Rough Play Checked in Otamatea

Northern Advocate, 31 May 1939, Page 2

Rough Play Checked in Otamatea

Tendency towards rough play in the two Otamatea senior games on Saturday was quickly checked in no uncertain fashion by referees Douglas Cole and R. Julian.

At Maungaturoto two opposing forwards were indulging' in a private war in a public place, but the stern warning administered by Mr Julian had the required effect, and that was the finish of any unseemly tactics. Both men were lucky they wore not ordered off.

At Mangawai, Topia was warned by Mr Cole for late tackling, but, when he started to argue, he was promptly ordered, off 1 . A firm stand taken at the opening of the season should prevent any rough play developing later on. Football in Otamatca is generally played in a particularly fine spirit, and only very rarely does a player get his marching orders. With Messrs Cole and Julian as referees, any rough play will get the short shift it deserves. Bashing Winger.

The new Oneroa team has unearthed a wing three-quarter who will be a claimant for Northland honours this year. Freebie has made three appearances this season and ho has never failed to electrify the crowd with corkscrew dashes for the line. Tall

cog powerfully built Preeblo has the two essentials for a representative winger—speed and dash —and learned his football in Hawke’s Bay. the homo oJ many famous All Blacks. Until ho hurt his ankle on Saturday he was Oncroa’s star turn. His place m Otamatea seems assured, and on June 10 he will have an opportunity to display his wares before the Northland selectors. Potential Representatives.

Another Oneroa back with a claim for local representative honours is Ross Wright, who, at first five-eighths, played a dashing game against Central. He was not only responsible for two tries, but ins straight running was an object lesson to the run-across-the-field type of game. He and Harold Edwards were the mainstays of Oneroa’s inside backs, both on attack and defence.

There was something wrong with the Oneroa pack, as it won only two scrums during the entire game. From the sideline it appeared as if the second row was not putting in its weight. In Henry Rapana, Oneroa has one of the best forwards in the union, and it will be no surprise to see him win representative honours. Tall, and inclined towards the lean side, he is all over the field, his speed enabling him to keep up with the backs on attack.

Les Snelling, Rex Cullen and Neil Fergus are still three of the best forwards. At Maungaturoto on Saturday they came through a gruelling game with honours. As a hooker Noil Fergus has no equal in the union. Veteran Boy Fergus, a brother to Neil, was the headiest forward on the field and showed the form that made him an outstanding figure in Otamatea Rugby some years ago. Waiting for Bounce.

Greg Burke, the Central full-back, came through a hard game with honours. His tackling, handling and kicking is exceptionally sound, but he has a bad habit of getting out of position and waiting for the bounce when he should take the ball on the full. The Oneroa full-back was a particularly bad offender in this respect; the times he took the ball on the full could be counted on the fingers of one hand. ' Brian. Fenwick played brilliantly in the second half for Western against Hakaru. When he bestirs himself, Fenwick has no superior in this position. and' had it not been for his fielding and kicking, Western’s line would have been crossed on several occasions. Good Forwards in Western v. Hakaru. Doug Neil—who is always going to retire but never does —O’Brien and Rcigarcl were the pick of the Western pack. O’Brien is a new-comer to Otamatea Rugby, but it will be no surprise to see him in the reps. Roigard is only a youngster, a-burly one though, and in a few years he will be a worthy county man. He learned his football at Grammar, where he played in the first fifteen. Another veteran Otamatea representative in Hook, of Mangawai, is still going as well as ever, and against Western was the undoubted leader of his pack.

Hamilton, the Hakaru half-back, showed glimpses of real ability, but a tendency to get bottled up when defending marred his game to some extent.