Football

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1238, 10 July 1947, Page 8

Football

FINLAY CUP MATCH Taupiri Defeats Putaruru By 23 Points To 9 The match between Putaruru and Taupiri on Saturday was l played in fine weather, a good crowd attending. The margin of 23 —9 scarcly represents the merits of the respective teams, although Taupiri was distinctly the superior scoring side. The score at half-time was eight points to three. In the second half Taupiri added 15 points (three converted tries), while Putaruru scored a try and kicked a penalty goal. The game was fast and, open, the spectators’ interest being maintained until the final whistle. The Taupiri team combined well, their forwards winning most of the linesout and scrums, with the result that their backs had a feast of the ball. The scrummaging of the Putaruru pack was bad, Stevenson, Brodigan, Waru and Puckey all playing too loose. Waru appeared as though he was nursing his injured knee. Douglas and Judd used judgment and weight from whistle to whistle. The Putaruru backs did 'not show to advantage. Wehipeihana made most of his opportunities and justified his places Carpenter, at first five-eighth, handled well a'nd sent out good passes. Gillespie played a fine game, his handling and speed off the mark being very noticeable. He is a most promising player. Schuler, wing threequarter, was in everything; he made a bird of his man every time, and runs with dash and determination. Berg played a fair game. A pleasing feature of the day’s entertainment were the games arranged between primary and secondary schools from Putaruru and Maraetai as curtain-raisers. These teams provided bright football. JUNIORS Athletic v. Forest Products The weather and ground were ideal for this match, played at Karl’s Paddock, and expectations were for a fast, open ghme between ths two leading teams in the competition. Athletic opened with a great burst, scoring eight points in as many minutes, but. from that stage on (and particularly in the second spell) the game developed into more of a forward struggle in which department Athletic more than held their own. Territorially, Athletic had the better of the game, butt on the occasions when Forest Products, took the initiative they looked dangerous. Athletic won the toss and from the kick-off attempted to open up the game. After a few minutes’ play in midfield Haworth received from a scrum to set the Athletic backs moving. Dunn ran through for fast following forwards to carry on the play, Kearns- finishing off a good movement to score near the

posts. Hawcrth converted. Athletic 5, (Forest Products 0. From the kick-off Athletic continued to attack, the forwards gathering in the, ball for Graham to go over wide out. Dunn missed the kick. Athletic 8, Forest Products 0. Play was confined mainly to Forest Products’ territory but Sullivan was prominent in bringing relief to Forest Products with a run up the side-line. The relief was only temporary asd Athletic were again in Forest Products’ twenty-five, but w ill judged line kicks by their fullback sent Athletic back.

Play ranged round midfield when Birse and Dunn were associated in a run which gained a lot of ground for Athletic, and they had Forest Products worried for a time, until a free kick brought relief. Forest Products then took a hand until Hodson saved for Athletic by claiming a mark in the face of a determined rush by Forest Products. Athletic were soon on the attack again. Pahou made a great run but when a try seemed certain sent out a forward pass. Half-time sounded with Athletic 8, Forast Products 0. The second half opened with Hodson joining in the Athletic backline, making a fine run and passing inficlld to his forwards, who carried play to (Forest Products’ twentyfive, a free kick bringing relief. Dunn soon after had a shot' at goal, the ball falling short just near the line was knocked-on by Forest Products. From the scrum Athletic forwards: forced the ball over the line, but a drop out was ordered. The game continued to be mostly a forward one, both packs playing strenuous football. The Athletic forwards had the better of the game and forced play to Forest Products’ twenty-five, where Morris snapped up the ball to score wide out. Haworth “ missed a difficult kick. Athletic *ll, Forest Products 0. Play returned to midfield where the Athletic backs attempted to get going, Sherlock and Banton gaining ground. Athletic were awarded two penalties in quick succession, from which Dunn and Haworth both failed to goal. Shortly before time Forest Products carried play inside Athletic twomty-five, but the Athletic forward® retaliated and took play to the other end of the field, where Morris whipped the ball out to Dunn who inpassed to Sherlock, the latter narrowly missing the touch down. Full time sounded soon after with no addition to the score. Mr. Verran ably' controlled the game. FINLAY CUP POINTS Cambridge & Te Awamutu Lead As a result of Saturday’s play positions on the points ladder for the Finlay Cup are as follow: Cambridge, Te Awamutu, six points ; Horrinsville, Hamilton, four; Raglan, Taupiri, two; Matamata, Putaruru, none. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES The junior representatives picked to play Cambridge on Saturday are as follows: Te Whetu: J. Deane, Morrow, S. Simmonds. United; McCurran (2), Berg, Ward. Forest Products: Hardy, Sullivan, Marsh. Tokoroa: Fenwick, Ashworth. Athletic: Burke, Dunn, Haworth,

Graham, Bayly, Birse, Woodgate. WHY THE ALL BLACKS LOST Notes and Comments (By “Crossbar”) Too many people base their comments on such garnets as that between Auckland and the All Blacks without a full realisation of the various contributing factor® which bear on such a fixure to make it a totally different one from those they witness week by week.

In the first place such a game must always be regarded a® a promised spectacle, rather than a match, for very obvious reasons. Everything else being equal, spectators and writers must always expect a .returning team or one just going away to be beaten. History proves this. Were not the famous “Originals” beaten 3—o by the Rest of •New Zealand in 1905 and was not a previous returning All Black team—the only one to play—also beaten by an Auckland team ? Would anyone go all out just betforcr departing for Great Britain and so risk injury? And, after a tiring tour

when a player i® sick of play on hard grounds • and is stale with excessive travelling, is,it to bo expected that he will go all out in these circumstances ?

Per contra, if one had just missed selection in the All Blacks would not the overpowering influence be to show the selectors up as poor judges and let them see what a “marvellous footballer” they had left behind? With thi® in mind review the Auckland-All Black game. The public travelled hundreds of miles or “arranged” their work—some 16,900-17,000 of them—to see a spectacle; to see the All Blacks display new phase® of attack, jump to support as All Blacks do, and otherwise play the open game. If proof were needed of this fact—which every observer can always hear for himself on all sides, Allan has supplied it by stating that was the motive which actuated the play of the AH Blacks.

On the other hand, what was the actuating motives behind the Auckland team? A Springbok tour in sight, the presence of the national selectors, and Ranfurly Shield games looming, up within a few weeks. Of course they went all out —they went hell for leather—and it is within reason to say that there is not another team in New Zealand would have baaten Auckland on the day. Kingstone was magnificent, and the rest of the backs very sound. They played superb wet weather football (plenty of that in Natal and Capetown), with the best pack of blue and white forwards the writer has seen for many a moon; a set equal to the South Island eight which trounced the North on the same ground. In Crowley, Nelson and Tregowith they had three.potential All (Blacks.

It was a great pity that the All Blacks- had to have a hopelessly short forward lent to deputise for Catley. No scrum can go down properly with it® hooker a couple of inches shorter (instead of being a couple of inches taller) than his supports. Once the ball was first hooked (a® a poor hooker will do on occasion in spite of the best referee ) Auckland let go and, correctly, were down on Tetzlaff and away with ths ball at toe. In any case it was not a day for hooking on ail occasions. As stated, the game should have been a spectacle—as all such games must—(but it was a spectacle ruined by the mud and to a large extent by the rctferee. The All Blacks kept to the open game as the crowd wished. Had they made it tight, what a drab game it would hava been for, again, no one in his senses could have expected the pack of such a returning team to play with the zest they did in the second test against the fire of the spurred Auckland eight. In addition to drabness there would have been fireworks another Battle of Wairarapa so vigcscus and unrelenting wefffl

blue and whites. Such games should always be judged as they really are, and not as some few critics are forced, for various reasons which need not (be enumerated, to profess they should be judged. Reverting to play, it is a positive disgrace that in all these years something has not been done to provide Rugby with a proper major playing surface in Auckland. In spit© of coverings and borings, the big cricket area utterly spoiled play and finally resulted in balls which were needlessly treacherous and forwards who could not be distinguished. The muddy environ® of the pavilion are also no credit to the controlling authorities in Auckland as a few yards of shingle would make all the difference. IPor thei African tour New Zealand requires three more forwards well over six feet in height, a couple of speedy wing thrciequarters and % centre—for Smith will not be travelling. The match showed the forwards are to be obtained and another Steele and Pat Caughey can be found. The Springboks must and pan be matched.