Sports & Pastimes

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1441, 13 July 1933, Page 8

Sports & Pastimes

Football.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “ Crossbar.”)

Matamata v. Te Aroha. Matamata scored a convincing* j win over Te Aroha on Saturday and it wds only weakness at critical moments on the part of the home backs that kept the score from being higher than it was. With the exception of the forwards, the visitors were not quite in the same class as the home team, and on each occasion the latter’s backs lined out deeply on attack a score resulted. Great credit must be given to the visiting pack for the manner in which they battled against odds, for they received no great support from their backs, who had little idea of concerted play, either on attack or defence.

The strength ,of the Te Aroha team lay in its forwards, and only lack of finish robbed jthe pack of scores on at least a couple of occasions. These were isolated efforts, however, and for the most part their energies were confined to midfield play or to defensive work.

It took the home team some time to settle down, as Dixon found the new ball beyond his control. Later, however, he improved considerably, and scores were added as a result. Settle, at half, proved to be very nippy, and showed that he was fully alive to the need for varying his play. He sent out a beautiful pass, and in this phase of play provided one of the best exhibitions yet given in this position. His kicking and tackling were also good, and with more experience in positional play he should make a tip-top halfback. Carroll gave a fine exhibition, taking Settle’s clean passes on the run in great style, and always beating his opponent before sending the ball on. His kicking on defence was, as usual, extremely cool.

pixon was very weak in the early stages, and his form was well below his standard. Later, he improved, but he was never at the top of his form.

Jock W’ilson was the best of the three quarters, and proved most dangerous on attack. Almost each time he received the ball he bored through the defence, but was just inclined to do too much before sending the ball on to his wings. His effort when he ran round D. Carlson to again take the ball and score was perfectly timed and the move was a credit to both players.

Swap showed his best form later in the game, when he again proved that once in possession he is one of the most difficult men to stop.

D. Carlson appeared to be slightly nervous, and his exhibition was by no means as confident as that of a week previously. There is good football in this player, and though he was below form on Saturday he has all the necessary attributes for a first-clas winger and should yet make good.

Inman, at fullback, has not yet reached his best form, and he has not revealed the great promise he showed a season ago. He played a patchy game, good kicking being interspersed with uncertainty on defence. His tackling was as good as ever.

The forwards were not convincing and several will be lucky if they maintain their places in the Peace Cup team. Several did not put their full weight in the scrums, though the eight packed low and were superior to Te Aroha in this art. Campbell was not up to his best form and seemed to be reserving himself somewhat.

McLeay stood out as a grafter, and he was one of the hardest workers on the field. If his present improvement continues he should make his place in the Peace Cup team a certainty. W. H. Carlson showed improvement in the loose, but will need to put more than seven stone in the pack in serious games.

Warrender has not quite produced his best sparkle, but battled hard enough throughout.

Howard was unlucky to receive a knock on an old sore and wisely went off. When fit he is a grand forward, but somehow does not appear to have caught the selector’s eye.

Sharpe stood out in all-round play and continued his good work in the lineout.

Ingley and Amoore were triers throughout, but may have to show more football ability to hold their places in later matches.

The pack as a whole seemed to lack leadership, and the Waikato representatives were missed in this direction. If the Peace and Finlay cups are to be secured the front division will have to improve 25 per cent., for unless the forwards hold their own, the backs, good as they are, may not be able to pull the games off.

WAIKATO BEATS BAY.

NOTES. At no stage in the match against Bay of Plenty did Waikato look like being defeated. Yet there was h certain lack of confidence in Waikato which left anything possible. The backs individually went exceptionally well, and there were also some good combined movements. Yet there were weak moments and some weak play. Wilson, on the wing*, was very slow at times in getting back to position, while Morrison spoilt several back movements by lobbing out past Aitken. This was particularly strange in view of the fact that the Morrinsville centre threequarter was the best back on the field. Davies, at fullback, played his safest game for Waikato to date. His only mistakes were sacrificing accuracy for length when kicking for the line. Oliver, on the opposite wing to Wilson, was reminiscent of Allen, the erstwhile Waikato winger, at his best. Oliver showed good defence in this game, and was resolute on attack. It was one of the best wing threequarter displays seen for Waikato for a long time. Johnstone got a bad knock early, but recovered in the second half and thoroughly deserved his place. Denz played his usual dogged game, and got down to some solid forward rushes. His passing seeiped a little more faster and accurate than usual.

While the Waikato pack showed up in the loose scrummaging they were up against a solid proposition in the set scrums, and were beaten for the ball. The Bay pack went down and hung together better. This may be accounted for in the fact that there were two comparative strangers in the Waikato pack and one of them, Solomon (Rotorua), did not fit in. On the day Ensor was the best forward for Waikato. C. Cameron and Thompson did some great work in the tight, but Leeson does not yet seem to have struck his true form. Story was inclined to scout, but did some of his work particularly well.

Summing up this Waikato team, it would seem that an improvement has been worked on one wing with Oliver. At his best Wilson would fill the other position satisfactorily, but he cannot be relied upon. A five-eighths position has also to be filled. Doubtless with A. Cameron and Hedley available the selector will not interfere a great deal with his scrum.

The outstanding man in the Bay team was a wing threequarter, Hohapata, who has a ton of speed, handles accurately and is tricky. Apart from letting Aitken through, Farmer gave a good display at fullback. E. Howell was the best of the other backs. The forwards were a uniform lot, who appeared to have been well coached. They had not the dash in the open of the Waikato forwards.

FINLAY CUP. ° Putaruru Team. The Putaruru team to play against Matamata in the Finlay Cup game on Saturday has been selected as follows: — > Fullback: Stephenson. Threequarters: J. Reid (Taupo), Hall, Guillard. Five-eighths: Garlick and D. Reid (Taupo). Halfback: E. Dunstan. Front-row: D. Fraser, C. Fraser, N. Young. Middle-row: Simmons, Wishnoski, H. Lory, I. Thompson. Back-row: Staples (Taupo). Emergencies. Backs: Wickliffe (Taupo), D. Lory, G. Berg. Forwards: Wilnoski, Rowe.

JUNIOR NOTES. The first half of the Clarke Cup match at Rotorua on Saturday was more even than the score suggested. Rotorua’s converted try was gained by palpable offside play. However,, in the second half the Rotorua backs were given every latitude and they had pace enough to take advantage of it. The worst feature of Matamata’s play in the second half was the awful tackling. Man after man would go for an attacking Rotorua player appearing to try to take the topmost hairs off his head. It was the worst exhibition of tackling seen in any Matamata team for a number of years. In addition to this weakness was the uncertain handS ling of the backs and the attempts ! of the forwards to pick the ball up when it should have been kept at toe. The redeeming feature of the match as far as Matamata is concerned was the play of Lowry.

MATAMATA UNION. - ’ Management Committee. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Matamata. Rugby Union was attended on Tuesday by Messrs. J. E. Cummings (eliairman), J. H. Hawes, J. Whelan, J. E. Barker, W. D. L. MacDonald and C. E. Barry (secretary).

Motions of Sympathy.

Motions of sympathy were passed with the relatives of the late Mr. Keith Buckley and Mrs. C. D. Molesworth, all present standing. It was decided to send letters of condolence and also a wreath for Mr. Buckley’s grave, he having been a prominent player some years aj£o*

Crystal Cup. The draw for the Crystal Cup knock-out competition third grade was made as follows: Walton v. Patetere; Matamata v. Waharoa;. High School v. Hinuera. Finlay Cup. The secretary of the Putaruru-. Rugby Union advised that all arrangements were in order for the' Finlay Cup match, but that they could not field a B team on that, date. Mr. J. E. Cummings was appointed manager of the Matamata team.. Walton Match. 1 Permission was given the Walton: club to play Nomads, Te Aroha, on: Wednesday. Clearances. Clearances were granted to R. V. Pickard, of the Hinuera Club, aud A P. J. Rowland, of the Wardville club,, subject to confirmation by their respective clubs.