RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 20 (Supplement)

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND OVERWHELM WAIKATO

(By “Drop Kick.”)

Thursday’s same was a reveation of the high, standard of Auckland football, the fast, snappy passing of the blue and whites being a treat to watch. There is no doubt that Auckland excels at the open game, but up against a big pack, controlling the ball, there would probably be a different story. Nevertheless, they must be given credit for a brilliant exhibition and moreover one that the public enjoys. They have a happy knack of initiating passing rushes from almost any position and the forwards appear to concentrate more on getting the back machine in motion than on the dribbling game.

Goodacre at full has been seen to greater advantage, his kicking in this match being below standard. Otherwise he performed creditably. The three-quarter line was brilliant. Lucas being the bright particular star, but his wingers, Broderick and Olsen, were quite up to his standard and showed great pace and determination in finishing off the passing rushes, and also in returning the ball infield. Watching Lucas closely when participating In hack movement, one can see the headwork which is responsible for Ponsonby's position as senior club team in Auckland. He draws his opponent every lime, gives a perfect pass and very seldom is put. down, hut immediately gels into position for Hie in-pass from his wnger. On another occasion lie was running almost directly behind Ifwersnn. called for the ball, and was immediately going in the opposite direction to all his opposing backs, naturally leaving them standing. He is certainly a very brilliant player and a view nf 1 1 is methods will surely do our younger players good. The five-eighths were in position for the open game at all times, running straight and cutting in well. Sheen impressed most, making many fine openings, sometimes through using an excellent dummy pass. Don Wright was well fed by his forwards and opened the game up well, his passes always being well directed. He was quite sound on defence and took the hall from the Waikato forwards’ feet on several occasions. The pack was good, all appearing to bo very fit. but they did not dominate the local to the. extent that, their hacks did the Waikato rearguard. In fact, Waikato’s pack frequently overshadowed them both in the loose rushes and also in the heavy work. .They were, however, great opportunists, and made some splendid scoring chances for their hacks. Ratty, MacWilliams and Webber were the pick of a very even lot. Coming to lhc Waikato backs it must be admitted that they were outgenerailcd and though they played well individually there was a great lack of any attempt at cohesion. No doubt the very fast spoiling tactics of the Auckland forwards had a lot to do with this. Individually they were, triers to a man and one excellent feature was their deadly tackling. Quin was sound and kicked well, and when moved up to centre for the second half did a great deal of stopping. Campbell was not at his best and onl> in the last quarter did he give a glimpse of his true form. He has great pace and had the local backs been working regularly he would have had Broderick thinking more often. Clemett did all that was asked of him and put in some smart dashes down the line. His tackling was great and, like Campbell he would have, been equal to his opposing winger had he received more of the ball. Johnston of Waipa was very prominent throughout and fully deserved his selection, running strongly and handling well. Mac Johnston seemed to have no luck at all at five-eighths, his handling being below his usual standard. When moved to full-back he played coolly and kicked well, but let Auckland through badly on one occasion through failing to gather a rolling bal He did some good tackling, but was obviously below form. Kemp played his usual sharp game and got through a tremendous amount of work as did Mitchell at, half. These two were constantly called on to stop both hacks and forwards and showed great sameness. Kemp also exhibited a fair turn of speed catching Lucas after the latter had a clear run-in, only to bo side-stepped by the elusive centreIhrocquartcr who eventually scored. Both players fully demonstrated their rights to selection. The pack men were in fine form and were the equals of the blue and whites excepting in loose passing rushes. Led by Wallace and Aoake they repeatedly hustled their way through the Auckland pack only to find the opposing hacks too fast in clearing. Every man worked with a will, but they were at fault in scrum packing, the scrum not being at all well-formed. Apart from this one fault there display was very creditable and they were unfortunate in not scoring on several occasions. Reviewing the game generally it was only in the last quarter that Auckland showed any pronounced superiority when sixteen points were rung on in about eight or ten minutes, and the game was at all times interesting. An exhibition by such fine backs should do our local games much good, provided the players looking on take to heart the lesson given them. AUCKLAND FOOTBALL. (By Our Special). The first round under the auspices of the Auckland Rugby Union was concluded on Saturday last and as was to be expected Ponsonby emerged with a good lead and they look certain to be on top when the season is brought to a grand flnaie. However, as most of the other clubs are just beginning to strike form there is a possibility of some surprises before the second round is finished. Most of the other clubs are as good as Ponsonby individually, hut lack of training has kept them back. Ponsonby start training many weeks before the season commences and also have two or three matches, besides several practice games, before they take the field in earnest. They thus have plenty of Lime to try any now material out. The result is that they arc a very fit fifteen while there is also a fine understanding among the members of Lhc team. The curtain-raiser between the two unbeaten teams in the B grade (North Shore and Training College) was worth going a long way lo see. Tt was easily the best exhibition or Rugby seen in Auckland this season and was thrilling in the extreme. H was marvellous how the players stood un In such. a. LcrrillcaiJly .waK&d LaLlio.

There was not one single dull moment throughout the whole eighty minutes of play. The Shore forwards wore slightly superior and their hookers got possession from almost every scrum. On the other hand the Training College hacks were nippier and this equalised matters. The match ended in a draw (9 all) and this was a fitting climax to a brilliant game. Amongst the Training College team Del Carter and Anderson (two cx-llamilton boys) played splendidly. Ponsonby v. College Rlfleo.

This display, though not as brilliant as the previous one, was nevertheless a hard, fast, and willing affair. The game started off at a fast bat and the bustling tactics of College completely disorganised the Ponsonby team in the first half of the match. Though Ponsonby led at the interval by a potted goal they must consider themselves lucky as College had considerably the best of the argument up to tliis stage, and with ordinary luck must have registered a couple of tries. There is no doubt Ponsonby were at their wits’ end what to do and tried every hit of strategy in their power to prevent College from scoring. This test found some of the champions’ backs wanting in defence. The third quarter was evenly contested but it could be noticed that College were weakening at the end of this term. In the final quarter their condition had given out and though they made a few spirited dashes the superior form of the Ponsonby team told its tale and they finished with the comfortable margin of .15 points lo nil. Had College, been as well trained as iheir opponents a different talc might have been told. For Hie winners .McManus was the best hack and no matter iiow the game is going lie is always liiere find plays with a very cool head. The rest, though brilliant at times, were patchy. Hook (full hack) plays well but lias a nasty habit of getting out of position and nearly brought disaster to liis team on more than one occasion on Saturday. The forwards were an even lot and worked unceasingly. Mucli of the credit is due to them for their win.

Sheen was the star of the College team and gave a sterling display. However he has the fault of trying to do 100 much on his own. Kirk was very much in the picture. Fogarty and Francis were the besL of a good pack.

As per usual there was a good deal of illegal play and Mr Meredith had occasion lo warn several players during the game. Sterner methods arc badly needed to cope with this growing practice. The Varsity (cam had a close call wilh'Marisls, winning by a point (9 to 8), while Grammar trounced Grafton to the tunc of 20 points to 13. NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON In a football match played last month by New Zealanders in Loudon fourteen members of the team were genuine New Zealanders, the one exception being a member of the High Commissioner’s staff. The players were;—T. Malcolm (Thames), who is in ttic meat trade; J. G. Skect (Auckland), a medical officer in Hie Royal Air Force; Cl. Flanagan (Wellington), of the Australian firm of Mark, Foy, Ltd.; N\ McMillan (Auckland), National Bank of New Zealand; R. Pilling (Auckland), who is on a holiday in England; D. R. Rylance (Auckland), dental surgeon; D. L. Forestier-M alker (Waikato!i-iL R. Brooks (Wellington) High Commissioner’s staff; H. R. Te Kiri (Rotorua); D. Vinnicombe, not a New Zealander, member of the High Commissioner’s stuff; C. R. McCullough (Auckland), with Messrs Smith, Wylie and Co.; N. C. Sheridan (Marlborough). High Commissioner’s staff; S. T. Ellison (Christchurch), dairy produce trade; W. .1. G. Wyilic (Otago), National Bank of New Zealand; and 0. E. Thomas (Southland), in the textile trade.