RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 June 1926, Page 6

RUGBY.

KPR-ATFO RD V. K A.1 1 ON(! A. The friendly niti'tcih played- a,t Sit-iut-ford on Saturday last between Stratford and Ivaipoaiga s. eix i oits 1 wits I >l . :> du'citive of only in'eddaun-ol'ais« footiba.il. The game 'bristled with openings for the hacks' of both teams', but inaccurate and mulled passe® invariably threw a,way golden opportunities. Another factor in the' -backs’ failure was that in many instances', passes were taken -standing. With seasoned, experienced 1 players such a.s the backs' in question, the Latter fault is unpardonable. The fact that the ball hung in the scrum in the majority of cases, instead of coming out clean and smartly to the halves, may account for the slow and indecisive passing, and tone down the indictment to some extent. were o ! c*'c!ciisio<ii&, o'ii tilie otiiei hand, when the ball shot trom the serum at too fast a pace for the half to "athcr it. These mishaps, however, did not affect the transfers, but usually were the forerunners of dribbling rushes by the opposition, who would come through unopposed before the insides could "pick up. The foregoing exposes two faults of wliidh forward teams nowadays' are often guilty—they are either too slow or too fast in their manipulation of the bad in the scrum, which should be *•:> picked -as t i- leave a cletir | a ,ue fi mi tilio fr-iii-t rauikeus to the back row. the two members of the latter momenta/rify con-trolling the hoik holding or letting it out to the half ave r ding to ii" , -ibrtuition or posiltUMi o-f the scrum 'in the field of play. As scrums are packed now, the forwards lerse control and it seems only «. matter of chance when the ball does conne out cleanly. The only remedy is scrum practice iam.d plenty of it. On Saturday Kaponga held a slight adva-ii-bage in securing possession, more especially in the first half. In line-out work and looise formation the teams' were about an a par. The game saw the re-entry" of that great forward. Jack Kisisiok, to active participation, and, considering hi® long ®peil and 'lack of training, his (jerformianoe was of a- high -sta-rda-i d. He is a. horn leader on the field and sets a. pace that nothing but perfect fitness can follow: he was easily the best forward mi the ground, his running, dribbling, handling -and particularly his collaring, being quite a. treat to wit tresis. Pat and Jo© Ha livniersley. in the front row. were a. m-a-tched and successful pair, who also performed well in the loose. Eddie Scott played look through the first -spell a-nd was re-rda-ced by his brother in- the second. There was no -appairent difference in results, though it is likely that Ernie, being heavier and more experienced, may be the better of the two' i n the position—'an all-portant one, as without -a good Took there iis no stability in a scrum. The resit of Kaponga-’a forwards played creditably. B. Hiaimme-rs-ley. at half, lias played hotter games, and was inclined a.'t times to play too close to hi,s forwards —in a -sense, crowding himself. Williams, as first five-eighths, -gave a. good display after ■his long, enforced absence through an injury. Guy was not at home in the three-: pi alter line -a-nd took up his recently adopted position -as -rover in the -second half, where he showed to greater advantage, his pace- and spoiling procTlvi-tiies making him a force to be"reckoned with. There was nothing of outstanding merit in the performance- of the b-a-la-ne© of Kaponga s backs, who, however played a- sufficiently -solid game- to keep- their opponents’ score down. McOarty’s adsence f-igwn centre three-qu-a-iter made changes' nedeslsary, uipse/ttiug the back division a-nd accounting in. a great measure for lack of cohesion.

Tihe three-point lead established by Kapomgiai was dispelled principally by the better combination mud handling of the home team’s backs in the second half, but they ■would have utbaii ned even better results had the wings not have been jammed on the touch lines. Players are apt to forget that the opposition travels as fast a® a succession of lob passes and must surely put. the closure on a back movement that strings out to touch. Jii.nky runs, side steps and straight running ;m‘o more effective than line-outs. Sangster, at full-hack, was safe—so much so that Jvapongia. failed to score a try during the game. Of the home scoring l Fryday was the most aggressive and made repeated attempts to .cross. Want of room, ilimvever. vra.» Iris- isifcu rrubilim <r ibHock. Youna; was a,ii efficient rover who threaded his way through Eaponga’s ranks with persistent regularity throughout the second swell. and Veaillv deserved ai try or two. Walter, the All Black, was the conspiciouis of a hulstlinig hand of forwardis, but he Was cleanly not in international form on the dia.y. Taken all through, the game wais an interesting one even, if devoid of brilliance, and: served its purpose of keeping potential Taranaki representatives 'and championship winners in form, instead of weakening a. playing day. There was a. large and: impartial attendance of enthusiasts, among whom was noticeable -Mr. Dtan Malone, the old representative player and one-time sole selector of Taranaki’s teams.