RUGBY

Hutt News, Volume XXII, Issue 2, 23 June 1948, Page 14

RUGBY

HUTT ROUTED BY ORIENTAL Oriental inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season to the Hutt team on Saturday. The winners'achieved this success by capitalising on Hutt's mistakes. The losers obtained possession from about seventy per cent, of scrums and rucks, consequently could not be excused on the score of lack of possession. It appeared that their tactics were sadly at fault in that they made play loose and open which played right into. Oriental’s hands in allowing them to exploit their traditional spoiling game. How well they did it is reflected in the score of 26 to 8. Hutt should have tightened up the game after Oriental’s initial try. By holding the ball in the scrums and working the touch line for a period the forwards would have had a chance to settle down to their usual game and at the same time these tactics would have brought the opposing forwards in from their scouting activities. There is no doubt that too much use was made of the backs, who made many in handling, with the result that the forwards spent a lot of time trying to cover up breaks by the opposition.

It was a disappointing day for them—-they sacrificed their own game for the backs, who must take the responsibility for the defeat. FIFTH GRADE The Fifths went under to Petone, 8 points to 3. Hutt missed two easy shots at goal, which would have evened the scores. Several unsuccessful ambitious attempts wercalso made from near the half-way mark in the second spell from penalties. The Hutt captain should have kicked for touch and thereby gained much valuable territory. The bes' backs for Hutt were Bews, Cole and Martin. Cole made a good job o'. marking Jowett, Petone’s fast winger. The Hutt forwards did not scrummage as. well as Petone, who packed very solidly and hooked from the majority of scrums. Wright and Watson were good leaders ir. the Hutt pack. WIN FOR SIXTHS

The Sixths had their second win by defeating Petone B 6-3. In the backs Mclntosh was very sound. The passing of the rearguard, however, was not snappy enough due tc the players not clapping on pace when in possession. Some of the forwards are . Inclined to play toe loose. They should endeavour to get behind the ball all the time.

The Junior Ist Division put up a good performance to defeat the leading team, Tawa, 6-0.

WOBURN RUGBY CLUB SENIOR (2nd Division) Playing brilliant football Woburn beat Onslow by 28 points to 3. For Woburn the full 28 points went to the credit of Ken and Bob Lockett, both scoring three tries and Bob also converting two and . kicking three penalties. It is interesting to note that Bob Lockett has shown considerable versatility this season, playing in practically every position on the field other than hooker or half. Bob’s motto seems to be: “Just wherever you need me, coach!’’ Although the Locketts scored the points sound team work by all the backs gave them their opportunities. The forwards worked well as a pack but their line-out play needs to improve. For Onslow Calder scored a try and McLeod kicked a penalty goal. JUNIOR (Ist Division) In a hard-fought battle Woburn went down to Oriental by 16 points to 3, There was no doubt that Oriental were the better team and the smooth co-operation of their backs allowed them to penetrate frequently but sheer doggedness on the part of the entire Woburn team spoilt their movements time and again. The game was exceptionally fast from start to finish and a pleasure to watch. FOURTHS (Ist Division)

In a very even game Woburn managed to defeat Poneke by 14 points to 9. For Woburn Jarden scored two tries, Burridge one try, and Mair converted one and kicked a penalty goal. In the forwards Burridge, who tends to play very loose, showed up well, his speed being a handy asset. August ' is another good worker in the pack, his fast following up being particularly'good. An unsatisfactory aspect of the forward play was the ease with l which the.. Poneke forwards broke through in the line-outs. In the backs it was pleasing to see an improvement on the previous week’s play, Muir and Sukolski, the fiveeighths, combining well together.

TAITA STILL UNBEATEN By defeating Marist Brothers Old Boys at the Hutt Recreation Ground Taita maintained their undefeated record, although they were hard pressed to win 6-3. Marist opened the scoring with a very good try by P. Gill between the posts. The kick went outside the posts. Shortly afterwards, from a scrum, Walters cut through to score in a handy position and Robertson missed an