Wairarapa Wakes Up

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 13

Wairarapa Wakes Up

CANTERBURY OUTPLAYED

It wasn't so much the fact that they beat Canterbury as the manner m which they did it, that proved so pleasing to Wairarapa supporters. After witnessing the previous displays of Wairarapa, there was justification for the belief which so many held that Wairarapa football had slipped beyond recall for the present season.

Canterbury Avere expected to make ! mincemeat of Wairarapa, and there were not a few who stayed away under the impression that the match would be too one-sided to be interesting. The win was no fluke. On the day's play, Wairarapa earned all their points, and more. Summed up, their forwards were better and the backs held their own. Waira-. rapa scored four tries (one converted) and ' Canterbury two tries and two penalty goals. Full of beans, and apparently bubbling over with that "Kruschen feel-, ing," Wairarapa hoed m. from the start, and even the fact that the luck at first seemed dead against them failed to subdue their exubei'ance of spirits. Their energies, m fact, led them to concede, a couple of penalty kicks, from , which Nixon goalecl on both occasion's. Then Ford came to light with, one of his tricky tries, and it looked to be all over bar the shouting. Wairarapa, however, were m the mood that knows not defeat, and added one score after another until at the close of a particularly exciting second half, m which the luck was all against them, they added the winning points. With the score 12—11 against them, Wairarapa for 20 minutes kept Canterbury penned m their twenty-live, and mostly right on the line. Time after time the luck seemed dead against them, but finally fickle Fortune smiled. A weak clearing kick by a Canterbury back (Hay) trickled back over the line, and m a race for the ball Randal Booth won by a whisker. Taken right through, the Canterbury forwards were superior only m hooking. Though their backs thus got a generous share of the ball, they d'd not make the use of it that one would expect from players of their refutation. Their weakness undoubtedly lay m the inside backs. At; half, Carleton was frequently an easy mark for the green breakaways, while Hay and' J. Robilliard either rah across field or were promptly dumped Avhen they tried to get past the opposing five-eighths. Only occasionally did Ford show glimpses of his undoubted tricky scoring proclivities, but m defence his wise old head was always working to the visitors' advantage. Probably because too much was expected of him, A. C. Robilliard was a disappointment. Rai-ely indeed was he dangerous, and he spoilt at least one good chance by trying to get past Hood when, he was well supported. On the other wing, Talbot hit the ground far oftener than he apparently liked, but when he was given the bail

and a clear field m front of him he made an absolute hack of Cundy m a speed test. Nixon went very stiffly, but on the whole played an accurate game .at full-back. When J. Robilliard retired hurt he was replaced by Oliver, and an immediate improvement was noticeable m the work of the Canterbury backs. The \ great things expected . of a pack 'which had put the Bay forwards m the shade failed to materialise. They did well enough m the thick stuff, but out m trie open always seemed short of a sprint. Their footwork was only' fair, and they were mostly beaten m the line out. Masters worked like two men m the tight, but was rarely seen m the open. He gave the impression of being rather too well upholstered. Waghorn, Dennehy and Clark went well throughout. , In no department did the Wairarapa backs show more improvement.' than m their tackling, which was really splendid. tTheir handling was also much better, and for the first time this season they showed genuine evidence of gaining combination. Neighbours thoroughly justified his selection at half. Solid rather than brilliant, he amply proved that he can take the hard stuff. There wasn't a harder man on the field to get past than Viv Flaws. The idea that Viv is a defensive player only is going by the board, and he made openings and took his passes like the best of them. Right back to his best form, F. Booth was never at a loss, and there was not a better back on either side. With all the other backs playing so well, it was rather a ,pity Stringfellow was a little below par. After playing one of his consistently solid games, there wasn't a more disappointed man on the field than Randal Booth when he dropped Jim Donald's pass and lost a try, but Randal made no mistake when. he got his second chance to ; add the winning points. Hood is improving with every game, and is becoming- more resourceful. Jim Donald played another of those 2'eally great g-amejs he produces on occasions. He was the outstanding forward — and one of the best backs — on the field, and played a game that his vis-a-vis, Scrimshaw, knew, absolutely nothing about. .With all the forwards playing up to and above their previous best form, there was little chance for anyone to particularly distinguish himself; but Garland must be given the painv : ior following 1 up. ' ■ . ' ■ Another good showing Was. given by O'Dowd, but. Jack rather overdid the dummy stunt — worked it so often, m fact, that he deceived himself once or twice. •