Football.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1141, 24 July 1930, Page 1

Football.

WAIKATO v. THAMES VALLEY. Notes. Waikato by its display against Thames Valley on Saturday showed all-round superiority and presented a conundrum to the Thames Valley selector as to how he could advocate any of his men for the combined team. The home team showed almost perfect combination and individual brilliancy. Considering that they were unrehearsed tne outstanding movements in the game were those developed by Fitzgerald and Carlson. These two players were occupying the respective positions of centre and wing threequarter for the first time in a Waikato team, and they fitted well. Fitzgerald’s display was one of the best seen from a Waikato player in the position for many years. He sent both wings on several scoring errands. Allen showed dash, as did Wilcox. The latter is not yet a polished fullback, and at times was inclined to get into his threequarters—his proper position. He gave evidence of being a first-class man in a threequarter line. Wilkes gave a bright display, even with consistant bad passing by his halfback. The latter (Mitchell) sent them out very badly in the second half, particularly. It is surprising to the writer to see Wilkes against the British team for Tuck. The outstanding player on the field was Story, who played more of a roving game than usual. His movement to give St. George a score was clever and full of grit. The forwards played right up to the form shown against Auckland on June 3. In no department were the visitors superior. The Thames Valley team never looked like winners, and their remote .chances of scoring could he counted on one haiid. Hedley at fullback fielded hnd kicked well, hut was a trifle slow. Woodroffe, the rover, showed up in some good work without comparing with his vis-a-vis. The most appealing of the forwards were Finlayson and McLaren. The former is a fine type of forward, but is inclined to offside play. It was, the Valley’s first representative game of the season, and they showed no combination. Only once did they show the semblance of a back movement, and that broke down through had passing. The score, 30—0, did not flatter Waikato, and on the game the Valley could not expect to get a man into the combined Waikato, King Country, Thames Valley team.

BOYCE CUP. In retaining the Boyce Cup after a solid hard game with Waipa* the Matamata junior representatives must be credited with a good performance, despite the fact that the side wilted at times under severe pressure. Indeed, had Waipa been able to finish off and take advantage of the disorganised state into which the home backs were thrown on these occasions, victory might have been theirs. As it 1 happened, however, their outsides were not equal to it, and though the home side wilted badly three or four times it had no cumulative effect, and the Matamata lads rallied gamely after each torrid phase of play, until in the final quarter they outstayed and outplayed their doughty opponents. Waipa’s great assets were the ability of the whole team to tackle in the good old-style, and a quick breaking pack of forwards who shirked nothing in the tight or set scrums. At times the fierce tackling and hustling tactics of their forwards drew the home backs together almost as one man, and, if the visitors had possessed a back division which could combine, the ball could have been shot out and the home defence dumbfounded. But there it was, the visitors could not carry out

this necessary phase of play, and the

home side, after wilting, generally managed to re-form before any advantage could be pressed home sufficiently. : In stemming these hot rushes Sutherland stood by himself. The hotter they were the better he played, and he took ail the solid stuff with easy grace. His kicking was up to senior standard, and with improvement in his passing his main weakness will be remedied. , Sutherland was the outstanding player on the field. At fullback Taylor was not up to his usual form, but nevertheless did not make any serious mistakes. The threequarter line did not shirie as usual, mostly because the insides were bottled up fbr most of the game. Their greatest weakness, accentuated because of Waipa’s style of play, was lack of anticipation . Frequently Taylor was left to get out of tight corners as best he could, with his own wing threequarters watching him doing it instead of running round and covering him. On another occasion Scott secured from the toes of the red pack and sent a long defensive pass to. Swap. Instead of coming up to meet the hall Swap stood still. The ball did not reach him, and bounced awkwardly, and the half was blamed for a wild pass. It was the only thing the half could do under the circumstances/ and was correct play. Had the half kicked, the ball would have been charged. It was up to the winger to anticipate play, and to have run to meet the pass. In tackling, the line was solid. At five-eighths Shaw did his part well, and made numerous good openings. Scott at half maintained the promise of previous games and showed great anticipation. Whenever possible he opened up the game from all phases of play. Hawke as rover played his best game of the season and both his tries were good ones. The forwards packed in good style, and the ball came cut like a shot. They were much superior to their opponents in/ tills department of play. The, outstanding players for Waipa were Murray, Pollard and Brill. The first-named led the pack in good style, and stood -head and shoulders above his mates, of whom Craig and Spragg were the best. Pollard showed up well at centre threequarter, and later at five-eighths, hut his ability at the moment runs mostly to defensive play. Brill showed most penetrative power, and it was unfortunate that he sustained several knocks on the head early in the game.

From Waipa the home team can learn the advantages of quick and determined tackling, and continuous support and covering. With these lessons learned, and more dash put into the early stages of play, the Matamata side should give an outstanding exhibition in the curtainraiser to the British match at Hamilton.