RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1933, Page 9

RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MATCHES IN NORTH TARANAKI IMPOSSIBLE WEATHER FOR PLAY. FORWARD MATCHES IN THE MUD.

(By

“Spectator.”)

What promised to be a first-class exhibition of League football between Inglewood and Eastern Suburbs at New Plymouth was marred by the miserable conditions that prevailed last Saturday. The rain during the morning and afternoon made the state of the ground such that both' games were simply mud scrambles. It was impossible to handle the ball and the games were confined mostly to the forwards. The back divisions of both teams tried to pass the greasy ball but could make no headway, so adopted the safety rule by trying to find the line whenever possible.

Comments on the Players. The two full-backs, Hall (Inglewood) and Lawrence (Eastern Suburbs) showed remarkable aptitude in handling the wet ball and very few mistakes were made by either, Hall being better on the day than his opponent. C. Hunt used his boot well and found the line with splendid kicks which gained for his side many yards. McKay, a new. recruit, impressed as r-ntre three-quarter for Inglewood. When he understands the game, more he will be useful to the team. Cwwley played the solid game for which he is rioted. At times he • was noticed and also penalised for not putting the ball fairly into the scrum. These unfair tactics can easily ‘be dispensed with and are.no good to, the game. Larmer and Browning played a hard game and the same can be said of all the forwards, as they played as a team should, all working in unison.

Suburbs Forwards Revel in Mud. To individualise the Eastern Suburbs forwards would be wrong as they worked hard from start to finish and no slackers were noticed.' It seemed that they revelled in the heavy 'going. The training that this team has done lately was shown by the efforts that were displayed in the closing stages of the game, which brought them victory. McLeay again gave a fine interpretation of the five yards off-side rule. There is no doubt that he has this rule down to a fine art. The backs gave 1 a fair account of themselves but a much better display would have eventuated if the Weather had allowed. Eastern Suburbs seems to have a strong liking for the number 13, for in each of the last three games, its total of scoring points • has been 13, the unlucky number till last Saturday.

Western Suburbs y. Waiters. Wet and greasy conditions for the game between Western . Suburbs and Waiters militated against good football. As play progressed the ground was more and more worked up, with the result that large mud pools were very much in evidence and players were hard to discern. It seems rather a strange coincidence that in all the games that Waitara has played, that it is during the latter part of the second spell that the points are scored against them. The only logical conclusion as to the reason of this failure is lack of training, and it is to be hoped that the club will get’ down to business now that the knock-out competition is soon to start. The Western Suburbs Men.

Western Suburbs proved more efficient than its opponents in handling the greasy ball, and at times executed some good movements, but generally the game was mostly confined to the forwards. Hogg played a sound game and seemed to revel in the heavy going. He has a bad habit of trying to go too far and of hanging on too long to the ball. Jack and Jim McLeod both played solid games as also did McDonald. These forwards are equally at home in the mud as on a dry field. Lex Lewis was working well in . the tight, though the heavy, going was not to his liking. Priar played the safe game by using the line whenever it was possible to do so. Growcott played u sound game and his try was the result of a nice movement. Fitzpatrick is a solid sort of lad but inclined to hang on too long. He ’will improve .with coaching.. Carroll played a sound game. Bedford is not producing tire football that was expected of him earlier in the season. Waitara Men Fade at End.

Waitara, although holding the advantage- when half-time came with the score board showing 1 to 3 in its favour, failed to hold the Western Suburbs men during the second spell, with the result that the opposition piled up 16 points. At times both forwards and backs were seen in very effective dribbling rushes but they always seemed to fail to pierce tire defence at the critical moment. A good. opportunist in this team would be a good acquisition. M. Edwin gave a good display under trying conditions. Lash again played a good defensive game but is inclined to run across instead of straight. Among the forwards it is hard to differentiate, but-'as a team they all worked hard. The scrummage work of both teams showed improvement. Representative Honours.

It is noticeable that the three leading teamb in the competition are well represented in the representative team that is going to Napier. Western Suburbs has W. Priar, Jim McLeod, Jack McLeod, Lex .Lewis,. R. McDonald. Inglewood will have Cowley, Hunt, Larmer, Hall and Arnold and Eastern Suburbs will have R. Ninkie, G. Moorhead, L. Moorhead, D.- McLeay and J. Fraser. Northern Union Cup.

A lot of interest in the match between Auckland and South Auckland for the Northern Union Cup was manifested among League supporters in- Taranaki last Saturday. Now that the first game has been decided it will be interesting to know on what date the next challenge is to be set down and who is to play South Auckland.

Shower Baths at Western Park. Players took full advantage of the foui - showers that have been installed at Western Park for their benefit and appreciated them judging by the remarks that were passed on Saturday. They do not fail te recognise that the Centre is trying to do its utmost for the players under its jurisdiction.

Fixtures for This Week. Senior fixtures for next Saturday are: Inglewood v. Western Suburbs, at Inglewood, 2.30 p.m. Eastern Suburbs v. Waitara, at Western Park, 2.45 p.m.