TARANAKI RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 May 1928, Page 10

TARANAKI RUGBY

PLAY IN THE SOUTH. PERFORMANCES REVIEWED. „ Saturday’s Rugby games in the South Taranaki Division were notable chiefly foe the success of Okaiawa against the strong Opunake combination which, in view - of its decided victory over Patea, was given a big chance of also .lowering the Champion Club’s colours even though the trial took place on the latter’s ground. In failing to do so, however, the coastal team compelled the Okaiawa to maintain good football during one of the hardest struggles the club has experie need in recent years and the even trend of play indicated that the decision cou'ld have gone to either team.

liie experience of the Hawera players proved too strong a factor for + he younger Athletic combination and the result, though not by such a pronounced margin, was generally expected. More even chances were estimated concerning the Patea-Kaponga clash on the southerner’s ground, "but the Blues failed to fulfil hopes raised by their defeat at Okaiawa, when the season opened and ' the Blacks gave further evidence that they are in the first flight of ohib teams this year. This is shown in the opinion of the selectors who have chosen six Kaponga. players for inclusion with the twenty-one listed in the south' team, and emergencies for to-morrow’is trial with the northern reps. The meeting of Hawera and Tv a- ’ ponga, on the town ground should he the provincial attraction of next fixtures. If both teams are •at. 'strength a keen battle, with the odds slightly in favour of the visitors, should eventuate. Tn. the other twogames, Okaiawa meet Athletic at Okaiawa, and Opunake will he at home to Waimate. Patea has the bye ATHLETIC V. HAWERA.

Rugby fans who paid admission to the showgrounds last Saturday in expectation of witnessing a close game were sadly disappointed. They certainly saw a fair game, but the contest was very onesided, pa'rticnla.rly in the second spell when the victors* notched 21 points to their opponents nil. The disparity in the scores, however, bv no means give a true indication of the respective sides, but on the day. Athletic were hopelessly outpointed and outclassed. The Hawera forwards made the most of every opportunitv to force the game, whilst their backs showed excellent combinations, Which resulted in the game being practically in the opposing half during the whole of the match. * * * -* Athletic, a young team, are sure to improve as the season advances, and they were by no means disgraced by being defeated by so large a margin of points. It was unfortunate for them that they met the Hawera pack so early in the season. The next meeting of these teams should sect a closer and more even contest.

O. Paterson’s play was the outstanding feature of the match His successful shots' at god as-ainst the tri:ky wind, reflected excellent judgement. Paterson also was responsible for several openings from which Hawera’s score was augmented, and to the player mentioned, the Hawera side owe their somewhat easy win. * * * *

Simpson, at full-back for Athletic is a very safe player and was the means of preventing Hawera’,s score being much larger, although on one occasion lie made a bad break by passing instead of kicking for the line. The mistake was costly, but it was not repeated. *** * *

A. Henry played a solid game in the forwards, leading the rushes and always being on tiie ball. This player has the advantage of weight and on Saturday he ■ ook a lot of stopping. * 0* * *■ J

•I• Henry scored two exceptionally nippy tries during the game. His try during the first halt of the game, was a particularly fine effort. * * * *

P. Riley, the Hawera hall', played a dashing game. He' whipped the ball out smartly, and always passed to- the right man at the right time. The northern division will know lie is in the team to-morrow at Stratford. * * * *

B. McCarthy was responsible for several brilliant rushes along the line, and his effort in conjunction with T.' Underhill during the hitter part of the match was deserving of a. score. * * •* *

W. Muncly and O. Dowdle worked hard, both playing Jieadv -ga tries, and their handling of the ball left nothing to be desired. Mundy showed up well at one particular stage by -making a brilliant mark which saved an almost certain score. -■ * * * *

Buckeridge made his presence felt among the forwards. His tackling was good, and on one occasion he well and truly dumped Hammond when the latter looked like going through. • * * * *

M. Owen showed up well, but did not get many chances to score, being well marked. Owen is a very dashing player, whose speed repeatedly improved the chances of his side, but whenever he got possession, there were several others to up-end him. * * * *

Athletic’s only try during the match was due to heady play by Pease who made a. splendid movement which enabled McCarthy to- score near the posts.

OKAIAWA v. OPUNAKE. Better sorinn packing and a small margin of superiority in hooking together with the goal kicking prowess ot the powerful lock, Ike, were the southern champions’ only claim to superiority in the game again Opuake. Cbuipa-risoii in genera! forward or rear division play, speed,' passing and tackling left practically nothing to choose between two teams which maintained a good standard in all phases, and victory to either team would have been accepted by the ims pec tat or. partial spectator. !* ,le f° r the winning team R. Murdoch iielded surely, kicked "’ith _ judgment and gavei a sound exhibition marred only by occasional hesitation. * * * * At centre B. Cameron was probably the - most useful individual in an even back combination, the only .defect in which was at second fiveeighth, but even that player, J. Awahou, gave a fair exhibition. * * * * - °V wing I/. Simons battled hard, but was lacking in tlie dash shown by the left wing, D. Crawford who was always dangerous and accounted for Okaiawa's only try.

I. Crawford, at first five-eighth, combined well with M. Clarke,- who slung Iris passes quickly from the base of the sclmm. * * * -A* The rover, M. Lynskey, did not have to cede points even to his doughty vis-a-vis, R. O’Rorke, and sliowed a better understanding than the latter of the distinction between quick action and taking the chance of a. penalty. Ike was again the best of the vanguard and, besides his useful boot which registered two penalty goals, hehl further distinction in the support given his hookers in the scrums. As a consistent forward, however, he was not the superior of the coming player,' R. Guy, who, with Ike, has been selected to represent Okaiawa in the South Division pack. •x- * * ■* R.. Clarke and V. Tippett were also prominent in the Red pack though each member was an honest grafter. -X- ■*•*■•* Opunake’s full back, J. Robinson, had a very sure pair of hands, was swift in making clearances and allowed no opportunity for adverse comment. * * * *

W. Hohaia, at the centre, was the best back on the field. He effected a lightning side step ta notch Opunake’s: try, blit was unlucky in his estimate of the wind when he missed what appeared a certain conversion. * * * * Both wings, Rl. Lusk and C. Collins, were determined though slightly slower in estimating possibilities when compared with their respective markers: As foiling agents, however, they gave no chances. * * * *

W. Rutherford, the second fiveeighth, was clever in the initiation of ■openings and played with dasli, but spoiled a fine exhibition through an occasional tendency to delay his transfer. * * * * The skipper, R. O’Rorke, was a. fine forward leader making telling use of his strength and pace and was the principal agent in frustrating moves by the opposing middle backs. * % ♦ * * B : . O’Brien gave good service in the nick, a. phase in which S. Hunt was also noted constantly, while the former rover, P. Brooker, was a good second to O’Rorke in the loose. I INGLEWOOD v. ELTHAM.

lii view of the respective performances put ,up tliis season by the above teams it was generally anticipated that Inglewood would aim out fairly easy winners against Eltham on Saturday, and iso it proved. With the exception of S: Chard and G. Atkinson, who were absentees from the forward division, the winners fielded their full strength. They were favoured throughout the first spell by a brisk breeze, and played on. their .’/home ground—an important point. Their only disadvantage, lay in playing towards the sun. Taking into consideration the good showing made bv Inglewood in establishing thus far this season an unbeaten record (v. Oka to, v. Tukapa, 3—o; v. Star, 7—3), and Eltham’« weak opposition, Saturday’s game was an inglorious exposition. Although the forward teams were as evenly matched in scrummaging powers as they . well could be, the home hacks were given ample opportunities from line work of piling on more than the three tries registered, two of which, by the way, were scored by members of the vanguard. Inaccurate, dropped and lob passes pn the part of the home backs constituted the primary reason of repeated break-downs in otherwise spectacular Rugby. It is inconceivable, that any senior player is ignorant of the ease and accuracy with which short, sharp, two-handed passes from the hip may be given and taken; yet this style of play is nowadays usually conspicuous by its absence in club football. If players generally adopted and consistently practised the short, sharp method of transfer, both they and the spectators would be agreeably surprised at tlie result. Tq. the average intelligence it must be apparent that the scrum work of the forwards is futile if the back's cannot pass accurately. Once clear of the home forwards the trend of play was in the direction or Brown and the Ross brothers, but the. passage of the ball to either was in most cases-so long delayed that the advantage which should accrue from possession was thrown away; in fact, so far as Inglewood was concerned, the game was a big succession of lost opportunities, and makes one wonder what sort of teams the reds had previously beaten this season. Pitted against an admittedly weak team they should have done' better. * * * * * /

B. Oliard, as full back, was not worried much bv the attentions of his opposition, which rarely reached him. His taking and long line-finding punts, however, were invaluable. * * * * n

Brown and the brothers' Boss were a fast-moving three-quarter line, whose usefulness wasi much discounted by faulty passing, chiefly before reaching their hands. Bepeated dashes for ■Eltham’s'line by Brown and N. Boss must have resulted in several tries had these two men been'.better served. Brown’s field goal was a beauty, and his attempted conversion of Coutts’ last try was a fine effort, the ball striking the centre of the cross-bar-’and rebounding infield. There are . great possibilities ahead of Inglewood’s three-quarter line before the competition ends. * * * + *

Cork lu ll was the better of tho two five-eighths. and did his best to open u.p -the game. *.* # * *

Gudgeon filled the half-back position very creditably, and it is not .suirprisiing that he has so far caught the .selectors’ eve as to be selected emergency back for the Noirth v. South match to-mor-row. * * * * *.

Firs sell was conspicuous in an othereven ■ pack, which shared, 'sorumm aging honours with their opponents, and kadi -rather the upper hand in lineout and open order work. Fu.swell deserved his try for persistent following up. This style of play is always rewarded in the long run. * * T *

Though an old player with years of service behind him. ’ Coutts is still a force- in himself, as shown by his stealing game as rover. The two tries 'to bis credit wore the outcome of his ability to sense an., oppontunity and jump at it. His services a.s rover iis> a. fuither proof of his versatility—he has played l in many positions, in most of which he lias isihown a marked aptitude l . Tligi whd’e team will doubt less benefit by their captain’s generalship and experience before the season closes. * * v •# *

But for the full-back (H. McDonald), whom tackling and ki.dkiug was inucli above the average Inglcwood’isi forwards would have been over the 1 coveted line on more tban one occasion; he is improving with every gamp. V' . * ~ * * * * •, , ! Trolove, who gave promise of early! development l as a fast and solid wing I three-quarter this season, seemed qu.ilto off his game, fumbling a good! dual and

indecisive in running. To give him his clue, however, it must be said he was often, crowded to the line.

On the other wing, L. Cooper’s good defensive display was a marked feature ; lie proved a veritable 'stumbling block to Bi own throughout the match. In common with the rest of E'ltham’s backs. lie hod. lititle to do in the way of seriously threatening the home lino.

The adaptable Page, at second fiveeighth, maintained his '.reputation as a sound defensive man, and, moreover, tried l hard to open up the game * * * * *

Hickey, a. new man -immediately behind the serum, got- bis passes away fairly well, but appeared too light and lathy to fill the position with distinction. ' '

Holding their own in serum work, the visitors’ forwards were a. shade to the bad in line-onts and loose, open rush tactics. The pack is, nevertheless, a solid combination, and shows improvement on ' every engagement. It was due in a, great measure* to their efforts that the victors’ score was kept within reasonable bounds. Playing more as a. team rather than striving for individual effort, no forward stood out above hi. 4 fellows.

L. Peppered made an effective rover, more especially as a spoiling agent. He suffered by comparison with Coutts in attack.