Rugby Football

Te Puke Times, Volume 25, Issue 53, 3 July 1936, Page 3

Rugby Football

Whakatane Shield Team

The following team has been selected to represent Whakatane ift the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield challenge match against Rangitaiki at Matata on Saturday : Farmer, T. Shslfoon. Carmel y. 8. Bluett, Biddle. J p ile M Nu k „ C Pile, Broderick, B. Mate. Bert Hughes. Scott, Bemfci, Edwards. Hown. Emergencies are : Martin, Dobbs, Hollis, Burgess, Marshall, Cummings.

Notes

(By Full-back)

K. G. Bush, the Auckland fullback, is nearing his century in points scored—B4 points m matches is going sortie.

After a l«ngthy discussion regarding the claiming of a lair catch and making a heel mark at the same time, the Canterbury Union decided to recommend to the N.Z. Union that the word “simultaneously” be omitted from the rule. In that case the player would not have <o take the ball and make a heel mark at the same time. The scrum—The weakness in the forwards appears still to be the scrum-no intelligent packing, the majority will not get down far enough. One thing es sential to the 3-4-1 formation is low packing and this is just as easy for the tall man as the short. When properly packed and the weight going into the apex of the scrum the 3-4-1 is a success but players must pack low. Mr V Meredith considers after experience with the All Blacks 3-4-1 formation will (if properly set down) push the 3-2-3, and the hooker get the majority of the ball. Saturday next, 4th July, will see the first of the Shield matches at Matata between Whakatane and Rangitaiki. From what one can gather this should be a good game, and the issue very doubt ful. The Whakatane team may be the surprise packet as included are Connolly, Broderick and Farmer.

We all realise that three men do not make a team but three good men are a decided asset provided the balance of the team are in form and play intelligent football. The local game last Saturday, Maketu v. Papamoa was a good game to watch and provided some fine play on the part of Maketu. Their forwards seemed to be inspired, and the team was very unfortunate in not The dribbling rushes were worth seeing. and we hope that the players concerned appreciated the value of this splendid movement. The only reason that at least I three scores did not come from this style of Pl*y was that the nearer they got to I the .line__the the harder they kicked. Now, Maketu, try this out ' aga jf* ramember the nearer the line the shorter the kiok- Keep Control of the ball, and when tackled pass with the feet to the next man in line, and scores will come more often than by other means. .Sobooi competitions should be In full swing very soon now. All data has been collected from th schools in the district, so the Rugby Union should have it going very soon. What is wrong with Papamoa r They always have to nlayers-this should not be. FullBack” noticed last Saturday one player who does not exploit the Ute tackle this was R Kenzie, Time after time when he followed up his kick and the, oatcher bad got rid cf the ball be did not go into him as often dnne in local football. If referees we re a bit more strict on this rule there would be less rocioents. Speaking of accidents—it is generally the best men who sufler simply because if a man is a good player he is marked for a dump, and much unnecessary roughness is irjected into the play-in other words he is put on the spot. The Rugby Union are beginning to appreciate fche val “%° f their Hon. Secretary. Mr J. Eccleton- Joe is the ideal man for the position —methodical, tactful, and aIoVJ all, easy of approach, but well up to the tricks of those whom he comes m contact. „ From the “horse’s mouth, “Full-Back’’ gathers that there is likely to be great changes in the next rep team-those wbo are fat and do the journey are the ones who will be considered, so players should get into that oondmon if they expect to be considered.