LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2561, 20 June 1922, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

CITY ROVERS (10) DEFEAT SUBURBS (12). On Saturday last the only League match played in Cambridge took place at League Park, when City Rovers met and soundly trounced the Suburbs team. It. was expected that, as City Hovers were putting a fairly strong team into the field, the match would be a very interesting one. The odds, however, were in favour of the greens. Such, proved to be wide of the mark, for with the exception of the last fifteen minutes of play, Rovers dominated the game. Rovers fully deserved their win, for the manner in which their rearguard threw the leather about Was in veiy marked contrast to the work of the green backs. The fitness of the Rovers pack, together-with the work of their rearguard just previously mentioned, are the reasons for the

defeat of the greens,

The first score of the match came through McMillan breaking away from a scrum. He nicely side stepped Collett, the green's fullback, and shaking off an attempt to overhaul him by H. Norman, scored a good try. His kick failed. The second try by Tamati was through a similar movement from loose play, and again a few minutes later the same player repeated his ferformance, scoring a beautiful try unopposed. McMillan failed to convert both these tries. Half time saw the score, Rovers 9, Suburbs 0. Shortly after the commencement of the second half Geo. Mclvor kicked two good goals, one from a penalty and the second from a good mark by Dan Coe. City Rovers further increased their score from good play by Appleby, who picked up smartly and dashed down the south side of the field. He sent on to Cubis, who gathered in and

crossed with a good try. McMillan converted. A few minutes later Rovers were again attacking, when Cornaga, who was playing his usual smart game, came fast across the field at midfield after receiving nicely from a Suburb return. He sent the leather on to Applcby at the right moment, and this player outdistanced the opposition and strolled home to the posts unopposed. McMillan again converted. Shortly before time the Suburbs forwards set up a hoi attack and in the south-west corner Median fell on the ball as it crossed the line and scored. Mclvor's kick failed. Dittmer with a splendid run was responsible in putting the greens on the attack, and from a weak return from a City Rovers' back, Geo. Mclvor snapped up and crossed the line. His. kick was successful. The game ended shortly after with the sea res City Rovers 19 Suburbs .\- Tho writer does not wish to discourage the referee, Mr Savory, but cannot help drawing attention to the fact that he let \i'jy many infringements go through without notice. Of the players, the Rovers' forwards worked as a team should, and the backs gave a real glimpse of League as it should be played. McMillan was the outstanding player in the black and white's team. The green pack seemed to lack pep with the exception of Meeluiu and Coe. It was hardly a success placing Median at breakaway in the first half, or rather part of it. When he did start hooking it was wasted, for G. Mclvor failed to feed his backs. Until Coe went to halt' the Suburbs rearguard hardly got in operation at all. G. Mclvor played a very disappointing game. If he is desirous of getting rep. honours he will have to be less selfish. Perhaps ho was smothered on.ee or twice at half, but on many occasions he played into Rovers' hands by boosting it when it should have been sent on to the three-quarter line, who most of the game were starved. He was also imitated to an extent by his brother, though, as a rule, he plays a bright open game. The five-eights are in a combination to make openings, but the three-quarters are the scoring line, and if Suburbs want to get anywhere near the top of the competition it would be well for them to remember this. Colletf at fullback received two very nasty knocks on Saturday and was thus handicapped throughout the match.

REP. TEAMS. On Saturday next representative A and B teams will journey to Hamilton to meet the reps, of that town. The selection of the Cambridge teams is as follows: — A Team. Fullback, It. Cranston

'(Matangi); three-quarters, J. Shaw ! (Matangi), E. Campbell (Matangi), Matakohe (City Rovers); five-eights, C. McMillan (City Rovers), G. Mclvor (Suburbs); half-back, Pocock (Matangi): forwards, Christensen (Matangi), J. Tauti (Suburbs), Tamati (City Rovers), D. Kelly (Athletics), R. Meehan (Suburbs), D. Coe (Suburbs). Emergencies: Forwards, J. McKearney (City Rovers); backs, H. Hall (Athletics). B Team.—Fullback, Kai Kai (City Rovers); three-quarters, G. Thrupp (Matangi), Collett (Suburbs), A. Cornaga (City Rovers); five-eights, F. Beer (Suburbs), H. Shostrom (Athletics); half, L. Young (City Rovers); forwards, T. Appleby (City Rovers), K. Campbell (Matangi), J. Jackson (Athletics), McDonald (Matangi), E. Hall (Athletics), Mays (Athletics). Emergencies: Forwards, D. Gilmore (City Rovers); backs, J. Wilkinson (Athletics).