BAY TEAM UNLUCKY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20870, 31 July 1939, Page 11

BAY TEAM UNLUCKY

EXCELLENT VISITING VAN PROMISING BACK MOV™ENTS The Waikato Rugby representatives scrambled home against Bay of Plenty when the match was played in a sea of mud. The forward play was really excellent with the visiting van showing the great Waikato pack many points on the day. II ha* long been recognised that Waikato's strength is in its great pack hut today it must be admitted that great as the pack is it was no better than the Hay pack. In fact in many phases of play the Bay eight showed Waikato how things should be done and it was only a last-minute rally with superior physical fitness that rewon for Waikato a hope to compare with the Bay forwards. Kicking Too Hard It was in the dribbling, fast-break-ing and concerted rushes that the Bay was clearly superior. As in previous matches the Waikato forwards would persist in kicking the ball too hard in dribbling rushes and time and again allowed the opposing fullback to The Bay forwards, in contrast, dribled the ball in excellent fashion, one man being at the apex of a triangle and the others following on if the leader over-ran the ball. The leather was never kicked more than a fool or I wo, and in many irresistible rushes Bay swept lhe held. When a Bay forward broke awa> he was always well supported, bul again individual Waikato forwards made breaks that came to nothing »wing to lack of support. Territorial Advantage The visitors held the territorial advantage for over half the first spell and in the first 25 minutes of the second spell Waikato was only over the half-way fine twice. The hono' learn came with a final dash, however, that gave it a somewhat unexpected victory. It was really unfortunate Dial onid ions were so much against good football. The Bay team tielded a big. .heavy and fast back line and the few movements thev were able to bring to fruition gave promise ul’ a line ottack ng unit. A Brilliant Try fl'lie Waikato backline also showed lo advantage, before the ball became 100 greasy and their first try was a really brilliant effort, all handling well for Taylor to cut out a man, Aitken to straighten up the line with a fast penetrative dash and Perkins to cap it off. The backs then tried similar tactics Miroushout the first half and with conditions such as they were it was liltie wonder that, the fast, breaking Bay forwards were able to pick holes in the Icfcnce from the many mistakes. Waikato proved that it. would have had a big share of the ball on a dry day. The Bay forwards were lighter and faster than the Waikato pack and under die exceptionally heavy conditions they were more at home, Waikato appearing to find the going a little too heavy for their weight. In the Bay learn. McNeil, Karon and Nicholson were outstanding in Hie for - wards with Rayment the fullback also playing a grand game. M. Lees, the nig centre was very impressive as also aas Gregory. Ensor’s Good Form Ensor played a sound game as Ih : ■•isl line of defence for Waikato and : m saved his side time and time again with good handling and long accurate •kicking. Phillips raised the. croud Lo •‘s toes by several dashes, while Perkins, who also had few opportunities making no mistakes. Aitken again went well at centre, backing up and •kicking splendidly, while Cole and Taylor were the two best live-eighths fielded for some time. When J. Everest came on he did well for the little time he was playing. Tetlaff,, at half, stood up to a hard gruelling surprisingly well and was quite sound. 'n the forwards Thomson went as uell as any ol’ them in the heavy going with Wynyard, Warrender and Macky also prominent. Flannagan was m the limelight on several occasions aUh Catley and Taylor doing their share of the tight work.