BETTER TEAM PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22772, 5 July 1937, Page 14

BETTER TEAM PLAY

RICHMOND IN FORM Showing all-round superiority in team work Richmond easily accounted for Mount Albert. The Richmond players supported each other splendidly and wero surer in handling. The backs were speedier off the mark and bad more thrust than the opposition, while the forwards were better in all-round play, j ' Honours in the scrums were fairly even in the. first spell, but Mount Albert had a much greater share of the ball in the second jialf. The Mount Albert backs, how, ever stood flat-footed and failed to find a counter to the fast-covering "Richmond de-t fehep.' Some -of Mount. Albert's efforts on attack were decidedly weak. The Mount Albert forwards did not keep together as usual and one or two of the number would have done better had they not paid so much attention to the man. Richmond did some fine work on attack, while its defence was very sound. Mount Albert failed to cross the Richmond line, although it went close to scoring on a few occasions, The manner in which Richmond turned defence into attack was brilliant at times and the team was unlucky in not registering more points. >.- Mount Albert did the early attacking and once lost a try when Gunning failed to take a pass after tho forwards broke away in the Richmond twenty-five. The Richmond backs were sent off and Bickerton sidestepped Cranch, the Mount Albert fullback, beautifully. Although tackled from behind he was able to touch down by the posts. Furnell converted. Shortly afterward Bickerton was injured and this necessitated a rearrangement of the backs. Tetley went to first five-eighths and was replaced in -the forwards by Metcalfe. There was no further scoring in the first spell, except a penalty goal for Mount Albert by C. Satherley. In, the second half the Richmond backs were again rearranged. G. Tittleton went to fullback, Tetley to wing-threequarter, and Furnell to first five-eighths. This formation worked well. Soon after the resumption Furneir>piaced: Richmond further ahead with a good penalty goal. Then, from a poor kick by McCallum, W. Telford scored .after several ■ players bad handled. Furnell converted. Th* next try saw Mincham field a cross-kick splendidly and send Wilkie over. Furnell played well for Richmond both at fullback and five-eighths and is a ver.v promising player. G. Tittleton and Wilkie were a pair of determined runners, although "Wilkie ran blindly at times. W- Tittleton, nlayed a splendid all-round game at five-: eighths and wan in practically every movement, while his defence was excellent. Until his retirement Bickorton did some brilliant 'work on attack and Powell was in great form at halfback. His'defence was invaluably to the team and he was rpsponsible for some, clever attackiug moves. McLeod stood out for ft fine all-round game in the foru ards, and received good assistance, from m; 'the first half, Hadley, Telford and J. Sathcr-

With the exception of Catkins, who dofended well at halfback, none of .the other Mount Albert backs was impriessivc. Gunning and Hansen were the best forwards. Mr. M. Weth'erill was referee. -.