SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 475, 27 September 1923, Page 2

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

FOOTBALL. MATAMATA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The final meeting of the year of the Matamata Rugby Union was held on Tuesday evening, the president, Mr. W. C. Coote, occupying the chair. There were also present: Messrs. R. E. Burke (referees' Association), 11. 8. Bolt (Matamata), A. G. Yardley (Patetere), and J. E, Cummings (secretary).

SYMPATHY.

On the motion of the president a vote of condolence was passed to Mr. P. Quinlan and family in connection with their recent sad bereavement. NEW UNION.

] A letter was received from the Rotorua Union embodying a suggestion (already reported) re the formation of a new Union, to include Morrinsville, Matamata, Putaruru, Rotorua and several smaller unions. The matter was discussed, and it was decided that the Union would not commit itself, but would forward a delegate or delegates to a meeting to be called. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £32 were submitted and were referred to the president and secretary to deal with. NOTES. The West Coast for real democracy. There is no false pride about the Mayor of one of the towns visited by the"' Canterbury B Rugby side. A Christchurch Sun writer, who was accompanying the team on its tour, was introduced to this particular Mayor, whose occupation was that of a carrier. A further meeting was suggested. " Let me see," said the Mayor, " to-morrow won't suit me, as I'll be out with the cart then." " But don't call me mister," he remarked later, " Jack's my name/' The premier honours of the Rugby \gf.mc remain with Hawke's Bay. Their .very decisive defeat of Auckland on Saturday left no doubt as to the position of the teams. The fact that the home team possesses an advantage in playing on its own ground could not balance the margin in points nor get. away from Hawke's Bay being the dominant side throughout the game., The result came as a shock to many Auckland enthusiasts, who regarded the Auckland team as " world beaters," but it was not a surprise to other Aucklanders who knew that the idol of the public had feet of clay. The Wellington match showed judges that whilst Auckland could shine in a game to suit themselves, open and fast and with weak tackling, they were not a great defensive side. Such appeavs to have been the story of the match on Saturday. The Hawke's Bay forwards, heavy, fast, bustling and aggressive, and who played the vigorous, hard-tackling game which has been one of the great characteristics of New Zealand play, took control of the game. They' broke through the Auckland pack and worried the Auckland backs as they had not been worried before. The result was that (he Auckland backs had no opportunities to play a " pretty " game, because they were kept too busy defending nnd repelling the rushes of the opposing: forwards, and found that determined, hard tackling is a very different thing from weak collaring to play against. It was Hie old story of a strong pack against a light pack. The tendency of Auckland football' to develop a spectacular game and thereby depart! from certain fundamental principles of the game is apparently showing its effect. The pack this ' year in Auckland is probably one of the weakest that has represented the province. They possess pace, handle the ball well, and shine in the loose. Their weakness is that they are too light, are not hustlers, tackle poorly, and do not shine in the close work. The backs are probably the best set in the Dominion, but &S it is admitted the standard of back play in New Zealand is not nearly up to pre-war days, their real merit is not so pronounced as is sometimes imagined. On the other hand it is said that the ' fn wards in the. Dominion are up to \ the famous All Black standard. Therefore with the general quality of . the backs the team which has the good forwards has a great advantage.

GOLF. MORRINSVILLE V. WALTON. Members of the Morrinsvillc club were visitors to the Walton links on Saturday and a match was played between the two clubs, resulting' in a win for Morrinsvillc, who won six men's and three ladies' games, Walton winning two games, both ladies' matches. The following were the scores, Morrinsville names first:— Ladies.—Miss Pirritt lost to Miss Given, 5—4; Miss Chadwick beat Mrs. Candy, 2—l; Mrs. Seville beat Miss Martin, 2—l; Miss Parlour beat Miss Given, 4—3; Miss Hewitt lost to Mrs. Dickie, 2—l. Men.—Mclsaac beat Adams, 5—4; Mueller beat Cole, 5—4; Scholium beat James, 7 —6; Cottingham beat Fromm, I up; Chadwick beat McLean, B—7; Petry beat Given, 5—4. OKOROIRE LINKS. The recent, wet weather has retarded progress with the work of preparing several holes on the Okoroire links, but generally speaking they are looking very well and should be ready for play before Christmas. The links are on undulating country, which has all been ploughed and put down in good grass. The holes, which were mapped out by the Auckland ' professionals, Messrs. Moss and Blair, arc interesting, and will be made more so later on. The various distances are as follows: 265, 198, 330, 146, 00, 306, 242, 256 and 236. The links should prove quite an attraction to tourists and members of district clubs whose links-do not allow for summer play.