Candid Comment from Otamatea Rugby Fields

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1939, Page 2

Candid Comment from Otamatea Rugby Fields

The transfer of J. Sandberg to flic Papavoa branch of the National Bank will make available for the Western senior back-line one of the best wingers seen in action in Otamatoa. Sunclberg played for Maungaturoto and Otamatoa some years ago, but he was transferred. Now that he is in Faparoa he will doubtless be seen in action next Saturday, when Western will continue in the knock-out competition.

Sat .relay’s match at Paparoa brought to light a thd-class winger in Freebie, who turned out for Oncrea. Freebie, wise hails from the Waikato, has speed, weight and determination, and. from his style it is evident that he is going lo be a claimant for a position when the reps, are being selected.

Central must have a superfluity of first-class forwards when they can afford to play Los. Sneliing at fullback. From reports received, it is evident that Sneliing. while doing nothing spectacular, did not cause his team mates any alarm. In fact, he played quite a good, safe game.

His brother, Hugh Sneliing, a former Otamatea representative, donned the jersey for the Veterans and played the old Aery, dashing game that made him a conspicuous figure some years ago—quite a few 7 , in fact — on Otama-

lea's R.ugby fields. With Roger Bull, who also emerged from retirement, he led the pack in their periodic raids on Mangawai territory. Fred Robertson, another old Otamatca representative, was also always well in the van for the veterans.

Oncroa, although possessing little combination at present, has every possibility of developing into a firstclass team, capable of turning on spectacular Rugby. Some of the backs have a bad habit of taking and giving passes with one hand. Against the class of backs fielded by Western, this manoeuvre was fatal, for it allowed the local boys to intercept and generally upset every Oneroa attacking movement. When this fault is overcome and combination developed, the Oneroa men will give a good account of themselves.

Western fielded an imposing array of backs for a Ilrst-of-tho-scason game. With the exception of the half-back, every member of the team lias been an Otamatca representative at some time during the past few years, and for speed there is nothing likely to get near them in the union. As usual, the pack was light, but Western has proved in the past that tins is no handicap in the winning of matches.