THE RUGBY GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19349, 9 June 1926, Page 18

THE RUGBY GAME.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. PROSPECTS OF AUCKLAND. A PROMISING OUTLOOK. ' Although the Waikato team was not a strong combination as provincial teams are reckoned, its defeat by 36 points to 3 at the hands of Auckland in the first representative match of the season last Thursday served to demonstrate that Auckland's prospects for inter-provincial honours this reason are bright. The winners, although they had had only one practice together, revealed themselves as the nucleus of a strong side. The backs, playing under the generalship of Lucas and Wright, showed flashes ,of combined play and should improve considerably with practice. The forwards had a slight advantage over a very sound Waikato pack, and if in the future importance is' attached to physical fitness they should give a good account of themselves." It is, perhaps, too much to hope that Auckland this season'can defeat the formidable Hawke's Bay team, but if players are chosen to go into serious training, very few defeats should be experienced on the southern tour. In tho game at Hamilton Lucas was brilliant. His work on attack was wellnigh perfect. He was not up against any great opposition, but his handling at times seemed almost miraculous, while his try when he side-stepped and swerved his way through the whole Waikato team, was a masterly effort. Sheen also played an excellent game, his straight running being a feature of his play. Good Play by Ifwerson. A pleasant surprise was nfforded by N. Ifwerson. It was generally thought he was somewhat lucky in securing a place, but he combined excellently with Sheen and Lucas; and was responsible for some good defensive work. On the day the only weak link in the backs 1 was liroderick on the left wing. His chief faults were his slowness in getting off the mark and his inability to give a good return pass. On several occasions a wild pass infield lost Auckland a try. The forwards have a fair amount of weight and should develop into a hardworking pack. At Hamilton HcWilliams was the outstanding player, but the whole soven played well, their only weakness being a slight tendency to hang off from the tight and to pass forward. However, Knight and Webber should make the foundation for a good scrum, if the tight work of the remainder can improve. The B Eepresentatlves. Tho B representative match against South Auckland.on King's Birthday, although played under adverse weather conditions, gave a valuable line on the form of players likely to secure representative honours. The play was. fairly even in the forwards, but the Auckland backs had jvery feeble opposition to withstand. Two of the Auckland backs—Mattson and Hook—were very impressive. Hook, whose place in club football this, season has been at fullback, played on the wing* and time and again flashed into prominence. Often he started a movement from his wiDg. and came into li::e to handle again. He evidently likes to be where the ball is. This is' the reason \yhy his tactics as fullback have been questioned. Playing at fullback in a club game on Saturday, he left his post and scored two tries. They were spectacular efforts and the opposing team was weak, but this did not justify his methods. One would like to see him played in the three-quarter or five-eighths division jf a .vacancy could be found. He is undoubtedly the most versatile footballer in Auckland io-day. As for Mattson, it seems fairly evident he should be one of tho wing men in the A representatives. His claims are, for instancy superior to those of Broderick. Thirty men in the running for A representative honours have now been seen in action against outside teams, , Auckland's next important representative match is against Taranaki at New Plymouth on August 7. In the meantime the three selectors will have ample opportunity to value the worth of claimants for representative honours, as the result of the club matches. Thus the best material - available should be thoroughly revealed, and. a really capable representative side chosen for the big matches in August. High Hopes in TaranaM.

After many years of adversity, a higher standard of - representative Rugby is confidently predicted in Taranaki for this season. The province could invariably put a formidable pack of forwards on the field, but since the loss of. the Ranfurly Smeld and the upset caused by the war, the back play has been lamentably weak, probably reaching its lowest ebb last season. That there appears to be good reason for the hope of brighter days-was shown last week, \ when Taranaki defeated Wanganui by 35 points to. 6.. , , , _ In .D Johnston (1925 All Black), Brown (1924 Ail Black) and Faiwasser (1925 North Island representative, late of Hawke's Bay,) there is a strong back-line Taranaki's weakness for some years has been the lack of a good half and. an attacking first five-eighth. Stevens, late of Auckland, has been tried out m the latter position, and has given a good account of himself. Lynskey, who played behind the scrum with indifferent success last season, holds his place, and is said to be showing improved form. The making of a good attacking combination seems to have been unearthed, and if the form against Wanganui was not a flash in the pan, Taranaki should; go a long way toward recovering its lost prestige among the major unions. Canterbury's Weakness.

Canterbury cherishes no illusions regarding its representative team, in spite of its victory over Wellington in a special match on Thursday. One Christchurch paper, in describing the game, states: "Raked fore and aft, it was a sadly bustled and bewildered Canterbury team which left the oval at Lancaster Park victor over Wellington by 13 points to 12. For in everything else but the actual points, it had been beaten, and beaten well, there having been a breakdown in the forward division. Wellingon i must hav« felt slighted and ignored m l 5 ' a * ter when last season ~;p rl e _ y } e 't the Basin Reserve it caro a Points win, over G S!?" So luck > evened." player w' r 3 T? ra ? representative Auckland W 7 J been transferred' to fffi f ° r , T "^ki-Wan-Black Hf £tSi® 1924 All time thai he shr.nlu. thought at the oyer his Hart played on the wine but Vm *v , has centre-. His transL w i S - bost at sary for Hart todon * necesfor Tukapa Club, after having I B *'* his intention of retiring g declate,J is; iAx on the coveted TWurly Shield tW h P to«3 dUuItSS ghm <•» T.P.SC hotiotirs. Vj. Nepia was recently married and the engagements of A., E. Cooke and M. Browohe wcro announced the other