ZONE FINALS

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1935, Page 7

ZONE FINALS

HARDING SHIELD GAMES the play reviewed. WHANGAREI SHINE BRILLIANTLY. ROBBINS MAN OF THE MOMENT. On Saturday the Whangarei representative Rugby team more than made amends for their disappointing showing against Northern Wairoa the previous week. Playing football which, in the first half particularly, reached brilliant heights, they romped home by 25 points to 3, and won easing up. Hobbinis and Pickering shared the honours of the match. Under conditions which eminently suited his style of play, the ex-Wellingtonian revealed himself as the architect of the Whangarei back machine, and used every dodge known in high-class football to keep the Otamatea men thinking and chasing furiously. Robbins took a big part in each of Whangarei’s five 1 tries, and one could not help feeling that had he not been barred by nonfulfilment of the residential qualification, his presence in Northland’s Ranfurly Shield team would have had a big bearing on the result. Entertaining Backs. Pickering was the versatile player of old, and in- addition to sharpening the attacks, his record with the boot was: Seven kicks, five goals. The men nearer the scrum also acquitted) themselves to advantage. That unostentatious player, Weir, fed his backs admirably and varied his play to baffle the opposition. Towards the end, he made a couple of very effective runs on his own account, and was unlucky not to score. The handling of Roos showed distinct improvement, and he did not spoil things by faying to go too far himself. When he did cut in, he was favoured by the element of surprise, and was able to make some very useful openings. Little Room for Improvement.

With the backs playing like they did last Saturday, there can be little room for improvement. Provided the standard is maintained by the men inside, room might be found for the attacking brilliancy of Harris as a wing threequarter, but it would be difficult to supplant either H. White or Taylor, both of whom again went well on Saturday. At fullback, Rarity had a much less exacting time than- the man who previously filled the position, but he got through what work was offering in a cool and! capable manner. The superiority of the home side was all the more apparent because of Otamatea’s weaknesses in attack. Their backs lacked penetration, and' the line usually got out of position before handling movements had progressed very far. Untilhis injury, A. Fergus had plenty of dash, and got through a lot of work, particularly on defence. Fergus always went round the ankles. Full-back Skelton had both hands full, but got through a trying ordeal very well. He made few mistakes - and his fielding of the ball was splendid. ■Sundlberg and Wintle, although shaded by the Whangarei pair, went quite well on the wing. Otamatea’s Light Forwards.

The Otamatea eight was one of the lightest which has come from that district for some time, and) greatly missed Jack Lionel, who has not played since North Auckland went to Auckland to make their bid for the Ranfurly Shield. He then went into hospital with pneumonia. The reorganised l Whangarei pack, although they started off with the upper hand, had to concede a lot of ground to the Otamatea van, who, when they settled down, held) their own. Clotworthy made up in energy what he lacked in size, and) Godfrey quite justified his inclusion.' Alison has a good knowledge of how to get the ball away to his backs. It is impossible to single out any of an even eight. They all did their job well. Neil was outstanding for Otamatea, and he received spirited support from R. Biill and Cowan. When Bull was forced to retire, Otamatea lost one of tfieir mainstays. THE NORTHERN GAME. MANGONUI BEAT WHANGAROA. Judging from reports of the Northern zone matches, seem to have excellent prospects of capturing the trophy. None of the Northern matches appears to have been brilliant, which indicates that Whangarei will have the advantage in the back line. However, it is questionable whether the Whangarei pack will be able to dominate the Mangonui eight, who are very strong this year. In the final match against Whangaroa on Saturday, Mangonui were very little better than the losers. Faulty handling by both sets of backs robbed the game of interest and there was seldom an exhibition of good! passing. Whangaroa were unlucky to lose A. Johns, the North Auckland five-eighth, and also H. Blucher, one of their outstanding forwards. F. Blucher was a star in the vanguard. Rangi Tahu. the Whangaroa custodian, played a sound game, as did S. Smith, the half-back. H. Yates, the Mangonui winger, Pelman. their half, and Dale, five-eighth, | were the most prominent backs. Veteran Moses Yates again was head and shoulders above his fellow forwards.