THE RUGBY FIELD

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 189, 19 August 1935, Page 3

THE RUGBY FIELD

(By

“VETERAN”).

The Senior Competition.

By their defeat of Waipawa on Saturday Takapau won the Senior Competition. They are worthy champions. Their victory again this year can be put down to their speedy backs and their splendid combination. The forwards are a real good pack and realise that their job is to pave the way for their backs to score. This is correct Rugby and such play will always triumph. Good luck and hearty congratulations, Takapau! Maybe in some later notes there will be a criticism of our senior teams, but I will leave it now with my statement, “That there, is no doubt the competition has gone to the best team.’’

Ross Shield Semi-Final.

Our boys again proved too good for Southern Hawke's Bay, and for about the tenth year running have eliminated them in the competition. The game created considerable enthusiasm and much favourable comment on the play of boys on both sides. Central should stand a fair chance of regaining the coveted trophy. They play Napier at Waipukurau on Saturday next. I shall confine my comments on players to the outstanding local boys. Collins, of Tikokino, brother to trio All Black, attracted considerable attention. He is a. dashing forward, a great leader anc the possessor of a heft} ieft-fo-'t punt. Meha. Waipawa, is a champion in the making. He was on the ball all the ine. Me/icar Waipu f ?'’nu, was outstanding for splendid dribbling. This lad made a great solo dribbling run of about thirty ya?cs, which was an eye-opener to those present. Nevill?, of Takajau. was another who show ••'. dash and ’-ept on the ball throughout the game. The backs h id iitlle combined open play, but Hunter, jfl apau, and ' f 1son, Waipukurau, placed well. The latter is a good captain and plays a sound game. His backing up, particularly regarding the full-back is exemplary. He s' i id, however, remember to foil) v up his kicks. Old Boys \. Te At to. Tnis w;.-' a great game—a nal treat. Old Boys vme too heavy the Collegians, but they played a fast open game with tliir inside tacks functioning really veil. The mH ch was played at a great pace, play ;.c--ing up and down the field in an exciting manner, J.e game being an ideal one fur the : pe< L- tors. It is <.c be regretted thac ivu College boys had to leave the I fid injured, but this is no reflection on the “Whites.” Te Ante worked like trojans, their tackling and packing being of a high and willing order. If Old Boys will only reproduce this form in the challenge matches their game against Takapau wil Ibe one well-worth seeing.

The redoubtable Nicholas gained his usual brilliant try, but he did not elude the “Whites’ ” champion little tackler, Piki, on any other occasion. Parker and Tibble were there all the time in the forwards and the little Collegian who came on as full-back during the game acquitted himself with honours.

C. Wilson and W. Hill played outstanding games in the “White” rearguard. Wilson can take a pass from anywhere and now passes on to Hill in fine style. Hill must now take his place as one of the best backs in the district, and with C. Wilson makes a pair of five-eigthhs as valuable as the well-known Aldrich combination. The Oid Boys’ pack, without the assistance of Jeffery and Brain, again played a real good game. At full strength there is no doubt that this pack would be hard to equal.

The Juniors.

In a somewhat scraggy game Waipukurau accounted for Tikokino by eight points. Tikokino easily outweighed Waipukurau and the Blues did well to beat them. This now leaves Takapau and Waipukurau to play off for the championship. Takapau play with more combination but will have nothing on the Blues for keenness and determination. It will be a great encounter and a fititng finale to a good competition.