FOOTBALL IN THE PROVINCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 70, 14 June 1927, Page 12

FOOTBALL IN THE PROVINCE

NOTES AND COMMENTS DOINGS AT HAMILTON (From Our Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Monday. A. Buckingham, erstwhile Waikato representative back, appears to have lost his dash, and gave an indifferent exhibition behind the scrum for City at Hamilton on Saturday. This player has in the past suffered severely from injuries which culminated in a badly broken leg in a representative fixture at Wanganui two years ago. His snappy play is now missing and he seems to be drifting into the “sere and yellow leaf.” His younger brother Frank is a clever three-quarter, and filled a position in the Waikato team with distinct credit last year. He looks like retaining his place without difficulty this year, too. The term, “safe as a church,” has been repeatedly applied to S. A. R. Badeley at Hamilton this season, and not without reason. The ex-Auck-lander has proved a tower of strength as full-back lor Old Boys. He gave a fine display on Saturday against Frankton, retrieving his team often from dangerous situations, and kicking with judgment. Coolness is an attribute which he possesses to a marked, if not dangerous, degree. “Bill” Mitchell, last year’s Waikato representative full-back, will not don the Technical Old Boys’ jersey for some time to come. He was badly knocked about last week and on Saturday was a spectator at the Rugby matches. He has a badly sprained foot, and his team already sorely miss the services of its stalwart. Three very interested spectators of the Rugby games at Hamilton on Saturday were Messrs. S. S. Dean, W. F. Hornig and C. L. Mullany, delegates from the New Zealand Union, who visited the Waikato to patch up the Rugby dispute between the Hamilton Sub-Union and the parent body. GOOD FORWARDS Two forwards who do great work for the City team at Hamilton are Montgomery and Courtney, who are always in the van of the loose rushes and can pack their weight in the tight. Both wore the Waikato representative jersey last season and should gain similar distinction this year. The possession of the Sage Cup for the premier Rugby team in Hamilton is evidently going to be well disputed this season, and there is no reliable indication as to which team is likely to carry off the honours. City, last year’s champions, suffered a reverse at the hands of Frankton recently, but turned the tables on Old Boys, who have defeated Frankton twice this season. Old Boys have to meet City again, but the latter team seems to have a “hoodoo” over its opponents, as Old Boys have not beaten City for a very long time. As matters stand at present, all three teams are in the running for the premiership, and the ultimate issue is open to serious doubt, for Frankton seems intent on “making a bird of City” when it meets that team. While recognised to be a very light team, Old Boys have a reputation for gameness at Hamilton, and their performances do them credit. Many of the members of the team are only in their teens, but they can show older players some fine points in the game. The pack shows great dash and relishes the loose work, even against much heavier opponents. The hacks are resourceful and nippy, but lack of weight has always been a serious disability from which the team has suffered. TWO HAMILTON TEAMS A rapidly improving team in the Hamilton Rugby competitions is Technical Old Boys, and its pack is rapidly developing into a good one. City was fully extended to beat this team on Saturday. Frankton is a team which may be best described as temperamental. It will show great combination one week and play a rattling good game to inflict defeat on a strong team, and next week give an indifferent exhibition to go under to a less doughty opponent. Its" performances are remarkable and it has a reputation for doggedness when up against it. SOCCER JOTTINGS The ex-Auckland Soccer representative, Buchanan, is perhaps the best centre-half in the Waikato. He is advancing in years, but his experience compensates for any youthful vigour he may lack. Whitehall, the Huntly right back, is as consistent as ever. INCONSISTENCY IN FORM In and out form has been displayed in the Hamilton Soccer fixtures this year by Chalmers, inside right for Railways, and recognised as one of the best players i*n the province. With Moon, another good player, he shaped well in dhe last shield match against North Auckland. GOOD RECORDS SPOILT Two surprises were sprung in Soccer football at Hamilton on Saturday, when Frankton Railways beat Pukemiro by 5 goals to 1, and the Puke* miro juniors heat Claudelands Rovers by 3 goals to 2. The Pukemiro seniors suffered their first loss for the season, while Claudelands Rovers’ defeat brought to an end a two years’ unbeaten record. A GOOD GOALIE Hunter, who is the custodian for Hamilton Wanderers, is easily the best soccer goalie seen out in the Waikato this season. He has been a member of the South Auckland representative team for two years and has helped them considerably in retaining the Brown Shield. HUNTLY NOTES A steady downpour of rain with bleak weather conditions militated against good play on Saturday afternoon. Good exhibitions of any code were out of the question, and it was thus a series of mud scrambles. All the various codes carried out their programmes, except the Huntly B ladies’ hockey fixture with Taupiri. which was cancelled. THE SOCCER TEAMS Rotowaro played Huntly on the former’s ground and proved that they are a very hard team to beat at home/running out victors by five goals to nil. The winners are now showing excellent combination and will take a lot of stopping before the competition is concluded. Garrard at centre-half is good and uses his head to his team’s advantage. Cargill played well and Dodds, centre-forward, is consistent, but, on the day, Phil Hunter as outside left played the star game. Of the losers Evan Davies (left half), Hunter (centre), Bate (centre-forward) and Hall were the pick. Pukemiro went down for the first time this season to Frankton Railway by 5 to 1 in a game that needs little description, for the hoys from the mine were short-handed, and outclassed. Their ranks will probably be sadly depleted, for the three Hall brothers, Tom. Dave and Ted, will probably be heading for Sydney next week. Pukemiro juniors made up foh their big brothers getting a hiding and ran out winners against the unbeaten Claude-

lands Rovers by the odd goal in five in a game which was anybody’s till the whistle tooted. LEAGUE NOTES Huntly (20) had a comfortable win over Athletic (12) in which A. Rayner put in a lovely solo run from just on the halfway and it was the bright item in the day’s play. W. Smith was in his best form and was practically the instigator of nearly all the Huntly scores. Smith (3). Farrell, A. Rayner and T. Bailey one apiece were the tryGeo. Rayner converting two. Vernall (two tries) and Taylor (three goals) put up the losers’ tallies. The juniors were beaten at Frankton by 6 to 2. the visitors having the worst of the play on the day. In the Huntly schools district League competitions, Huntly A had a battle royal with Taupiri on the local ground and. a try apiece was the result, but the bigger boys at Ngaruawahia overwhelmed the Huntly B team to the tune of 24 to nil. In the soccer code the star match was Huntly A and Rotowaro, and down went the Waroites by three to nil. Bate, Thornton end Stephens scored for Huntly, while Pukemiro had to battle hard to put the one goal on the slate against Huntly B. Wellington Rugby. —The results of senior Rugby football in Wellington so far show great evenness in the play of the ten sides in the senior A division. Seven are separated by or’v two points, while forward play is up to the mark. The scarcity of outstanding backs is most noticeable, and does not augur well for Wellington’s chances! of being very fully represented in the All Black team to tour South Africa. Apart from M. Nicholls, it is doubtful if there is another back at present who can claim to be un to international standard.—Press Association.