Maungakaramea Starts Moderately

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1939, Page 2

Maungakaramea Starts Moderately

Playing its first game of the season, Maungakaramea lacked the combination to defeat such a strong team as Hikurangi, and although the forwards battled solidly throughout and gained a fair share of the ball, the three-

quarters never got an opportunity

Maungakaramea’s attack seemed to break down in the five-eighths line. Boyd’s service was not of the best, but it could have been worse. Hackett. former Northern Wairoa representa-tive'-half-back, was not a success as first five-eighths. He is too valuable in his proper position to be taken away from it. atid he should be behind the scrum next Saturday. The second five-eighths, Shipman, is young, and shows premise of developing with experience.

After opening the season by drawing the bye, Maungakaramea’s threequarter line must have been disappointed last Saturday when the ball seldom came their way. When it did it was-usually at the toes of the Hikurangi forwards and there was no room in which to move. It was disappointing to sec such a successful winger as Jack Nash, former Northern Wairoa representative, starved on his first, appearance in eastern football. Brother Jim Nash, at full-back, had a hard afternoon’s work, but he came through , with credit.

Maungakaramea has a hard-working pack, but much of its effort is wasted through lack of combination and failure in direct application. Veterans of experience like the Morresey brothers, Mick and Paddy, should provide an example for the remainder of the pack. Their leadership was noticeable on Saturday and their most promising recruit was Harvey, who. while apparently lacking in experience, played a great game and was always in the thick of the fray. The others need more steadiness and more direction in order to avoid useless effort.

Cunningham and Hewitt Star. Two men were outstanding in Hikurangi’s team on Saturday. Cunningnarn played brilliantly for so early in the season and punched holes in the defence with practically monotonous regularity. He threw away a certain try in changing direction to go infield, but his mistakes were few and -he was responsible for most of the strong attacks. His two tries were fully deserved, and he paved the way for the success of the other outstandr ing performer, Hewitt.

Formerly a South Auckland representative, Hewitt got few opportunities, but on the two occasions he did get clean, accurate passes he scored tries. With plenty of speed and strength), much should be heard of him this season. Hutchings spoiled fairly good work by juggling the ball to lose a certain try. He was moved into the five-eighths; line in place of. Hansen, who went out to the wing, but neither were successful in the new positions; « - ■* * White Tries a Neck-tie. Noted for his solid play on the wing, R. White adapted himself well to a five-eighths position and, although inclined to be erratic in his passing, he played a solid game. Improvement in transfers will come as the season pro-

presses, but ft was surprising to see such an experienced player endeavour, in tackling, to emulate a neck-tie. Such a tackle justified its reward and lie was tossed by the tackled, who continued with his run.

Codling gave good service from the base' of the Hikurangi scrum and, unlike many would-be converts, he successfully employed Danie Craven’s famed dive pass. The forwards worked well and, although overwhelmed at times by Maungakaramoa’s bustling tactics, showed far more combination.