RUGBY IN SOUTH TARANAKI

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 25 May 1927, Page 7

RUGBY IN SOUTH TARANAKI

LAST SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. COMMENTS ON THE PDAY. Remarkably keen interest was taken in the three senior fixtures set down for decision .last Saturday. Okaiawa have shown very consistent good form, and Patea. who have improved with each game, were expected by their supporters to give the leadens a great strugg e. Rivalry between Hawera and the more recently-formed Athletic Club is so keen that their meeting naturally drew crowds of supporters, of both teams, while the chances were veryeven as between, Opunake and Kaponga, teams which have both been showing to advantage inn the competition. HAWERA v. ATHLETIC.

Much interesting and clever play was seen in the meeting of the two local senior fifteen® on Saturday. Tliematen is always looked upon with keen interest by supporters of the two clubs, and tins year s match probably aroused more enthusiasm than in any previous meeting or the teams. The Athletic pacK has been strengthened considerably, and they now have more weight man lias previously been, the case, and tins, combined with the dash they inlUised into, their pay, placed them much more: ou a level with their opponents-. Ino result was that Athletics were able to hold the: older team, in the scrums, and thus give better opportunity to their half to open out play. There was throughout a lot of off-side play, and iu this respect Hawera were in the first spell) favoured, because, they had a number of free kicks in fairly easy positions, which their place-kicker should have converted. Athletic certainly had hard luck in that the kick 'McCarthy had, which almost succeeded, the ball struck a side post, while in the kick from the try his shot was very close. Tuku and Rung the Hawera players who had die kicks, were not in form, while Hammond, who had one just on the call of time, made no -mistake, the ball sailing right over the middle of the crossbar-. The forwards on both sides .played a li-ad game, in some cases a trifle too hard’ Players in practically every match are seen to give away all the advantage that comes from possession, the forwards by kicking too hard, instead of controlling the ball with tlieir feet. It- is not good football for 'a player to kick with all his might at the ball, especially in a tight place, nor is it good tactics. One special instance of dribbling, the feet keeping the ball under control, was that oi Tippett for Athletic in the. second spell, when he went from midway past the quarter flag before lie lost the ball, it was one of the most interesting .pieces ot play in the whole .match. The- backs, too, often kicked downfield when, as often happens, a fellow-back is in attendance and waiting for a pass. This is much to be regretted, for it spoils a team’s chances aud detracts much from the pleasure of the spectators, who like to see clean, .snappy passing amongst the backs. Often and often the ball would come -out a certain distance quite well and a back would throw away the advantage gained by kicking or by a wild pass. A little more coaching and a great deal more weekly practice would improve both teams vastly and make them equa' co any in the competition. Tuki. nt full back for Hawera, was off colour at the lie,ginning, but improved and then kicked exceedingly well. Notma.n came in as a .substitute and did fairly well, though his fiveeighths did not give him many opportunities.

The back line of the Hawera team is really very good, and could do very well and show capital play if they had a. little more, combination. Barron, behind the pack, is plucky and resourceful. and his . five-eighths are also good individually, while Shore and Hammond (the later especially) have a nice turan of speed and .a clever gift of feintin.or, and -swerving, but the hack team as a whole is not up to the individual ab’"itv.

The forwards played a hard game and were difficult to stop when they got going'. Mills, Murphy, Henry, and Paterson were always on the ball, and Henry, besides doing a lot of defence, was there when the opportunity t'J score presented itself, as it must always to the man who follows up well and keeps on the ball. Mills is a particularly likely type of forward -who, with experience should go a long way. Athletic were fortunate in having a full back like Dawdle. He played an extremlv good game, kicked well and got out of difficult places with a determination and resource that would have done credit to a. much older player. McCarthy, although he misfielded badly on one or two occasions, plays a good game and is full of determination while his kicking was good and useful and his place-kicking with a little luck, would have been a great asset to the team. Owen scored a clever try and generally played well, and was very useful on defence. Mund.v. Underhill. Grant, and Simpson are all good men and should have done better as a combination if they had been able to pass and take a ball better and more surely. The backs lost one or two golden opportunities when a missed pass meant an almost certain try lost. Simpson, however, played extremely well until he was injured and his defence and kicking were verv valuable.

The forwards are an extremely likely lot and tlieir loose rushes were really good, but they fell off considerably towards the ond. Tippett played a fine game and his dribbling was a decided feature. Tomlinson, Wood and Wilson were perhaps the pick of the vest. But if they will train, there is no reason why they should not. with experience, become one of the best packs in the com petition. Mr. F. Atkins controlled the garni well and was particularly attentive in his observance of the knock-on rule. One effect of this will be undoubtedly to leach players to practice more carefully the taking of a ball. He was emphatic in his decisions and generally gave every satisfaction.

OPUNAKE v. IvAPONGA

Opunake’s three-point victory over Kaponga, may fitly lie described as the quintessence ot luck. Jtaeli team ii;ic.l cc|unl chances or scoring, and it may truly he said, that each had also the same a nioini t of strenuous defensive wor.c to perform. Though, vJpuuake s lonelv try (it was the only score of the mate'll) was the outcome of a line piece of concerted back play, it was no better than Kaponga s etroit, which culminated in a forward pass on the Greens’ goal-line. To accentuate the luck of this game, it need only be stated that •“no-side” was called immediately Opunakc failed to convert. Judged on composition of the teams and deduction drawn from previous matches plavecl this season by either, Kaponga was not expected to win, and it says much for the quality of what is practically a junior team, that it was able to hold up its weighty opponents until the last minute of the match Taking man lor man m the

opposing back divisions, there was, with the simple outstanding exception of VV' Hohaia, nothing between them on the day. Forward, Opunake wa.s much the heavier team, and the soft, slippery condition of the ground should" have been a- strong point in its xavour. The Kaponga forwards, however, were quite a match in loose, line and scrum work.

The passing on either side was shockingly poor, and prompted the query as to whether it is a lost, art or lias never been learned bv some players. The latter assumption is probably the correct one, and, in the utter absence of gymnasium training, scarcely to be wondered at A fiveeighth" or three quarter will have a pass lobbed at him high above his head and be censured, if lie fails to pick the next one of the ground It was remarked in these columns last season, that the average Taranaki back should be as apt at hop-picking as at gathering mushrooms, and it seems that the remark still applies, forwards would be well advised to letain possession of the ball if their backs systematically discount their hard-earned advantages by inaccurate passing. During the first spell, when Ka.pong:i had the advhntage_ of a brisk breeze behind them. Opunake’s jul,back (Robinson) had an immense amount, of work on liis bands and did it well, repeatedly sending the black forwards back with strong and well judged kicking. His tackling, also, was of a. high order. In the threequarter line, \Y. Hohaia, was, oi course, the chief attacking force, and upheld his justified reputation as one oi the most reliable backs in Taranaki in either attacks or defence. He <on Id. however, have paid a little more attention to his wingers, Smith and R. Husk, who, though Hot led < (it ito a.s much as they should have been, acquitted themselves creditably. Mclvor. in the second five-eighth position, was in the picture all the afternoon, being well looked after by C. Hohaia and Mourie. The hitter played a sterling game behind the scrum, Graham (rover) was inclined to overdo the natural aggression of the position, and more than once was lucky to escape the referee’s eye. The forwards, a- very even, well-balanced se.en, should really have done better in scrum and line work, having the iuLantage of Kaponga in weight and height. Playing in open order anil concerted rushes they had little or nolhing on their lighter opponents. (>. a good willing lot. Brooke'r. .J. Lusk and O’Rorke most frequently caught the eve.

I’aterson. Kaponga’s full back, though not brilliant, was sale and solid with taking and kicking. He had very little tackling to test his de-1 tensive powers Eliason played the better game so far as the wingers were concerned, and fully deserved his inclusion in the South Taranaki team (selected on Saturday night) to play North to-morrow at Stratford. Though drafted from junior rank only last season, he must be classed with the best at the present time in the South Division, possessing as he does the requisite attributes—pace, a tricky swerve, rapid perception, and in defence, he is a fearless, sure tackier and good kick. Very little came the way of his fellow winger (McCarty)

beyond defence, and in this department he was as sure as ever, Mercer, at centre, shaped exceptionally well. The second five-eightli position was occupied by Murphy, a recent acquisition who appeared in his first game o. the season and so impressed the South selectors that he fills an emergency place tor to-morrow’s match. At first five-eighth Bradford (who. with Free in the forwards and Mercer, lias been drawn from last season’s juniors) ran straight and gave Murphy every chance. 13. Hammerslev and Guy, half and rover respectively, did not spare themselves in their endeavours to open up the game—and succeeded. A hard task was set the Kaponga vanguard to stay the onward rush of the heavy brigade, from the coastal town, the 'latter being held up chiefly by massed formation, in which individual prominence was well-nigh impossible. The Black forwards tackled well and tlieir combined work, in the scrum, loose and line out was commendable. Riding the progress of the match a five-minutes stoppage occurred for what was considered a slight injury to A. Guv. After the game, however, it was found that lie had a broken rib. This unfortunate accident will debar him from taking part in the North v. .‘■'onth match.

OKAIAWA AND PATEA

The meeting of these teams provided one of the best contests yet seen this season, and was remarkable as one ot the heaviest scoring senior matches seen' for some time. Okaiawa have a good, strong back team, all capable of giving a good exhibition in their particular sphere and generally showing better football than any of the other southern teams. They are all fast and dashing and kick well, and when on their best behaviour take a lot of stopping. But it is admitted on all sides* that Davie. Johnston is the spirit of the attack as well a>s the mainstay of the defence. Good as he lias always- been ever since first he appeared in senior football, his play nowadays appears to' hear the stamp of the djock! and cUvs'sy compa-hv in which he, as an All Black, has played, for there is no doubt that if a player has the gift in him it will he hrovjght out and carried to the limit of his capacitv bv association with the players of ‘the highest class. Johnston is verv finished in all his play, and lias a d’ash and resource that make him one of the best in the province, and ton lie plays the game in the right spirit and as though he enjoyed every .moment of the game.

C. Paterson is a very valuable addition to Okaiawa this season, a player who is useful in all departments, fast and dashing, and a remarkably fine kick, both • punting and place kicking. The rest of the hacks "are all useful also, and make up a. combination probably better and more even than any otter of the teams.

Their forwards are a willing and rrood pack, famous, as Okaiawa always wore- for loose rushes.. They are good also on the line-out. and are generally able to hold their own with all other packs. The star bock of the Patea team is undoubtedly L. Bourke, who plays usuallv centre three-quarter. He has weight and pace and a fine natural swerve. ' which often carries him

through where a less gifted player Would be collared. One feels that in the best company he would much develop. for lie has many of the attributes of the champion. The rest of the hacks are solid, serviceable players, but did not link up into one combination in the way that is necessary to success. *

The forwards are a pack that will always take a lot of beating, for they combine dash, weight, and pace in a Way that always makes them dangerous. Patea is always a side to be sferiouslv reckoned with against the best teams.

FOURTHS. HIGH SCHOOL A. It is good to see the School A team keeping up the record .for fast, open play always associated with the schools. Their seVen-a-side team at Mokoiu gave a fine exhibition, and made themselves very popular with spectators, many of whom expressed the wish that they had won through to the final and realised that the fast nassing game was that which the public alwmys desires most. In seven-a-side tourneys there should be no other style of play, and iu fact a good deal more of it in ordinary club matches.

School A showed this feature in their match last Saturday, and scored freely, four tries. A potted goal, which used some years ago to be- quite a usual event, was'scored by Morrissey. It is always spectacular, and, scored when a player cannot get through or has no one to whom to pass, is good tactics. But is it to be used with discretion.

If School can keep their present team they should score many more wins.*