BRIGHT GAME

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21086, 12 July 1938, Page 5

BRIGHT GAME

Temuka Pack Went Well Good Even Lot Contrary to expectations the meeting of Star and Temuka at Temuka on Saturday provided football of a type which would have done justice to a dry ground. In spite of the fact that a partial thaw left, two inches of greasy mud on top of the frost-bound ground, the anticipated forward scramble did not take place, both sets of backs raising the standard of play to a fairly high plane with fast, open Rugby. The forwards, naturally, dominated the game but at every opportunity the respective rearguards threw the ball about in a vay which delighted a moderate attendance at the Domain.

That the Temuka pack is the most consistent in the competition there can be little doubt. Although none of the forwards stands out from his fellow scrummagers, as a combinatiqn they are eight evenly matched grafters, each possessing a sound knowledge of his job and doing it all the time. They were superior in all departments to Star’s eight, although the town pack contained a few individuals who. as such, were better than any one of the country forwards. As in most of Temuka’s successes this season, it was the forwards rather than the backs who carried off the ,V lours of the day. The backs were plaj.ng behind a winning pack for the greater part of the game and that was the reason of Temuka’s win.

McCully in Form Outstanding in Temuka’s vanguard was W. McCully, burly front-row man, who contributed his best game this season. He was an honest toiler In the tight and in the line-outs, but it was his good spoiling and leadership of loose rushes which impressed most. On occasions he showed a surprising burst of speed, and it was fitting that he should have scored the only try contributed by the Temuka forwards. The try was the result of one of many devastating passing rushes by the forwards —a movement which is exceedingly difficult to counter. McCully and L. Polhlll, who also played a good game on the side of the scrum, were largely responsible for the rush, which ended i:_ McCully scoring near the posts. Of the other Temuka forwards, Cain, Gilbert and Stewart were the pick, Caln in particular Impressing as a hard worker with brains. The way in which he opened up play for the backs on several occasions was an object lesson to many forwards in the senior competition. Stewart was conspicuous for his speed and was always up with the ball. While Dawson is invaluable for his accurate goal kicking, his scrum work lacked ginger on Saturday. He played better games earlier in the season.

Adkins Again Although they began well, the Star forwards were beaten after about 10 minutes in the first spell, but during iiiiiiwfillWiiiiiM

that time they worked with a zest and efficiency which they did not regain in the later stages of the game. Temuka pushed them repeatedly and a tendency to shine on the part of one or two did not help matters. G. T. Adkins, who is playing as well now as ever in his career, was an admirable pack leader, using his pace and weight to advantage and teaming up with the backs in a way reminiscent of the old days of the wing-forward. He is always dangerous near the line and was unlucky not to get through mere than once. O. . the occasion on which he was successful, ho ever, he scored a good try.

Ivey played well as lock for Star but was out in the open too much to be working honestly. Apart from a 1 tendency to shine, however, he was a tower of strength to the town pack as were Salisbury and Vucetich. The latter received a bad knock in the second spell and had to retire. On the side of the Star pack, Salisbury showed improved form, but the heavy ground seemed to slow him up considerably. What he lacked in speed from the scrum, however, he made up ir. solid rucking.