NOT UP TO IT

NZ Truth, Issue 1179, 5 July 1928, Page 14

NOT UP TO IT

Playing as a wing-forward, Bert Fletcher got his side into trouble too often. No doubt he found it difficult to keep on-side under the circumstances, for as a rover, Bert is quite good.. Palmer was quite m his element on Saturday. . At all stages where there was fast, loose play Bert could be found. Not that he did not do his share m the tight, for with Finlayson m the front row, Auckland got plenty of the ball. Finlayson was right on his best game and this is evidenced by the fact that through fast following up and combining with the backs, he put two tries to his credit. Whether it was holding the pack together or being m the game where fast loose work prevailed, Wanoa could be depended upon to do his bit. Though of a nuggety build he has a wonderful lot of pace and a great eye for an opening with the knowledge of knowing just how to make the most use of it. Walter Batty, who captained the team, gave another of his fine expositions of footwork. Ir| this particular respect, Walter has few, if any equals m local football. Certainly there has been none better the last two seasons. Cathcart was somewhat lethargic m his movements. Slow m getting onside at times he gave Waikato several penalty kicks, but his work m the scrum and on line-outs more than compensated for this failing. Keith Anderson, "Handy Andy," played more than a sound game. He was m everything going. Like Cathcart, he has both weight and reach and knows how to use both. It was no fault or failing of ThOmas, at full-back for the visitors, that Auckland scored six tries, for he was very sound on defence, but he could tackle only one man at a time and when Auckland scored there was always at least a couple to contend with. His fielding and kicking was very fine. Anderson, on the wing, was too prone, to wait for the intercept and so gave the winners several of their opportunities. Like the rest of the thraequarter line his, inclination was for cross-field running and passing. On defence he was sound and tackled well when he did not go for the intercept. Vosper was solid at centre. He was very quick at scooping the- ball off the ground, often at the toes of the Auckland pack. Quinn was sound. With more experience, he threatens to make a good winger. His pace and doggedness are very helpful to' Waikato. Except that during the third quarter Kemp sent his three-quarter line to it there was nothing impressive about his play. ; Fitzgerald did not get too many chances for the Auckland pack either broke through arid smothered him when Waikato got the ball, or opportunities did not come his way when the home team hooked. •. , 7 : Tuck had a hard job behind the pack, but Vt'Qfi . not inspiring. His kicking was a feature of the play.