Rodney In High Scoring Match

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 2

Rodney In High Scoring Match

R. Shorlland. who was expected to be a shining star in the Maori trialsbut failed to come up to expectations, showed his real worth against Rodney. Although he made some bad slips in the

first few minutes, he brightened up considerably later and gave a fine display of his old form. Rodney's first try, by Tuohey. should not have been, Shortland trying to intercept instead of tackling. Apart from this one serious mistake. Shortland took his place among the best backs fielded on either side.

Tuohey was the thorn in Whangarei’s side. His tactics corresponded very much to Shortland’s and, like Shortland, also, made a fast game of a slow ground. On Saturday's performance Tuohey should stand his team in good stead in future matches. He kept a variety of manoevures on hand and was very safe on defence. * ❖ * Whangeri had three battling forwards who refused to let up on the pace througout the game. They were Callanan, Brydon, and Whiteman, the latter putting a lot of sting into his play from the start. The three worked together well and were always in the forefront. o * * « When Country United found that Pipiwai had withdrawn in favour of Towai there was a heated discussion on the ground. United wanted to play Pipiwai, apparently, but as three teams had turned up, one or all had to stand down. Pipiwai offered to allow Towai to play instead, but United resented not being able to play Pipiwai Three teams, their managers and a bevy of union officials argued the point for some time before United went on, kicked off, and claimed a win over the line-walking Pipiwai men. Thereupon Towai took the field, amid mixed comfrom the side-line, and the game went on without further trouble. In any event no games would have counted for competition points. v, * * « Dunning and Munro kept pace with Whangarei’s battling forwards and ■were undoubtedly Rodney’s premier packmen. Playing a fast, loose game, they broke through the scrum time and time again to find Whangarei’s backs unable to handle the ball in the quagmire. Although the local backs played magnificently, it was their inability to run and handle safely that allowed the opposing forwards to make such inroads on their territory.

Among the fourth-graders, special mention goes to McDonald, who led the Whahgarei pack from the start. This forward has often showed promise of being above fourth-grade standard, arid he will be a likely prospect for third grade or even higher honours next year. On recent performances, it seems a pity he has not been given a chance in higher grade matches this season. Morton, centre three-quarter, played an outstanding back game, being responsible for notching a splendid try. ♦ » ♦ • Although young and a trifle nervous, full-back, Sharp, played well before solid opposition. At half-time he was the' only man oh the field whose jersey had distinguishable marks, all the others being smeared with mud and water. However, defen-

sive tactics in the second spell soon reduced his colours to the common dirtiness.

N. Taylor Was a very safe full-back for Whangarei, and accredited himself well in this position. Roos and Rarity, first and second five-eighths respectively. were in fine form and gave some spectacular displays. The wingers, Rika and Conaghan, were hindered considerably by the water-and-mud patches along the line, but they kept the ball moving with plenty of dash and accuracy despite this fact. Smith gave a good exhibition at half-back, although the mud prevented him from moving away from the scrum in time to avoid being smothered by opposition forwards.