RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15356, 3 October 1923, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PEACE CUP RETAINED. HAMILTON’S FINE GAME. By defeating Thames on Saturday in such a conclusive manner, the Hamilton representatives maintained their hold on the Peace Gup to carry the trophy forward to next year. Like the Cambridge game, the home team played their best football, and both backs and forwards combined in a most successful manner. They opened up the play freely and with the success of tiring the Thames forwards, who were not given the combined support that the winners could call upon. Under ideal weather conditions, and a ground, if anything, on the hard side, a record crowd turned out to witness a game that was anything but as onesided as the score of 33-11 in Hamilton's favour might indicate. There is no doubt, however, that the winners were decidedly the better team. The Hamilton backs all displayed sparkling football. Buckingham, the half, set Tanner and Kemp going promptly, and this trio were capable In either attaok or defenoe. In the three-quarter line, Gibson replaced Castles, owing to the latter sustaining a leg Injury, when he was playing brightly. There is no doubt that Johnstone has struck his right position at centre, and.both Gibson and O'Sullivan, the wing three-quarters, benefited from his play on Saturday, while the latter were a confident pair in what they were called on to perform, Gibson having the principal run of play in his direction. Mathcson was' again well on his game, and did many things of value to the men in advance of the full back’s position. In combining with their backs, and also In realising on opportunities for play of a transferring order, the home pack has never shown up in more attractive fashion than this game. Taking them by and large, one is quite convinced that they would display themselves in a favourable light against vanguards of fifteens of much more note.

There was no better forward on the day than Warren, who led many a Hamilton breakaway and toiled consistently and effectively in the tight play as well. Scott was not far away, and showed his‘ worth once again, despite his disparity in weight. Sowman was another prominent player in a set which was right on its game.

It Is well recognised that forwards must lose their penetrating power sooner or later if they are not getting the support from their backs. That was the fate of the Thames set on Saturday, of whom Morgan Hayward, Lomas, and Pollock were always prominent for good work. The backs had a plentiful supply of the ball, but lacked combination, and several of them were weak in tackling. Ryan was the pick of the visitors’ rearguard, while Goodwin, the full back, also performed a wide measure of effective work for his side.

NEW ZEALAND’S PROSPECTS. VIEWS OF THIRD TEST PLAY. One of the noted members of the famous All Blacks, in the person of Mr \V. J. Wallace, has given Impressions in a favourable manner, of the play of the New Zealand backs in the Third Test game against New South Wales. To a Dominion writer he stated that If such improvement were maintained they would be able to give a good showing against the International teams New Zealand would meet next year in Great Britain and France:—

While the weather was fine, In the first 20 minutes or so, the backs of both teams were giving a good account of themselves,” he said. ‘‘l believe that but for the opportunities they lost early in that spell New South Wales backs would have scored several times. The difference between the two combinations, to me, is that our men have been specially nursed and trained, while the visitors have had to do continual travelling. When the All Blacks go Home they win not be' able to enjoy the same periods of training and preparation; things will be greatly different.

“From what I know and have learned of the three Test matches, onr teams are specialising in forward play, somewhat to the detriment of back play; in fact, we are apt to think that there are no backs in the team at all. When the 1905 All Blacks went Home the hacks scored by far the majority of the points registered. Although they

dominated the scoring on Saturday, it was not the case in the' second Test match, when nearly all the scoring was done by forwards. That does not indicate uniformity in attack, but that it is veering suddenly from forwards to backs.” Mr Wallace makes no secret of his view that in a first-class Rugby combination, the backs should be given every opportunity of working out liieir destiny as sooting units. In the football generation before the present one it was a common thing to see duels bcIween the ODnosins: five-eighths and three-quarters; now it is between forwards and opposing backs, and frequently the forwards are in the way of their own backs. He emphasises his contention that attack is the best form of defence, and deplores the tendency on the part of some backs to wait for the attack to break on them, and rely on their defensive powers to thwart it. If they were only throwing the ball about among themselves and making no headway with it they were doing far better than chasing their opponents.

The patchy form shown by backs to date is, in the opinion of Mr Wallace, due in large measure to the variety in selection. ‘‘Too many changes are being made in personnel among the backs," he said. “A man has an off day, and he is immediately dropped. This discourages the player who is determined to play better in the next game. For him there is no next chance for some time. The backs of 20 years ago 'were in the team for season after season, and their form improved with oaoh game. When one dropped out, and a new man came in, the newoomer had experienced men alongside him to emulate. Nevertheless the material for international backs is here in plenty. Their form on Saturday, during the first spell, was as good as I could have wished to see, and must have giyon great satisfaction to the selectors. In one of the tries the ball was handled at least seven times among the backs. The play of Lucas and ‘Doc’ Nicholis was especially fine. Taldng a line through Saturday's game, even with the weather against them, the play of the backs makes one confident of the future.” JOTTINGS.

The Hamilton reps, will visit Pukekohe on Saturday.

The gate takings on Saturday reached £9O.

All players holding caps from last year, and who have played In Peace Cup matches this year, are asked to hand them to the Union seoretary immediately, so that the new date can be added. The attraction at Steele Park on Saturday will be provided by High Schoofl and City in the junior knockout final.

Hawke’s Bay and Auckland play their return matoh at Auckland on Saturday. The Shield holders should again be victorious, but as the trophy Is not involved the football can be expected to be of the more sparkling order.

The cups and trophies won throughout the various grades of the Hamilton Union are on display at the Dolly Varden. The collection is a very fine one, and has created very marked interest among Rugby followers. J Several prominent looal players have been placed on the injured list this season. These include Ca'stiles and Bayly (Frankton), Lenihan and Sandos (Old Boys), Beaver (City) and Hunt (Marists). The institution of a benefit match has been talked, of, ahd it Is to be hoped that it will be consummated. A visit from Auckland would be a great draw for October 20.

The City Club, winners of the Hamilton competition, had entered into negotiations with Marists, the successful Auckland senior club this season, to play at Auckland on Saturday next. However, tho locating of the Hawke’s Bay-Auckland game for that occasion means that the other contest will be called off under these ciroumstances, as the season is now so dear its close that there appears little probability of the two teams coming together.