Rugby. TECH. IN FORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 99, 13 May 1937, Page 15

Rugby. TECH. IN FORM

"Omni'*)

Definitely Superior to Hastings H.S.O.B. GAME OF CONTRASTS

(By ■

Last Saturday 's series, the fifth of the ipiiiiid, thrertjr ho light on the pltimate destifiation of the Maddisau Silver Football, emblematic of the champiofisfiip. Instead, it SerVed to indieate the superiority particularly of TechOld Boys aind Marist, while Hastings, the tthly other unb'eaten team, wOii narrowly Over Napier Old Boys. M.A.6., another of the strong sides, had the hye. Technical Old Boys have a grand pack of forwards this year, a fact that they illustrated in no Uncertain manner in their meeti&g with Hastings H.S.O.Bi on McLean Park last Saturday. The mateh was watohed by a full stand, a soinewhat surprising circumstance when one remembers the strong race attnaction , only twelve miles distajit.'- As a game . it was one of contrasts, the superiority of the home pack being couuteracted by the visitors' rearguard. but the pressure constautly maintained found loopholes in the Blue defence in the concluding stages. The strength. of the Technical forwprd line is demon-» strated in the manner in which they break away from the rucks, and it was noticed that when Dalton, Bowman and Brooks pushed through, as they did freqUently, the skill of the two Johnsons eame into the jnovqment to carry it bn. Bill Johnson, as the last man down in the Technical scrum,. exercise® a great influence on it in the aart of wheeling. TTnlike most back-row forwards, he locks the two middle men in the second row, leaving the two siderow men to do the xaiding if necessary. His knowledge of back play stand® him in good stead too, and he ptomise® to' develop into one of,Hawke's Bay's ontstanding forwards. On Saturday he scqied two tries. ,The Technical backs ar© not very happy as a combination, due to a weakness at first five-eighth and centre, three-quarter, two of the key positions, At half-baek Riddell is improving, and Herbert, starved ea a wing three-quarter, was . brought in closer on Saturday with excellent results. Two ' of the Technical backs would be improved with instrucfcion in how to pass the ball; at presenf they persist in the overhead style. G>od Goal-klcking. The goal-kieking ability of L. MeCarthy, for Hastings H.S.O.B, was again in evidence -with two" "great penalty goals, but in other respects his work slumped in the concluding stages. Apsey was the best winger in the game, and Lowe did some splendid ground fielding. A pleasing feature of the Blue backs was their backing up of each other, and this ability got the side out of some warm corners. Patrick, at first five-eighth, made no attempt at finesse when in possession; in fact, he got rid of the pill* iriways about a second too early. A hard day was spent by the forwards, among whom Ford, Irwin and Ashman were mqst prominent. Mabch for Wooden Spoon. On No, 2 ground Pirates entertained Havelock North, and the wooden spoon was at stake. The final score, a ninepoint draw, left the position as you were.. Both sides were very earnest, but the mateh provided one long list of lost opportunities. The Villager's forwards are easily the lightest in the competition, and the Pirates rearguard the worst. They consistently undo the work of the forwards and play simply as individuals. Mapuhi, at full-back, ducked and dived and wandered everywhere, sometimes being far from his post when necessity demanded his attendance. Cargill Joll was easily the best back in the game, and Fraser (Pirates) th« outstanding forward. A promismg Piayer. The Napier Boys' Hxgu School are developing well this season, and, in the curtain-raiser to the main (ftttraction were too skilful for Technical Old Boys' third fifteen. Outstanding in the School fifteen is Cummings, who kicked four goals. One kick from the side of t.he field was brilliantly judged as at the time there was a stiff breeze blowing and judgment was essential, He is without doubt the most promising goalkiek seen in Napier for years Sub-Unlon Games. There has been a general revival in Rugby in Wairoa tbis season, six teams contesting the senior competition. Nuhaka have a strong senior side, with Hawea Mataira the outstanding forward. Peter Smith is reported as playing well for Whakaki, and a good wingthreequarter has been unearthed in a young piayer named Bartlett. Mr. Tom Ftench, who did so mueh for football in Wairoa over a long period of years and who was transferred to Gisborne three years ago, has again been transferred baok to Wairoa on promotion, and he can be relied on to unearth the players that will once more plaeh Wairoa on top of the ladder. There 'are six teams in the Taupo competition and fotir in the new subunion situated in the Waikare area. Altogether there are 7 senior teams in Hawkes Bay, which must be a record for any province in the Dominion.