THE RUGBY GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10611, 9 June 1920, Page 7

THE RUGBY GAME

SATURDAY'S MATCHES

SOME STRAY NOTES ON PLAY AND PLAYERS. PONEtKE’S MODERATE DISPLAY. Although there are many who opine that Poneke will retain the champion, ship, it is this writer’s belief that to do so they will have to improve considerably on the form recently shown. It was just Jimmy Tilyard and good luck that enabled them to beat Selwyn on Saturday by seven points to nil. “Jimmy” is one of the best players in New Zealand at the present time, but he cannot be expected to “make” the team every time he takes the field. On Saturday he relieved his side when it was. sorely pressed time and time again, and practically every forward) movement wag started by him. The rearguard, comprised of the three Tilyards, McArthur, Algar, Christopherson, and Malin, was a good combination, probably the best in Wellington, but the forwards were weak—pitiably so. Christopherson, Malin, and McArthur played well, but F. Tilyard was somewhat selfish. On one occasion ho lost what appeared to be a certain try by hanging to the ball instead of passing out to McArthur.

That good forward, Elliott, was not playing, his place being taken by King, who had been moved up from the backs, thus making an opening for. Christopherson. It was well for the red and blacks that they had such a good man as King in the pack. He played a sterling game. The other forwards cannot bo commended. - SELWYN—A FORWARD TEAM.

The pity of it. If Selwyn backs only had combination, what a good team it -would be. As individuals, soma of the backs play really well, but only as individuals. They rarely seriously attempt a forward movement by the time-honoured and very effective passing bout, but are prone to rely on the forwards. What a com montary on themselves. Why the want of confidence? Further, it in not fair to the pack. Time after time on Saturday backs made single-handed attempts, which always ended in that player being downed or by him punting to the forwards. Murphy the full-back, -is a worker,; and a good one at. that. He is very safe, but occasionally imperils his side by his propensity for going up. Admittedly, he does well in all places—and he has a go at the lot—but it is questionable if he is wise in vacating his position. Admittedly, Peart usually falls back when Murphy goes up, but, then, Peart is not Murphy. He is a very fast, spectacular runner, that is all — a useful man in a weak back team. His trouble is that he does not run to good purpose nearly so often as he could. Ho is inclined to run back and around .from one side of the field to the other, pith the result that he rarely gains ground. If he only were to try and run forward he would acquire experience in dodging his opponents, and so become a very dangerous man.- • . .

Flack, as usual, worked hard against Poneke. and in the second spell show ed up well, but got rid of the ball too hurriedly. Wogan and Rose, who took the

places of the two Linleys, will, no doubt, profit by their experience. The forwards cannot be given too inuch praiso for their exposition. They played brilliantly, time after tnuo taking the ball practically the length of the field. In all these movements, S. and J. Shearer and J. Burke wore conspicuous, but one man stood out for bis speed, tenacity of purpose, and knowledge of the game. This was wingforward S. Smith. He was always on the ball, thereby rendering invaluable assistance to his side. If the Selwyn Club could put in the field a rearguard! with better combination many successes "would come its "way. ORIENTAL v. BERHAMPORE. The match between Oriental and Berhampore senior fifteens on Saturday was as interesting as the support ers of - either team anticipated it would be; although Oriental carried the honours of the day as far as the final score went, they by no means had. the beat of tho game; it was hard to recognise in their play the same consistency thev exhibited at the previous week-end" in their fine stand against Athletic. . . There was conspicuously less vim in their play in the first half until they wore spurred to stronger efforts in the latter stages by the sudden retaliatory onslaughts of their opponents. They held a marked superiority over Berhampore in" combination, how-ever, a quality the southerners lacked to some extent. Berhampore deserved a higher score-figure representation ol their relative merits against their .opponent s’ play; for eleven points against three does not correctly illustrate the character of the game. The match was principally confined to the forwards throughout, excepting that period at the commencement ol the second spell, in which the , backs vied; with one another to find the sido line in nice position down the field. The winners were generally successful in securing the ball from the Imoont, and also managed to heel out from the scrum. ■ , , Tho Berhampore forwards proved a fast team, but showed want of com bination.