STAR ON TOP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 8

STAR ON TOP

SKINNER CUP RETAINED For the sixth successive year. Star has won the premiership of South Canterbury and followers of the game will join in congratulating the Club on its splendid record. The path to victory has not been an easy one; two reverses were met with, but it cannot be denied that the Star players deserve the honour they have won. Up to Saturday it appeared as if they would be hard pressed to retain the championship. Following their defeat at the hands of Temuka, there were many who were confident that the country players would win a second time, but the surprise created by Old Boys in holding Temuka to a draw on Saturday eliminated the possibility of a playoff for the premiership. By failing to win on Saturday, Temuka has finished up one point below the champions.

As has been stated before in these columns, the secret of Star’s success has been team work, which is bred of consistent training. The players and coach alike are deserving of commendation in this respect. Actually Star is somewhat lacking in individual brilliance but more than adequate compensation in this respect has been found in teamwork and splendid tactical guidance. Although Star has won the Skinner Cup for the 1936 season, the opposition met has been stronger than for the last couple of years, a state of affairs which has brought about some stirring club games. A feature of the competition has been the performance of Temuka. Starting off poorly, the country team was gradually moulded into a strong side, as was evidenced by the defeat of Star. That was Temuka’s best performance and it was a pity that that form could not be maintained. Saturday’s failure came as an anticlimax to a good season for the team, dashing the hopes of its ardent supporters. The country players have every reason to be satisfied with their performances throughout the competition. Great progress was made, for which the players and coach alike should be given every credit. Many members of the team are young and lack experience, and for that reason Saturday’s comparatively poor showing was excusable. Another pleasing feature of the competition has been the improvement shown by Old Boys, who have had more than their share of misfortune in regard to injuries in recent seasons. Likewise, Zingari appear to be building up a good team again. There is every reason to feel confident regarding the future of club football in South Canterbury.

Valuable Asset. R. Wilson has been a great assistance to Star this season with his goal kicking, and he was again prominent on Saturday, providing eight of the 14 points scored. He has probably a bigger tally of points to his credit for the season than any other player. If he were two stone heavier, he would be one of the best backs in the district. Well Marked. Adkins was too well marked to to of much service to Star on Saturday; in fact, one of the Zingari forwards rather overdid it, and was rightly penalised. Adkins received two bad knocks, one on the nose and one in the back, but he saw the game through. His play this season has been of a high order, illustrating clearly that he benefited as a result of his trip overseas. Worth a Trial. Vucetich played an outstanding game for Star on Saturday, and the selectors could have done worse by selecting him for a trial against North Otago. He is quite versatile, having played on the wing as well as in the pack. As a rover he would be an exceedingly dangerous man, for he has plenty of pace, can tackle, and has a good pair of hands. On Saturday’s form he is to be preferred to Thomson or Duncan. Tcj Selfish. A few weeks ago McKenzie sho’ —‘d distinct promise as a five-eighth, but on Saturday he was hardly worth his place in the side. Selfishness appears to be his chief weakness, and he would do well to remember that one swallow does not make a summer As a result of this fault, the three-quarter was starved for opportunities, the Star line never once being threatened. The retirement of Grattan also weakened Zingari, but even so they did not show form which would have brought them victory. North Island Representatives: The Auckland captain, B. A. Killeen, andT. M. Lockington, left immediately for home after the Auckland-Otago match last Wednesday. Both are playing for the North Island at Christchurch on Saturday, Killeen being captain of the team, and it is presumed that their early return from the south was connected with the obtaining of leave for Saturday’s match. Wingers Stage Duel: Ryan and Hopkinson staged a duel at Temuka on Saturday, opposing each other on the wing. It was noticeable that Ryan, once he had room in which to move, was the more dangerous three-quarter, his powerful fen 1 and strong running proving too much -or the Temuka man on several occasions. Hopkinson, however, is undoubtedly a fine type of player, and he is very little inferior to Ryan. One point in his favour is that he usually needs less room in which to manoeuvre than the Old Boys’ player. Robins in Hawke’s Bay: Charlie Robins, the former Wellington and North Auckland Rugby representative, is creating a fine impression by his play in Napier. He is playing for Marist 0.8., the leading team, the great strength of which up to now has been a battling forward pack. The advent of Robins, however, has transformed the back line. A Hawke’s Bay writer says: “If Marists did at any time feel uncomfortable about winning the championship, they nay consider themselves as ‘sitting pretty’ from now on.” Robins will probably play for Hawke’s Bay as soon as he has fulfilled the interprovincial residential qualification.