RUGBY NOTES

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1929, Page 8

RUGBY NOTES

(By ‘' Tackier. ’’)

Pain spoiled Whangarei football on Saturday. It was a great pity that the sky should continue its week’s weeping on the holiday afternoon and deprive a great number of people from the chance of seeing the game between Old Boys and City for the pinnacle position. Better to (be careful than sorry, and the union acted very advisedly in transferring all games from Rugby Park to Kensington, thus giving the turf at the new ground every opportunity to consolidate .before it is cut about by sprigs. Perhaps other codes will not clamour about Rugby being overburdened with grounds when they become aware that, owing to a scarcity of playing areas on Saturday, it was necessary to postpone the third grade game between Hora Hora and Onerahi. Owing to the school holidays-, the game between the School A and B teams did not eventuate, so third graders had a day off. BEATING THE WEATHER. Hora Hora are showing great form at present, and runaway victories over High School and Whakapara have established them as the most outstanding team to reveal itself so far in the junior competition. Only once on Saturday wore the Horn Hora hookers beaten for the ball, and, given any amount of chances, the backs threw the ball about as if the day were fine. Cross handled the ball well, and Williams was outstanding as five-eighths. Discarding his newly developed hang-ing-on tactics, Hollows played a tiptop game, and scored two good tries as a result. Dent led the pack, and the ■best of the rest wove Care, Butt and Bristow.

Whakapara have good material crying to be licked into shape. Berghan has not forgotten his High School coaching, and was a tower of strength. .Tones, the rover, also played a fine game. JOSEPH’S JERSEYS. Quite a flower-garden appearance was created in the game between iHigh School and City. From the distance of the stand it was a rare picture to see the ball bobbing between pink, black, blue and varied moving statues. But what about the poor referee? Unless he was colour-blind' he must have had a dazzling time. The biblical garment was outdone, the 'colours’ representing every shade of opinion from the deep red of the Bolshevik to the Cambridge bine of the “Sons of the Sea Brigade.” A player in the Whananaki-Old Boys game was much more correctly attired, Many imagined’him to be the re feree, until late in the second half ho was actually seen to boot the ball —or can a player be said to boot the ball when he is-bare-footed? His silk shirt and slacks must have heavily depreciated in the rain. Football is such an ex-

pensive game. INTERESTING GAME,

HikurangL sustained another defeat at the hands of Portland on Saturday, after an excellently fought game. Several interesting points wore revealedl, however, one of the chief being the lamentable weakness of Hikurangi’s hack line, making due -allowance for the wet ball. Their forwards are a hard-working, useful pack, and had they kept the ball to their toes instead of giving it to the backs, who invariably lost it, it is possible that a different result would have been .arrived at. Pepene was the weak link in the back division, and he was not playing up to standard'. If Hikurangi can bring its backs up to the required standard, which they should be able to do, for they possess the necessary material, they .should occupy a promininent position in the competition. Individual backs played well. McInues was good at full-back, Rarity played a sound game on the right wing and Webster was always safe.

With Portland, tlie position was exactly the reverse, the forwards being much weaker and the baeks greatly superior. .Short-land was always on the spot behind the pack, but. lie was not supported to the fullest extent and often had to work alone. .Cotter was also to the fore and was one of the most prominent backs. Wilson, who played full-back for most of the game before coming in to the back line, was sure and kicked well. Taking into

consideration the wet ball and field, -the game was of a good standard and productive of many interesting positions.

MANGAKAHIA v, MAUNGAKARAMEA. Low scoring has been the rule in every game in which Mangakahia have taken part, and the meeting with Muangakaramoa proved no exception. Up to half-time the men from valley and sawmill more than held their own, but the tide turned against them for the rest of the time. Maungaknramea had the advantage in scrums and back work, but with W. Rika working overtime most of the line-outs resulted in Mangakahia. getting the ball. The loss of Muudny Rika, who retired with a crippling knock on the leg, was much felt in the second half. Amongst the backs the Alison brothers and Alexander were the pick. McLennan at full-back for Maungakarainea was magnificent. His handling of the greasy ball made his play all the more meritorious. Flood was a weak! link -at five-eighths, using the silly! short-punt too much. Edge on the j

■wing showed much improvement. Maungakaramca should give Old Boys some anxious moments at Rugby Park on Saturday,. ■CITY TAKE THE LEAD.

The heavy vain handicapped Old Boys and City in their meeting for top place on the ladder, but both teams gave a good* exhibition of wetweather football. Old Boys should have scored by way of penalties early in the game, but gradually they lost their grip,, and City were very markedly the better team at the finish. Two players were always prominent. Those who say that Finlayson takes his club football lightly had an answer on Saturday, He was at the head of every movement, and his 'South African experience was valuable in breaking the effect of the Old Hoys’ 3—2—3 scrum formation. It is believed that Sheriff, the centre man in the front row, had quite an uncomfortable time: With Finlayson, Me. Kenzie and W. Fletcher on their side, City had a virtual monopoly of the line-outs. Henii had a happy time with no one opposing him. Kerr had a lot to do with his team’s victory, driving Old Boys back time after time and placing his side on attack with judicious kicking.

The Old Boys’ forwards, in loose scrums especially, packed better. They got down to it, while City humped up like a camel brigade. Jack Millington was always outstanding, his footwork being excellent, and "Webber played a good game, although several times he did not appear 'to be using his weight in the scrums. The backs did very little handling, and Maelvay, though his coolness was valuable at times, gave away the first try.

WHANGAREI PLAYER FOR TRIALS.

Congratulations to A. Waterman on being chosen to participate in the All Blacks trial. It is only a just reward, for Alf, is as keen and clean a footballer as will be found throughout the length and breadth of the land. He is always physically fit, and this is reflected in his football, which is of the speedy, resolute variety. His play on the wing during the northern tour, and his game against Auckland at Eden Park last year has won him the present opportunity.

MAKING- GOOD. W. Abbott is busy fulfilling expectations of his football future gained by those who saw him play for Whangarei High School and Old Boys. “Bun” has always played just as well as could be wished,, and this year he is evidently taking his football seriously. Playing for Training College on Saturday, lie secured all but three of the 25 points against Manakau. An Auckland paper says the following of Abbott:—“He is a distinct acquisition to Auckland Rugby. City football is going to make a big difference ,to Abbott. With ? little more polish he is going to be a champion. Rarely does one find a wing so well equipped with all the essentials. He lias speed and dash, and his field kicking and place-kicking is of a remarkably high order. There is also a certain nigged quality about his play that is rather pleasing —a quality hackings in most of New Zealand’s firstclass wings today. “With Minns also in mind, one’s thoughts dwell pleasantly on the very effective (bvee-quarter lino the province should put into the field this season.” .

•SKX10J? CHAMPIONSHIP, Points Oil am. P W L D For . \gst Pis City 4 4 — — 49 14 S Old Boys 4 3 1 — 35 O v' 6 ’Kara me a 3 O I — 33 22 4 Portland 3 I o — 19 27 n Hiknrangj 4 — 3 1 30 OO 1 M’kaliia 4 — 3 1 14 no 1