Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 83, 6 May 1949, Page 5

Rugby

REFLECTIONS ON OPENING OF A NEW SEASON (By “Kai ti tiro”) The 1949 Rugby season opened in the Whakatane and Rangitaiki last Saturday, the deather was almost ideal but. the same cannot be said for the standard of play in all cases. Not having seen the Rangitaiki games, I am not in a position to pass any comment in that direction, but I did have the doubtful pleasure of seeing the game at Whakatane.

Admitted, it was the opening game of the season but even allowing for that it was not a good display of senior football. Somehow, even the elementary movements and knowledge of Rugby appeared to be missing. Inane kicking, poor scrummaging, selfish running with the ball and faulty handling were some glaring faults. Wairaka players spoilt their team’s chances repeatedly by not passing out and their all round play was not convincing. Poroporo gave the impression they were trying, but they appeared to forget in what direction they were playing at times. Players Should Dress Properly

When a team goes on .fo the field it should go on perfectly dressed, with the correct jerseys, shorts and football boots. A clean, neatly dressed team not only inspires confidence amongst players themselves but is always -appreciated by the public. It should be a rule among teams that no player should go on the field unless he is properly dressed. Equally important is the starting time. All players should be ready to go on the field at least ten minutes before the game is due to start. Rough Play Not Wanted A disturbing feature about Rugby in the Bay of Plenty Sub-Unions of recent years is the rough play of some teams. Many players appear to forget they are playing the ball, probably because it is sometimes easier to play the man than the ball. Playing the man is usually done by an unsporting losing team, who make their loss look even worse, and by unfit players. Teams, coaches and referees would do well this year to try to get rough play, not hard play (there is a difference), out of the Bay football. While it remains the standard of Rugby will not rise very far and it is doing a tremendous amount of damage to future football.

Junior Football—Where? What of junior football in the Whakatane Union? Three teams in the competition, a very poor response. Undoubtedly the reason -for such a poor competition can be traced to the limits placed on junior players. To place an age limit on junior football is killing the competition from the start. On grades below this, yes, but not juniors. Junior football can be likened to a. senior B competition. The players who are too light, not quite good enough or imagine themselves too old for senior football should be allowed to carry on by playing junior. There must be many such players in this category, and it is unfair to penalise them through no fault of their own. The limit age of under 21 is stopping too many players from continuing with the game. Unless they leave the district they are lost to Rugby. Whakatane is not in .he position yet where it can afford to lose players. A suggested scheme for the junior grade, although not a new one, would be a weight limit, abolishing the age limit. The present weight of 12 stone would be fair enough. Anyone tipping the scales over that should be prepared to play senior grade. A weight limit appears to be an answer to improving junior Rugby. Those who disagree might be reminded it is the weight that hurts, not the age. Tomorrow’s Draw WHAKATANE: Seniors, United v Paroa, at Whakatane Domain, referee A. Mitchell; Taneatua v Poroporo, at Taneatua, H. Mahy. Juniors, United v Taneatua, at Whakatane Domain, F. Paton. Seniors start 2.45 p.m., juniors 1.30 p.m. RANGXTAIKI: Seniors,- Te Teko v Edgecumbe at Te Teko, referee A. Magee, Thornton v Matata at Thornton, J. Hyland. Juniors, Otakiri v Edgecumbe at Otakiri, B. Magee, Matata v Te Teko at Matata, T. W. Waldegrave. Seniors start 2 p.m., juniors 1 p.m. TEAMS FOR WEEK-END The following players will represent Wairaka against Matata at the Domain on Sunday at 2.15 p.m.: Tu Ifor, T. Riini, C. Tuhoro, B. Hudson, R Crapp, M Bluett, B. Penny, H. Mokomoko, R. Hudson, S. Hudson, H. Bluett, T. Crapp, K. Merito.

United Football Club team to play Paroa at the Domain, Whakatane, on Saturday. Team assemble at dressing shed at 2 p.m.: C. Olsen, L. Stewart, G. Koea, Parkinson, Meikle, Mundy, C. Walker, J. Hudson, D. Kahui, T. McMillan, Adams, N. Oborne, D. Boon, Kendall, Henderson, De Lacey, G. Goodall, McCormack, S. Ruffles, W. Rutherford, United’s junior team to play" Taneatua at the Domain tomorrow will be selected from the following: 3. Shapley, J. Taylor, S. Taylor, B. Taylor, K. Needham, R. Littlejohn, J. Chadwick, L. Goodall, G. Butler, W. Sandham, C. Goodwin, W. Goodwin, P. Seebeck, H. Stewart, H. Edmondson, E. Dockray, M. Brown. P. Comiskey, Pritchard, G. Skelton. All players to assemble at the dressing shed at 12.45 sharp.

Taneatua senior team to play Poroporo at Taneatua will be selected from the following players: K. Hurran, E. Welch, A. Sisam, W. McCready, Thatcher, B. McGougan, R. Hill, J. Semmens, J. Ferguson, L. Ball,, T. Tait, O. Anderson, D. Cain, J. Downes, J. Hayward, J. Andrews, G. Foreman.

Taneatua juniors to play United at Whakatane: K. Stuart, B. Chalmers, D. Bennett, C. Hawthorne, T. Tumoana, H. Merito, R. Thatcher, T, Mika, A. James, D. Leabourne, J. Prince, C. Eggleton, W. Merito, M. Brown, T. Hill, A. Atkinson, B. Symmans.

MAORI v PAKEHA GAME The match for the Jackson Shield for annual competition between Maori and Pakeha teams is to be played at Whakatane on May 21, it was decided at an executive meeting of the Whakatane Rugby SubUnion at Taneatua this week. A was also decided to endeavour to play a representative game at Tan- - eatua during the season.