FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 41, 31 July 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

MORRINSVILLE 15, PUTARURU 3. The Morrinsville A reps met the Putaruru reps at Putaruru on Saturday, and a hard contest resulted. Morrinsville won by 15 points to 3. The teams Were: — Morrinsville (blue and black). — Full-back, S. Thomas; three-quart-ers, Stoupe, Johnson, Glenn; fiveeighths, Bailey, Knight; half, Warner; rover, O’Brien; forwards, J. McNaughton, Verncr, Fisk, C. McIntyre, H. Catrer, Scott, D. Pirrit. Putaruru (red and black). —Fullback, L. Hamilton; three-quarters, Ashworth, Irvine, Waea; five-eighths, Gasparich, Taupiri; half, Woodward; rover, Reweti; forwards, Tomalin, Knap, Cocks, Norton, Taylor, Newell, Dimond.

On the game opening, following an exchange of kicks, Putaruru forwards bustling reached Morrinsville’s 25. A penalty gave Morrinsville temporary relief, but the reds were returning when Morrinsville infringed, and Gasparich took a fairly long kick at goal from the wing. It failed. Morrinsville forced, and then by hard high kicking and open work reached Putaruru’s 25. From ensuing line-outs the Putaruru forwards broke back to neutral territory, but the blues continued the pressure, which, however, was again broken by the red forwards. . Play continued to vacillate between the 25’s for some time, then Morrinsville almost reached the Putaruru goal line, but Norton broke through the ruck with the ball at his toe and sent it back to halfway. Morrinsville later took a kick by Knap easy and forced. The reds came back to Morrinsville territory, and breaking through from a line out Reweti almost reached the goal line when he was grassed. The blues returned play to midfield. A penalty kick by Gasparich put the reds on the attack again, but an exchange of kicks and some open passing saw play again vacillate between the 25’s, ending with a penalty against Morrinsville in their own 25, and near the posts. Gasparich goaled easily. Putaruru 3, Morrinsville 0. The blues soon looked like evening matters. Breaking through a scrum at halfway Carter gave his backs an opening, which, by free work, saw them go well up, where a line-out ensued. Morrinsville backs got the ball from the throw* in and passed well against hot tackling, but their wing threequarter lost the leather as he was tackled hard in the corner; and a red kicked it out of touch at quarterway. The blue forwards were now* showing more dash and two good runs ended in Putaruru forcing. The red forwards returned the compliment, and Morrinsville forced. Morrinsville then opened out in a splendid passing rush, for Mclntyre to put the ball down on a cattle track in mistake for the goal line. This would otherwise have been a certain try. However, the Morrinsville forwards hooking from the ensuingscrum, the blue backs passed cleanly in a good movement towards the other wing, Stoupe scoring against the corner. The goal kick failed. Putaruru 3, Morrinsville 3. The first change over .followed, and the reds went to the attack. A penalty gave Gasparich another longkick at goal, but it fell short. Heavy work by both sides relieved by one or two open bouts, saw Ashworth fumble in defence, but the blue forwards kicked too hard, the ball going out of touch behind the goalline. The blues maintained the pressure and a penalty kick to them saw them nearly add another three points to their score. Hard work by the blue forwards, ably backed by their rearguard, gave the reds a very anxious few minutes in hot defence. This was endedjiby the ball going out of play at quarter way and halftime being called. On resuming, open work saw two reds mull the ball, Carter coming up fast to secure for Morrinsville and pass to Glenn in the reds 25 for the latter to obtain a clear field and run round and in toward the posts to put leather down. The kick, failed. Morrinsville G, Putaruru 3. Taupiri next set the reds ori attack, but Morrinsville broke through with open work, for Taupiri to make a good save in his own 25 by a clever kick to the touch line at quarter way. The blues continued to press hard, and a penalty saw Carter make a good attempt at goal but miss by a very narrow margin. Play in neutral territory followed for some time, Thomas, at full-back, for Morrinsville, stopping some dangerous rushes by the reds with a precision that marked him as an excellent player in the position. The blues readied Putaruru territory, where a passing rush by their backs was smothered by the reds’ hard

tackling. The final change-over came soon afterwards. The blues by fast following caught Hamilton with the ball and Vemer smothered Hamilton’s kick. A fiveyards scrum resulted, but a timely mark by Dimond gave the reds relief. Fast following by Norton saw Thomas caught with the ball for the first time and hustled back with it to to blues’ 25. An infringement by the reds gave the blues relief, but the i reds bustled back again to the corner in a dangerous rush. A scrum re- ; suited, and the ball went out to the backs. Reweti failed to secure from what otherwise must have been a try, and the blues broke right away in a fast rush. They outflanked the reds, and Glenn, getting the leather at his toe, shot it right through to the other goal line and following fast scored a good try near the posts. The goal kick again failed. Morrinsville 9, Putaruru 3. This score was quite a spectacular one, the reds almost scoring one minute, but the bljuesj rushing play right to the other end of the field to score the next. Morrinsville maintained the pressure, with Putaruru evidently tiring fast, and a fast cut in by Stoupe in the reds 25 saw him dash down the touchline to score right against the corner. The kick at goal was a good attempt, but failed Morrinsville 12, Putaruru 3. Further exchanges of kicks saw Waea force, but the blues came back on open work, and Johnson kicked to follow through fast, beat Hamilton for the ball and cut in to put it down under the posts. He took the kick at goal but failed. Morrinsville 15, Putaj ruru 3. The reds rallied and reached the blues’ 25. Here a penalty gave Gasparich a shot right in front of the posts, but it was smothered by the blue forwards. This was the final incident of note, time beingcalled soon afterwards.

Mr. S. C. Snell was the referee. At the close of the match both teams, with their officials, were the guests of the Putaruru union at tea at the Putaruru Hotel, Mr. J. BanBrown, chairman of the Putaruru Union, presiding-. SUMMARY OF THE PLAY. The match was rather disappointing-, being marked by too much scrambling and speculative work rather than the fast clear-cut movements which are expected of representative football. The goal kicking, too, was very weak on both sides. The red forwards had the better of the game from the Morrinsville pack but found Thomas, Morrinsville’s full-back, a hard man to' pass. The Morrinsville backs showed more precision and combination in attack than the Putaruru backs, but the latters’ tackling was very sure and smothered several good movements by the blue rearguard. Up till the end of the third quarter the play was very even, but in the fourth, quarter Putaruru seemed to tire and the blues had the best of the game.

THE FINLAY CUP. CAMBRIDGE 23, MATAMATA 3. The Matamata union’s representatives were called upon to defend the Finlay Cup for the first time this season on Saturday, the challengers being Cambridge. Notwithstanding- that the defenders were a much stronger team lifrian has been put in the field iri any representative match this year, the Cambridge team was easily victorious by 23 points to 3. The result was somewhat surprisinginasmuch that the home team was leading and had had slightly the better of the game up to half time. Cambridge, however, played a much more faster and combined game in the second half, and Matamata really cracked up from the time that Cambridge converted its first try. MATAMATA v. CAMBRIDGE. The teams were:— Matamata: O’Connor, Stewart, Harrison, C. Brindle, Wilson, Moyes, W right, Delaney, Holmes, Cotter, Morrow, Mason, Anderson, Aoake, Thrupp. Cambridge: H. Roberts, C. Thompson, A. Thompson, L. Bourke, 1. Peake, McMillan, Jessop, W. Bourke, Wallis, Dag-g, Robinson, D. Bourke, B. Hall, J. Bourke, F. Cooper. Matamata kicked off agaifist the sun and each side was penalised in turn and midfield play followed. Matamata were again penalised for charging in the line out, but the advantage was to neither side for some time. Robinson then headed Cambridge to the attack. Wilson cleared his line cleverly and from a penalty the same player sent the leather to the Cambridge 25 line, but Anderson spoilt the movement by offside play.

The next outstanding- incident was a run by Peake, which was nipped in the bud by Wilson. Harrison received when Matamata was attacking on the far wing, but threw forward twice to spoil a chance. McMillan kicked across to C. Thompson who looked to have a good chance, but C. Brindle got back to collar. A pretty Cambridge movement by Robinson to Thompson was nullified through a knock-on, Stewart tackling the former brilliantly. Offside by Wallis next stopped the blue and whites. Anderson got away to be stopped by Robinson. Cambridge were doing most of the attacking* at this stage. A free to Cambridge against Cotter was resultless. Moyes then sent the blacks to the attack, and from Wright to Moyes to Harrison saw a good try scored by the latter. Harrison’s kick, a poster, failed. Matamata 3, Cambridge 0. Play was in mid-field when the quarter time bell sounded. Stewart gathered the kick o.T following fast sent the blacks into the attacking territory and Harrison continued on to beat two men, but again threw forward. Wallis then led a Cambridge offensive movement which was spoiled by an infringement. A free to Cambridge, was taken by Harrison, who cleared to quarter way. Cambridge continued on the attack and were let into the real danger zone by a mis-kick by O’Connor. From a penalty, Cambridge’s kick at goal was feeble. O’Connor sent the blues back but a brilliant run by Jessop to C. Thompson, who gave the reverse pass to Jessop, went right down to the black line Matamata forced. Wright was next responsible for a good movement which fook play to the Cambridge 25. Jessop stopped with a good overhead kick. Aoake headed the blacks back, and got over, but was called back for a five yards scrum, the result of which was a force by Cambridge. The Matamata forwards at this stage were dominating- the game. Peake relieved to half-way. From several scrums C. Robinson bustled through to be pushed out at the corner peg-. Thrupp and Cotter relieved for Stewart to take play to the blue territory. A period of midfield play followed. Cambridge gradually worked down but C. Robinson infringed. A good Matamata effort by Wright, Mason and Holmes was spoiled by a bad pass. Matamata were attacking- when the half time bell sounded. Matamata 3, Cambridge 0. C. Robinson early led Cambridge to the attack, but Moyes marked well to kick to quarter way. A Thompson’s kick to a mark was smothered by Holmes and play was sent to half-way by a good kick by O’Connor. A Matamata rush in which Wright and Delaney were prominent resulted in a force, Delaney losing the ball when over the line. Peake reversed play. From a free kick Harrison hesitated to take and Wallis scored. Leo Bourke converted. Matamata 3, Cambridge 5. Matamata attacked but only temporarily, positions being reversed when O’Connor waited for the bounce and let Cambridge well down. Stewart saved. The game was very willing at this period, and play went from end to end in the loose. Harrison, Stewart and Wright being- responsible for some very good: work. Cambridge were on the attack when three-quarter was called.

A complete reversal of form was noticed in the Matamata team in the last quarter. Both sides attacked in turn in early stages with the advantage to Cambridge. The first sensational incident was when Jessop secured to pass to Peake, who when collared dropped the ball for A. Thompson to secure and pass to Leo Bourke, wTio scored and converted his try. Cambridge 10, Matamata 3. Cambridge again attacked from the kick off and from a scrum in Matamata territory Jessop again opened ‘up to Peake to C. Thompson, who ran in. The kick failed. Cambridge 13, Matamata 3. After a period of kicking-. C. Thompson again got in and Bou’rke converted. Cambridge 18, Matamata 3. The visitors were having no trouble with the defenders at this stage, and before the final whistle was sounded again scored and converted, making the scores Cambridge 23, Matamata 3 Mr. B. Chapman (Morrinsville) controlled the game. NOTES. It may be admitted it was the general opinion after the friendly match played at Cambridge recently that the Matamata union would not long- retain possession of the Finlay Cup, but few anticipated such a pronounced defeat. The team was nearly as strong as could be put out, and it was simply that it was not fast or good enough. The better team won by its combination and speed. The fact that Matamata held their opponents for practically threequarters of the game shows that it was the want of training- which found it out. To an extent the players could not be blamed for the lack of combination, for several of them were new to the team and also have

no chance of meeting- except as opponents. However, apart from these handicaps there were faults with the players and one of the greatest was the infringements of' the rules. In the first half it was particularly noticeable that a few players were inclined to endeavour to beat the referee, and for Matamata players, who should know Mr. Chapman by this time, it was simply ridiculous. The offences were committed several times when Matamata had great opportunities to score. The Matamata back play generally was right up to expectations, and has not been better this year, but several forwards were disappointing. The hookers got the ball, by a private count, eleven times to their opponents seven, while seven times it came out at the side. Both Aoake and Thrupp did their part well, the former being Matamata’s most hardworking forward. Mason also was up to his usual form. The other forwards on the day were disappointing.

Harrison and Wilson were both noted for very solid and safe collaring and the former may be recorded as the best back on the held. Wright felt the effects of the attacks by the big, fast, raking Cambridge forwards, but played a good game, oftimes showing great initiative. The Cambridge team would be difficult to criticise on its display in the second half. .Certainly it) did not display those sparkling movements so noticeable for three parts of the game at Cambridge, in the first half, but it more than made up for it in the second. Peake strengthened the five eighths and another player to show up well was Artie Thompson’s brother, Cecil. He is a fast, robust who should soon be in the limelight. Jessop was the most useful of the other backs. Robinson and Dagg were the most prominent of a good pack. The Cambridge team was entertained by the Matamata union to dinner afterwards, and the Finlay Cup was presented to the captain of the winning team (A. Thompson) by the president of the Matamata union (Mr. W. C. Coote). Before Cambridge left for home one of its prominent players, in conversation, informed the writer that his team mates were agreeably surprised that Jamieson was not playing that day. He said on the form shown at Cambridge Jamieson was one of the best attacking backs Matamata had and they had expected that he would have been one they would have had especially to look after.

SCHOOLS COMPETITION. Two matches in the schools competition were played at Putaruru on Saturday afternoon as curtain-raisers to the representative match. The Waotu-Lichfield schools’ team beat the Selwyn combination by 11 points to* 9, while the Patetere school team beat the Putaruru school team by 6 points to 3. UNION MANAGEMENT. Last week’s meeting of the management committee -of the Putaruru Rugby Union was attended by Messrs. J. Barr Brown (chairman), N. H. Ashford (secretary), F. Phillips (executive), J. Gasparich (Schools Union), Francis (Selwyn), W. Dodd (Waotu) and J. Smith (United). The Tokoroa club wrote objecting to the union having changed the location for the Selwyn-Tokoroa match the previous Saturday from Lichfield to Putaruru. While admitting that the original ground at Lichfield had not been put in order, the club stated that it had prepared another ground for this match, which it was entitled to liave played at Lichfield. It was pointed out that the union had notified the Tokoroa club to put the original ground in order if the club wished matches played there, and as the ground was not in order the management committee meeting the previous week had ordered that the match be held at Putaruru. However, the Tokoroa club on the Saturday morning had advised the union’s secretary that another ground at LichfiekT had been prepared, and the secretary had thereupon offered to arrange with Selwyn to play the match there, but Tokoroa replied that it was too late then to assemble their team and they would have to default to Selwyn. The Tokoroa club also took exception to their being fined 5s for defaulting to Waotu without giving the prescribed notice. The letter was received, the Selwyn club’s position as winners of the union’s competition this season being thus confirmed. The chairman reported that on behalf of the Selwyn club he had lodged a challenge with the Hamilton union for the Binnie Cup. The match, however, might not take place until October owing to the many prior challenges received. The chairman added that he had also tentatively arranged for a Hamilton BPutaruru representative match at

Putaruru, with a return match later at Hamilton.

PUTARURU V. ROTORUA. A Rotorua-Putaruru representative match at Rotorua is being arranged for next Saturday. THE ALL BLACKS. It is a matter for general regret that there should have arisen strong feeling over the selection of the Ah Blacks, and that on the eve of the team’s departure there should have been a squabble at the meeting of the parent body. The cause of it was equally unfortunate. It was a sequel of the controversy as to the merits of Mill and Wright as halves. The selectors may or may not have made a mistake in their choice. But no selectors are likely to claim infallibility, and so long as they perform their duties impartially and to the best of their ability they have done all that can reasonably be expected of them. Having made the selection their task was finished. It would probably have been better could it have been arranged to have had a longer interval between the return from the Australian tour and the departure for Home. It might also have been better if the team that visited Australia had been subject to revision and to additions for the British trip. That was a matter for the union, not for the selectors. Criticism of the selection was justiable. It was an expression of opinion, and as it is hardly possible that few people would have coincided in their views as to the best team it was inevitable that there would be comment. But the effort made to secure the inclusion of D. Wright, the Auckland half, at the last minute was a very different mattter to criticism and savoured of the back door method. To offer to subscribe £SOO provided a certain player is taken opens up’a wide avenue for getting in behind any selectors. Had the offer been an open one, leaving the selection to the selectors, it would have shown a more genuine interest in the team and the game. If such a thing were permitted, then what was there to prevent Wellington enthusiasts donating a sum of money provided a Wellington player, who had been excluded, was taken, or Canterbury or Otago or any other province taking similar action? Where would it end ? When the 1905 team was leaving there was a strong agitation for the inclusion of E. Wrigley, a Wairarapa player, but nothing came of it. As a matter of fact, Wrig-ley’s play was a feature of the All Blacks —Wellington province match which took place on the eve of the departure of the team. And what makes the incident worse is the effort to introduce political pressure, and the query of the chairman of the meeting as to “ what have Mr. Coates and the Prime Minister got to do with it?” will express the feeling of most footballers. Doubtless the Union considered it expedient to receive the request, and it would seem that the officials considered the best way out. of the dilemma was to pass it on to the selectors. It might have been more politic if the selectors had intimated that their duties had concluded with the selecttion of the team. Actually, it was not their task. If Mr. Little considered the team should be strengthened then he should have cabled from Australia, the* Union should have arranged for a special meeting in Auckland of the committee and selectors, and Mr. Little should have placed his views before them, and, if agreed with, the choice of extra men could have been made. To this there could have been no great exception taken, but to the course followed;, there will be general agreement with Mr. “ Ted ” McKenzie’s frank criticism. % It is a pity the matter ever arose. However, the departure of the team closes the incident, and all petty feeling and squabbles can be dropped , in good wishes to the 1924 team and the hope that they may equal the record of their predecessors.