NOTES ON PLAYERS

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1947, Page 6

NOTES ON PLAYERS

K. De Castro again played a sound game for Athletic on Saturday against Otaki-Rahui, and he saved his team from many sticky situations. His positional play was very good and his ability to kick with either foot is a great advanage. T. Lancaster played a solid game on the wing and he fully leserved both of his trics. He is very aggressive and once the ball reaches him the opposing side has reason to be worried. He is also very fast dfid' Uses his speed to advantage. W: Galloway played at centre on Saturday and was up to .his usual high standard. Carkeek, olaying his first eame at halfback, gave a creditable performance and if he continues to play in this position the team should benefit. His only trouble on Saturday was in getting the ball away quickly enough. In the forwards Corbishley again played a solid game and was always on the ball. Fleteher gave a sound performance, but is still inclined to play too loose. He is one of the best loose forwards in Horowhenua, but on Saturday nis pack needed his extra weight and did not get- it. „ For Otaki-Rahui T. Gray," playihg at half-back, started some good rushes, but these movements usually' broke down when Gordon, the five-eighth, kicked through instead of passing out along the rne. The whole team is still showng an obvious lack of combination, and until they achieve this first essential their chances of winning more games are not bright. Ramsbothom again led tne forwards, who played a hard game but failed to pack in the/ rucks. The pack had a definite weight advantage over Athletic, md yet on several occasions they failed to use it when they most needed the ball. In the opinioh of one of last year's All Blacks who watched the first half of the match on the Levin Domain on Saturday beween Athletic and Otaki-Rahui, the performances of the five-eighths of both teams were the poorest he lad ever seen in senior rugby. On receiving the ball these players would promptly kick through in an attempt to find a gap, and almost on every occasion the f ull-back from the opposing side would get possession and . gain valuable ground. Though these kicks somefcimes worked to advantage, the main theme in football was, and still is, to keep possession of the ball in your own team and not give the other side a chance to gain possession. Once the opposing. side had the ball the position was- immediately dangerous.