RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL

WAITARA CREATES SURPRISE WESTERN <SUBURBS’ CLOSE CALL. VISIT FROM NGARUAWAHIA TEAM.

(By

“Spectator.”)

That Waitara was unlucky to be beaten just on time by Western Suburbs on Saturday cannot be denied, as, taking the game right through, Waitara displayed more, team work and combination than.it has yet shown. The improvement that the Waitara team has shown calls forth the best praise than can be accorded. During the season the club has gradually improved to such an extent that it is now able to extend the winners of the senior championship competition. The inclusion of new players in the. club has gone a long way to strengthen it and it would not be a surprise after last Saturday’s showing to- see the team in the final for the Lile Shield in the knockout competition. Bright Football Seen.

Describing the game last Saturday it can be said that it was one of the best produced this season both from a spectator’s and player’s viewpoint, as bright, dashing and spectacular movements were witnessed. With the forwards turning defence into attack and the backs cooperating in snappy passing movements, bright football was the order of the day. Western Suburbs is not producing the standard that gave so much promise at the beginning of the season, no doubt on account of injuries to several of the players. Priar, who took the field again for the first time since he was at Napier, again had to retire through the same injury, Robb taking his place. Josephs on the wing is showing good form at present and is displaying football ability. He made some spectacular dashes and it was only the determined tackling by the opposition that- kept him from scoring several times. Wipiti and Fitzgerald are two boys who are showing good promise, especially the former, who has on present form shown that there is in him the making of a good League footballer. McDonald, who played in the pack in the first spell, later came into the backs and a remarkable difference was noticed. There is no doubt that McDonald adapts himself to any position quickly. The McLeod brothers worked hard and it was their efforts that saved the day for Western Suburbs. Their penetrating thrusts and desperate tackling were a source of annoyance to Waitara. Comments on Waitara Men.

The inclusion of Cole, a new player, has greatly strengthened the Waitara three-quarter line and his first appearance on Western Park created a favourable impression. He has the necessary qualities to stamp him as a good threequarter—speed, dash and defence. His speed was a good asset to him last Saturday and he scored three tries. Edwin again displayed the tendency to kick instead of passing. He should try to correct this and remember that possession counts in playing League football. What is the good of scoring three-quarters if the inside men will not give them the leather to work with? Lash played well and it is hoped that the slight injury he received will not debar him from again fairing the field next Saturday. The rest of the back division. combined well and if the form displayed improves some good football will be produced by the team. The forwards all worked hard. Turner, who usually plays half-back, was tried as hooker and he made a success of it before he was shifted. If the forwards can produce the same form next week against Western Suburbs a good display should again be witnessed.

Inglewood V. Ngaruawahia. The game between Inglewood and Ngaruawahia played at Inglewood last Saturday before a good crowd of spectators produced at times some really good football and the scores were a fair indication of the play. The visitors from South Auckland did not produce the form which was expected of them. The long trip by bus from Ngaruawahia the night before may have been the cause of the indifferent form shown, as it is evident that the team is capable of producing a better game. A bad feature that was noticeable ■with the backs was running across the field instead of going straight. Cachutt on the wing gave the impression of being a dangerous scoring man. He was the best of the back division. W. Cuthbert,' the half, played a sound defensive game but was rather weak on attack. He received probably 60 per cent, of the ball from the pack but failed to make the most of his advantage with it. Buckley at five-eighth did not impress in that position but when shifted to full-back played a really good game. His handling of the ball was good. In the forwards Ormsby seemed to be the most prominent The rest of the forwards worked hard. The handling by the team as a whole was not up to standard and quite a number of tries went begging through faulty passing. The standard of tackling was good but as happens in a number of cases it may be the team had one of those days off when nothing comes right. Inglewood Pack Improved.

The improvement of the Inglewood forwards was a pleasing feature and the combined work of this division of the team was mainly successful in giving it a victory. It can be safely said that as a combined pack they are the best in the senior grade this season. Although Inglewood received the ball in the minority of the scrums, the fast breaking up of the pack was nearly always successful in smothering the opposition. R. Coles was outstanding and played a really fine game. His fast following ,up often caught his opponents in possession. L. Sutton and McKay also played fine games. Price, Browning and Larmer worked hard and were always in any team movement that was required. Hunt at full-back was safe and sound and made no mistakes. His potted goal from mid-field was splendid. He was the best back on the ground. HaU at centre three-quarter played the good, solid game in-which he has been so consistent this season. His tackling was deadly and some of his movements were good, lhe openings he made to send Surrey on to score two tries were really fine efforts. Arnold produced some good tactics and showed how quick he was to see an opening. His tackling on the day was deadly McLaggan again turned out for club and combined well with his mates. He showed all the dash that?he produced earlier m the season. G. Moorhead was out of his position at half-back and although suffering from a bad cold he played a good defensive game. To sum up the two teams, In S le ' was definitely on top m all departments of the game except m hookbig’ the ball in the scrum. Hints on “Playing the Ball.”

Ever since the League game has had its revival in Taranaki players have been told that possession is everything an JhTt while their team-mates; control tfe Hall they have the advantage. Yet re neateSr we see both in club fixtures and P representative games players who will when playing the ball in kicking the ball through to the opposition. Such a procedure is wrong as it is imperative that the side which plays the

ball should again try to get control. Potter, the captain of the famous Queensland team which toured New Zealand in 1926, said when asked what made the Queenslanders play such wonderful football that the team would rather give a penalty against itself than lose possession, and that in playing the ball the art was to chop the ball to the side on which the best opening appeared. If players will only take heed of the advice that was tendered by the skipper of probably the finest combination of players which has ever been seen in New Zealand there would be a marked improvement in the standard of team work in a very short time.

The Knock-out Competition. The first round of the knock-out competition commences next Saturday and from the form displayed there are going to be keen struggles. This competition will be for the Lile Shield and the club that has the honour of winning it each year will have its name inscribed on the shield. The shield is a fine piece of workmanship and* a credit to its designer. At present it is on view at one of the leading New Plymouth jeweller’s shops and is creating a considerable interest. Saturday’s Fixtures.

Senior. Inglewood v. Eastern Suburbs at Stratford, 2.30 p.m. Waitara v. Western Suburbs at Western Park, 2.45 p.m.

Junior. Western Suburbs v. Waitara at Wcste ern Park, 1.15 p.m.