NOTES AND COMMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 198, 21 August 1929, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Cross-Bar.”) Devoid of spectacular interest, perhaps, but hard and keenly played to the end, last Saturday’s KaierauPirates clash for the season’s senior honour might be written down as a worthy addition to a long and interesting match record between these two clubs.

Pirates owed the result to bad positioning of the backs. Nothing could have played into Kaierau’s hands more effectively than placings in the black rearguard which created two glaring loopholes—(one) lob passing which simply asked for intercepting and (two) play which lost ground in passing rushes. It was definitely noted from the stand that, time after time, the blacks handled the ball across the field, the ball being lost, either in touch or else to their opponents a good five yards back from the line on which Kilby got possession. • • • •

Standing deep behind his pivot Duncan was no doubt aiming at a two-fold object—to stand off from Lockett and to take passes on the run. Lockett did no trouble him to anything like the extent Fletcher and Shaw had been troubled when Old Boys filled Pirates’ role, but Scott was the player to whom was awarded the task of smothering the black five-eighth play. The effective business he made of it may be gleaned from the fact that Kaierau ’s six points were due, in the main, to his ability to intercept. That that ability was made easier of achievemerit by thc black’s lack of perception must go down against them. To allow an opposing player to repeatedly intercept passes showed that there was no marked ability to vary tactics. • • • •

Recollection of the play in the firsthalf of the match under review brings home the fact that teams in Wanganui have come to rely too much upon coaches and not enough upon captains. Leadership on the field is on e of the biggest factors in Rugby—has been so ever since the game was a game. One cannot help deploring the fact that there appears to be a dearth of good skippers. If field leadership could be strengthened there should be no waiting until half-time to change tactics. • • • •

The writer has no knowledge of what instructions were imparted to Kaierau and Pirates on Saturday. Those little matters, it would seem, are born in august surroundings, with all the secrecy and seriousness one would asociate with grave matters of State. Entry to the dressing rooms find little knots of players here and there, the backs in one corner, th e forwards in another maybe, with coaches whispering confidentially. All part of the game this and well worth while, but the trouble of it is that the whispered instructions are all based on what the whisperer believes is going to happen. When the unexpected occurs it is then that all the secret orders given a team fade away into a dim memory and the pity of the thing is that nine times out of ten that team has perforce to w r ait until half-time to hear more whispers about what should be done in the second spell. Wanganui club football should be made to produce better leaders on the field. • • • •

Harking back to the Kaierau-Pirate clash, this is what it looked like to one who knew nothing about instructions to players beforehand. Kaierau let the blacks get the ball in the first spell for a purpose. One can almost hear their coaqfa saying, “let Kilby get it for a start and see what happens.” Kilby got it and what did happen is now a matter of Rugby history, • • • •

In the second spell, apparently in the belief that the usual whispered word had been passed along the line of black backs to close up, not to stand too deep, etc., Kaierau didn’t let them have the ball—significant isn’t it? • • • •

And what is the lesson to be learnt? That gap in the Pirate backs which was robbing the side of ground and creating lob passing should have been closed up long before half-time. Even if that meant Duncan and Lowe changing places it would have been better to do it. As things were all the speed of the black three-quarter line was wasted. If a change had been made about the time Scott made his second cut in methinks another “card” of Kaierau’s would have had to be played and if that “card” was-the obvious one the blacks would have had a better one to beat it—speed off the mark. • • • •

Still, it is easy to criticise after the event and what the writer intends here is not to disparage. Any move to create more responsibility for team captains and bring about a state of affairs whereby the whole team responds to its captain’s instructions to the letter would be in th© interests of the game

Full-back honours were Darby’s on the day. He played a determined game, time again extricating Kaierau from dangerous positions. At times he did not show his usual accuracy in kicking, but there is no doubt that his display was well up to representative standard. If Thompson, of Taihape, who has been selected for the full-back role against the Taranaki A team gives as good an account of himself as Darby did on Saturday he will do well. Darby seems to have played himself back to his old form. James, the Pirate custodian, did not show in such a favourable light. In fact it might be said of him that his display was the worst he has given this season. His outstanding ability was taking the ball. Few full-backs can emulate him there, but his kicking was all at sea, leaving his forwards to run themselves off their feet.

Neither tbreequarter lin e showed any outstanding ability on the day. As has been stressed, Pirates had the speed, but advantage was not taken of it except twice at the most and on those occasions Darby was too hard a man to pass. Solomon got away in a determined run once, but lacked the weight necessary in a three-quarter. Piratoe owed a good deal to his speed, however, for one© it was the means of overhauling what would hav e been nothing short of a runaway try. To come up from third grade to senior is not a move that may be relied on to show a player in a truly favourable light, but in Solomon’s case it would be unfair to say that he has not done well under the circumstances.

Williams had few chances the whole match through. The bounce of the ball

penalised him on one occasion on which he got away, but apart from that effort his role was a defensive one well played. “Jimmy” knows how to tackle. McMillan also had few chances, being penalised like the others by slowness inside

Lowe was the outstanding back on the Pirate side. He played a game which brought him under the eyes of the selectors and it is pleasing to note his inclusion as a reserve back for the B team to play Taranaki at Wanganui on Saturday. Lowe is a young player whose foim has improved considerably this season, due in no small measure to Frank Kilby’s ability to make the play and his experience in major sides. On Saturday Lowe was inclined to over do kicking although it must be admitted that in this he was struggling to overcome the weak passing and bring the speed of his three-quarter line into greater account. McMillan also played the kicking role a good deal. That type of play succeeds on occasions, but a review of the results- which have accrued from it would surprise many a back who relies upon it as an attacking medium. When a team is faced with a full-back of Darby’s calibre too, kicking has to be particularly well judged to reap proper reward. It would seem that thc style of kicking indulged m in Wanganui under these circumstances is not of the best. It is too powerful' and merely loses possession to tho opposition. The stab punt would be better or thc “up and under” style.

Duncan did not play up to expectations and his usual co-operation with Kilby was lacking on a day when it was most needed. He was game on defence, however, and never shirked the “hard stuff.’’ That brings back the reminder That the black threequarters did not appear to relish going down to rushes. There was a marked contrast between them and Kilby and Duncan in this respect. Kilby played a strenuous game behind th e scrum. He was closely watched and there is this much to be said, which is in favour of Duncan, that the pivot’s passes had, of necessity, to be quick and often did not have the accuracy steadier work would have achieved.

The black pack had a hard task and acquitted itself well under the circumstances. They had the better of the first spell and worked tirelessly in loose and tight. It was regrettable that the line-kicking did not help them. Timo and again they challenged Kaierau behind a ball that was kicked far too hard. It was wearying work and calculated to wear the best of spirits down. Henderson’s weight was missed and D. Anderson, taking his place for the first time this season, though he battled hard, was not up to his best form. It was an inspiration, however, to those looking on to see the lighter van battling its way against a heavy opposition. Ennis, Friend, Anderson, Cotterill, Agnew, Heald, and Tonks, with Grenside as a rover, made a determined showing, more especially in the first spell and they will be remembered as on e of the best sets of forwards which has ever rendered service in the Pirate cause.

Kaierau’s backs, outside the fiveeighths, were not used much the whole match through, except as individuals. There was little cohesive work until after half-time and then the chain did not impress. Pongi was a solid man behind the pack, but little more could be said for him. His weight in the tight stood him in good stead. Simpson was a sound defensive player, but a little slow to attack.

Scott played a useful game for Kaierau, waiting to intercept. At times he stood so close up to the opposing line, especially when the teams were lined out, that he was off-side. It only needed the ball to be forced back to Pongi and the referee, had he turned round, would have found Scott up in the opposing team. As it was he' was penalised more than once, but against that it must be remembered that it was through him that the maroons scored.

Glenn’s weight was a telling factor in th© threequarter line. When he got the ball it took two or three defenders to pull him down. Tamari and Leach, on the wings, had little to do as there was not that cohesion in the chain of backs which brought the ball clear from half to wing in either team and the result was patchy play for the outside men on both attack and defence.

Honours of th e day must rest with the Kaierau van. They played hard and met a solid opposition. Pirates were not the side to be brushed lightly aside and the maroons realised it full well. It might truly be said that the forward battle was the sternest waged on Spriggens Park for many a day. Roach played an outstanding game as a line-out forw r ard and he and Tremgwan, Ross, McCarthy, Byres, Brookie, and Clarke had the knowledge that victory largely depended upon their efforts and they responded in usual Kaierau fashion. They had more team work in the tight than the blacks. Had Pirates used their feet to better advantage there is no telling, however, what would have happened. Lockett played a hard game, but did not repeat his tactics of the week previous in challenging the five-eighth line. He is a battler from bell to bell, and this season is playing at top form. His inclusion in the representative side occasions no surprise.

The match over, and the fortunes of tho sides no longer in doubt, congratulations must fall to Kaierau on their success. They were dogged by as much bad luck as any team in the competition, but they came through even when hopes were forlorn. Victory hard earned, has been their lot and that, no matter where it is gained in sport, even in life itself, is deserving of admiration.