RUGBY FOOTBALL

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4538, 23 May 1913, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

LAST SATURDAY'S MATCHES. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. As a result of last Saturday’s senior championship fixtures, the position of the teams competing for the Bush Rugby Union shield is as follows:

w o B 5' k* Won 0 Lost | Drawn Points for Points 0 Against Cli. points

The match between Pahiatua and Mangatainoka, played on the latter’s ground, was an interesting match to watch, although at times there was a tinge of what would eventually lead to rough play if not checked. There appears to be a little more than friendly rivalry between these teams which is a matter for regret, as this kind of thing is not conducive to good Rugby. With regard to tackling, every footballer knows it is the rule to tackle low, and had this been carried out by members of the home team, it is quite probable that H. (Goldie) Mexted would not have gained so much ground for his side, when he made a number of really good runs. This player was the best all-round player on the field. Alick Mexted showed considerable improvement on his play in the first match of the season. Although playing at five-eighths he was noticed on several occasions threading his way through tho Mangatainoka forward division. G. O’Rourke, the visitors’ half, got the ball away when an opportunity offered, but there were very' few clean scrums. In the three-quarter line, F. Early played a much better game than on the opening day. Gordon Mexted at fullhack. had a lot of work to do, and did it.well. In the forward division, W. Fulcher did solid work both in the loose rushes and line-out play. It was really on "Fulcher’s account that Whibley scored his try. The former had been giving his opponents considerable trouble, and two of the black forwards were watching Fulcher, thereby allowing Whiblev to pass through to the back division without trouble. Whibley was conspicuous on several occasions, and gave promise of becoming a rattling forward. Cole, on the wing, follows up well, hut is inclined to wait offside. V. Mack, who is playing in the Bush district for the first sehson, is a valuable acquisition to the Pahiatua team. He is a heavy forward and a fine place kick. F. Ebbett and Goodwin were conspicuous in loose rushes, and Davidson did solid work in the pack. Gregory, who play as a substitute, is rather light for a forward, but nevertheless merited his inclusion on Saturday.

Although the Mangatainoka forward division was lighter that the opposition it roust be given credit for pushing the whites’ .scrummage on more than one occasion. In the combined rushes, the home forwards also showed to advantage. and they made many openings during the play. What the home team lack is good scoring men. Groves and M. Mulcahy were very keen in the loose, and J’ilkinton, Thomas, McQuilkin. Coston and Forster each did a full share of hard work. In tho back division T Bambry, C. Burt, and R. Barrell were each seen to advantage. -The former play is a splendid tackier, and appeared to be tile only man who could stop H. Mexted’» progress, when the latter player was sprinting through the home team. C. Burt is a fine place-kick. N. Grinhnton, one of the three-quarter division, has a good style and should prove a. useful member of the team. Vowell, who always plays a clean game, was doing well until he rcoeived a bump, and had to retire. R. Trongrove was not brilliant, but the score, which the Mangatainoka team seoure'd, was the result of Trongrove centreing at the right time. Harris, at full-back, was not convincing. F. Dungan, the captain of the team, although a player of several years’ standing, played with plenty of dash, and he is one of the best wing-for-wards' in the Bush district.

Konini's score (six points) in the match against Eketahuna, consisted of two tries obtained by R. MoFnrlane and R. Mabey. Although the Eketahuna team did not cross tho scoring line, it is evident from the low score recorded figninrrt it, that a better team was placed in the field than on tho opening day, when Htikanui ran up a. s/orc of 18 points to nil. If the Eketahuna Club can secure a team which can win a few matches the senior competition in. the Bush promises to !*• very interesting. Football spectators are generally very observant at a match, hut an in.

inokawliich ot see

'esses. Whv.,. ~, 01 fcu v ’ forwards, dashed into Vowell, with the result that the latter had to retire, a number of spectators on the opposite side of the field, asserted that it was one of Pahiatua’s backs who had collided with Vowell. Therefore it does not follow that all the man in the street says about a match is necessarily correct.

It is the intention of the Management Committee of the Bush Rugby Union to draft a by-law defining sen ior, junior and third grade players at the meeting to be held on Saturday evening.

Pahiatna . 2 0 — 14 0 4 Hukanui . 1 1 1 21 12 3 Hamua 1 1 — 15 6 2 Mangatainoka 0 1 1 8 28 1 Eketahuna 0 2 — 0 24 2