa, at Manaia : Manaia Convent v. Kapuni. at Kapuni; Kaponga a bye. July 4.—Auroa v. Kapuni, at Auroa; Manaia. Convent v. Kapuni., at Manaia; Maiiaia a bye. July 11,—Manaia v. Manaia Convent, at Manaia ; Kapuni v. Kaponga, at Kapuni; Auroa a bye.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. The opening of the series of matches in the first' round of the championship was awaited with great interest by hosts of followers of the game all over the district. Though the play was, as might be expected, somewhat ragged, there was a lot of really good play and enthusiasts are enabled to some extent to pick out those they consider the strongest of the senior teams. The results were in most eases close and the matches provided good keen contests.

HA WERiA-TU K A PA. The foundation of trie second club in Hawera weakened, as it was known would be the case, the old club. This was almost unavoidable, but the weakening is more ■ noticeable in the backs than in the forwards. Practically the team behind the pack consists of promoted third grade players, with the exception of the veteran Sam Cameron and the ex-Waimate half, Rei. They are all keen and win certainly develop. They, however, need coaching and are willing to imbibe ideas, for improvement. They showed they were able to take the heavy work without . flinching, but their want of weight told as the match progressed. They were also somewhat disorganised, arid except on one or two occasions did not combine well. They could not keep the pace with the very speedy hacks opposing them, and consequently there was often an opening left for the wing man who, on most occasions, was the flier Hart. Loader at fullback did a lot of good work, saving many times and his tackling was generally quite, good. Hammond was the best of the three-quar-ters and was most reliable. Aluiidy and Shore showed up well® at time's. Sain Cameron did a tremendous amount of defensive work and the fact that lie was ready when the. opening came to score after a fast forward rush showed that lie still lias pace. His .was a very popular try. Sage and Rei are both very light, hut .they stood up to the heavy work * pluckijy. Sage had very hard luck to have his right hand injured in his first senior match, when lie had to retire. He had done quite a lot of good work. . The Hawera hack team had actually opposed to them almost a rep. -team of backs, probably quite the strongest in the senior championship. Tukapa backs were- extremely speedy, iiiiicli above the average and combined -With that a good deal more weight. Wlieii they got away in a pssmg rush lliey took great deal of stopping. Of the Tukapa backs Hart was most in the public, eye and scored several good tries. But Ennis did a tremendous amount of work and ’was the pivot of the back team. The others all did well. Jeffries opened fin play in good stvle and Petty was very solid and often brilliant, ‘and combined in attack by following up very fast after lie. had got his kick away. in the forwards the honours rested certainly with the Hawera pack, and in its scrum work and loose rushes it beat its opponents very often. It played with the luck against it, for several times a score should have been the measure of its merit. But- there was rather a lack of cohesion at times which detracted from its efforts. West played a fine game and his line kicking was of great service. But the three who showed up most consistently throughout were Malcolm, Williams and Robinson. They grafted right to the no-side whistle and the two . former made a number of really outsanding individual efforts. The Tukapa pack was solid and worked hard, but it was outmatched by- Hawera and-was hardly on a par with its fine back team. If Tukapa can strengthen its forward line, it will lie probably the hardest team to beat in the championship.

PA TEA PROSPECTS. (Fi'om Our Own Correspondent.) The football match oil Saturday last gave proof that the local club intends this vear taking the game seriously. We have a hue" naek. and the backs are solid. What is wanted amongst flic backs is a “Gloaming,” if one can be unearthed from somewhere. Owen Murphv, -Jackson, Baldwin .and L. Hunt are forwards that will always have to be reckoned with in any games that they play,_ and Fred. McKenna, on the wing, will worry any opposing half-back.

STRATFORD v. ATHLETICS. Athletics performed very finely against Stratford on Saturday, and the future progress of the young club after making such a successful debut will be watched with considerable interest, not only in Hawera but in other parts of the district. With a vanguard in the proximity or 1.3 stone, the leatii has a pack that can be made equal to the best in the province. Every one of them was a. worker on Saturday, and several of them have been familiar figures in club football in the past. For the, most part the. scrummaging was good, and the oack showed a knowledge of serum tactics that is welcome but not frequently seen in club football in Tara--1 naki •* Some of them, however, need

io use a little more care iff their physical exuberance, for if one or two had been a little more judicious when near their own goal, Sangster would not , have won the match for Stratford with two penalty goals. Blundell, one of the Old Boys’ best forwards last season, and the two Hunts were always conspicuous in the loose and were well supported by their back ranker in Greig. As wing-for ward, F. Grant figured in some bright movements and was always up with the ball.

The half, Owen, shone out on defence bringing off several opportune saves, but on the attack he was not so impressive, and at times was a little bit slow in’ getting the ball away. He shows promise nevertheless. So far as the rest- of the backs are concerned, McGregor is the brains of the team. Speed and accurate kicking are his assets, and lie was a tower of" strength on Saturday. Once ? however, he was guilty of speculating, a fault which Hunter the full back also developed on another occasion. Lay, first five-eighths, and McGregor combined well, and some of their passing rushes were really good; The threequarters Forbes and Thomas showed up well, though the former threw away one good chance of scoring. Plank on the other wing was not so strong, but he had a bad shoulder and might have been wiser to have stood down for the day. Hunter, full back, was generally safe and kicked well. Stratford also had a good pack, all workers, amongst whom Walter, Hinton, Ivivell and McCullough were perhaps the best. Fryclay, wing forward, proved a dangerous man, and it was due to his backing up that he secured Stratford’s winning try. Gangster was a splendid little half and has a useful hoot, his two penalty goals being splendid efforts for a youth of his size” Dossctt, a newcomer to Taranaki, was perhaps the most watched back, and he possesses speed and versatility that made him a dangerous liKiii. ‘ He played sietaond r fivie-eights-to Walter, who also put in a lot of good work’. The three-quarters, Jans, Wood and. Coulton, played with plenty of dash; but passing that would not do a primary school credit robbed the hacks' movements of all tlieir sting. Promising rushes, well conceived, time and again broke down through weak passing which for the most part was brought about bv backs running too far and trving to -beat all the opposition before letting the- ball away. With straighter running and quick, -crisp passing the Stratford hacks will liecome a formidable combination. The on I v serious fault noticeable in Boyle, the full back, was that he was inclined to Wait for the bounce instead of coming up and taking the ball o n the full." He got into trouble several times through forgetting that a Rugby ball is not round and does not always bounce straight.

INGLEWOOD v OKAIAWA. The forward teams were evenly ni fit died, but the Okaiawa rearguard handled beter than the Inglewood backs. McKay was prominent among the Inglewood forwards and N. Ross played his usual safe game on the wing. Coutts made many mistakes, but played a good all-round game. McGuire and Pet a were the pick of the Okaiawa forwards, while, in the backs Johnston piayed a- brilliant game, being apparently as well at home among the forwards as the hacks. Crawford also played a good game and did not get too many chances to show his ability. S. Cameron’s taking of the ball was not all that could he desired, while Tuki was prone to attempt to evade his tackles too often when he could easily clean. His tactics in variably failed and unless he alters them lie will frequently get his team inlo trouble. ,

OtPUNAKE v. KAPONGA. .On, Saturday last the Kaponga, fifteen for the second year in succession met, defeat on their own ground in the opening' game of the season at the hands of O'punake, which maintained its reputation of being / capable of .showing unexpected strength and proving a difficult proposition even for the best of the provincial clubs. .Despite the l'acit that play for threeparts of the game wa,s confined to O'punake’,s territory, by the use of the best advantage, of thej .scoring opportunities afforded it, the winning team secured, a. one point lead and held it by line defence.

Op intake showed that, it possesses a powerful, well-balanced pack, well held in the soniuhis/ by Trotter, ait cl one which., with a hooker of. the. calibre at Norgate, partnered: by O’Brien, should secure more than its share, of balls in formed scrums. While G. Husk, and O’Riourk© (the. captain) were, the pick of the winning, forwards., all gave a willing exhibition, and but. for the team’s strength,, in... this department, it would undoubtedly have 'been defeated by a good margin. The try which culminated the dribbling movemen, b initiated by Brooker, marked him a® a bustling forward who .should prove very rise,fid: this season. Mason, behind the scrum, played a steady game, but was prevented by the Kaponga, rover (J. Paterson) from making the best uise of thei ball keeled out by his. hooker®. EiVans, at second fiveeighths, showed out, among the Cfepnuake backs, and though CL and \Y. Hohaia, were often dangerous' to K-.i----pbnga, Evans on the day’s play was the most prominent player in the Coast team’s rearguard. . Playing in the Kapo'ngai pack, M. Malone, who has been referred to : “the forward with a wonderful, pair of bauds,” gave a glimpse of .the form which in past season® has .made him noted in Taranaki football. Hie play throughout was outstanding, and while both of Ka,pong ass tries were secured 'by him, the powerful dash with which he.' went through the defence in obtaining the first try was a' particularly notable piece of work. Ernie Scott, the Home side's, second forward, also held his own in good company, but the' remainder of the pack, though they played with ganiieness and tenacity to the final iylii.stle, were not equal to their heavier opponents. It was unfortunate for Kaponga that the redoubtable Jack Kisisick was not numbered in .the . vanguard. Tboumine, wllo last season was very useful as a, hooker as well as being a fine bustling forward, was unable to .play at his best owing to a knock received early in the game: As rover, . J. Paterson., who played for New Plymouth. High, School last season, wa.fi notable in harrying the Opun.ake middle backs. In the rear division the- day’s honours rested with M. Lynskey (captain) and C. Paterson. ’ The former, as first five-eighths in the opening spoil, and as half in the second, proved very efficient in stemming rtttacks and initiating counters and was the best back on the ground. He was well supported by (A Paterson. Tlie latter, however, was unfortunate with bis place kicks, four of which were excellent, attempts and failed bv .very narrow margins to achieve results.

C. Whalen, last year’s ful back, who was moved up to centre three-quarter and subsequently live-eights, gave a sound display and showed dash and initiative. G. Paterson, one of last year’s juniors, who was given the responsibilities' of the full back position, showed good judgment and played well for a young player. \V. Eiiason, another junior of last year, who played' on the wing gave promise of development. The rearguard as a whole contained good material, and with the combination which will come as the season, advances will prove dangerous to opposing" teams.

PA TEA v. CI.IKTON. For one of the first games of the .season, the match, between Pate,a and Ol if ton at Patch. waM by no means disappointing. 'file game was fairly fast, and both, sides did their best to keep play open. .Paten, had a. good pack of forwards, and with assistance from some speedy back's were able to stop Clifton, from getting; away during the first half when the wind was in the visitors’ favour. Clifton played a bapd game,, but, the Pa tea, forward attacks ~smothered most of their, a.ggi'essive, movements' and spoiled tlie Work of their hacks.

Fred McKenna, was) nearly always conspicuous in the attacks on tne Clifton, Line, but in view of tiie- fact that he does not possess pace, he appeared rather selfish on a couple of oociaisians in not letting, the hail out, to Jackson, the .speedy wingqr, who was in, close .attendance. Baldwin, Hunt and Murphy were the pick of the Pate a forwards, Baldwin again looking a sure thing, for the Taranaki fifteen. Cliff Wills, the Patea centre three-quarter, played a good all-round game, being strong , in, attack and sound in, defence. j. Power gave a similar exhibition and showed himself to be a sure catch. Jackson, who was being tried at wing three-quarter, made quite a, good showing. H. Greig .at half was nippy, and Thomson, the full-back, did not let anything get past. Lardelle played a good game, at second five-eighths, but wa,s inclined to dwell on the hall. He did better Out. on the wing. Amongst tne 'Clifton men Tvleimer at first five-eighths evoked admiration by the game manner in which he went down to, the ball. He played a steady game despite the fact that the Patea, pack was continually over him when he got the leather. H. Ravly was a, young player at wing .threequarter who showed promise..., He gave evidence of possessing ,pMnty of

pace,, but lie did hot get an opportunity of using it to advantage. Briggs, on the other wing, gave the ihipressiofi, of being a hard man, to stop and was quick off the mark. .Ctodk, a. new arrival from, Ch ri s tcliu rely, played a good afl-rotind game. J. Baylv. L. McGuire and W. Soffe were the pick of the Clifton forwards.