Football.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1447, 3 August 1933, Page 8

Football.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

NOTES. It was a great pity one of the North Island selectors, Mr. Sutherland, should select the game Waikato v. Thames Valley for one of his visits, as he probably saw Waikato at its worst, and not a true Thames Valley team. On the day there were not more than three or four playeis who deserve a second inspection. Among those who should be were Aitken, Story and Davies. The former was under a severe handicap in that he had to do all the penetrative work and was often cramped for room. Personally he gave a finished display under adverse conditions. Story played his best game this season, and is apparently back to form, At his best he is a man who should go well in any class company. Davies opened his game shakily, but after the first ten minutes gave a finished display as a fullback.

Apart from these three Waikato were disappointing. The forwards outweighed Thames Valley, but except for about five minutes in the opening exchanges and ten minutes at the finish they had nothing on the Thames Valley vanguard in the tight scrummaging: while in the open they were very slow.

The team was served well behind the scrum by Denz, but much of his good work was nullified by the lack of initiative on the part of both fiveeighths. Johnstone has played much better games for Waikato. Both he and W. Cameron were content to send the ball on directly they received it, with the consequence that Aitken had to show much versatility to put Waikato in scoring position. It is but fair to W. Cameron to acknowledge that he is not used to the second five-eighths position. However, on Saturday he was asked to play in it and he was not a success. Several times he fumbled easy passes, while on only a few occasions did he try to cut out a man. In the absence of Oliver, Broderick, a Hamilton player, was tried on the wing, and he did not impress. He was not resolute on attack, while he was decidedly weak on defence. ' ,

Whorskey, on the other wing, gave the impression that he could do better. However, he was indirectly responsible for Thames Valley’s only try, as he should have undoubtedly collared Gloyn.

The Waikato Rugby situation does not appear to have changed since the Bay of Plenty match. There is still a weakness at five-eighths and on one wing, while the pack has slowed up. There is the suspicion that the pack that has done duty for several seasons is on the down grade. The introduction of some younger and faster forwards will soon be necessary.

Although they lost by eleven points Thames Valley shared some of the honours of the game. At fullback they were admirably served by Barry, who had been picked as reserve forward. Gloyn, Swan and Peake showed keenness on attack, but Ryan spoilt his game by running across field and hanging on too long. The forwards all went well, with Mulgrew and Clark probably the best.

The real bright feature was that good displays were given by probably the two most promising men for the North Island team (with the exception of Hedley, who was not fit)—Aitken and Story—who rose above the dullness of a disappointing game.

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 (chairman), J. R. Whelan, D. Roigard, P. Cotter and C. E. Barry (secretary).

Waipa Request.

The Waipa Rugby Union wrote thanking the committee for the courtesies extended to their third grade team recently, and asking for a game at Te Awamutu after August 12. The chairman said he had told them at the dinner that there was no hope this season, but a return game would be fixed next season. If the third grade team was sent away he felt they should travel to Taupiri. On the motion of Messrs. Cotter and Whelan, it was decided to reply regretting that a game could not be given this year, but one would be fixed up next season.

Objectionable Features.

The Waikato Rugby Union forwarded a circular letter from the New Zealand Rugby Union drawing attention to objectionable features which were creeping into the game, such as late tackling, obstruction and rough play. The committee and referees were asked to do all in their power to stamp out these undesirable practices. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to forward copies to all clubs and to the Referees’ Association. Ratana Cup. The Te Aroha Rugby Union wrote challenging for the Ratana Cup. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to formally accept the challenge subject to the approval of the Maoris.

High School Ganfe.

The Matamata District High School asked permission to play Cambridge District High School on August 5. Permission was granted on the motion of Messrs. Roigard and Cummings. Local Player Honoured. The Waikato Rugby Union advised that J. Wilson, of the ' Matamata representative team, had been selected to represent the Western district against Northern district at New Plymouth in the Prince of Wales Cup match. The secretary stated that Wilson had been advised.

SATURDAY’S FIXTURE.

Matamata v. University.

Matamata will be favoured on Saturday with the opportunity of seeing the University (Auckland) senior team in action. The team is only one point behind Ponsonby, which is in the lead for the Auckland championship this season, and contains a number of players of national note, including E. C. Caughey. At the management committee meeting of the Matamata Union on Tuesday it was reported that the visitors would leave Auckland at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and would stay over night. The chairman stated that he had been in touch with the University team and had guaranteed £2O towards expenses.

It was decided to stage the final of the primary school competition for the Cummings Cup between Matamata and Waharoa as a cur-tain-raiser.

TEAMS. Matamata. —I. Inman ; J. Swap, Jack Wilson, James Wilson; W. Carroll, W. Horsley (vice-captain); D. Solomon; W. Fell, B. Amoore, I. Ingley, A. Story, W. Warrender, J. Sharpe, H. Ensor (captain), G. Campbell; reserves, B. Inman, D. Carlson, R. Settle (backs), A. Howard, A. McLeay (forwards). Auckland University.—Bush, Milliken, Caughey, Kedgley, Green, Mulvihill, McKearney, Jagusch, McVeagh, Thomas, Robinson, Wood, Anderson, Sherwood, Stacey, Sutherland, Boswell, Sheath.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Matamata v. Rotorua.

(By “ Crossbar.”) Matamata proved superior to Rotorua on Saturday and eventually won by a margin of 22 points. For this big margin great credit must be given to W. Carroll, who sent over the bax on six occasions out of seven attempts. Three of these were penalty kicks, and as none were exactly what is known as “ sitters,” and some were from difficult angles, Carroll’s accuracy added 15 points to the score. It is such exhibitions which demonstrate the great value of a good goal kicker to a team.

In the first half the home team showed a patent lack of penetrative power. Though Rotorua notched a try, the home team could not get j through the visitors’ defence, and it was Carroll’s three penalty goals which gave the 9 —3 lead at halftime. In the second half Solomon and Settle changed places, and some improvement was effected, but even then lack of variation in play and slow passing resulted in an absence of those snappy rushes for which the home team have been noted over the past two seasons. The visiting backs, who were a sturdy lot, stood close up to the home backs when on defence, and were, to say the least, robust in their methods of tackling. Had the grubber kick been tried, or the short punt, the home backs would have been given more room in which to operate. The delivery of the passes was also very much on the late side, with the result that very often home players were caught with the ball in possession or the ball was dropped owing to pressure by # an opponent. Individually, the players were inclined to be a trifle patchy. W. Carroll and Solomon were outstanding, and the amount of covering which these players accomplished without ever being out of place on attack, was an object lesson in intuitive play to younger players. Inman did not show up on defence as confidently in fielding the ball as he has done in the past, but tackled well and was not responsible for Rotorua’s try being scored. Towards the close of the game he made a great single-handed effort which just failed by feet, and had he been successful it would probably have been counted as one of the most sensational tipies ever scored in Matamata. Taking the ball in his own half, force of circumstances compelled him to veer towards the touch line in beating several players. Near the side boundary he changed direction cleverly without losing pace, and streaked straight for the goal posts through the Rotorua defence, being stopped about four or five feet from the coveted goal-line. It was hard luck a score was not made. None of the other backs were outstanding, though Settle showed that he only lacks physique to make a really good player. Amongst the forwards, Amoore played his best game of the season, and it was pleasing to see the hooker showing up in the open. Several of the others did not put all of their weight in the scrums, and this is a matter which will have to be corrected before the more serious games are played.

One of the most noticeable features of the game as a whole was lack of football intuition displayed by Matamata. In such simple matters as free kicks the home players were on several occasions caught with their backs to the kicker, while seldom were the players spread out filling in gaps. It was patent that serious shed work will have to be undertaken, for the players are there, and all that is needed is to weld them into a team. Saturday’s match against ■ University should provide a fine test and experience for the Matamata team.

PAGE-DAVIES CUP.

Walton 10, Wardville 9. The Walton junior team, champions of this year’s .Matamata competition, sprang a surprise on Wednesday by going to Wardville and defeating the home team for the senior Page-Davies Cup. The game was very even, and though the home team had hard luck on several occasions, the visitors scored a most meritorious win by> 10 points to 9.

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