OFF THE HELD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7080, 13 July 1949, Page 7

OFF THE HELD

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE

GAMES AND PLAYERS

(By

“Breakaway”)

Rugby typical of the stylo which has characterised their play over the past few seasons secured victory for Morrinsville in their Finlay Cup encounter with Te Awamutu at Albert Park last Saturday. A good crowd witnessed the game which was played on a rain-soaked ground. Several pools of water on the stand side of the field caused the players some trouble and also raised the customary laughs from spectators when players slithered through the mud and water. However, the standard of play was quite good in the conditions. An unusual feature of the game was the fact that all points scored came from penalties. In this respect the visitors were more fortunate in their efforts at goaiing from infringements and A. Patterson collected three goals from five efforts, one of the unsuccessful attempts struck an upright and went outside. Te Awamutu received six penalties within goaiing distance, but Adams could do no better than convert one of these. The score could easily have been nine all, if the local fullback had had his kicking boots on as two of the unsuccessful kicks were within easy range. The heavy ball did not appear to affect the Morrinsville kicker as he got both height and distance in all his attempts at goal, whereas Adams’ efforts lacked both these essentials except on the occasion when he goaled.

The visiting pack worked really well as a team and won the game by their untiring efforts. Evergreens of Morrinsville Rugby in Clarkin, Ensor and the Leeson’s gave the local pack a lesson in play in heavy conditions. Advancing years do not seem to affect these stalwarts. They were on the ball from whistle to whistle and they played as one man throughout the game. Vowles played well up to the standard that won All Black trial honours for him last season. The Morrinsville rearguard did not function as often as one would have liked, but on several occasions when the bail did go right out to the wing they proved that they could be a dangerous combination. Bain, at half-back, was very solid and the manner in which he stopped the opposing forwards found the line with well-judged' kicks over the forwards’ heads reminded one very much of his predecessor L. Russell. Of the other backs, T. Lithgow was always dangerous, as was A. D. Patterson. G. Lawrence was very safe *at fullback, and stemmed many rushes with his customary calmness.

Lifeless Display The Te Awamutu forwards lacked life and with monotonous regularity were pushed back by the Admittedly one or two of the forwards were in good form, but at no stage of proceedings did the pack inspire the dash that was evident in their play in the game against Cambridge. One very noticeable weakness was the failure of the forwards to go through on to the Morrinsville halfback from the line-outs. In {this respect Bain had all the time in the world s in which to execute his work. It is the duty of the front and rear men in the line-out to get on to the opposing half-back when possession of the ball is lost and on Saturday these players did not once harry the Morrinsville player. Stan Hinton gave his backs a fair share of the ball from the set scrums but this advantage was offset by the efforts of the Morrinsville back men getting round on the Te Awamutu inside backs. A. Rowan, A. Haywood and J. Melrose were the best of the remainder of the forwards. J. Kay and Rex Hinton were both well below their usual form. Heavy Day

A particularly heavy job of work was rendered his side by Henry Cox. Receiving little protection from his forwards, Cox was left wide open to the fierce onslaughts of the opposing forwards and he came through a gruelling task* well on the right side of the ledger. Whitehead played his best game since his reappearance in Rugby this season. He picked up some very difficult passes from Cox and defended well. McGruther was inclined to hold on a little too long and thereby caused Crotty to be hampered for room in which to manoeuvre his wingers into position. Irwin was well up to his previous exhibitions in Finlay Cup games and Ormsby also played well without being brilliant. The Pirongia-Rovers winger saved his side on several occasions. Adams, except for being caught out of position on two occasions, was upto his usual form at fullback. There was a vast improvement in the length of his line-kicking and it was pleasing to see that he had developed the spiral kick, with which he gained half the length of the field on more than one occasion. This lad is improving with every game and is rapidly overcoming thq, weaknesses of his play so noticeable in the early part of the season.

Saturday’s Attraction The fixture carded for Saturday morning at Albert Park between Ponsonby and Otahuhu should draw a record crowd. The game is for the Auckland Rugby Union’s championship and both sides are at the peak of their form. Ponsonby are among the leading three on the championship ladder and Otahuhu are not far down the list. Both teams contain players who have represented their union either this season or in previous years. Among the Ponsonby team figure players of proved quality in Kingstone, the full-back, R. McKay, centre-threequarter, and T. Te Puni and R. D. Johnstone forwards. Also in the side is the promising R. Teague, who was promoted fom last year’s fourth grade fifteen to the club’s seniors this season and made a creditable debut for his province against the Maori All Blacks a fortnight ago. A. S. Taylor is another young player who has represented his Union and is a rugged type of forward. Otahuhu’s fifteen includes D. (Jock) Ensor, well-known in Waikato Rugby circles as a full-back and was

an All Black trialist last year. R. Peck played against Waikato on the King’s Birthday as first five-eighth and gave a creditable performance. Another Auckland representative is W. Andrew, a young forward who -burst into first-class Rugby with some outstanding performances early this season. Patrons of Rugby are advised not to miss this outstanding attraction on Saturday morning. Return to Pack

After witnessing the efforts of the Te Awamutu forwards in this match it is apparent that more life and vigour is needed in this department and the return of G. Crotty to the pack would undoubtedly strengthen it. Crotty has been a tower of strength to his side by his ability to settle down in practically any position on the field, but the time is ripe for him to settle down to forward play, regardless of any weakness in the backline. With the return of Whitehead to the side, McGruther could be moved out to fill the centrethreequarter berth and with Macky back on the scene following his enforced let-up, Whitehead could be placed at second five-eighth. Without wishing to detract from the success of the selector in his playing of Crotty at centre-threequarter, the writer would once again like to say he is of the opinion Crotty would serve his side to better advantage if he was placed back in the pack—a position the player concerned favours better than the one in which he has been placed of late.

A Tempting Offer Trevor Allen, the brilliant Australian esntre-thfree-quarter, must be wellendowed with worldly goods if he finds it worth while to turn down an offer of £4OOO to play League football for the Oldham Club. Some time ago it was reported that C. Eastes, a winger, had been offered £3500 to join Wigan. These liberal offers stf?*gest that the North of England League clubs, after having combed Welsh and English clubs, find that the right material is not for sale in the Homeland. Few New Zealand three-quarters would have turned down the offer made to Trevor Allen. Taking Rugby Seriously

Arrangements have been made for a Fijian Rugby Union team to visit Australia in 1951. The team will probably arrive in May for a six weeks’ tour of the Eastern States. The Fijian Union has asked for an Australian coach to be sent to Fiji to instruct players in Australian methods and-rules. He will be asked to give the Fijian team six weeks’ tuition and accompany it throughout its tour.