RUGBY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12527, 17 August 1926, Page 11

RUGBY

When St. Patrick's College left the field at half-time in their match with Wellington College they looked as though they had the game in hand, despite the fact that their opponents were improving in every department the "nmp progressed. However, thev failed to stay the distance, and a three-points advantage was turned into a deficit of seven points. • « • • The light blues' backs were the more impressive of the two sets, and at times during the first spell vfrked with clockwork precision. Quickness * off the mark and possession from the scrummages were the contributing factors to +heir early suc^ss. ••‘ « « Selfishness deprived them of several *'ire tries. Malfroy made some splendid openings, hut- he was one of the princin-1 offenders in t’»»s respect. Goodson was the outstanding? hack, and his sheer pace brought him the two tries secured by his side. His dash up the field from his own twenty-five fo * his second try was brilliant. • • • • Swindell* the burly St. Pat.’s lock, held his hookers together well, and was supported by a fairly evenly-balanced pack that grafted solidly, but was beaten in the second spell. • • • • It was Wellington's pack that won the day, their backs merely putting tho finish on their work. Curtis, Blacker, Tipping, and Gifford were outstanding, and revelled in the tight work. • • * * Gentry worked like a trojan behind th* scrum, and gave his backs innumerable opportunities to open up the • play - . . The insides, Hardie and Ramson, idi 1 not combine well, and the latter repeatedly rushed into the pack instead of feeding his three-quarters. The coach apparently had a word of adyico for him during the interval, for Ire imn-oved in the second spell. • e • . The black hacks should play much more deenlv on attack. St. Pat.’s line taught them a lesson in this connection, and were on the move when their half Gilbert, got the ball. Standing and pr-.in-r wih get a team sswhere. • • * * The tackling, in the approved fashion e.f hath sides, and the clean, sportsmanlike nature of the play were features of tho encounter much appreciated tbe.spectators • « • * THE DEBACLE (Some Additional Notes.) Brawn, fitness, and speed were the foremost reasons for Hawke’s Bay’s victory. The black forwards worked hard in. face of terrific odds but they received no support whatever from the bocks. The whole back division was always out of position. * » • • Hawke’s Bay made tho pace terrific for the first 20 minutes, and then the Wellington team began to tire sadly. • * * * The potted goal of G. Nepia’s from near half-way, and from an angle, was a beauty. • * * * Porter led the team on the field, and until he received a kink was a big thorn on the Hawke’s Bay side. Even injured he was always prominent in defence. Jessup took his place in the second half and played well. • * * # ~ Maurice and Cyril Brownlie are wonderful forwards, but why Referee Eckhold allowed Maurice to stand off the line-outs and charge in when the hall was thrown is hard to understand. • * • * Hawke’s Bay obtained the ball from about 90 per cent, of the scrums. The line-outs were also in favour of the Bay. The Wellington men, with the exception of Moffitt, did not jump for the ball. It was Moffitt who broke away from the line-out for Tyree to carry on when Barry scored Wellington’s only try. • • • Why Sly was hot played in the Wellington team cannot be understood. His weight was necessary. * * # IN THE WAIRARAPA It was tiie Carterton forwards who again carried the maroons to victory oa Saturday against Gladstone, but the divisions were more evenly matched tban on the previous occasion when the teams met. The Gladstone pack on this occasion held their end up iairly well in most departments of the game, but frequently tailed to hold the solid * combined rushes of their opponents, which also at times seemed to have a rather demoralising effect on some of the yellow backs. • • * • Though possessing only a very elementary idea of attack, the Carterton backs tackled well. • * * * The Gladstone backs failed simply because they relied on the orthodox chain-passing method of attack. • • * * Hankins was too slow at five-eighths. • * * * When Gladstone shuffled up their hacks to their old formation they did much better. They did most of the attacking towards the end, but found the Carterton defence too solid. • # * * Carterton were without the services of Moncrieff and Hart, while O’Dowd and Budd were absAtees from the Gladstone team. • * * * Moore and L. Clarke were the only two Carterton backs with any idea of Attack. • • * * Moore is very fast, and only requires to develop a swerve or side-step to become a verv useful tyoe of winger. • * * * Fairhrother, Reid, and Clutrchouse went w»ll in tho Cartoon park. • • * * Taucher was playing splendidlv until an old knoo trouble pulled him Bp - . The Gladstone 'backs showed a surprising Jack of initiative. Randal B'-oth. McLeod, and Henderson wer* the pmk of the Gladstone backs. The play of some of the others was lamentable ncer at times • • * • Rome of the forwards were Tint in +bo best of form. • • * * Reside. Walker T??dd*!L n nd Walker did tbo most useful work among the Gladstone forwards. Wairarapa will Auckland at Mnsterton on Aucust 28th.