TE AWAMUTU V. ROVERS.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1129, 16 August 1921, Page 6

TE AWAMUTU V. ROVERS.

THE TEAMS,

Rovers.—Full back, Langmuir; three-quarters, Andrew, Bayly, Johnson; five-eighths, W. Holmes, Griggs, half-back, Lang; rover. Narby; forwards, Flay, J. Holmes, E. Holmes, F. Holmes, D. Crotty, C. Crottv, Patterson.

Te Awamutu. —Full-back, P. Quin; three-quarters,. Sutton, Short, Hinton; five-eighths, C. Mexted (captain), R. Griffith; half, R. Mexted; rover, H. Andrew; forwards, Banks, J. Moisley, T. ; Moisley, F. Quin, Hogan, Burchell, Perrin. Referee: Mr Bowden. The conditions were ideal for good play. The ground was dry, and the' ball was light and easily held, so that faulty handling and kicking were not common. A light wind brushed the ground, and the setting sun, which has spoilt many games this season, was well clouded. At the opening of the game the Rovers quickly attacked the western end and gave promise of a lively game. Then after three minutes spent in diagnosing the Rovers’ style the opposition put t m a thrust down the right wing, where Andrews and Sutton had their intentions upset by a throw forward. It was abserved that R. Mexted was playing half-back, Griffith taking his place at fiveeighths, in partnership with the captain, Claude Mexted. Onlookers expressed appreciation of this change, as indicating a candid attempt to improve the ‘Te Awamutu team’s tactics. Moreover, the crowd dearly loves an experiment, for it gives them greater scope for criticism, which, after all, is what the crowd chiefly comes for; and this experiment was the centre of the thoughts of many onlookers that Afternoon. There were some who afterwards declared that the change won Te Awamutu the game, but the opinion was not universal. The change also permeated the scrums, where the Te Awamutu hookers appeared to get possession with greater frequency, provided they were not forced too quickly off their legs. But the benefit was dissipated among the back legs, which did not heel the ball away to the half with that catapult kick that was looked for, and Mexted only secured it with difficulty, even being penalised several times for picking the ball out from among these tardy legs. On top of this trouble—and largely the cause of. it —the Rovers exhibited greater weight and cohesion, and broke through the ill-knit pack of their opponents time after time. The Rovers' great fault in the scrums was excessive eagerness, which wasted some time. They formed their scrum very quickly, shoved down their heads, and toed into the ground before the blue pack was ready ,or the ball was in. It was apparently a bit of shrewd generalship aimed to defeat the expected /improvement in the Te Awamutu pack. But this is rather anticipating. The next inicdent of the game developed from a pass from the Te Awamutu half to Griffith, who, with his partner, C. Mexted, tried to get to the open, but the Rovers’ tackling was unrelenting, The s.trenuous interchanges resulted in a sensational S.O.S. call from away across the field, where a man’s trousers had ceased to lie serviceable. The new pair were a long time arriving, and the spectators amused themselves in guessing which of the half-dozen players .squatting on the ground was the one in distress. A fine bit of passing flitted along the Rovers’ line and reversed to the centre, but the danger was not great. The Rovers had the best of the first spell, and Pat Quin saved several of their onslaughts in his old form, placing his kicks with a fine judgment. Roy Andrew came nearest to scoring, shooting out from the ruck at great speed and causing a force. Then Crotty snapped up a mark, but did not convert. Te Awamutu edged the game away and a difficult penalty kick near the halfway line was taken by Griffith without result. Sutton showed speed and quickness, but bored out to the side, enabling the Rovers to follow the trail of the danger and nullify it. The second spell found the Rovers supporters torn between satisfaction at their favourites’ splendid forward and defensive play and anxiety at the superior passing of their opponents. The spectators were pleased at Te Awamutu’s changed style, which was accepted as being an honest attempt to improve the game. The Rovers had several men capable of bTillianit achievement, but a combined back line was rarely discernible. They staved off defeat for a long period, by dint of their wonderful tackling and spoiling and their feverish foot work, but it is a style of play that is inseparable from danger of physical injury, and one would like to see the passing line take themselves in hand next season and train up to spring upon the local public the surprise they are capable of. C. Mexted, with H. Andrew were concerned in several thrilling adventures close to the Rovers’ goal, and Griffith was in and out of the thickest of the work with the speed of fireworks. Langmuir, of the Rovers, was a very sure back, and Crotty was declared by some admirers the best forward on the ground. Grigg (Rovers) unfor tunately received a severe fall on his shoulder early in the game, and later Bayly, his colleague at three-quarter, was replaced by Giles, for an injury. Griffith was stunned with a back somersault and H. Andrew received a leg

injury. Laing made a fine run and

got as far as the Te Awamutu back, and there was a spell of speculative kicking, in which following up was neglected. Off-side play gave Griffith another difficult kick at goal, but without success. A kick from W. Holmes gave possession to Griffith, who took a mark, and nearly .converted, lifting the ball splendidly, but not quite between the posts. Some more good passing occurred among the Te Awamutu backs, and Claude Mexted, who was playing the game of his life, was stopped from a possible try with a doubtful ruling of off-side. Short showed out usefully at times with speedy runs, but the Rovers proved impregnable. The third spell witnessed several passing runs aimed against the Rovers. hut the defence was not often in extremis, Johnson especially putting in a lot of dashing relief work. The spell ended with still no score.

The last spell was the really exciting part of the game. The Te Awamutu team for once snowed themselves no less capable of \ staying power than the untl'rable Rovers, and they appeared to have captured the initiative. This may have been by their better passing, which saved their limbs, while the Rovers had tired themselves with more individual. though very dogged and dashing, play. The Te Awamutu men played now with a desperation never exceeded this season, storming their objective at enormous horse power. H. Andrew, who was working magnificently, was brought down more than once within a finger’s length of the goal line, where Langmuir and his pals were proving a veritable quick thorn hedge; and at last Griffith'" aroused a furore of expectation with another of his memorable marks. It necessitated a very long kick, but Griffith scored by it a sif he could not help it, and the blue part of the spectators cheered wildly: Te Awamutu 3 Rovers , 0 The retaliatory spirit which often follows a hostile success seized the Rovers, and they flung their men rapidly to the other end, Roy Andrew figuring brilliantly in lone runs. At last Crotty, who was playing a mighty game, had "a sporting chance with a free kick, but obtained no luck. Sliori showed indecision in clearing, and the Rovers pounced upon him and compelled a force. Some passing between Griffith and R. Mexted put the latter near scoring, and at last H. Andrew sprang over and secured a try;. .No try could have been more popular. Griffith converted. In the next five minutes a forlorn hope prevailed that the Rovers would even up, but their cup of luck seemed empty, and the game ended with the score: Te Awamutu S Rovers 0