RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 5

RUGBY.

NOTES ON THE GAME

STAR V. ELTHAM

The match between Star and F.ltlnun was a very ragged one, although the game was keenly contested. Both sides showed a lamentable ignorance or the scientific .principles of * the game, and combined movements, were exceedingly rare. The following up, which is usually such a uoticeab e feature or Star's* play, was practically non-exist-ent, while the tackling ot sides could have been improved upon. Taken all round, the game was a poor exhibition of Rugby. The Star backs reepatedly mulled their passes and showed a tendency to run across the lield intsead of straight ahead —Wolfe was particularly an offender in this respect. Casey gave the best display among the backs, dummying hi s opponents neatly, and was fairly well supported by Jenkins at centre. .Lewis, on the wing, got lew chances to show his ability, wliLc Hoffmann, although he had pace, failed to turn his opportunities to account. The forwards seemed to have no energy, and would not follow up. Stroud, Cole, Clarice and .Kendall worked the hardest of the vanguard. Eltham’s rear division possessed more finish than their opponents, but it, too, had no combination; and there appeared to. be no understanding among the backs, of whom Cooper and Penniall were the best. The forwards showed more villi, and proved to be hard to stop when once a dangerous rush was started. All played a solid game, while Tiplady, who did not become prominent till late in the second spell, figured in some heady work.

TUKAPA v. PATEA. Few expected Patea to put up such a good .showing against Tukapa last Saturday, and it came as a. surprise to all to see the .local team not only hold the visitors until a few minutes before time, hut frequently launch strong attacks on their goal line, such movements very often being the closest thing possible to a score. Of course, had the field been dry there probably would have been a very different story to tell, for as conditions were on Saturday the heavy going and. the slippery hall were factors which operated against the successful working of the visitors rearguard, and at the same time made matters simpler for a good pack of forwards such as Patea possesses.

Amongst the Patea. forwards Baldwin was a tower of strength, his work on the line-out and in the tight being outstanding, while he was entirely responsible for several, dribbling rushes that carried the hall more than half the length of the field. On the day’s play Thorburn and Kerrisk were the best of the remainder of the home team’s vanguard. C. Wills at fiveeighth, as usual, played a good hard game, he showing to advantage in aggressive movements. Jackson, whenever called upon, took the ball in fine style, and did very well with, his lino kicking. The best player on the field, however, was Petty, the Tukapa first liveeighth. Frequently he was seen to move straight through the opposing pack, and he was largely responsible for making a good opening for Tukapa’s only try. The whole of the Tukapa hacks, however, were, a strong combination. The full-back, Newall, took matters very calmly, and he made no mistakes in taking the ball or finding the touch line. The visiting forwards were not a very strong lot, but one could l say that Taylor’s game was worthy, of mention. Summing up. it may be said that it was a Patea forwards v. Tukapa hacks game, and but for Patea being weak in their numerous attempts to goal from the field, Tukapa would not have had the margin of six points that they eventually had.

HAWER.A v. INGLEWOOD. Played in the wet and on a muddy ground, conditions were such as to preclude a passing game. But, as it happened, Hawera’s only try was the outcome of a nice passing movement in the early part of the game in wide!; several of the forwards participated. West took ai good, pass from Paterson, and going on scored a. try. It was the brightest spot in a match which was necessarily one mainly of the kick hard and follow on type. Under the circumstances that was the game which paid best. Had either side stuck to those tactics they would probably have won. Both did this for a time and at intervals, but neither persevered. The ball was too greasy to hold with any certainty. Consequently the play was confined largely to, the forwards in attacking and to. the backs in defence. It was actually a fast game, and play moved up and down field in a way that kept ispectaors inerested. There were, as might be expected on suck a ground, many amusing' incidents. The footing in parts of the field was so insecure that a player never knew when he might measure his length just as lie was about to take a ball. Loader at full for Ha'wera played a great game, and saved his .side oq many an occlusion when failure meant an almost, certain score. Hammond. Shore and Cameron dicl a lob of good defensive work, and Barron at half went down to his work gamely and tried time again to open up play, but it was not the day for those tactics, and the effjbit rarely went any distance. The forwards all played a hard game, perhaps liobinson, Williams and West showing up most. On the Inglewood side Burkhardt and Chard brothers were the pick, perhaps, of a hard working side. Cbutts was the heart and soul of the defence, and his kicking and following up often had the opposing hacks in trouble. Ross showed up at times, hut running was almost impossible finder prevailing conditions. The draw was about an indication of the merits of the teams, but C'outtsi’ kick at goal almost gave the victory to Inglewood. The referee gave a try for obstruction. It is a. course that is only rarely followed, hut appeared to meet with general approval.

FRASER. ROAD 22 v. TOKAORA a. A. fast and open game, m which much good play was seen, Fraser 'Road had a decisive victory over Tokaora, running up 22 points to their opponents’ points. I n fhe first spell play was fa idly even, and Fraser Road hacks, passing well and throwing the ball out on every possible occasion, scored twice, Wharenitu and Neva LI crossing the opposing line. One try was converted. However, in the second spell Fraser Road piled on the points, Newall securing three more trios and T. Wharenitu one. Of these tries one was converted. Tokaora as the result of a forward rush, got over the line. H. Wren getting the try. The kick was not successful, and the game ended with the score 22 to 3 in favour of Fraser Road. Mr. T. C. Arnold was referee. In the fourth grade match, Kaponga v. Waimate, the game ended in a draw, six all.