RUGBY NOTES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3097, 13 June 1929, Page 6

RUGBY NOTES

XAST SATURDAY'S GAMES! (By "Svit/'j ,] ' , . r L ' ;'•• ' Tn reviewing the senior match played at the Square last Saturday the lack of combination was one of the reasons for the typo of game that ensued. Although most of the Maoris played fairly sound gamesi they did nof seem to have * ?iny understanding between themselves, and consequently many of their movements broke down for want of support 9,t the' critical moment. i.; For the Maoris, Tawaowae, at full4ack, playcd'a good game,, making few inistakes and saving his side from many . difficult situations. With a little practice in line-kicking this player should iaro well. The three-quarter line played fair games,-while the inner backs-were flaying a little too much on the defensive. .The forwards on the whole played average football.. If they were a little faster in the follow-up and used their weight to bettor advantage in the scrums, they would be a very dangerous pack. One thing that the whole team -will have to watch is the offside rule. On Saturday's play, if goal-kicking had lieen anything like good,/ rfautapu's AguTCs would have been well in advance : of what they were, through the blacks' "numerous infringements., -.•; .-. _-. ■i For the reds, Better seemed more at "home at his-eld place-oh thb wing than Jae did in previous games at the position of the last line of defence. Gibbons, oil. the opposite wing, played a good game, and, taking into, consideration that he is a junior and had an injury to his hand--"tihe previous Saturday "that troubled him, he did very well Arthur Thompson was on his tjsual game/ and was always a source of trouble to the blacks. If some of his solo movements had been backed up, - aiiore tries would have been registered. . The other backs all worked hard. Of the forwards, Lloyd,, A. Miller and MeSamara were outstanding, being always ©in the ball and breaking through the ruck. The other forwards on the whole played fairly well. Bill Bourke's goalSicking was a feature of the game, but •not the right sort of feature. However, everyone has an off day, no matter •where or} what he plays, so those who were so ready to criticise just let them Bide their time." Hollier's shot at goal ■Was a good effort. Drop-kicking is one phase in the art of. the game that deservesft to '., be -encouraged, as there is kittle enough of it as it is, and when ?a fairly certain opening occurs it is a {goods policy to attempt a shot. :'.'■ /Tauwhare's dusky lino umpire is evidently an ardent believer in the '' taihoa" policy, and further believes in the maxim "never stand when you can

The, Leamington Club had a good victory last Saturday, •• when all three grade teams of the club were victorious, and, as will be seen by the championship tables below, are in : an excellent position for the championship honours. Of course, with Hautapu and United close up, much can happen,, and it would be unwise to predict who will be the senior champions this season. The same may equally be said of the other two grades/ and.the interest of both players and spectators at the present time is very keen. • "Leamington Defeats United. Commenting on the senior matches last Saturday,, the LcamingFon-XJnited •contest was one', in which one team mad£ the >most of opportunities, while the other frittered them away by ""bad handling and general weakness in the bjicks. United ,were a little unfortunate : in losing the services of three of their usual backs. White has been transferred to Inglowood, and two others were away for the week-end. The substitutes were not a.success. On th 4 game as a whole Leamington were the better team. The forwards, were evenly snatched, but the Leamington backs combined better, than theif opponents. 'They played with more dash and worked to more useful purpose. For Leamington, Thomas played a good safe game, ibeing only badly caught once when tover "his, own goal-lines. A. Russo, a •Cambridge rep. of two seasons ago, was "<out again for his old- club, and played

a fair game. T. Dagg was the best back in the ■ field for the day. He played a dashing game and was always a trouble to United when in possession of "the ball. Fred McFarlano played a better game. Tucker and Shaw played average games. They aro inclined to run about and crowd out their back lines' instoad of going straight, and when blocked, either sent on or shortpunted. Kelly, at half, got through his job quite well. Warren took his place in the team again after having a few weeks off with a sprained ankle, and played a good sporting game. In the forwards, McDonnell played a rattling good game, while all the others did well. ■■' '

i For the losers, Foster had much to ; do, and acquitted himself well. In this game he was bustled often, and his line-kicking suffered. The three-quarter line was weak. A new player, Robinson, shaped well, and will bo an acquisition. Byrne played his usual solid, heady game, and if he had .not gone down to several opposing rushes the score against United would have been much higher. J. Gardiner, another new man, who played for Dcvonport (League) Club last season, was tried out at five-eighths* but was not happy in the position, and after a spell went up into the forwards', where he previously played.- Mcl'vor was behind the pack on this occasion and did very well. Mclvor's place is- half-back, and jho should bo kept there/ McLeish was. out as rover and played a good hard game. United had C. Robinson, - the ex-Leam-ington player, out for them for tho first' time, and he was a great addition to the blue and black pack. Frear and Abel also played rattling good games, while the others gave of their best.

The Juniors. The game between Tauwhare and Kaipaki. resulted in a draw—three all (one try each)., in this match, as far as weight was cdncerned, the teams were evenly matched. The Tauwhare forwards were too experienced for their opponents and kept breaking through the Kaipaki defence, but they did not receive any help from their backs, who, with the exception of three of them, were playing miserable football. Among the forwards, A. Playle, E. Inglis, W. Curie, A. ,Shaw and D. Fell were playing good football. ,Playle especially was playing splendidly and shone in the line-outs. . Ron Shaw, who played rover, was playing brilliantly; he never gave the. opposing half-back" a chance to feed his men, for he Was on him all the time. Among the backs, Jeffcries played a safe game at full-back. A. Pope, at, half, played a good game, and it was through his good play that Tauwhare scored. H. Shaw was another one who played well. One good point about this boy is that he is always willing to go for the line when he receives the ball. The rest of the backs have a lot to learn as regards, football. J. Shaw scored the only try for Tauwhare.

Matangi were too good for United on Saturday. Their forwards beat the blue and blacks all through, and the latter's backs were up against Matangi's raking rushes. The Matangi backs also made more use of the ball when in possession, though one or two of the backs were inclined to hang on too long. United badly want some morn weight in tlieir forwards, as at the present time their half and five-eighths are having an unenviable*' time. For the winners, Bryan played a fine game at full-back, also Casey and Shaw. The latter makes some, nice openings, but, hangs on toe long. The three-quarter line was weak on the wings. The forwards as a whole played well, and were up with the leather all through. For United, Smith, at full-back, was fairly safe, but hung on far too long, especially, in'the first' half. He also made one very bad speculator. A full-back should never "speculate. ; Morris played a fair game, but often kicks, t&o soon and does not make the most of his opportunities. Hay was well marked and was never allowed to get on the jnove. Speight was fair at five-eighths, but his place is in the pack. Wright was up. against the opposing forwards all through. Wallace and Hastie were the best forwards, who badly want some ■■more weight. ,'-•••'•"'-'

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES.

Senior. Position of senior teams with one more match to play in second round: — Points Chp. P. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Leamington. 5 4 10 50 14 9 Hautapu ... 5 3 0 2 47 27 6 United .... 5 2 1 2 31 32 5 T. Maoris .. 5 0 0 5 12 67 0 Juniors. Position of teams at end of first round:— Points Chp. P. W. D. L. P. A. Pts. Kaipaki ... 5 2 3 0 33 16 7 Tauwharc .. 5 3 1 1 67 19 7 Leamington. 5 3 0 2 35 26 6 Hautapu ... 5 1 2 2 1.6 21 4 United 5 1 0 4 10 71 2 Third Grade. The position of the Third Graders at the end of the first round is:— Points Chp. . P. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Leamington. 4 4 0 0 50 12 8. United . 4 3 0 1 23 13 6 kaipaki ... 4 1 1 2 IS 27 3 High School. 4 10 3 26 37 2 .Matanci ... 4 0 13 12 40 1