SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 136, 10 June 1926, Page 1

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

FOOTBALL.

TRIAL MATCH. For various reasons there was several absentees from the teams originally selected .to assist the selector in deciding on the rep team, and these defections somewhat spoiled the interest in the game. However some useful practice was indulged in, the following two teams opposing one another:— Red and Black: Kitty, Woolliams, Mears, Green, Edwards, Sole, Butt, Morrow, Hearn, Cormack, Taylor. 'Colours: McKewin, Brown, Maeown, Galvin, Gasparich, Robinson, M. Brown, Thomas, Mitchell, C. D. Brown and Jensen. Referee: Mr. J. R. O. Loehhead. The weather conditions were ideal and the opening exchanges saw Gasparich shine out with some good l kicking. The reds then attacked and Mears got over for Green to convert. Scrambling play followed with the lighter forwards of the colours playing well in .the loose. Gasparich snapped a mark in a handy position and made no mistake with the kick. The first quarter ended with the score 5—3. From .the re-start the colour forwards set up an attack and from a weak defence kick Gasparich took a pice marlf overhead. The kick, however, went to the right of .this, posts. Offside by Thomas followed, and Gasparich up another short kick but Green secured and punted down field. G. Brown carried on to near the. line, but fell when dangerous. Give and take play followed, and then Robinson took a nice mark off Butt’s toes. Taylor received' an injury to his head, but soon resumed. Thomas was injured in a tackle and had to receive 'medical aid. Half-time followed with the score 5—3 in favour of the colours. C. Brown was offside on .the resumption and Green added three points with a great kick from near touch and 12 yards inside half-way. From the loose Maeown lead a rush and dribbled over near the p-osts for Galvin to convert, thus making the scores 8 points each. Woolliams was penalised for lyingon the ball, and desultory play followed till Kiti let Green away. From the throw-in Maeown and Mitchell and Gasparich interpassed over half the length of the field for Mitchell to score. Gasparich’s kick hit the bar. Tire last quarter began with the colour forwards in hot attack, and Ccrrnack being- penalised Gasparich faded with the kick. Sole took a clean man: from .the toes cf the opposing forwards, and with a sharp punt fed Kiri but the. latter failed to gather. C Brown got offside and from a throwin Kiti and Woolliams get away. The latter ran well and side-stepping the defence notched a nice try. The kick at goal failed. McKewin was penalised but Green failed to add any points. Gasparich and Maeown interpassed nicely, but Butt and Morrow came back. A score seemed likely, when Butt tried to sell the dummy, and McKewin got him safely. Play settled in midfield, and- then Hearn f finished a quick rush by touching • dev.-n. The same player converted and | made the score: Reds 14, colours 11. j Kiti put in a solo run, and Mitchell | handled on the ground following- the j tackle. A hot red attack followed, i and Kiti marked in a handy position, j A cross kick followed but the defence prevailed and the whistle blew with the scores: Red and blacks, 2 converted tries, 1 penalty goal, 1 try, 16 points; Colours, 1 converted try, 1 penalty goal, 1 try, 11 points. JUNIORS. ARAPUNI V. PUTARURU. This game was played at Arapuni and resulted in a convincing win for Putaruru by 11 points to 6. The home side was outclassed in every department. and appeared to be right off ■their game. Putaruru took up the 1 offensive early and Rossiter scored a | itry which Munro converted. Smith I

J also scored and Munro kicked a pen--1 alty goal. Arapuni’s score consisted jof tw'o penalty goals. Referee, Mr. I Graham. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. AUCKLAND 36, WAIKATO 3. The first representative match of the Auckland province was played at Hamilton on Thursday, when the Auckland A representatives met Waikato. Howard (Morrinsville) failed to turn out for Waikato owing to j injuries sustained last Saturday, CasJ ties (Hamilton) being substituted, j From the first few minutes it be- | came apparent that it would resolve itself into the matter of just how | many Auckland would w-in by. The i Waikato forwards beat their eppon- . ents in the tight work hut directly an Auckland player handled the ball it spelt danger for Waikato. This does not mean that the play of Auckland w-as brilliant—it was not. There , was nothing original in the back play, j Only once during the game did the Waikato backs get properly going j and then the attack broke down through the wing (Campbell) failing j to take the ball when nicely placed for a try. THE PLAY. i The opening exchanges were slightIly in favour of Waikato. The first 5 score came rather suddenly, CampI bell failing to take and allowing Ol- | sen to gather. The Auckland three- ! quarter cut in to beat Quin simply and score. Lucas’ kick failed. The Waikato forwards got down to the opposing line but a WaikatG back again let the blue and whites g-et going and a lovely passing bout from the Auckland 25 line ended in Broderick scoring Auckland’s second try. j The next score came after a Waikato forward rush, in stopping which an Auckland back was penalised. Mitj chell’s kick was a beauty. Auckland 6, Waikato 3. Quin next stopped Auckland with a good line kick. In the forward work the home team were ; much superior at ' this stage but directly the backs came into play Auckland got to attack. Aoake was prominent in a forward rush which took the ball right on to the Auckland line, but from a lineout Auckland transferred play, and from a passing bout in w-hich forward's and backs indulged Broderick scored in the far corner. The score at 'quartertime was, Auckland 9, Waikato 3. j Waikato had a glorious chance early in the second quarter through A. i Johnson taking a crcsskick of Sheen’s. ! Johnson made a lot of ground and I then gave Campbell a chance but the winger missed the ball. C’emeit and Anderson took play to within a couple j of yards of the visitors’ line. Mit- | chell was then awarded a kick, which failed. Mitchell was next prominent ' in fooling several Auckland backs and Waikato were on the attack for several minutes. Campbell spoilt another good chance by missing the ball and Wright sent out at half-way. Waikato played 14 men till half-time through an injury to Mitchell, just prior to which McWilliams got over, i Sheen’s kick failed.' Auckland 12, I Waikato 3. Waikato opened the secern! half j I with a solid attack but Auckland cleared on their own lire with a mark to half-way. Olsen and Lucas went into the Waikato 25, where Auckland, had a good chance from a mark, which went wide. Mitchell put Waikato to the attack, which was sustained through the forwards. Two penalties against Auckland gave Waikato chances but Mitchell just failed each time. The visiting backs up to this stage had not shown the form of the first half, mainly due to the deadly Waikato tack'ing. Lucas then broke away on a solo and sidestepped three men in turn to score under the posts. I Ifwersen’s kick was successful. Auck- j land 17, Waikato 3. Auckland’s next j score came through Olsen. McWilHams’ kick failed. Auckland 20, Wai- I kato 3. The closing stages of the came were in a bad' light hut during .the last 15 minutes the Auckland forwards made

j the game open and Waikato were hopelessly beaten, four more tries bei ing scored, two of which were coni verted, making- the totals 36 to 3. The scorers were Knight (2), Broderick and Wright, Sheen converting two. The curtain-raiser between Old Boys fourths and Matamata thirds j was won by the former by 26—3.

FOOTBALL

NOTES. " ; In many quarters the overwhelmingl victory of Auckland over \Vai- [ kato on Thursday was expected, the principal reason being that the East ' and West and sole selector had had no opportunity of seeing the whole of -the players in action this season. The match was required early for financial reasons, and to suit the Auckland union’s dates, so that Mr. Cooper was ( faced with an unenviable task. Insofar as the match was concerned, apart from the result, it was most success- ] ful. The attendance was a record for a match on Rugby Park and the takings will be the means of placing the Waikato unrpn on the - right side of the ledger, ft may now be possible to as- J semble the Waikato team a day or , so before the next representative j match, so that the players may learn j something of each other’s play and , make plans. Coaching is an absolute necessity. I The Waikato team for Thursday -was apparently selected principally on last year’s form. During Die game, however, one could not fail to observe that places had been found for players —not players for places. This is quite a mistake. It is not fair to the player to ask him to face a trial out, of his position, and it is not fair to | the team that he should be occupy- , ing a position in which someone else j might have done better. Waikato | football is not of the highest standard, and therefore men will have to be educated through participating in b.g football. The team cannot be made good if the men are to be played in different positions each time. The time has come when promising youngsters will have to get their turn. Auckland won the match by such a large margin by team work and tactics.. “ Dummies ” were sold cheaply and the in-passing was a feature which demoralised the home backs. Often the ball would come out from Wright to Olsen, who would send it in again. So the defence was drawn and the Auckland men on the opposite wing viould ultimately receive and score. This is not new play, but is only allowed by weak tackling. In this respect the Waikato backs Were willing enough, but they failed to tackle properly, thus letting- their opponents get into play again. Clemett and Mitchell were the only backs to make sure of .their men. The fallacy of getting a man round the neck was proved by MacWilliamS, who on two occasions carried the Waikato fullback over the line with him, to score. The Waikato forwards were superior to the visitors in the tight work, weaker in the hooking, and not fast enough in the open. When it became a question of putting in the weight the Waikato vanguard was all. there, hut directly the ball came out into the open there was no method. It was the good, honest, robust forward against the more polished player. Three of the Waikato hacks were weak-—Quin, Campbell and Mac Johnston. The former was certainly given a lot to do, but his tackling was weak -when he did get to his man. Campbell, unfortunately for him, made a mistake in the first two minutes of the game, and did not recover. Johnson (Waipa) was played out of his position as centre threequarter, bui acquitted himself well, and was shifted to five-eighths in the second half No fault could be found with Kemp whose effective play suffered through •the weakness of his first five-eight Mac Johnston. The latter was not wj to the class. Mitchell at half playec his best representttive game. H< opened up on every possible occasion and was deadly in his tackle. Lik< Kemp, his play was marred by the first five-eight’s inability to do anything with the passes, and the sam< player’s weakness in defence. Apart from Lucas’ brilliancy there v/ns nothing sensational about the play of the Aucklanders. It was correct football without being brilliant Several of the scores came quite easilj so that the large number of point; scored does not by any means make the team a brilliant one. If it is ti defeat Hawke’s Bay the forwards wil have to be improved. -- In connection with -the arrange - ments for the match disappointmen -was expressed by a number of entbusi asts from Morrinsville and Te Arohi that the trains left before the matcl » was finished. Either an effort shouh have been made to further delay th< -train or the match should have beer commenced earlier.

PUTARURU RUGBY UNION. ‘ ] MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The usual weekly meeting: of the 1 above committee was held on Tuesday i nig-ht, when the following members : were present: Messrs. J. W. Barr .1 Brown (chairman), A. C. Thompson, H. W. Bennett, J. S. Smith, 3. Francis, J. G. Gasparich (treasurer), C. D. Brown (assistant secretary) and G. G. Griffiths (secretary). ORDERED OFF. A long discussion took place in regard to the referee’s report of the Te Whetu-Arapuni match, in which, a member of each side was ordered off the field for threatening behaviour and*foul language. Messrs. Thompson and Barr Brown, while recognising the seriousness of the offence, thought that in view of it being a first offence, and the referee getting in early, that a- severe caution Would meet the case. The secretary reminded members that complaints had been made both by letter and word of mouth re foul language, and that the assistance of the police had been requested. In view of this he thought a suspension should be inflicted irrespective of clubs or players. i Mr. Gasparich concurred with this view; and the amendment was carried by four votes to three, the referee preferring not to vote. As the substantiative motion the proposal was carried unanimously. TRANSFER I I H. Pepperill, who was granted a [ clearance by the Te Whetu club was i registered' with Putaruru. It was decided to note the union’s pleasure at ; the continued sporting spirit shown by the Te Whetu club in this matter. ; TRIAL GAME. , It was decided to play a rep match with Matamata on Saturday, ' June 19. The secretary was instruct- ’ ed to advise the Waikato selector of. j this match: TE WHETU CLUB. | The secretary reported that he had been advised by telephone that .the Te i Whetu junior club found it impossible j to carry on, and that a club meeting would be held this week, j An emergency committee consisting of Messrs. Barr Brown, A. C. Thomp>I son and G. G. Griffiths was appointed ] to deal with the matter. FOOTBALL TABLES. * Tha end of this first round in the j local Rugby competitions leaves the ' various. teams in the following- positions:—

j Arapuni on the- 29th. 5 I j ! PUTARURU v. MATAMATA. c The following team has been chosen to represent Putaruru against Mata--1 r.iata. on.. Saturday, June 19, by the sole I selector (Mr. H. Jensen): Full back, Edwards (Te Whetu); three-quarters, W -oillams (Te Whetu), Kelly ami Green. (Arapuni 1; five-eighths (inside' Gasparich” (Putaruru), (outside) Dougherty (Arapuni); half, Sole (Pu- *’ taruru); rover, Petherick (Arapuni); f 1 hookers, Butt (Te Whetu), Burrows > (Arapuni); lock, Williams (Arapuni); P side row, Hearn (Te Whetu), Hannan d (Arapuni); back-row, Taylor (Putae ruru), Robertson (Putaruru). ! ’ Reserves: Backs, Henderson and e Mears (Putaruru); forwards, Cormack * and Mitchell (Te Whetu), Morrow r " (Putaruru). e e QUICK THOUGHT IN RUGBY, e New Zealander writes to the Matat. mata Record as follows: y “ In your issue of May 20 I read an :s interesting and timely article on :e “ Quick Thought in Rugby,” and the :o writer must be complimented on havII j ing touched on the great weakness of | Waikato football—lack of intellig-ent 3- | method; in fact, of any method. There it are not lacking in any district in New i-i Zealand the physical qualifications ,a that go to make a good Rugby player h °f almost any New Zealand boy, but d what is lacking is proper coaching, te “ Whilst it may be difficult to get a n good coach for every club, it should be easy to get an expert to come

along occasionally to take all the clubs and demonstrate on the board and on the field how to pack a scrum, giving the reason for everything a player is asked to do, thus really educating the players. Then the backs could be shown both theoretically and practically their positions in attack and in defence; how to beat an opponent, when and how to kick, etc. Tactics and strategy could be discussed, and as a result at least some foundation of good Rugby principles could be laid, and the players would see the need for thinking out what they should do. “ I would put to the Matamata Rugby authorities the suggestion that some expert or experts be got along to give an evening to all the teams; much good would rasult, I am sure ”

1 j Seniors. j / w: l. D. F. A. P|ts. Putaruru' ' 1 ' () 1 14 11 | Arap-uft: . •* 1 * 0 ' - 1 11 8 2 Te Whetu 0 2 0 13 19 Q Juniors. i 1 Arapuni .. 3 0 0 54 3 £>; Tokoroa .. 2 1 0 56 22 Putaruru 0 2 0 5 56 »! Te Whetu 0 2 0 0 34 oi Te Wlnei lu v. Putaruru match was postponed, and Te Whe tu forfeited jto