FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 25 July 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

— “• ’ YOUTH V. SCIENCE. LESSONS FOR REPRESENTATIVESOn Saturday last the Paoroa. Rugby Union arranged a match, Veterans v. Representatives, the proceeds of which are to be handed to the gaeroa War Memorial fund. The weather was fine, but a heavy ground which had not had time to dry, somewhat hammered play, especially; with the green, untrained veterans. There were some three hundred spectators present to witness what was undoubtedly the finest exhibition of football seen in Paeroa this season. On the play the Veterans were the superior team, for their better knowledge of the fine points off the game compensated them for (heir lack of training, and carried them through to victory by 12 points to 6. The local Representatives suffered badly from lack of training, and if they intend to win the Peace Cup or make a name for themselves at Roto- , rua they will have to take their foqtball more seriously. Of the backs I. Poland as full-back, C. Poland as half-back, and A. Royal as second five-eighths were the only ones who played’ with anything like representative form. G. Royal as first fiveeighths wants to learn that the .wing three-quarter is the scoring man, and that a variation of tactics is as necessary to a back as physical fitness. Without exception, every time the ball came out he tried to cut in, often right into the arms of the opposing five-eighths. Unless an opening is present, or unless there is a fair chance of drawing defence, the bail should be sent out. to the wing as quickly as possible, so that he can make use of the pace that a wing should have. As half-back Poland should try the game of a standing half occasionally, for unless the -inside backs have good combination a running half is likely to throw them out of place, with the result that 3 well-timed pass is often picked up too late to be of any use. . ■ The tackling was patchy. Too much smother tackling was indulged in, which is only of use in close work, when the tackled player has not. gained sufficient pace to throw an attacking player off. Tn the forwards Taylor showed up in line-out work, and occasionally in the open, but he failed to give the assistance in the tight work that might be expected of him. The forwards as a wh,ole worked well, but .=adly lacked Combination. One man breaks away too often by himself, and one seldom sees two or three forwards coming down in a line with the ball at toe. : ’ The Veterans all played sterling games, and the combination they worked dp sopn after the commencement of the game merely showed what can be done by doing a little head work. Their effort was certainly creditable, and the present Representatives would do well to adopt their method of play: keep the ball in the air, passing. from one to another, and your opponents will never see it. The following players have been selected to go into training at the Drill Shed every Wednesday and Fri- , day night at 7.30 p.m.:— B. Rae, L. Shaw, I. Poland- U; Poland, A. Royal, G. Royal, A. Williams, A. Morrison, F. Pitts T. Johnson E. Johnson, C. Western, G. Fisher, G. A. Fisher, P, Fisher, H. Samson; W. Taylor,- J. Benny, F. Patterson, L Killgour. H. Shaw, J. Crosby, G. Nelson, E. Cashmore. RUGBY UNION MEETING. The weekly meeting of the Paeroa Rugby Union was held last night, when there were present: Messrs J. Walmsley, C. Potter, G. Jenkinson, B. Neil, W. Morrison, W. Power, M. Moore/’and the secretary. A letter was received from the Cambridge Rugby Union stating thift the date for the Peace Cup match had been fixed for August 11,—It was decided to accept this date. An application was received; from the Waihi High School -for a match against, the Third Grade Representative team as a curtain-raiser to i representative match in Paeroa.—lt was decided to offer them a game in a curtain-raiser to the Paeroa v. Piako representative match on August 4. An application was received from J. Clarke for regrading from West Club seniors to juniors.~-<Jranted. The - referee of the Reps. V; Veterans last, Saturday reported having ordered a player off the field for disputing his ruling.—The referee’s action was approved. Accounts to the amount of £1 16s 3d were passed for payment. The final round of junior fixtures as drawn up by the chairman and secretary was approved. _ SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. The following matches have been arranged for next Saturday Seniors.—Komata v. West, at Paeroa. Netherton v. Suburbs’ at Hikutaia. / Juniors. —Netherton v. Suburbs, at Netherton ; Komata-East v/ Karanga . hake, at Karangahake. West a bye Third Grade.' —East v. West.