RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15320, 22 August 1923, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE WIN OVER AUCKLAND,

(By “Drop-Kick.”)

The Hamilton fifteen can primarily place tlic credit for its B—o success over the Auckland team on Saturday lo the play of its forwards, who wore down the opposition to principally have their own way in the closing stages of the game. It is quite recognised that the vanguard that took the Held was a weakened one in many respects from that originally selected to do duty for the visitors but, nevertheless, the home pack played well together and was often giving Hie. Auckland backs a ,ot of trouble. The hack brigades wore fairly evenly matched and while not rising lo any marked heights of brilliancy they, at times, infused exhilarating dashes inlo the play and relieved that drab monotony which is inseparable from continuous forward work. Eight points about gives us the fi’lfcronce between the teams on the davIn fact both sides missed opportunities. The visitors latitude in Ibis inspect was particularly glaring on mo occasion, when the centre three-quarter infringed close up to the home team’s goal posts during a forceful attack. Tile home forwards played well. Scott and Warren were invariably masters in Ihe scrum heeling, while the team as a whole showed up from line and loose work. In the laller respect Bishop anil Sownian were especially outstanding on the day, tint no material fault could be found with the others of Ihe vanguard, Clarkin roving very effectively. The hacks shaped in a very satisfactory manner, Buckingham not stinting them with the opportunities that came the halfback's way from scrum successes. Ke.tnp played a particularly bright game at five-eighth, frequently driving into the opposing backs. Castles was a sound man on the day, while Bayly and Tanner were also enterprising. Lenihan shone up at intervals also, without rising to any particularly great

heights, while at others he was a little uncertain. Matlieson’s full back game was for the main part a very sound one, his sure tackling turning off more than one dangerous looking advance. The visiting wing-three quarters, Wilson and: Wiseman were several times viewed in spirited spurts which changed Hie aspect of play, but they wore invariably met by sound tackling which terminated their careers before danger threatened 100 drastically. Goodacrc played soundly at fullhack, but Park, the centre, more than once frustrated likely looking movements throuerh uncertain handling of the ball. Of the five-eighths, Earlly and Johnston, the former was the more enterprising, while the half-back, Earl, stood up to many strenuous sallies of the home vanguard without flinching. Of a light set of forwards Batty, Muir, and McCullough were unremitting toilers for Mie visitors.

HERE AND THERE.i

The First Test match between New Zealand and N.S.W. will bo played, at Dunedin on Saturday.

A score of 58 —0, which figures Auckland registered over Wanganui on Saturday is a big toll. In 1910 Wellington defeated Southland by 60 —0. New Soutii Wales will be strengthened for the test game, hut according to reports their form will require to be improved if they are to succeed. “Moke” Beilis is now playing near his best form and his appearance in the New Zealand team will strengthen the side. Q. Donald (Wairarapa) replaces Brian McCleary Sn the front row of the N.Z. team for the first Test. Littlewood and Hooper, two who were unavailable against Auckland, will he out with the Hamilton team against Matamata on Saturday. Matarnata and Hamilton- senior representatives will provide the chief attraction at Stcclc Park on Saturday. Pukekohc and Hamilton B will staso the curtain raiser game.

Auckland and Otago will meet at Eden Park on September 1. Although the latter have not their full team travelling .they promise to press the Queen City players more prominently Than any of the other provinces have been capable of. Solid forwards and reliable backs, such as Hawkes Bay possess, would make Auckland’s position ’more trying than it has been so far this season. W. Christie has sustained an injury to lias foot which prevents the City forward from taking his place in one or other of the teams engaged on Saturday. There will be added interest in Saturday’s match between Hamilton and Matarnata, from the fact that the winners will earn the right to meet Cambridge for the Peace Cup. The Hamilton School representatives will visit Auckland this week to play the annaul fixture with the city fifteen. The local forwards shaped well last Saturday, while with combination, the backs will do a great deal better. Near the close of the Hamilton High School match with Mt. Albert Grammar at Eden Park on Saturday, M. Morris, the High School first fiveeighth, sustained a broken collarbone. Mr “Morrie” Wood, president of the Hawke’s Bay Union, and an old New Zealand representative, said afterwards that the Hawke’s Bay—Canterbury game was one of the finest contests ever seen in the province. The referee, Mr A. Atkinson, of Wanganui, hoped he would have the chance of refereeing a few more games, and said he thought the two packs of forwaijls were the finest he had seen in New Zealand.

Wairarapa, Wellington, Poverty Bay and Canetrbury have all failed against Hawke’s Bay in Plunket Shield games. Can Auckland lift it? This question is being very freely asked just now. Judging by their remarkable scoring against Southland, Taranaki, and Wanganui, it looks as if the northerners will be hard to hold out if they get a date for the match next month. How many more players are there as able, but not as lucky as Fletcher, McLean, Steel and Mill? asks the New Zealand Times writer in advocating prosecution among the outside districts for players for the New Zealand team to tour England. Will the selectors make an honest effort to find out? The expense of sending the selectors round the Dominion with the Australians would be considerable, but it would be small in comparison with the oost of assembling teams for a series of trial games next year. By looking ahead the New Zealand Union can save itself a lot of expense, and floods of criticism as well.