NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1933, Page 7

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

WHANGAREI RUGBY REPS. WEAKNESSES STILL GLARING. NEW BLOOD WANTED. (Notes t by “Onlooker.”)

The spectacle was seen at Rugby Park on Saturday of two teams mistrusting their own backs, who had instructions to “keep it close.” To a large extent these cramping tactics robbed the Harding iShiedl match of. spectacle, and later, when Whangarei had overcome the stubborn resistance of the challengers, and was scoring at regular three-minute intervals, all interest had gone. The answer as to why Whangarei were forced to adopt such an uninspiring plan, and thus admit an inferiority complex, lay as usual in the composition of the bad* line. Most of the trouble hinged about Te Pa a, who must be superseded if the Whangarei backs are to do themselves justice as an attacking unit. .Frequently the half was caught in possession, and ho had no control whatever over his passes. A. more orthodox player who can be relied upon to feed the fast men outside him is the first necessity, in reconstructing the Whangarei side. !

The trial of Barrett as first fiveeighths was justified by his consistent club play, but he showed on Saturday that he is too slow to fill the position in it representative side. When he moved into half, the attack was sharpened up, but there are several with much better claims for the pivot position. The tardiness of the two men inside placed Lawrie at a disadvantage, and by the time the ball reached him, the second five-eighths was so well marked that he usually had to smother up. Bo what should have been chain passing movements broke down into scrambles, which often ended with the Bines struggling to maintain the little ground which had already been gained.

In the absence of assistance from the men whose duty it was to make the openings, Pickering himself engineered several brilliant moves. The versatile ex-Wanganui player was a host in himself, and put his team well on the' road to success by collecting the first dozen points. The placing of Abbott on the w r ing proved a wise move. The ■breakdown further in, coupled with the great spoiling work of the Otamatea side, gave the-wingers few opportunities, but on the whole Abbott got through what work was offering in a very capable manner. His positional kicking, too, was an asset.

Coming into the team to replace Morgan, who did not turn up, Hamilton, another player whose chances were strictly limited, gave a fair exhibition, but should give way to White, when the Maori winger returns from the Prince of Wales Cup tour. Kerr was disappointing, misflckling often. The best that can he said for him on the day was that he Was a dis-

tinct improvement on previous occupants of the position this season. What has already been said in these notes concerning the lack of an expert hooker in the Whangarei pack was amply confirmed on Saturday, when, especially in the first half, Whangarei were frequently beaten for the ball by a lighter eight. To keep the ball from Otamatea, it was found necessary to wheel the scrums, a move which was carried out effectively. The inclusion of Herbert in the North Auckland team is a good tip to the selector.

Other than the weakness in the front row’, the forwards fully uphold their reputation of being the best set assembled in Whangarei since the days of the giants—Tote and “Bunny” Finlayson, Archie Sowman and Emerson.

It is becoming more and more apparent after each game that the selector, in persevering with several players who are unfitted for the places they are asked to fill, is,not only prejudicing the standard of football, bur is also placing the men concerned in an unfortunate position. Several really talented aspirants for representative honours have not been touched upon as yet. The solution to Whangarei’s football problem lies, not in, reshuffling the players already tried, but in the infusion of new blood. The Visitors. Although beaten so decisively, Otomatea provided more than their share of bright play and at times their backs handled well. Fergus, at half, got through his work unostentatiously. The challengers looked to McKay for a lead and did not misplace their confidence. After his showing on Saturday it is not in the least surprising to find tiio-Ota-matea captain in the North Auckland reps. Edwards, with plenty of speed, handled poorly on the wing. Until thev were overborne by their tailor and heavier opponents the forwards showed tip very well, Hon Bull being the best, with Bryhnm a good second. V

NORTHERN MAORIS UNLUCKY. PRINCE OF WALES CUP. The Prince of Wales Cup and To Mori Rose Bowl were retained by the holders, the Taihanrau Maoris, in a bright match against, the Toko ran Maoris (North Auckland), before a crowd of 3000 at New Plymouth on

Saturday. The score was 19 points to 14. The Taihaurau team was drawn from Taranaki, King Country, Waikato, Horowhenua, Wairarapa and Wanganui. Considering the wide area embraced a remarkably fine combination was achieved, more especially among the Taihaurau nien. This Whs the deciding factor. Many excellent back movements were witnessed, With rapid changes of fortune typical of Maor,i football. The teams contained some exceedingly good material for Maori All Blacks. Not one man stood out as -a. weak link. It was just superior combination in the holders’ backs, together with good work by the forwards, that turned the scales. Physically the 30 players were magnificent, and the great speed attained by the very big men Was remarkable., For Taihaurau tries were scored by Wilson (2), Kawe, Broughton and Jackson, the last-named converting two. The scorers for Tokerau were Davies, Graham and Whin, White converting one try and kicking a penalty goal. Frequently the ball would be passed -along the whole-line of backs with excellent handling, and spectacular changes in direction were. frequently caused by long passes to unexpected places.

High School’s. Defeat. The defeat of the Whangarei High School first fifteen, 11 —3, at the hands of Takapnna Grammar School is soon explained. The bigger Takapuna forwards were clearly superior in scrums and line-outs, and the passing of the ball by the backs was usually more accurate and penetrating than that of the Whangarei backs. Whangarei did not appear to be the same team which recently defeated Mt. Albert Grammar School by 12 points to three, and were handicapped by the absence through measles of two of their best forwards, Blake and Davidson. Grammar were the first to score, but Wilson equalised just before time with a penalty kick. In the second half the home side threw the ball about freely and scored twice, one try being improved.

RANFURLY .SHIELD CONTEST. CANTERBURY V. SOUTHLAND. (Per Press Association.—Copyright-) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The following Rugby team has been selected to represent Canterbury to defend the Raufurly Shield against the challenge of Southland next Saturday; Full-back, Nolan; threequarters, Dnnshea, Oliver, Hart; fiveeighths, Hazelhurst, Mortloek; halfback, Mnllan; forwards, Cottrell, Wade, Bowes, Andrews, Hartnell, Howell, Manchester, King. Emergencies: Mc.Phail, Hattersley, Boutorey, Bowie, Roberts, Foley. Mr J. Moffitt, of Wellington, has been chosen by Southland to referee the match.