THE RUGBY GAME.

Shannon News, 15 June 1923, Page 3

THE RUGBY GAME.

notes on the play. Weraroai went to pieces badly in the gjamie jligaiinst Fox ton on Saturday. This was rather a surprise to most people who had expected a fair show, ing, as ...up to. the present, Weraroa has .generally fallen down through the lightness oi their forwards. On Saturday, however, they had decidedly the advantage in weight in the pack, hut received inadequate support from the backs. Every rush, raw the backs up among the forwards, and wli.il this may he an indication of keenness, it is not football. Some good individual play was shown, and some good offensive work, but the absence of defence more than nullified this. Marsliand, .who dislocated his shoulder at the beginning of the seaison, was back in the three-quarer line again and played a sound game for Werarfoa. He was unfortunate in getting hurt again in the first spell last Saturday, but played right through the game.

Ferris, the veteran Weraroa player put in ;sopie sound work in his isection of the Held. He has a. useful turn of speed which he turned to advantage at times.

Wells, a,s usual, played a great ga,m,e in tli-e backls, and was always on tlie job. His speed was noticeable on several occasions, whilst one flying tackle which brought down a, Foxton mianj whjo had a straight run for the line wais a fine combination of speed and judgment. 0. Jackteon was sound on the defence and kicked well. Given adequate support these tw6 latter players would have easily held anything that Foxton had in the field,

Rough; play resulted in Weraron players being warned on more than one occasion. Such play is reported 1 1 be pretty general this season, and ' is up to the referees to see that it 0 discouraged. Some of the most prominent jplayers in the Onion are t,V worst offenders, and an example made of one or two’ of these would halve more effect than, will picking on to less conspicuous men.

Broughton and Hopa both playo good games for Weraroa, Brough to ” initiating most, of the attacks on. the Foxjtoni line, which although unsuccessful were well delivered. Hopa, a® usual was sound 'and kicked well.

Foxton’s best performers were probably Baker, Moses, and Robinhoo, whilst Thylor was deadly at placekicking. "During tbe game he kicked five goals, four from 1 tries and one penalty. Lambert, who was recently classified from! T'okomaru, justified the selector’s opinion of his play, by putting in. some very useful work for the team. Seven,son,,' Mahi and King wem the best of the forward*,

Foxton won the match, on superior combination, among the backs. Their passing was clean and intelligent, and tree.from the “speculating” seen on the other side. Kicking to the centre by thjfs team also l made a pleasant break front the eternal line-kicking that is ,so common.

The Hui Mal-Wanderers game at Manakau is described as being one of the hardest fought and evemest of the season. There is no doubt that Hui Mai was handicapped by the absence of their veteran captain Bob. George, with the Maori team, while on Wanderers’ side, T. Winiata’s place was ably taken by Tloddy McDonald, who played his usual Ist'erling game. A certain amount of rough play resulted in one of Hui Mai’s players being sent to the line for swearing, although according to the evidence at the Management Committee’s meeting there was 'some doubt as to the right man being blamed for the offence. The matter raises the. question ’ of how much “hard” play is -allowed in a game, and just''what is the dividing line between that and “rough 1 ’ play. It is granted that the definition, especially during the stress of a game, is not easy, but it is also a fact that a certain type of player will play no to the limit that will scrape pa,st Ihe releree’s tolerance. The term “hard play” at times covers a lot of very unsportsmanlike tactics, and a clearer t definition of the term, would be in the interests of the game. In the Juniors, Bishop, the Rovers’ half-back played a sound game againsi Te HoroV He has improved greatly in the last couple of games, and if he can get over his habit, of hanging on to the ball, and play a more unselfish game, will make a first class man. In the five-eighth line J. Griffiths showed up prominently. Hits tackling is good, he takes a ball well, and what is equally important, gets rid of it cleanly.

Jack White, the Toko, full-back, was a tower of strength, to. his side last Saturday and it was a treat to watch him taking the ball on the full and reneatedly turning defence into attack. ti . A.. Judd played his best game this year and is improving every game. The Whyte Bros, plaiyed safe games, although C- Whyte at. half should vary his play more.

Simpson is in his wrong place at wing forward and does not Keep up with the game enough.

The Tokoinara collaring was bed anrl they should stop collaring ibeir opponents around the neck.