ELTHAM BEATS STAR

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 12

ELTHAM BEATS STAR

GREAT forward battle

SOUTHERN BACKS GO WELL. OUTSIDE STAR MEN STARVED. Headed chiefly by Burke, but also by Campbell, S. White and Penniall, Eltham forwards were too good for Star at Eltham, and as the Eltham backs. too showed definite superiority the combination should have realised more points than it did because the forwards time and time again made loose rushes to Star’s line. The scores were 8 (two tries, one converted) to 3 (a try). At the outset Eltham backs showed they did not intend to submit tamely to the conditions. Their work was a revelation considering the uncertain footing, and contrasted very favourably with the attempts of Star backs. Maslin was very smart behind the Eltham pack and his fast transfers to Townsend would have been creditable on a dry day. The Townsend who was starved in the north v. south trial match and rarely had a reasonable chance to show his paces was not the one who carried on Maslin’s good work. On the day he played an ideal five-eighth game. Working very well with him was L. White, who was handling and running well. There was nothing wrong with Williams’ running once had had the "ball, but his reception of the ball left much to be desired. Had he been handling more surely the wingers would have had a better chance. Both looked promising. Paterson was very sure at full-back and his line-kick-ing had good lengths. Adlam, Star’s half-back, was not as “snappy” as Maslin, but his try, a purely solo effort, was the high light of the game. Outside him was McFarlane, and he did not distinguish himself except for kicking too often. He blocked the backs chances on attack, for it was rarely that he let the ball out. Kinsella was fairly itching to run. But it was among the forwards that the issue was fought, and though R. Bocock’s try was a “flukey” one following a rebound, it was fully deserved for Eltham had been having all the better of the game. The virgin grass at Eltham’s end of the ‘field and the churned up quagmire in Star’s told their own tale at half-time. During the spell Eltham had the advantage of the wind, but in the second Eltham spent a lot of time in Star’s end., Burke was the forward of the day, and seemed insatiable in his desire to lead slashing forward rushes, in which his pack backed him to a man. They harried Star mercilessly. Less impetuosity in the final rush for the line would have brought scores instead of forces. Star’s pack fought magnificently, but it would have taken an exceptionally good pack to stop Eltham and the lighter Star men could not do it. Freethy played a game almost on a par with Burke’s, while Morris and Whittaker were prominent. The teams were:—

Eltham: .Paterson; Smith, ,Williams, Worthington; Townsend, L. White; Maslin; F. Bocock, S. White, Bootten, Penniall, R. Bocock, Campbell, Potts, Burke. Star: Low; Wilkins, Kinsella, Aubrey; Signal, McFarlane; Adlam; Freethy, Eva, Sampson, McKay, McLeod, Rutherford, Morris, Whittaker. Eltham was prominent immediately, the conditions lending themselves to exploitation by Eltham’s forwards. Star was backed up against its line, and when R. Bocock broke through with the ball at" toe it was only that he kicked a little too hard that enabled Low to beat him to the touch. Using the line Star worked back to mid-field, and it was there that Townsend, intercepting between Signal and Kinsella, cut round Low in a fine solo run which gave him a try well. out. R. Bocock could not convert.

For the first time Star had the better of the game. A scrum near Eltham’s twenty-five line saw the beginning of the equalising try. Adlam snapped up from clean hooking and a magnificent dummy plus and remarkable swerve took him past-the tackles of Townsend and Patterson, who chased but could not catch him. Kinsella failed to convert the try. Eltham backs were handling well in view of the state of the ground and ball, and after Maslin, Townsend and L. White had engaged in a fast run to the line Burke followed up on a Star 1 punt that rebounded. He scored and R. Bocock converted. Star forced the issue for a while, but a bright run by Maslin, R. White, Townsend and Smith took the ball into Star’s corner before Low forced Smith out. McFarlane stabbed from mid-field and Paterson lined. Burke started Eltham up the field and Campbell joined him in a duo that traversed the field, compelling a force. Eltham forwards were playing great football. S. White, Penniall, Campbell and Burke all took turns in leading telling rushes that made Star force three times. Burke was doing outstanding work and a little less weight behind the Eltham kicks would have meant points. Maslin was injured and was replaced by W. Glentworth. Sampson and Signal in the Star team exchanged places, but it did not make any improvement and the game ended without addition to the scores: Eltham 8 Star "• 3 Mr. S. T. Hunt was the referee.