COMBINATION WAS LACKING

NZ Truth, Issue 1274, 1 May 1930, Page 12

COMBINATION WAS LACKING

Initial Games In Auckland Senior Grade Not Up To Standard

(B'rom "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) Rugby's opening day at Eden Park produced typical first of the season games. Although there was nothing of outstanding brilliance, great prominence was shown by individual members of the University and Technical Old Boys teams.

LAST season's Ponsonby stars also showed something of their old form. Taken all round, however, individual play was not consistent. Players who showed above \ the average were Coupe.r, D. Keahe, Common and Harris (Technical), Rae, Minns, Milllken and Butler (University), Connolly and Bush (Training College), Wilson, Bell and Corner (Grammar/Old Boys), and Lucas and McLeod (Ponsonby). Flashes of good, open Rugby wore seen m the game between Varsity and Technical, and those responsible for the programme did well to stage the contest on the main ground. • • . • Rough and ready was the: order of the day m the other matches, with combination sadly lacking. • Grammar Old Boys got home by only one try. Although A. Knight fell over once to score, he had another chance, but he lost the opportunity through looking I for someone to take the ball from him instead of using his weight. Last season "Truth" declared that Knight, although a good forward when using his weight In the pack, was lost In any other department. On Saturday his exhibition substantiated that opinion. Being a big, weighty forward, speed is not expected from him, but he is expected to use that weight m forcing a few more feet wnen the ball is given to him. On Saturday not only was he sometimes too far from the ball to get down with the pack, but he did not always hurry to get on side. The Varsity backs generally played well and fast, arid had Minns and Butler had more room from the side-line m which to move, they would have given an even better display. • Minns particular -

ly, was often cramped for room to speed. Milliken, on the other wing, was something of a disappointment at first, letting the back line ' down badly. He found . his feet at last, and although never really consistent, at ■ least showed flashes of excellent back play. • When he was tuned up,---h c snapped 'up cleanly the passes he had failed to

Malcolm was a hard-working forward m the loose, and he was seen to advantage m many a stirring dash by Technical.^ . Harris was prominent at half. He played solidly, and accounted for the speedy Minns when he came his way. Couper Was another who looked after Minns. He proved himself as fast as the Varsity winger m a tight corner,' and came to Technicals rescue on several occasions. He played on his toes right through the game.. Technical missed w,hat would have been a fairly easy goal, through Haslam failing badly to take a mark m front of Varsity's goal. He was suffering from an injury to his mouth, and that might have been his excuse for waiting for a bounce that beat him. , I Turbott was a

weak link m. the Technical chain of backs . during the first half of the game, and • the team would not have missed him. Slow to pick up, he also funked going down to stop a rush, and the Varsity forwards bustled him. Centre threequarter Stokes looked like letting Varsity down early m the , game when he failed to take his pass m a bril-

Haht back rush. ■\ ' .' He got his chance to make good later, however, when given; a smart pass while going full speed. He took.it well at a great pace and broke through the defence. Although he held on too long, it was a good effort. ■ Forward play m the Marist-City meeting was turned into a battle royal, and m this game, as m that between Ponsonby and 'Grafton, there was not a great deal of scientific handling. •'.<.' There will no doubt be some pertinent things said at practice meetings before the "next draw: for the club games, and the respective houses will be gradually put m order.

get when going at top earlier. Varsity's inside men, Stotter and Mackay,' djd little wrong, and they were well fed from the scrums by half-back Rae. The forwards packed well, and held their own with the alao well-formed Technical pack. Butler," Varsity's full-back, - although not over . exerting himself, was fairly sound. He was not up to the standard he set last season, but that was only to be expeoted. , ■ Technicals last man, Keane, was on his game throughout, and he combined well with the backs on defence.