AHUWHENUA'S IMPROVED SHOWING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 175, 19 June 1940, Page 8

AHUWHENUA'S IMPROVED SHOWING

Both Ahuwhenua and Whakatane Star fielded what appeared to be light teams for the other senior fixture at the Domain and many of the players would have no difficulty in weighing in at the junior scale. Certainly there are many junior players who could have turned on better performances than were seen in the ragged play during the first half of this game. For most of the first half play resolved itself into a contest in wild kicking and missed chances and the majority of the spectators transferred their attention to the other ground. Play improved in the second spell and some exciting football, although mostly misdirected elforts, was witnessed. Ahuwhenua showed improvement on past games, but with the exception of five or six players, lacked weight. However, their backs are speedy and the forwards, too, are no laggards. What appears to lie the chief fault with this team if., the lack of a thorough "Rugby know leedg and intensive coaching would do much to assist. Too much individual play also is a drawback and the team would do well to appreciate the advantage of a good combination. A few leaves taken from the Poroporo book would help considerably in this direction. Nevertheless, Aluftvhenua pSaye/i its best game to date, though the team should not Hatter itself after holding Whakatane Star lo a three point margin. The Blues played a poor game and if it had not been for the efforts of a few individual would have gone down to the boys from Ruatolci. The best that can be

said of the backs during the initial spell, is that they were shocking. The rear division' of this team has had plenty of time to settle down to combined work but there was not even a semblance of that. Too many chances went begging because of selfishness and even more owing to indiscriminate kicking. The forwards have been seen to p, better advantage. As witli the s backs, most ol the work was done . by individual effort. For Ahuwhenua, Whini scored a s brilliant try and Hake's touch down _ was also the result of splendid plaj r . t Hake converted th c former. Points for the winners w r ere registered by Robson, Oswald and another, tries, Oswald converting one. Mr B. Normain was referee. l In the junior match Whakatane Star v Ahuwhenua, points were ' scored for the winners by Thorn, ; Chambers, Crapp, and Thorburn one ' conversion and three penalties.