A REVIEW OF RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 112, 13 May 1936, Page 4

A REVIEW OF RUGBY

LAST SATURDAYS MATCHES * INCIDENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS IN RETROSPECT REPRESENTATIVE TEAM TO APPEAR NEXT WEEK

Kaierau and Marist plaved one of the most strenuous forward games played on the Park for some season’s last Saturday. Kaierau’s team work and ruggedness won the day, but the scores were anything but flattering to the losers. Marist had the* ' ini forward, and their outstanding player in the van was J. Buckley. He set an inspiration to the team, and it was not his fault that the side did not .win. Improvement showed itself in the Kaierau van compared with the form set in the opening match of the season. Two forwards of a heavier type improved the weight, for one thing—W. Firmin and Whale. And it was obvious that the team has trained a great deal in the intervening weeks. • « » ¥ W. Glenn was Kaierau*s best forward on Saturday. He showed great promise and is likely to be considered by the selectors in time to comeBacking up was a feature of Kaierau's play and on defence also was very useful. It is a pity other teams do not profit from the example the maroons set in this respect, particularly in quickly establishing a second line of defence to cover their own attacks. Time after time, when Kaierau attacks were launched by the backs, the “spare” forwards strung out behind in the centre of the field, watchful to cover a breakdown. Jack Morgan made his appearance at full-back for the maroons. He proved of immense value there, particularly in his positional play and ability to kick. Rush stepping was a weakness with him, and was notic.able on the occasion when Buckey made his inspired dash from over half-way. 1,. Connor, the Marist custodian, played a fairly safe game for the greens and they had to thank him for getting them out of a lot of trouble. • - * ¥ A. J. Darby returned to the game in his capacity as wing three-quarter for Kaierau, and his answer to sceptical critics was an excellent game. He proved that Bellis is not the only one in the Wanganui district who can stage a justified comeback. H. Brogden, at half, and l>. Jones, at second five eighth, were Kaierau s best backs, with the exception perhaps of Morgan. It was thought that in placing Junes at. second the maroons were al fault, in that Brogden's play takes a great deal of supporting, and Jones was the most likely to keep up with him- As events turned out the change was in no way disastrous to the maroons’ team work. “Drake” Thompson, of Taihape, who has had previous experience with Brogden, made a useful link in the chain, and it was combination close in to the scrum which won him his two tries. Jhnes proved again that. with a fraction of room, he is a dangerous attacking back. He participated in the move which led to Thompson’s second try. He carried on nicely after Brogden. who was held up. had made one of his characteristic openings. Brogden was of tremendous value to the maroons and, if he maintains his form in the higher flights of play, he is headed for the North Island team. Game to the last ounce, and ever alert, to vary his attacking play behind the pack, he reminds one a great deal of Kilby. As a matter of fact, when the ball was grubber-kicked from Brogden’s boot to touch it did look for ail the world like a Kilby touch. Sexton, the Mari>t boy, with experience in bigger football, will improve. He was not supported soundly, and. in consequence, his play was not so prominent as that of his vis a vis. Coming round on the outside of his blindside winger, however, was one of the features of Sexton’s play which many another half-back might emulate. A. Deere, the Marist first five-eighth, looks to be the makings of a first-class {•layer. He is lively enough and game. T. McCashin, who played second five eighths for the greens, was the best of the inside backs. He was a trier throughout and it ♦ally seemed as if rhe luck was out so far as he was concerned. Two «or was it three?) kicks at goal from within easy range went astray. L. Smith, J. Doody, and P. Matthews : all played hard games for ihe Marist I van, and one to whom the side owed a ' great deal was A. Hansen. He did not •

play in the earlier matches but staged a really up-to-form return on Saturday. Owing to the effectiveness of Kaierau *s inside defence there was very little seen of the Marist line in full action. The opening move was splendid. and gave one winger, J. Bowler, the one chance the inside backs were able to give all day. He made the most of it and scored. Strangely enough, the Kaierau wingers did not see much of the ball either. But from] their point of view it. was often because of strong attacking inside backs, who accomplished most of their work from the centre of the Held. On other occasions the Marist defence was sound. • • • • And just a word about that Marist Aefence- Eight of Kaierau’» points . ere scored by Morgan; she other six by Thompson, the latter from tries. <'onsi( f ring the many times which Kaierau attacked one must accord credit to Marist for keeping their defence sufficiently active to prevent their line being crossed more than twice. They were able to cross Kaierau’s once, and. looked at from that point of view, the margin between the two teams was never very much. Gay Lockett was an inspiration to the Kaierau van on several occasions, but he was obviously not the Lockett i of last year. It will he interesting to watch him duel with MrClenaghan, of | I Waverley fame

Technical Old Boys have again suggested that they will find a better place on the ladder this year than last, Che match with Old Boys on Saturday was one of high hopes, disappointment? and ten. :ou. old Boys certainly had s oclttr rha.i the .Saturday before pattieularly j»i the backs, but, except for ccc.oHiai fishes, fail-J to get Technical Old Boys, on the other hand, were lit, went into every tiling quickly and asked about it afterwards. Old Boys appeared to drag a lot and they were lucky to make a draw of it. Much interest attached to the play of Barton, of the King Country Union, who made his first appearance playing lor a Wanganui team. He was placed at second five-eighths for Old Boys, justified himself by making two good openings and by kicking the conversion which was to make the game a draw—a kick from away out <>n the sideline. In other phases of play, Barton gave a hint of selfishness which he will need to watch. ’ When are Waverley and Kale* rau going to meet?” This question is being asked all over the Wanganui Rugby Union’s district’ up the river, in Taihape, in Rangitikei, aud naturally, in the Wairoi Union (Waverley and its environs). •'Cross-bar” makes a prediction that it will fall on Saturday week (May 23), at Wanganui. The team to piay Taranaki must be selected that day, and as both clubs will be contributing several players to the reps., and as the “Big Three” selectors will all be together, that is the rightful day for the match. Mclntyre played a strenuous game against Technical Old Boys, aud defied the tackling many times. The opposition let him get away with a lot, and his try was the outcome of a determined effort driven home after waiting for the opportunity from close to the line. Mclntyre cannot be left out of the representative team. A. Davidson again proved his rightful claim to the fore-front of Wanganui forwards this season. He played a splendid game for Technical bld Boys and has that even temperament which is fifty per cent, of the make-up of a hard forward. Hutchinson was also an effective stalwart for the same team. He stopped many a promising move from the base of Old Boys’ pack. That brings a reminder that Old Boys are badly off for a class half. Sharp, full-back, and five-eighth, ha I to play that rule for Old Boys towards the end of the game. O'Brien did not seem able to outwit the quick Technical Old Boys’ breakaways. {Sharp made a better fist of it. but relied almost entirely on the running game, a type of play which has to be understood to be made effective. Bill Moffett gave promise last year of being one of 'Wanganui’s best forwards, aud, judged on his play on Saturday, he is likely to fulfil that ; promise. “Max” McGregor is another who rendered good service for the reds and is one of the hardest working forwards in the union. Bill Pleasants put plenty of vim into his play and so did Jack Halligan. But the trouble with Old Boys’ pack seemed to be speed, or rather the lack of it. Individually, with the exception of Mclntyre, and perhaps Halligan, they hadn’t got a man who could foot it with the opposition. That extia second or so in getting on to the ball makes a big difference in Rugby. McCormick was the mainstay of the Technical Old Boys’ backs on defence. Time and again his ruggedness kept the opposing sides at bay. This boy ’s line-finding in the hot sorties within his own 25 eased several tight comers. Knox Weis a s try—a grubber into the goal and a swift follow-up by himself down “six inches” of field near the touchline —was an indiement of Old Boys’ sleepy movements. When a full-back can field the ball, kick along the ground and then rush past the opposing team and fall on it io score—well, just think it out! Old Buys certainly missed Clay, but perhaps not so much as some people thought. Nielson did not make a bad job of the centre position in the front row.

PERSONAL A. J. (“Mick”) Darby is one of the most popular Jigures in Kugby. ft would be hard to find a sport ‘‘Mick” has hot excelled in. His appearance as wing three-quarter on Saturday for Kaierau made some open their eyes with wonder. • ♦ • ♦ Bill Firmin appeared for Kaierau for the first time this season. This player made a difference to the maroon pack. In the opening matches of the season

some of the familiar faces of last year were missed. But some of them were seen out on Saturday } proving that they could not resist the call. J. Spooner appeared in the role of half-back for Technical Old Boys, and a good job he made of it, too. E. Nicholls, the Old Boys’ live-eighth and wing three-quarter who gave promise in the latter position last year, played on the wing. Old Boys will be glad of him before the season is out. ' A. Hansen. Marist forward and of ' cycle riding reputation, appeared m ( the green van. The greens knew he ‘ was back before the match was over. Phillips, another well known Marist ■ stalwart, was roped in at the last ninute. All the players mentioned arc , ’amiliar to Wanganui fan«, ,

The one real newcomer of the (lay t was D. Barton, who hails from the ] King Country. He displayed a handy j fend at times, and will certainly improve Old Boys’ chances in future. matches. t