THE MACKENZIE SUB-UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20505, 25 August 1936, Page 8

THE MACKENZIE SUB-UNION

BURNETT SHIELD MATCH HUIMAI AND SOUTHERN COMPARED For the Burnett Shield on Saturday afternoon, one of the best games seen in the Mackenzie Sub-unioli this season was played, and more matches of the type would improve the standard of play in the district. Young players comprised the Southern side, and there is now some hope that they will develop in time into the good players that Mackenzie once possessed. The honours of the day went to the visiting Waimate side, Huimai, which gave a very polished exhibition of bask play; three of the side’s tries came from concerted back movements. Southern also attempted to play an open game, but lacked the finish of their opponents, and when the ball reached their wings they were either jammed on the line or found several tacklers ready to pounce on them. The forwards on both sides were fairly evenly matched, and secured an equal share of the ball. In the first half Southern secured most of the ball, but Huimai took possession from most of the scrums and loose play. It was from those departments in particular that the Waimate team started most of its attacking movements; the forwards seemed to have a better appreciation of the secrets of loose play and gave the backs the ball at the right moments. In the Southern, loose play, however, the ball seemed to hang, with a result that the opposition had time to anticipate what was intended, and were thus able to cover most attacking movements. In spite of Huimai’s superiority Southern played their best game of the season and gave a display which should have satisfied most of their supporters. T. Heath, the Huimai full-back, was in very good form and did a heavy afternoon’s work. As well as fielding the ball cleanly, he kicked with good judgment and was not found lacking when it came to hard tackling. Southern fielded their best back line of the season and the players performed with more precision than on many previous occasions. L. Austin of the Timaru Boys’ High School, played a good game as first five-eighths; he kept the back line in position and gave it the necessary thrust. J. Donaldson, another young player, turned out as full-back after an absence from the game and gave a good exhibition. He was very rarely caught out of position, and demonstrated good kicking. With some more determination in his tackling. he should make a first class fullback.

Worn behind the Southern scrum, Dewar sent the ball out smartly, and was never found lacking when it come to falling back to fill a gap. Allan Smith used his speed to advantage and it was sa ’sfactory to notice that he tackled with the determination characteristic of his football earlier in the season.

Goal kicking at Albury on Saturday was well below standard. Cummings missed two very easy kicks—one was in front of the posts. Dewar also missed one straight in front. The attempt to convert Southern’s only try was also poor. Most of the players in the Mackenzie Sub-urion are young and have many years of football before them. Practice in the art of goal kicking would pay them, as a good kick is an asset to his side.

M. Flynn, who played first fiveeighths for Huimai, was one of their best backs, and with good dummying tricked the opposition on several occasions. He had an excellent understanding with W. Lundy, the half-back, and gathered in nicely to set his back line in motion.

R. Elliott, one Southern player who has been disappointing lately, was right on his game on Saturday, and gave a display that was more like his former standard. He often went round the side of the scrum to take the opposing half, and allowed his forwards to clear from dangerous positions with good rushes.

J. Bartlett, the Huimai centre, was playing well, and has the correct idea of running his wings into position before delivering a pass. He also brought off many saves with -well-judged line kicks when Southern was pressing.

C. Hanham was the best line-out forward on the ground, and now knows what to do with the ball when he secures possession. If he checks a tendency to kick too far in dribbling rushes he should be Southern's best forward next year. Wells secured more than his share of the ball in the first half, but seems to have lost much of the dash that he formerly showed in other phases of forward play. H. Campbell is an inspiring leader for the Southern team, and because of him the Southern forwards were able to keep up the pressure until the end of the game.

As stated above, the forwards were fairly evenly matched, and it is difficult to pick out individual players for commendation or criticism. Neither forward pack carried a passenger, and both in the tight and the loose they were prepared to do their full share of work, with a result that the ball usually went to one of the half-backs. Ox the tx\o sets of forwards, the Southern pack was more inclined to get off-side, but that was caused by over-eagerness rather than ignorance of the rules. In the Huimai pack, J. Flynn and A. Meynell were conspicuous for good work in the tight, while E. Allnutt and J. Bartlett obtained most of th° ball for their side from the line-outs, and aften sent their backs away in passing movements. REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS The sole selector for the Mackenzie Sub-Union (Mr D. S. Loder) announced last night that he had selected the following team to represent Mackenzie against Waimate on Saturday: Backs, A. Kane, C. Perrin.

A. Smith, J. Calder. W. Cordis. Joe Keenan (captain) and I. Simpson. Forwards, A. Simpson, Wright (Cave), Sheridan. R. Cook. F. Greer. A. Campbell (Southern), C. Hanham and A. Crampton. Emergencies: Backs, P. Brosnahan and H. Crampton. Forwards. R. Campton, T. Wells and Campbell (Cave). A bus will leave Fairlie at 9 a.m. The Fairlie junior team to play the Southern juniors at Waimate on Saturday will comprise: C. Cowan, T. Crichton, H. Morrison, W. Breen, T. Wood, J. Breen, T. Howard, B. Ellis, T. Sheridan, L. Gardiner, L. Waters. D. O’Reilly. J. Eathorne. E. B. CoxHain, and G. Seigert. Emergencies: C. Surridgc and A. Macdonald. A bus will leave Fairlie at 9 a.m.

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