Rugby Notes

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 45, 30 May 1945, Page 5

Rugby Notes

McBAIN. SHIELD MATCH Iu the twelfth match for the above trophy Petone earned the right to hold it for another season by defeating Hutt 16 points to 13. Previous contests for the Shield have been rather drab affairs, the teams as a rule playing for safety when a point or two in the lead. By contrast, Saturday's match produced good open football with the teams throwing the ball about whenever possible. Hutt actually overdid this during the first half when playing against a strong wind. Had they made full use of their advantage in hooking by keeping play reasonably tight by working the f touchline, Petone would have been denied some of the scoring chances which wete offered them. Two of their tries resulted from breakdowns in back movements by Hutt and quick heeling from the rucks saw Petone score two fine tries with a back to spare in each case. The other try scored by Pej tone came indirectly from a weak clearing kick by a Hutt back, the ball being snapped up by the left wing who put on a perfect centreing kick when blocked for it, to be snapped up for a gobd try. Hutt faced a deficit of 16 points at half time, a formidable total, but they came very close to overhauling it and with a shade of luck, might have done so. The excitement was intense as Hutt got to within three points of their objective and they were attacking hard when the whistle blew for time. As expected the losers' backs did not function as smoothly as Petone's. There were two reasons for this—firstly, the first fiveeighth was not moving fast enuogh when he took the ball and this made it an easy matter for the defence to get on to him and the second five-eighth. It did appear though that the ball was held in the scrums too long before being let out. This gave the defence ample time to edge up on their men, consequently some of the movements were nipped in the bud before they got under weigh. The only time Hutt made any headway from passing movements was when Perrett came in from the wing ito make an extra man. Both tries resulted from these movements. The team had a match winning player in Deas who only had to get the ball quickly to have made matters embarrasing for the opposition, as he' proved capable of beating the defence on more than one occasion. With ninety per cent of the ball from the scrums and the forwards generally shading their opponents, Hutt had a tremendous advantage which was not made use of. Until the backs get more rhythm into their movements, that is the ball travelling out quickly to the wings by clean and.crisp passing, the work of the forwards will be to a certain extent wasted. This week's game against Welling ton will provide an opportunity to experiment if deemed necessary'. Tli. following week Athletic will be op : posing Hutt. NOTES

There has been much criticism because Hutt played against the wind on Saturday after winning the toss. There will always be arguments for and against this course. By facing the wind Hutt also had the sun in 1 their eyes, therefore under the circumstances the decision appeared to J be wrong. All might have been well, however, had they made use of the touchline and worked up into ' their opponents' twenty-five before letting the ball out. This throws the onus on the half or first fiveeighth to get the ball into touch quickly from scrums. Both players must be able to kick well and with either foot. Towards the end of the first spell these tactics were adopted mostly by the half with the result that Petone were kept in check reasonably well. The Juniors dropped their first point on Saturday when they drew with Army 6 all. Jardine is reported again playing a very sound game, with Walters and Terres also going well. Pollard, Guy, Parker and Co led the forwards well. PRIMARY SCHOOLS COMPETITION Owing to the wet weather last we'ek's attendances at practise were affected. It was proposed to play matches against Petone and Taita teams this week, Junior at 9.30 and Seniors at 10.30. Providing the other clubs can get their boys to A gether this arrangement will be carried out; if not, practises will bt< held. WOBUBN RUGBY NOTES The progress of the newly formed ; ,Woburn Club has been watched with j much interest and from the keenness j shown to date its existence seems > fully justified. Though affiliated as I an open club it is comprised princir pally of High School old boys and - no doubt this accounts to a large t degree for the splendid club spirit - existing among all its members.

For its first year the club has entered three teams in the Union Competition, v,iz, Junior, Thirds and Fourths and though all could be termed as lightweight teams their performance so far shows that this deficiency is more than balanced by their fitness and youth. To date all teams have achieved a good measure of success, more especially the Junior and the Fourths who are well [in the running for the championI ship..

Judging ! 'by the open type of football being'adopted by this club they should not want for local support and will make many friends among the followers of the game. The Junior team last Saturday defeated a strong Navy team by 16-9. The forwards had their hardest struggle to date but managed to secure more than their share from scrums, and the backs lost no opportunity to throw the ball about and this style of play, to a large degree, neutralized the sting of the Navy forwards. > ■ The Third Grade were unlucky to lose to Miramar 14-6, Miramar scoring a try on time. The Fourth Grade, in an evenly matched game at Petone, lost to PeItone 5-0,