STRATFORD HAVE BACKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 155, 12 June 1936, Page 2

STRATFORD HAVE BACKS.

SPEEDY AND PENETRATIVE. Three-quarter Line Showing Impressive Form. STRONG ATTACKING COMBINATION.

The Stratford-New Plymouth Old maijch at New Plymonth on Saturday showed clearly that Stratford possesses backs who} if they had been 'handed correctly, would have been one, if not the most formidable of atr taoking combinations in the Taranaiki senior competition.

As it was they showed patches of dazzling form and had .the New Plymouth team's defence completely' at a lost 1 . Had it not been for a certain weakness in taking and delivering passes Stratford would probably nave finished the game with an even greater margin of points. This was the first occasion this season on which the back line has had reasonable opportunities with the ball and the only .time that Stratford has won a match through tries from back movements. There no doubt that if the policy of developing more back play is pursued Tukapa will need to show a great improvement in form to repeat their first-round victory over the Stratford team. Hayman and Lehmann. Hayman, centre three-quarter, and Lehmann, at second five eighths, were the outstanding backs on .the field on Saturday. It was their combination that found the weaknesses in the Old Boys defence and was responsible for all except one of Strat- j ford's tries. j

Hayman was particularly irnpres°ive. A newcomer to the club this year, he has been, badly' starved in most of the games this year and until Saturday has not been as prominent as had been expected from his record of play in the Hawera senior team last, year and in the seven-a-side games at the beginning of this;' season. He gave some idea of his capabilities when he repeatedly ran practically right through the Old Boys' defence on Saturday. Although he did not score hinu'elf he made most of the openings and was undeniably the strongest link in the line. With physique and speed of the best, good i football brains and unlimited dash and initiative in his play he should go o. long way' in football when experience has added a little more finish to his play. Lehmann is rapidly settling down to his best form and made a good partner for Hayman on Saturday. He, too, showed great penetration and the fact that he wai-i marked by the Taranaki representative second five-

eighths, did not deter him from cut- j ting in-field to score a try under .the posts. Sangstier Back. The return of Sangster to play in his position of half-back was a big contributing factor to the improved service received by the three-quarter line, but some of his passes from set scrums: were not up to standard.

The experiment of interchanging the full back and five eighths men, Berg and Collins, proved fairly successful. Berg may make good in his new position, but he will need a great deal of practice. He was consistently guilty of talking t'he ball flat-footed and also of running across the field, cramping his outside backs. Collins was an effective, if not spectacular full-back on defence, a nd he showed that he can take full advantage of any opportunity to initiate an attack from the back of the field.

Bowler, the young and speedy wing three-quarter, showed up well, particularly when it is considered that he was playing opposite the star of the previous Saturday's Taranaki Wanganui match. His total of tries is mounting steadily and his general play and defensive work is improving with every game. The second of the wo he scored on Saturday was a :ood effort since he had to force his way over the last few yards instead f running around a s has.' been the case on most of the occasions when ie has crossed the line .thi year. Ross, on the other wi'ng, 'has been unfortunate this year in that most of the play has gone out. to Bower's wing. On the few occasions when he does get the ball he always seems to be feo well watched that he has little opportunity to make a good run. I