THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Age, 31 May 1928, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

NOTES ON PLAY AND PLAYERS. (BY “KICKEB.”) ■ln their match with Greytown on Saturday, the Bed Star pack did not infuse the same dash and combined effort into their work as they did against Southern United. Pearson and Wickcss were not so noticeable in the van of the loose foot rushes. J. Wyber mostly headed the Star forwards, and is fit and playing as well as at any stage of his career. His place-kicking in a decided asset this season to his side. Suffering from a severe cold, Mick Willoughby did not get going till well on into the game, but then gave a showing right up to his best of this year. His try was a »eward for fast following up, good foot play and “headiness” near the line. Seymour Willoughby showed improved form over hits previous games in Masterton. Millar went well at times in the tight and line-outs, and had hard luck in losing the ball after diving over the line on one occasion. The backs are still weak as an attacking and also a defending combination. In individual effort, E. Henderson and Dean were most prominent with solo runs. Logan had more than he could manage to check Stringfellow. Whall is taking and’handling a little better. Clare Wyeth made his first appearance of the season as half back. He saw little of the ball, however, the forwards preferring to hold it and strew the scrums, in which tactics they indulged too much. Biki Jury made his first appearaneo for Greytown on a northern ground and besides inspiring confidence in the rearguard, continually pierced the opposition defence and paved the way with beautiful openings, for scores by others. When the Tricolours yere hardpressed by the opposition vanguard in tie first spell, he bore the brunt of the defence. C. Stringfellow notchec) two scores and delighted the onlookers with speedy runs and swerves through the opposition whi<;h were well up to the best Cooke standard. He is right up to his .best form of last season, and with ordinary luck should stand a good chance of at least reaching this year’s North Island team. With Cooke also available, it looks as if Wairarapa has an excelfenryhance of filling the two centre back positions in this team.

B. Fuller’s handling was not up to his usual standard, and the attacking rearguard line was pulled up time and again on the verge of scoring by his dropped passes, ete. D. Burch was more at home in the three-quarter line, and lively as ever. His try at the end of a passing bout in which he handled twice was well earned. Barney, at full, gave a slightly improved showing over the previous Saturday. He had little tackling to do, but his fielding was smarter and his forceful kicking better placed. Martin Parker, at wing forward, handled like a back, and many times took his place in the advancing rearguard. He was ever to the fore, as usual, in loose dribbling rushes. Ho is one of the reps, who is back to top form. Greathead was not so prominent in the loose as against Old Boys. Harry Stunnell. ex-Wairarapa rep., made his first appearance this season with Greytown, and demonstrated his oldtime fitness. He was a constant source of anxiety in the first spell to the opposition near their goal line, and was rewarded, by fast footwork and backingup, with his first score of the seasol Ihe Grey town pack is possibly the lightest in the senior division, and hardly a match in the tight for most other teams. Bed Star held the advantage in this respect for most of the game. WAIBABAPA’S BEP. TEAM The announcement of Wairarapa’s rep. team occasioned little surprise amongst followers. With all last seaHarvey, and the combination and exson’s team still available, excepting I. perience gained last season in camps and rep. fixtures, any drastic alteration m personnel was not anticipated. At the same time, on present form, some of the members should consider*themsleves fortunate in retaining their positions. There are more fit men playing consistently better games in their particular positions than some of those selected. All they lack is the representative experience of the older players. The chief failing at present with some of the selected appears to be a lack of training and form. Previous to the announcement, the positions causing most speculation amongst supporters were the lock, first five-eighths, and the two wing three-quarters. Although there are a couple of other possible aspirants for the. position, it was generally recognised that Ken Fairbrother would be the logical successor ’to lan Harvey as lock. He occupied the position on several occasions last season as well ns playing in other places in the pack. He has locked the solid Carterton vanguard successfully for several seasons. It was a foregone conclusion, on the game he has played alongside Cooke this season, that Bill Yates would find a place in the three-quarter line again. He possesses all the attributes of a successful wing threequarter, but seems to do better closer up, where he has to think and act Quickly AB followers wiß be pleased to see Biki Jury back in Wairarapa ’s rep. team, although opinions may differ as to the position he should! occupy. His greatest drawback in the past as an inside back has been his selfishness. S ? 8SO ”> however, he appears to have developed a little over-much in the opposite direction. On Saturday 1® I “ several occasions he appeared to have excellent scoring chances by gorng the whole distance, but preferred His f feU ° W ’ Fnller and Burch and has “ever been in doubt, his feet“ pa / tJcular] y hard to put off and At peEetratln g the defence tut,® . tlnS l openln 8 8 he is probably T® 1 ln the district - Should anything happen to IL Gundy it is most to . k "°. w that the ™ i “the hvc-dghths of class capable of Le tbm the PoSltloll - By choosing Jack Le Quesne as an emergency back the sole selector has placed him in the ’same to * decidad asset, howcan ’Quite creditably “lmo“ t m g f h U ' t l h b e a r C e k ar t e 0 forwards perhaps equally as good no ev ception can be taken tn ’ ex ‘ gency forwards chosen Both are solid’ young, vigorous players of th J - A s ‘ a ™ p ’ W? «t home in the forward rush or where the ....

together before leaving on the South Island tour, the team should have an opportunity to attain the high standard of combination and fitness which made them one of the most formidable combinations in the Dominion last season. NOTES BY “OBSERVER. The re-arrangement of the Carterton team last Saturday worked very satisfactorily. They went well together, and played an attacking game throughout. The backs especially, showed improvement. Kingi, at second fiveeighths, made a good connecting link and showed the spectators that he is worth his place. He is a powerful runner, and does not let much get past him. Denby went into his old position of first five-eighths, and played his 'best game of the season. Hart’s place is certainly behind the pack, where he showed up well on Saturday. He attempts a bit too much on his lonesome yet, however. Centre three-quarter seems the weak position still. Jensen is worth a place as full-back, but seems at»sea in the line. The wingers, Harris and Fitzgerald, are a fair average, but the latter is not getting the ball as eft on as he should. Corry Irvine is a powerful player and can adapt himself to a number of positions. He would strengthen the backs considerably if placed in the centre position. t All the forwards went well and their hard, spoiling tactics will carry them a long way <p the championship ladder, even if the spectators do not appreciate their efforts. Their game against Old Boys showed that a back team can be severely upset by a fast, hard pack. Keith Reid was the pick of tEo pack, and he played in true representative style. His breaking through and following up were good to watch. Irvine used his strength to advantage and Cox shaped well. Bond, who went on in place of Tom Irvine, is a hard worker and seems quite capable of holding down his position. Fairbrother also played a splendid game. In fact, not one of the vanguard let up to any extent.

Old Boys shaped well in the first spell, and succeeded in crossing Carterton’s line twice. Both tries resulted from back runs in which Yates and Faulkner figured well. In the second spell tho forwards held up well, but the hefty Maroons literally swamped them. Cormack, the young full-back, gave a hne exhibition. His fielding and kicking were excellent and he is by far the most deadly tackler in tho Wairarapa. Faulknor* and Chesterman played good football, though the latter was unfortunate in receiving a couple of bad knocks. At centre, Yates played the best game on the field. Cooke was too well marked to attempt much, and played to keep on his feet as much as possible. Les Smith went well and stopped some very hard forward stuff. He left three of his teeth on the field after going down to one lot. Cooper handled well behind the pack, and set his backs in motion practically every time the Whites hooked the ball. MeCalmoxt was the outstanding forward. He exhibited pace and command over the baß, and time after time succeeded in breaking through the opponents’ scrum with the leather at his toe. Le Quesne and McAllister also were very noticeable, both of them doing a great amount in the tight. In the loose Le Quesne initiated a lot of passing movements. Balloon’s presence was missed in the vanguard. He is a forward who is always fit and follows up fast. His arm is greatly improved now, however and he will probably be available again soon Buckley, who filled Balloon’s position shows speed, but seems to be out of training. He is comparatively light and received a severe buffeting