RUGBY NOTES

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1929, Page 10

RUGBY NOTES

(By Tackier.)

Although tho North Auckland representatives defeated Hawke’s Bay by ten points to five yesterday, the, result might easily have been a draw. Playing with a strong -breeze in the first spell, North Auckland established an early lead and had tho advantage ol the initial stages. The luck of the weather was with the home side, for the wind dropped for the 'second spell. For a. time it appeared as though Hawke’s Bay were going to snatch the game from the fire, but as the match progressed North Auckland regained their .ascendancy.

Considering tjhe very lieavy stalfe of the ground and the downpours dur-j jug the game, the players did very! well not to make it into a mud scramble. As it was there were many bright incidents, although the game was . only, a shadow of what it would have beep on a dry day. The Hawke’s Bay team, of course, were not up to the standard of the Tine combination of past years which had such a succession of wThs. However, they were young and fast 4 , and igave a. very much .bettor exhibition than against Auckland last week. They reversed their tactics yesterday, seeming bent on making the game a back one. Despite the greasy ball they met with a,fair measure of success. :/ •• The best known of the backs, .Set-, ford, made most mistakes. Hickung at full-back played a sound game, his liandPng and kicking being good throughout. Their forwards stood up well to the North Auckland pack, and there was little to choose between the vanguards. Both played well in the loose, and Campbell, McKay and .Tobsoii,. the last-named' late of Whangavei, led several fine rushes which badly pierced the defence of the North Auckland backs, sonic of whom showed a disinclination to attempt to atop them. ... It was in hooking that the Northr orners almost monopolised the ball, and -consequently B. Morresey bad unlimited opportunities, ' It was unfortunate that the conditions Tyere all against half-back play and the Bay rover was perilously near offside most of the time. As it was Morresey was decidedly weak on attack. He took the ball at tho top of his shoulder and sent out some very Tbad passes to Bartley. On the other hand his defence was excellent.

Bartley, at first five-eighths, ■ did some good work, especially in the first half. Without showing up to any great extent, Anderson was solid at second five-eighths, and his try was a good effort. Both five-eighths seemed a little slow and unable to sharpen up back attacks. The inside backs seldom let the ball out to Nicholls, who by anticipation and fast following up had to create his own. openings. He plays better in the dry than the wet, ■ Waterman was another instance of a starved back. During the first half he saw the ball three times—once it hit his foot, once hounded off his shoulder and on the other occasion he knocked on. However, Waterman fs display was not up to standard. Barrack on the other wing made some ■ very, spectacular runs down the-■ side line and showed several times that Is> knows how to tackle low.

Kerr was superb at full-back, and time after time not only extricated his side from very difficult situations,, but by his'splendid fielding and resourceful kicking gave his side the advantage. The visitors liken his play to that of Nepia. , ,

Taken on the whole, it can be safely said that only in patches did the North Auckland backs fulfil, representative requirements. Bad mistakes would have proved costly against a more experienced and less stereotyped back division. It is just as well Kerr was in position at full-back..

North Auckland, however, made the game a forward one as much as possible. The pack were a formidable lot, but shared honours with the visitors. Finlayson shone in the loose as Rika did in the tight. Hamona proved a past master at being able to receive an in-pass anywhere near the opposing lino. Wells played a. x'eally good game as rover, both on attack and defence.

The Hawke's Bay team left- Whangarei today for Wairoa, where they will play Poverty Bay on Saturday.' BRAKE SHIELD WON. Whangaroi is likely to have an embarrassment of riches as the resxilt of the juniors having won the Brake Shield. The game at Aiwamii on-Sat-urday was decidedly disappointing, in the light of it being for the junior premiership of North Auckland, Tne

field was swept by a small hurricane, and this interfered greatly with play. From the outset Whangarei disclosed the bettor combination and showed up the Mangonui -defence badly. As in the game against % Northern Wairoa, Perry made the mistake of not feeding his backs sufficiently. His play was always clever, but he had a penchant for trving to do too much off his own bat. The inside backs were hampered by the off-side tactics of the opposing five-eighths. Time after time Williams, Hollows and Perry wore tackled as they received the hall. The infringers were penalised, but the movement was broken np, and the free kick .was not as valuable in many instances as the consummation of a. back movement. Apart from what lie had to contend against, Williams was very disappoint-

ing in attack, his handling being disgraceful, Hollows played his usual sound game and kicked powerfully. Hooper at centre did all that wa& required of him in a very efficient man-, ner, Saul had few opportunities, but Moore made his own, and was the most brilliant player on the field, scoring the first ten points for Whangarei. His strong running is a great asset to what is undoubtedly a coining tying three-quarter. Out of his usual position, Storey was, as safe as a wall at full-back. His coolness and ability to find the lino were features of his play. The Whangarei forwards acquitted themselves excellently. The selector was wise when he gave two specialists the hooking job, and as the result Whangarei secured from all but. two serums. • Clotworthy and Jones were always noticeable for fast, following up,'and in' fact little fault could be found with any member of the pack. Mangonui wore outplayed in every department and showed very little team work or knowledge, of the game. On Saturday the Whangarei juniors will defend the shield against Rodney. The home side will be chosen from the following:Backs. —Hooper, Saul, Hollows, }■/.■ zard, Moore Waetford, Cross, Storey, Perry. Forwards.—tßlmlon, Care, Bennett, Halverson, Jones, Bestie, Edwards, Redwood, Clotworthy.