MID-WEEK RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 June 1927, Page 7

MID-WEEK RUGBY

HAWERA DISTRICT GAMES. PLAYERS’ FORM REVIEWED. -■-(Notes by “Offsider.”) Last Wednesday’s fixtures, in which City, in tlieir game against Whareroa, met tlieir first , defeat, and Ohangai won by default from Normanby, marked tlie" conclusion of the first round of the mid-week competition. The day’s play leaves the positions of the teams as follow: — JPts. Pts. Ch. P. W. D. L. For Agst. Pts. Cit.v 4 3 1 Whareroa ..4 3 1 Fraser Road .4 2 1 1 23 20 o Oliangai .... 4 1 2 1 3 25 3 Normanby ..4 0 4 Whareroa met City at Whareroa on Wednesday and the latter proved too good for City. The faulty' handling of the City players let them down on numerous occasions, while 'Whareroa handled with sure and good judgment throughout the game. This game was the last of the first round and proved to bo 1 tlie best game to date? It left Whareroa and City equal for pride of place on the championship ladder with (i points each. One would have liked to see more supporters of Wednesday football in attendance, but probably the Hawera-Okaiawa match drew the mid-week half-holiday people. A. Thomlinson, Conney and J. Freyne were the pick of tlie Whareroa pack, while Bootten and McDonald were always on the ball, giving some of the City backs some anxious moments. Haigh went well at wing-forward, but has p'lay r ed much better. He was not up to Ills usual spoiling game. Crooks, at half, was one of the best backs on tlie field, but does not set his backs going quick enough. He woqld do better by transferring the ball instead of running a yard or two. Hughes played his first game for Whareroa and was a tower of strength to his side. If this player would get * out of the habit of passing the ball with one hand his wing men would benefit considerably. Simmonds was the pick of the wings. His determined running gave Whareroa two good tries. Bloor, at full, was off his game on Wednesday. I have seen him much more confident with his kicking and handling, but as ye all know most players have a day off sometimes. Hall was again on his game against Whareroa. It is a pity City did not have a few more backs like him. Goodwin went fairly well on Wednesday. At times he cut in beautifully, but forgot to come out again, and his efforts alway's went fiat. Clark was tried out at half for a little while and, for some unknown reason. he was shifted. This player was going very well at half, and was easily the best City has had ymt. If coached to tlie position,this player should prove a good exponent behind the scrum. Lay was disappointing on Wednesday'. He seemed to have had an off day, for he could not do a thing right. Bryant, Mclntyre, Ritter and Wards were the only forwards City had. The rest of them seemed to he wingforwards most of the time, and it is a pity they do not get into the tight work better.

Macßeth, who has played rover for the last game or two, went back to hooking, and one noticed the difference, for City' got their fair share of the ball in tlie latter stages of the game.