RUGBY NOTES

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 3, 6 May 1927, Page 3

RUGBY NOTES

(By "Onlooker")

HUTT v. PETONE

Hutt supporters have every reason for" feeling satisfied with the result of this match—a draw was a fair indication of the merits of the two teams. Hutt were superior in the forwards, with Petone superior in the back division. Owing to . the state of the ground good back play was not expected, but Petone's equalising try was a dry-weather piece of work, this score would probably not have materialised had the Hutt backs been properly awake. One or two incidents spoilt what was otherwise a hard, clean game. The charging of Balks after he had got rid of the ball was uncalled for, and another attempt was made by the same offender, a few minutes later, one is forced to the conclusion that this is part of a deliberate programme mapped out against certain players. Fisher, when gamely stopping a forward rush, was mistaken for a football by at least two players, and the writer was surprised to see him get up safe and sound. It is a matter for congratulation that the local players did not retaliate in kind, and in this respect local residents "should be proud of the Hutt team for the way they

play the game—the ball is evidently their sole objective. The Hutt forwards are to be congratulated upon itheir showing; it i?> too' fault of theirs that the game ended in a draw. Time and time again they cleared their goal line with sweeping rushes which carried air before them. They bunched well together, making, it a hard matter for the Petone backs to stop them. Their following up was quite a feature of the game, enabling the lighter forwards in Sundgreen and Berntsen and Shanahan to show up to advantage. Unquestionably, the. best forward in a good pack was Berntsen. He was in the thick of everything, and put any amount "of ginger in his work—in fact all the forwards were good in the latter respect. The state of the ground seemed to suit Grierson, who is undoubtedly a good wet weather forward. Daily was particularly good in line out work, besides giving a good account of himself in other directions. Turei, the lock, held the scrum well, and buried himself in the tight stuff. I understand he is anything but fit yet, so that when he is in form should be a forward above the average. Smith did good work, and when he has a little more coaching should go a long way in the game. Sundgreen and Shanahan proved to be a good pair of hookers, gaining the majority of the scrums. Apart from their hooking, their play earned them the right ta be in the team. Given the same conditions, th£ writer would be sat.isfied. to see the same pack represent the club; on a'hard ground Grierson could be replaced by a more active man. George, as rover, played a rattling good game, and is unquestionably a find for, that position. He got ■m- amongst the Petorie inside backs and spoilt quite a lot of good movements. His straight running when he .was in possession of the ball, was refreshing to see. Fisher got through a tremendous amount of work, his tackling and rush-stopping being up to the usual standard, which is saying a good deal. McDougall, as ' a first five-eighth was not impressive, but, his work in the loose play was of a high standard, Gibson's try being the result, of a nice cut in by McDougall in -the first "instance. Gibson proved himself to be a very clever back, a neat, little, grubber kick used on certain occasions being a source of trotible to the-opposition. The great weakness appears to be in the threequarter line, the lack of scoring wings being apparent. Although it was not a day for back play, the play of the wings was not impressive. Hume s tackling was good,, but he is f vl ry J ' weak kick ' and seems unable to field the ball with any degree of certainty. Brown stuck to Hawkins well, but is handicapped by his lack of weight. Munro played quite a fair game at centre, but is inclined to get out ,o£. position. This player should make a good, first five-eighths, as he is a solid sort of customer, and should be able to stand up to the hard stuff ; the experiment is worth a trial, and if a success, would solve the five-eighth problem, all6wfng McDougall to be brought out into the three-quarter line. Balks, at full back, started off m a scratchy manner, his rush stopping being noticeable by its absence; he was also, inclined to wait for the ball to bounce, thus getting into serious trouble several times. In the second spell his taking of the ball and line kicking improved, in fact, in this respect his exhibition was almost faultless, but his rush stopping and tackling was not so good.