LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2588, 24 August 1922, Page 5

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

HAWKE’S BAY 17 V. CAMBRIDGEHAMILTON 3. i' - ' PLAYED IN SEA OF MUD. u. The first inter-provincial League rep. game took place at Victoria Square yesterday afternoon, before a very fair attendance, considering the inclemency of the weather. Heavy rain had fallen during the last day or two, and again yesterday morning, Victoria Square being practically under water, and before the*half-time interval was reached the ground was churned into a sea of mud, making anything like open play by the rearguards impossible. It is surprising that the players handled the greasy

thick wdth mud, as well as they /did.. The game resolved itself into a "series of loose rushes, in which the .visitors were particularly suited. However, up till half-time the local team fully extended the visitors; in fact they had a slight advantage in play, despite the fact that the Hawke’s Bay team put on eight points. The second half proved entirely in favour of the ') visitors, whose training told, whilst the tactics of the. visiting backs in keeping close at the heels of their forwards was successful. The visiting .team is undoubtedly a fine combination and had it been a line day a fiue exhibition would, have been presented. The forwards are a splendid lot, whilst the backs are nippy, particularly the half and five-eighths lines. The teams were as follows: —

Hawke's Bay (black and white).— Full-back, Dockery; three-quarters, R. Hika, J. Fullford, A. Atkins; fiveeighths, M. McCarthy, P. Exeter; half, lt. Mitchell; forwards, J. Hcllyer, P. ■Burrows, J. Morgan, S.. Adams, R. ■Shanahan, Downing. * Cambriclge-Hamilton (maroon and white).—Full-back, J. Dufty; threequarters, Payne, Whelan, A. McMurtrec; five-eighths, Cave, L. Stewart; half, Cherrie; forwards, C. McMillan, Hegland, Kelly, Prickett, Dent, P. J. Hill. Owing to the similarity of the play caused by the conditions, a full report is unnecessary. Hawke,’s Bay drew first blood by •Fullford,, ccntre-threoquarter, receiving • nicely from Mitchell from a scrum. The first player worked’ the dummy successfully, scoring a good try. McCarthy’s kick was a poster. The visitors’ second try was scored by Atkins, through the local back, Hegland, failing to hold. Exeter and Atkins bustled him and Exeter securing passed to Atkins who registered ' the try. Exeter converted. Half-time sounded with the score 8 to nil in favour of Hawke’s Bay. Shortly after opening Atkius received a pass on the blind side of the scrum and outdistancing the opposition, scored in the west corner. The kick failod. Here the locals registered their only try. Payne through fast following up touch»ed down. McMillan just failed. The remaining two tries of the visitors /came through a smart bit of play in each occasion. From a scrum irf' the west the bail was kicked into the field, Payne failed to handle and Hika dashed in and scored. The kick failed. .Seconds later the same movement was repeated and again Hika scored. The game ended Hawke’s Bay 17, locals 3. Mr F. Greenwood refereed.

The following will represent South Auckland in their match with Hawke’s Bay at Hamilton on Saturday:—Sherlock, Eayner, Hemmingway, Paid, Wilson Hall, L. Stewart,! Peckham, Skeeran, Wilson, Bishop, Neil, F. Eayner, Fainsford. Emergencies: Jackson, Guthrie, Payne, Dent. The only Cambridge representative is L. Stewart. 1922 SEASON’S RESULTS f! (By “Oval.”) The 1922 season for football is drawing to a close, and now only representative fixtures remain to be played, with the possibility of one or two interprovincial games. The first match in bbis standard of game, between Tiawke’s Bay and Hamilton-Cambridge combined, will have taken place ere this appears in print. Regarding League generally, the J prospects for the successful continuation of the game are bright and reassuring, this prospect being manifested in the very fine representative team that will be placed before the Australians in the coming contests, the result of which 11 Oval ’ ’ does not care to predict. It is, however, quite safe to say that our boys will put up a splendid fight for supremacy. Whilst, the game has certainly progressed in Auckland and the Lower Waikato considerably, it also shows a considerable increase of players in Hamilton. However I cannot help that ,owing to the smallness Cambridge and the limited number "'•■•of players of football of any code, it Kirill mean “u selling out of one to the bther,” before ’any material progress and advancement of the standard of play and of players can be expected. That Is, however, a matter for-the controlling bodies. Below I have appended a table show-

iug the exact results of the. Club competition, which should prove of interest to enthusiasts. Of the standard of play throughout the competition, it has been on the whole rather disappointing, despite the fact that in the majority of fixtures the weather was favourable towards good football. Why is it so? Certainly not through the lack of enthusiasm or help from the League officials, who have worked very hard for thejr cause, especially the obliging and energetic secretary, Mr E. J. Buttimore. If anyone deserves praise it is “Butty,” who, I feel sure, has spout more time on League matters during the winter than at his own business. He has been ably assisted by the president (Mr W. Wilkinson), the treasurer (Mr E. Hart), and the other members of the League Control Board. The cause is solely due to lack of training by the majority of players. No player can expect to show anything like form on ono match a week, and in that game he is asked to maintain the prestige of his Club. The players’ excuse is, “No training facilities.” What training facilities did players have a few years ago? Generally a two-mile stretch of road or grass paddock to lope over every night and morning. Yes, and they turned out “in the pink.” Now players want grounds .lighted by electricity, hot and cold showers, gymnasiums, etc. —they’ll be wanting motor-cars to take them to and from practice next. But, joking aside, it is nevertheless quite true, as demonstrated too well in the recent Auckland B v. Cambridge match, that players lack training. Had the Cambridge team been a trained and fit team it would have maintained its aggressive forward attacks to the end of the match and sent the visitors home “with their tails between their legs.” As it was, after the beginning of the second spell the Cambridge attack faded out. Another point, in favour of my contention is in the winning of the Club competition by Matangi, the only team which has indulged in a semblance of practice. It would be a wise plan next season for each Club to appoint a Club coach, not necessarily a salaried official, but. a senior member well versed in the game. Combination has been a sadly lacking element in the various matches, due to the above laxity. Another feature this season has 'been the wretched tackling demonstrated by many players, who seem to have vaguo ideas of how to tackle an opponent. These faults will have to be remedied before any improvement in the standard of play can bo expected.

There is another matter that is proving, to my mind, detrimental to the improvement of the standard of play, and that is the adoption of slight amendments in the rules by various Leagues who are interpreting rulers slightly in variance with one another. This ?s making for much infringement during progress of matches, especially noticeable in provincial games. A standardisation of the rules ,is absolutely necessary.

The Matangi Club, to commemorate the closing stage of the 1922 season, is holding a dance and smoke social on the 29th inst., when the trophies won this season will be officially presented. RECORD OF MATCHES PLAYED SEASON 1922. May 13 —Victoria Square, Suburbs 17 v. City Rovers 17. May 13 —Matangi, Matangi 20 v. Athletics 0. May 20 —League Park, Athletics 8 v. City Eovers 10. May 20 —League Park, Suburbs 5 v. Matangi 3. May 27 —Victoria Square, Suburbs 10 v. Athletics 0. May 27 —Matangi, Matangi 36 v. City - Rovers 10. June 10—Victoria Square, Matangi 13 v. Suburbs S. June 10 —League Park, Athletics 14 v. City Eovers 5. Juno 17—League Park, City Eovers 19 v. Suburbs 12. Juno 17 —Matangi, Matangi 26 v. Athletics 11. July I—Victoria Square, Athletics 8 v. Suburbs It. July .1 —Victoria Square, Matangi 6 v. City Eovers 2. July B—League Park, Athletics 8 v. City Eovers 3. July B—Matangi, Matangi 22 v. Suburbs 7. Knock Out. Round. July 12—Matangi v. City Eovers; Matangi won. July 22—Suburbs v. Athletics; Athletics won. July 29—Matangi 6 v. Athletics 5. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS •e Points to Count —Win 2; Draw L

Pld. Wou. List-, , Dru. Pts. Matangi 7 6 1 0 12 Suburbs 7 3 _ 3 1 7 City Kovers 7 2 4 1 5 Athletics 7 2 5 0 4