RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 May 1928, Page 3

RUGBY

■ -v SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. OLD BOYS v. ELTHAM. The result of the meeting between Old Boys and Eltham does not actually' ■give an indication of the comparative strength of the teams and a just comparison of the play. Eltham were attacking nearly as much os their opponents and had many openings ; the main difference, however, was that Old Boys were able to take advantage of these chances by combined attacks, three of which were successful, while generally, Eltham attacks were by more or less isolated and were not able to be finished because of the failure of the players to back up their attacking members. When they did got away in line their passing: lacked precision and in consequence broke down badly. *** * ■ * Actually the only try they scored was of the opportunist order and came to Page because he had followed up and was able to take advantage of the chance to secure the ball after it had been rushed over the line. ***** Briar, at full-back for Old Boys, did

excellent work, his kicking and fielding ibeing most effective, but on occasions be showed a habit of running back or across the field that might have brought trouble for -his team with a stronger and speedier opposing set of backs. * * * * * The back line from the half, did excellent work throughout. Their handling and passing were smart and accurate, on the whole and they certainly made the match most attractive to the spectators. * * * * * Old Boys did mot get the ball from the scrum more than did Eltham, but they certainly made more use of the chances and generally speaking the ball came much more cleanly from their scrum, thus giving Morey better opportunities to set his backs going. Morey played a clever, heady game. Stevens and Fookes both took passes well and cut in nicely to make openings, for the three quarters. * * * * * Brown, as always, was a tower of strength to the team, taking the ball generally when going at top and giving it to his wings when in a good position. * * * * * Webster’s try was a capital effort; after receiving the ball he beat the opposing winger to get across the line. Dimniss did' a lot of really good work and was prominent throughout, but he was watched closely and on several occasions ran into the pack and tried to get through. Generally he was collared, but on one outstanding occasion he ran clean through, beating a number of opponents badly and ran round to score behind the posts. It was a great individual effort. * * * * * The prettiest try of the day was the third, scored just on the conclusion of the play when, from an Eltham attack, Briar took and kicked high and Brown galloping down-field, was able to secure and after a pretty piece of passing between him and Webster the latter galloped across at the corner. * * * * * •f’» Of the goal kicking Brown had two, the easier shots, while Stevens’ conversion of the last try from near the side-line was a brilliant effort. # * * * * The forwards all worked well, Luxton, DTader, Adams, and Brewster being perhaps the best. Smart, on the wing, did excellent service. * » « * * Eltham has many good men included in its personnel, but, they need welding together. They appear to have the makings of a fine combination if and when they can co-ordinate their work. * * # * * McDonald, at full, was a power of strength to his team and it is\ safe to say that but for him the margin against them would have been much larger. He took and kicked splendidly and was rarely caught before he had done his "job. £. -XPage did a great amount of defending work and was l associated in many attacking movements. He was generally on the ball and this was the factor that enabled him to score the only try. * if * * * Trolovo showed himself a - speedy dashing player, being hard to stop when going strongly. * * * Jkr * L. Gooper did not get many opportunities, but proved useful on defence. * * * * * Gower, A. C. Cooper and Attrill all shaped well and showed that with practice together they will be an effective combination. ***** Pepper-ell, as rover, has weight, but he was slow to get away and would be better as- lock. * t * it •* The pack is a distinctly good' one, full of dash and working hard Tight to the end. They worried the opposing backs during the greater part of the game, and as the season advances" will improve. They <ja.ve their backs many opportunities of which the latter failed t-o take full advantage. ***** More than the usual meed of praise is due to Mr. G. Collins for his work in the responsible position of referee. .He was perfectly fair, and 'wisely exercised a nice discretion as to when to stop the play and observing' the advantage rule well and effectively.

STRATFORD AND CLIFTON. A brisk breeze (blow across' Victoria Park, Stratford, when the above teams met on Saturday last. Otherwise, conditions were perfect, and, as each team was at full strength and about equal in weight, a first-class exposition of. the code was 'both anticipated by, and presented to, a large and appreciative attendance. One of the two most marked features of the match was the -fine sporting spirit in which the issue was fought out —the other was the brilliant football played by the Stratford forwards. For three parts of the game the home vanguard defied all efforts to keep them in check, and had they been as ably supported by the back division the final score of 20 points to 8 against Clifton would assuredly have been greatly increased. The visitors were fairly sound in defence and lost few opportunities of taking retaliatory measures. Lacking the finish of tho

Stratford men they ■were unable to .press ■home many an advantage gained. The nett result of the game, however, was the finest exhibition of clean, fast and 'exciting club Rugby seen in Taranaki for many a long day. There was a noticeable absence of questionable tactics throughout, for which the members of both teams &tc to be commended. * For Stratford, Collins filled) the full back position in his best style, which is saying much in few words. Iu the three-quarter line, Bonner (left wing) was the surest and most reliable in defence and certainly made his advances with more confidence and decision than did either Wynyard or Ivivell. The latter was thrown away as centre —lie is of more value as a scoring mate for Walter in the forwards. With a little more decisive dash, Wynyard’s pace would be a great asset to his team. * * * * *

The insides, Carter, Owen and Sengster, worked well together, although Owen has played better games. His short, stabbing runs gained a lot of ground until a bad bump on 'the knee steadied him, and his passing 'thereafter was a little faulty at -times. ***** Fry-day excelled himself as 1 rover, playing such a heady, forceful game for the most part that a few penalties against him for off-side indiscretions may be overlooked. * * * * * On .his Saturday’s game it is hard to believe there is in Taranaki a more dashing, clever forward than Walter. Even though deprived of his team mate, Kivell, he put up a sterling performance, heading every rush, handling like a back, and always in the picture when a score was imminent. ***** As regards the rest of the pack it is difficult to individualise, except to observe that Smith and 0 ’Keefe caught the eye perhaps more frequently in open work. It is enough to say that Stratford fielded a great forward team. * * * * * Clifton’s full-back, Pepperell, suffered by comparison with Collins-. * * * 4*- * C. Tate was much the best of the three-quarter line, and with schooling should become very useful in a team of experts. B. Watson’s pace would have been of more use to his side if placed on the wing instead of centre. B. Jones was sound, if not brilliant. There -was nothing amiss in the line. ***** Sutton, Carey and M. Jonas, the insides, were up against it for three parts of the match, but when their forwards opened out in the final quarter, gave ample proof of their ability to initiate attacking movements. * * * * * W. Peterson and E. Williams were the most conspicuous of a solid, even pack who had as much as they could handle to keep the Stratford tigers in check. * * * * * Puke (rover) held his end up fairly well against odds until his enforced retirement during the first spell. ***** As a team, the Clifton men showed a marked advance on last season’s form.