THE LEAGUE GAME

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE LEAGUE GAME

BRIGHT OPENING PLAY

J. McLEOD’S FINE PLAY.

GOOD MATCH LAST SATURDAY.

For an opening game the InglewoodWestern Suburbs match last Saturday produced good football. The game was played at a fairly fast clip, and although there were not the number of passing movements from both backs and forwards that one- would have liked to see, this does not mean that the pace was -indifferent; on the contrary, Inglewood certainly deserved its win, but towards the end of the final spell Western was knocking hard and with any luck would have at least reduced the margin of points. A feature in the play which will loom large, and is a decided attraction, as the season progresses was the bustling play of the Inglewood forwards. Their loose game was fine, particularly in the first spell. Had they made their raking rushes more of a combined effort with short quick passing rather than a glorious sweep into opposing territory with only one man having the ball—and be eventually grounded—it would have made excellent watching. However, Rome was not built in a day. The Inglewood pack contains newcomers to League, and when the polish that further games will give is acquired it will take some beating both in the spectacular and hard work. Western. Suburbs’ pack was not outclassed. It put in plenty of solid work in the second spell to bridge , the gap between its side and Inglewood, and it was hard luck that it was not drawn closer. Jack McLeod was the best forward on the field. He was leniently treated in his over-eagerness at times, but even this did not detract from his fine play. The Eastern Suburbs players against Inglewood are:—H. Lawrence, L. Moorhead, Jas. McLeod, A. Lawrence, J. Fraser, A. Lile, H. Burke, R. Ninkie, D. Hoskin, J. Suhr, A. Henderson, J. Boniface, C. Plumtree, R. Williams and B. Hynes. The team to line out will be selected from these. GOOD WORK BY FULL-BACK. W. Priar, Western full-back, played the best game on the ground. The Inglewood men, who kicked repeatedly to his safe hands, would have done better testing a less sure pair of hands and saving their forwards. Eaves, the opposing full-back, was safe and solid. Wipiti, Western three-quarter, can play better football than he did on Saturday. Rangi Thomas, the other winger, has had little practice but his play was sound and with opportunities that he did not have on Saturday he will do Iris share of scoring.

Hines as half for Western is a solid though slow player, particularly in the open. He made no errors,' though his passing at times lacked crispness. It is early to judge. When McDonald went up into the scrum in the second spell it madp a great difference to Western. C. Hunt, Inglewood centre, played well. A little less kicking would have made him outstanding. Ho might have had reasons for this but they were not apparent from the side-line. McLaggan, Inglewood five-eighth, will be making a name for himself in Taranaki League this season. He shaped more than promisingly on Saturday. Patterson, making his second appearance for Inglewood, played a good, forward game—a trifle vigorous at times. Coles was up with everything and a little in front of it often. This offside tendency will spoil his excellent game unless it is checked.

A pleasing feature of the Inglewood League team on Saturday was its neat appearance. The full team took the field together and each player’s jersey was numbered. If all teams’ jerseys were numbered and a small programme issued it would be a help to those who have not followed the game regularly enough to become familiar with the players. After the Eastern Suburbs—lnglewood match to-day—which is arousing keen interest among League men—things should be more sorted out as to the possible first round leaders. The meeting between the packs should be interesting. George Moorhead, Eastern first five-eighth, will not be available for a fortnight. Eastern has a number of spares, so the opportunity is there for trying some out.

There were some good boys in the junior curtain-raiser, Eastern v. Western. A. Lile (forward) and J. Suhr (fiveeighth) caught the eye particularly. Keenan was a smart breakaway man and McAllum tackled well, while Hicks caught the eye in the forwards.

Waitara followers will see their side tried out against Western to-day. Stratford has the bye. Junior games are:—Waitara v. Western, at Waitara; Eastern v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. League is stated to be in the course of revival at Wanganui. Like many other centres which suffered during the Great War years, Wanganui had some good sides in pre-war days. Stratford v. Waitara.

There is not a great deal to be said concerning the Stratford-Waitara game of Saturday, except that for a game between a new team and one of the weaker thirteens of last year’s competition the exhibition was a good one. There was not a great deal between the two sides, and the little extra experience of the game probably resulted in Waitara’s win. Stratford’s Good Hookers.

The hooking and scrumming by the Stratford pack was excellent and all the forwards played good football in the second spell, especially Francis. Of the backs Vincent and Collins were good and the team altogether will be a matchwinning side if it goes on as it has begun.