RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20273, 5 June 1929, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

•AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES

MATCH AGAINST WAIKATO. THE IMAGINARY LINE RULE. The representative fixture between Auckland and Waikato at- Hamilton on Monday showed tho Auckland team in a most unfavourable light and it is very evident if Auckland is to hold its own against the major provinces this season, changes, especially in tho rearguard, will have to biy made. It must bo a very long time sinco an Auckland sido put up such

0 poor exhibition. Fletcher, who was originally chosen as rover, played front ranker with lladley and the pair hooked very well. Often they hooked tho ball only 1o be pushed off it again through lack of weight behind. Only in the final quarter did the 'Auckland scrum pack at all well. Before this there was something vitally wrong and at times the opposing pack just did as it liked. Wanna, who was selected as lock, did not play and A. Knight took up this position. Tho forwards did not hunt as a pack mid often only one or two would be seen following high kicks. At the same time Ihe vanguard cannot be blamed for such a dismal showing by tho backs. The weak kicking of 'some of the rearguard gave those in front of them a lot of unnecessary running about. In the final quarter ■when Auckland was hooking the ball in practically every scrum it must have been heartbreaking for the forwards to see the rearguard regularly mulling and lobbing passes. Inside Backs Fail. As was anticipated the insido backs, who received opportunities in plcntv, failed badly. Tho quick breaking up and bustling tactics of the opposing forwards seemed to quite nonplus them.. Bvrcs failed at halfback and passed wildly, sometimes behind his first live-eighth, ■who was naturally hindered on this account. Bcrridge at times did some nice work on attack, which was spoiled by tho men outside him. lie also saved well tin some occasions,, but on others his defence was not sound. Ealvasser was anything but a success ct second five-eighth, lie persisted hi running away from Lucas and into trouble ■when a movement looked promising. He also passed badly. In fact thero was a great deal of lob passing by the backs, •which is not expected in representative football. Lucas had an off day. which is something unusual for him and it is a long time since he has dropped so many passes. It is a pity ho took the field as an injured ankle prevented him from showing his undoubted brilliance on attack. He was always handy to assist in defence work, but here too he was unable to do himself justice. With the inside men at sixes and sevens the. two wings did not receive many opportunities and their work was nearly always of an individual character. Minns showed up brilliantly in this respect and his determination when going for the lino witii only remote prospects of getting there was greatly appreciated by the spectators. Abbott was a success on the other wing and will do belter still if given mora games. Butler Plays Well. It was just as well for Auckland that Jjutler was the last line of defence. He made few mistakes in a very heavy afternoon's work, his anticipation of the trend of the play being very good. Butler was leallv responsible for the last try. as he came into the movement, twice and might have scored himself had he gone on.

The fallacy of playing the imaginary line rule in Auckland was clearly demonstrated throughout the match. The .Auckland forwards forgot all about breaking "on the opposing inside backs or following ihc ball through, with the result that the Waikato rearguard had a much more easy time than that of Auckland.

It was/a saving for Auckland that the "Waikato backs did not combine effectively. Had they done so the team would have left the field comfortable winners. Toward the end of the game when they realised they could make thrusts through the opposing backs they played better, and the five-eighths broke through, but their good wc/rk was spoiled on account of lack of support. Individually there were some good players. One would have liked to Lave seen Yosper get more opportunities at. centre. For the most part lie made bis own and played a very fine game. Mitchell, Tuck' and Storey did good work on defence, while all showed ability at times on attack. (,'larkin was sound at fullback, his placing of kicks often finding gaps in the defence. The Waikato Forwards. Unhampered by any knowledge of the imaginary line, the Waikato forwards set about their task in earnest from the commencement. Tliey played a great game and many times held the advantage, both in the scrums and lineouts. P. Courtney, who has played in Hamilton for several seasons, was always in the limelight. He is a very fine stamp of forward. Kay, as rover, proved himself a good opportunist and was a continual source of worry to the Auckland backs.

Mr. C. N. Unbone, of Hamilton, gave a good exhibition with the whistle. There "were times when be might have awarded penalties for late tackles and shepherding.

The fine game played I>y Solomon as lover for the Auckland team against "Waikato, will give I lie selector food for thought about his inclusion iu future representative fixtures. Solomon played an ideal type of game for a rover. Besides being among the forward movements he fcft his hacks in motion repeatedly and came round again to support them. There was a very large attendance at Jtugby I'iirk. Hamilton, to watch the re]iresenlative match last Monday. Although full of enthusiasm over the efforts f'i their own team, ihe spectators were very impartial, hut there were a great Unrulier who left the ground wore than surprised at the form shown by the Auckland team. A return match between Waikato and Auckland will be played at Eden Park on August 17). The announcement of the •Auckland team ''or that game will be iiwaited with more than passing • interest *>n account, of the poor showing ol the first side selected. TEAM DISAPPOINTED. OPPONENTS REFUSE TO PLAY. The manner m which the colonial youth regards his pastimes may to some people be rather hard to understand, says a forrespojident, A football team journeyed from a'certain marine suburb last Saturday to a suburb on the shores of the Munukau, but arrived five minutes past the allotted time in which the rules allowed the game to commence. Ho the home team point blank refused to play and claimed n win by default. Bad; came the disap pointed team, and a member thereof, explaining, the circumstances iu a rather grieved manner, was overheard to say: "Yes, we went out for nothing, because they even refused to play a friendly game.".