SPORTS AND PASTIMES

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 144, 5 August 1926, Page 1

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

FOOTBALL.

CAMBRIDGE 17, PUTARURU 9. Cambridge provided the opposition for the second representative match of .he season at Dowd’s paddock. Neither side was at full strength, the visitors having four alterations and Putaruru three in the original selections. The sides lined out as follows: Cambridge (blue and black): Fullback, W. Bourke; threequarters, Russo, A. Thompson (captain), C. Thompson; five-eighths, Mays and Peake; half, Walters; rover, J. Bourke; forwards, Dagg, Hart, A. Hall, E. Hall, J. Bourke, Lloyd, Milburn. Putaruru (red and black): Fullback, Henderson; threequarters, Green, McDonald, Thorpe; five-eighths, Doherty, Kelly; half, Kusabs; rover, Gasparich (captain); forwards, Morrow, Tomalin, Yendell, C. Brown, Williams, W. Hearn and F. Hearn. Putaruru won the toss and played with the sun behind them. Yendell fumbled from the kick off and the Cambridge pack immediately attacked. Doherty relieved to halfway, where E. Hall got offside, Gasparich failing with an easy kick. The visiting forwards again attacked in a body, but Kelly marked. C. Brown led a good rush to midfield, where Gasparich made an openeing. His pass rebounded off Doherty’s head and the latter was pulled up in consequence when dribbling through. From the scrum, J. Bourke made a good rush to the, line, but Henderson forced in time. A free to each side followed the drop out, then J. Bourke put Cambridge on attack with a great line kick. From a scrum the ball shot along the line of backs to C. Thompson, who finding Thorpe out of place, got over near the flag. Bourke failed with the kick. Cambridge 3, Putaruru 0. Putaruru then attacked with vigour, but F. Hearn was badly obstructed when dangerous. From a scrum inside the 25, J. Bourke beat Gasparich badly and gained half the length of the field. On the right Russo got away, but Dohgrty got him from behind. The reds came back, and Kusabs to Doherty to Kelly to McDonald saw the latter just fail to get across. J. Bourse again relieved, but A. Thompson got offside and lost the advantage. The red pack again came back and Arty Thompson was caught with the ball under the posts. The blues were lucky to get out of it with a scrum, from which Hart cleared. The home team started the second quarter with a likely rush, but Walters marked in time. The blue forwards made a rush but the handling i was very faulty. Gasparich came | back and Doherty kicked out at the 25. The ball shot over to the left and C. Thompson made a determined rush. The ball came infield and Walters securing found the defence out of position and taking the. situation in at a glance cut in for a nice try. J. J. Bourke missed an easy kick. Cambridge 6, Putaruru 0. J. Bourke next | created a sensation by essaying to ! kick a goal from eight yards over the half way mark, but the ball failed to rise properly. Walters side-stepped Yendell, and running through the arms of W. Hearn, Tomalin and Williams made an opening, running half the length of the field. From near the touchline Bourke failed with a good kick at goal from a free. Kelly and McDonald carried play to the visitors half and C. Brown made an opening- for Gasparich, who was just held up on the line. A free tc Puta- j ruru saw the visitors come away with 1 a loose rush, and a hot scramble took place in the home 25. The ball was i fought for within an ace of the touchline, and as the bell rang Doherty secured and let the forwards away. The , i ball was taken to the opposite 25, where Doherty again secured and pas-f sed to Gasparich. The latter punted I over the fullback’s hpad and in the I rush that followed the home skipper , was given the touch down near the posts, where he made no mistake with | the conversion. Half-time: Cambridge j 6, Putaruru 5. ' (>i resuming F. Hearn and Green made poor efforts on defence and

gave away a try to A, Thompson. Bourke failed with the kick. Cambridge 9, Putaruru 5. Doherty stood out with great tackling work on defence, and then A. Thompson found touch at the 25. Putaruru wheeled the scrum and Doherty led a dangerous rush, W. Bourke fly-kicking to save. Green marked near touch but his kick at goal was charged. W. Hearn stop ped the rush, however, and the ball shot across the backs to Gasparich, who potted a goal. Cambridge 9, Putaruru 9. On resuming Russo made a great rush, but Doherty again proved a rock on defence. A Thompson side-stepped five taeklers and kicked out at half-way. J. Bourke got offside and following the free A. Thompson made a nice opening irf his own half, and running strongly let Russo away. The latter outpaced the defence and threw into Hart, who scored / under the posts. W. Bourke converted. Cambridge 14, Putaruru 9. Robinson replaced Doherty on the home side, which immediately attacked. Gas--1 parich, Kelly and McDonald did pretty work, and a ruck was formed on the line with the visiting defence in a knot. The home forwards failed to heel, however, and a great chance was lost. • From a free Gasparich missed with a high kick, and later Kelly cut clean through the defence but the pass went astray. Gasparich next got through but a lucky speculator by W. Bourke went half the length of the field to touch. Both sides were now flinging the ball about, C. Brown and Gasparich shining for Putaruru, and Hart and Walters for the visitors. Dagg, Bourke and Hart led a rush and the blue backs opening out a try seemed certain when McDonald intercepted on his line. Running clean through he kicked to Bourke, who marked just over his 25 line. A blue forward was penalised for playing the ball on the ground, and following the free Bourke just beat Brown. A. Thompson, Walters, J. Bourke and Hart relieved to the other end, where a scrum was formed on the line. Gasparich picked the ball from Bourke’s toe and ran half the length of the field, but Tomalin spoiled the movement by getting offside. From the free Cambridge attacked on the left, and C. Thompson securing dashed for the line. Bowled over he picked up again and fell on the line with Yendell and he clinging- to the ball. W. Bourke failed with the kick, and the I whistle sounded with the scores: Cambridge, 1 converted try, 4 tries, 17 points; Putaruru, 1 dropped goal and 1 converted try, 9 points. Referee: Mr. H. H. Bennett. NOTES. Territorially,' there was little between the teams, and where Cambridge scored was in experience. The red and blacks had quite as much of the game, if not more, than the blues, but their position play and knowledge of tactics was very crude at times. At least two tries by the visitors were in the nature of gifts, while on another occasion in a l-uck on the line with the blue defence out of position, the ball had only to lie heeled for a score. Though the blue forwards averaged at least half a stone heavier than their opponents the big- blue pack was slcv.and cumbersome. The blue hookers were sadly beaten by Tomalin and j Morrow, yet on many occasions the j ball hung in the back row. F. Hearr ! was the chief culprit in this respect. | At halfback and centre threequarter : the Cambridge team had a big advent- j age, and Walters and Arty Thompson made the defence look very weak at times by sizing up the situation at a glance and galloping in the oppositedirection to the defence. At wing threequarter also the blues were better served, Russo and C. Thompson be- ! ing much superior to Thorpe and j Green. | For Putaruru, Doherty was easily the j I best back on the ground. He was aMy f supported by McDonald and Kelly. | Owing to the spotting tactics adopted I by Bourke and the blue breakaways I most of their efforts came from the loose, however. The Cambridge insides, with the exception of Walters, were weak and ran across too much. Green was not up to form, his kicking being very poor. Henderson tackled

soundly and always got his man, while Thorpe only lacked experience. His work was game and his kicking on defence always towards the touchline. His lack of experience gave away the first try,' however. McDon(ald in stalling off a cut in relied, on his speed to drive Arty Thompson towards the touch-line. The move was successful when Thorpe suddenly left his wing man and dashed at the centre. The result was that both defenders tackled the visitor just as he parted with the ball. To leave a winger unprotected is a great mistake, while if a centre cuts in it is not the fault of the winger. McDonald’s tactics were good, and it was only Thorpe’s eagerness in wanting to down the man with the ball that caused him to leave the door open, so to speak.

FOOTBALL.

(Continued from Page 1.) The Putaruru insides were brilliant individually, but have not settled down as a combination yet. Kusabs at half was patchy, and lacks speed. He should have caught Russo when this player let Hart in to score, for the blue man ran round him. The pack played splendidly with the exception , of in tackling and the work of the ( back row men in set scrums. The j packing was solid and Yendell held a j solid scrum. In the loose the less said j about their tackling the better. With j the exception of F. Hearn, C. Brown, j and Yendell they seldom got their i man, while the bulk of their work in this direction was too bad to be true. In the tight they were great and out- t played their heavier opponents. F. Hearn shone in heavy loose work 3 but continually kicked the ball back in I the scrums. Some day Frank will re- 1 ] alise that headwork counts most of all g' in Rugby then we shall see some fine 11 play from this forward. In the loose 1 * Williams and C. Brown were the pick j * of the forwards, with F. Hearn shin- 1 * ing in the line-out. Half-a-dozen! 3 visits to a training shed would im- I < prove the side fifty per cent. The \ 1 material is there but the execution is not. 11 PUTARURU v. MAMAKU. The following team has been chosen to represent Putaru.ru against Mama- i Ira at Putaruru on Saturday: back, Green; threequarters, Taylor, Kelly, Henderson; five-eighths, MeDonald, Petherick; half, Doherty; rover, Gasparich; forwards, Jensen, Morrow, W. Hearn, Yendell, F. Hearn, C. Brown and Williams. Reserves: Backs, Kiti, Kusabs, Thorpe ; forwards, Cairns, Baker, Thorpe. NOTES. The team is practically the same as 1 that which faced Cambridge, the only 1 alteration being that Taylor resumes his place at wing-threequarter, and the insides move up one. This involves the dropping of Kusatjs at half, in which position Doherty will play. The move is in the nature of an experiment, but seems to be the obvious one on paper. Cn Saturday Doherty was the best back on the field, and revelled in the tight stuff. As he requires , very little room to move in, he may do well at half back, but he must let 1 the ball out. Petherick at inside fiveeighths is also in the nature of an experiment, but again he appears to be the man for the position. Fast and 1 unselfish, and throwing a lovely pass, be may bring the best out of Me- . . Donald, who at centre threequarter is too far away from the scrum. There is no doubting Henderson’s defence, | and if he will keep up with the attack i the back division should do well. The pack is composed of grafters j who should hold their own in the set Scrums, but so far there has been little to enthuse over in their work in the loose. At the moment the tackling of the forwards is their weakest feature. On Saturday it was on a par with that of school boys. In the set scrums their work in hooking was brilliant and was only spoiled by the back row men. Yendell, the junior, thoroughly earned his place again, for he held a solid scrum, and the hookers state they were never better locked. Most of their good work, however, was undone by the back row men, who repeatedly blocked the ball from coming out. Brown and Williams have teen placed in this position for Saturday, and the change may work wonders. C. Brown, a lastminute choice against Cambridge, rose to the occasion splendidly and played himself into the team. With improved position play and better tackling the team should do well. PUTARURU RUGBY UNION. , MANAGEMENT committee. At the weekly meeting of the management committee of the Putaruru Rugby Union the following were present : Messrs. J. W, Barr Brown (chairman), J. G. Gasparich, H. H. Bennett, C. D. Brown and G. G. Griffiths. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. It was decided to commence the match against Mamaku next Saturday at 2.30 p.m. A curtain-raiser between Rotorua schools and Putaruru schools was fixed for 1.30 p.m. Both matches are to be played on No. 1 ground. PROGRAMMES. Arrangements for the programmes were left in the hands of Mr. C. D. Brown, who was authorised to obtain a new set of numbers. ' \

BOYCE CUP. | Owing to unforeseen difficulties it F was decided .to rescind the minute relating to a challenge for the Boyce Cup. CLUB MATCH. The Arapuni club asked that their game with Putaruru be played at Arapuni, and it was decided that, provided sanction was obtained from the Public Works Department in writing, ■ and also from the Putaruru club, the committee would offer no objection. ! j REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. ' WAIKATO 31, THAMES VALLEY 6. On Saturday the Waikato team travelled to Paeroa, and played the Thames" Valley team. The ground was in good order and conditions were perfect. The play of both sides was .patchy. In the first and last quarter . 1 Waitkato showed good form, the last : | twenty minutes being marked by • I some very fine passing rushes. The : I second and third quarters were very . j scrappy, there being a great deal of .•ragged forward play. Waikato were . I undoubtedly the superior team, their : \ backs outclassing the Thames Valley. ; A feature of the game was the ggal | kicking of Dare, who kicked six j goals out of sevent tries, and some at [.difficult angles. In the Waikato team Robson took Quinn’s place at fulll back, otherwise there was no altera- • tion.

The teams were:— Waikato (black and white): Fullback, Robson; threequarters, Paki, Kemp, Buckingham; five-eighths, Dare, Anderson; half, Mitchell; rover, Howard; forwards, F. Thomas, Courtney, Bourke, Carter, Bennett, Chapman, Montgomery. Thames Valley (yellow and blue): Fullback, Johnston; threequarters, McQuarters, Towers, Buchanan; fiveeighths, Malt, Nicholas; half, Masters, rover, F. Goldsbury; forwards, H. Young, Patterson, Robinson, Keqhan, Peacock, McPherson, McLeay. After play settled down from the kick off Kemp came through the centre, and the forwards took on play to Thames Valley 25. From the scrum the Waikato backs opened out, but Kemp dropped the pass. From a penalty against Thames Valley, Dare kicked a good goal. Waikato 3, Thames Valley 0. Waikato soon attacked again, but Kemp sent out a poor pass from a passing movement to Paki. An ill-directed pass let Thames -Valley attack, but Mitchell saved with a good line kick' to the comer flag. The ball went to Robson, who crosskicked, but th,e bounce beat Paki. Thames Valley cleared. Kemp gathered a kick but spoilt an opening by going too far. Thames Valley had the better of loose play and Dare stopped a strong attack. Howard broke away but a poor pass to Courtney lost a chance. Howard headed a dribbling rush and Carter picked up on the line and scored. Dare converted. Waikato 8, Thames Valley 0. Thames Valley had the better of the play following the kick out. From a j mark Thames Valley charged down on Waikato backs. Nicholas led a strong rush, and Thames Valley continued to have the better of forward play. From the loose Masters broke away and | evading Paki’s weak tackle passed to Buchanan, who Robson stopped. Play continued in Waikato territory until Kemp cleared with a long kick. A free kick let Waikato gain the ascendancy and a dropped ball saw Mitchell and Buckingham figure in a passing rush to Thames Valley line. Thames Valley soon cleared through Waikato backs being out of place. Ragged play followed. Buckingham came across fast and passed to Kemp, who hung on too long. The second quarter opened with Anderson picking up smartly. His pass out was dropped. Buckingham picked up and broke through to pass to Howard on the inside, who sent on to Montgomery, who dropped the ball. Thames Valley broke through with a j forward rush, and kicked to Robson, | who kicked and following fast but was not supported. Johnston tried a kick at goal but the ball fell short. Masters, Malt, and Nicholas figured in a yellow passing bout, but Towers dropping spoilt the chance. Robson showed up in fast following work after his kick. Give and take play of a scrappy nature in the centre ensued until Dare lined at the yellow 25.

Buckingham made an opening and Anderson coming through took, the pass and sent on to Howard, who knocked on. Waikato had a turn attacking. Then faulty passing by Waikato backs let Thames Valley through, and Waikato forced. Up and down play ensued with individual efforts but little

combined work. Thames Valley drove Waikato back, and for some time had the better of play, Robson being called upon to clear several times. Chapman cleared from the line out. Play went to the 50. Howard opened up j a passing rush cleverly, but bad passing checked the movement. At half-time Buckingham retired owing to an injury to his foot, Campbell taking his place. The third quarter opened with Thames Valley attacking, and from a free kick Johnston tried at goal, but was short. Two men waiting for the bounce allowed Peacock to break through to Waikato line. The blacks were penalised from a scrum, and Johnston failed with an | easy kick. From the loose play after the kick out Howard failed to gather and a yellow forward rush swept over the Waikato backs and McPherson scored. Johnston failed to convert. Thames Valley 3, Waikato 8. Waikato, who had been playing very scrappily, rallied after the reverse and Howard and Carter showed up in good work. At this stage Bennett retired from the Waikato team, Finlayson taking his place. A Waikato passing J rush, Mitchell to Dare to Howard to Anderson to Campbell saw the latter kick when blocked. Play ensued on the Thames Valley line and Masters kicked into Howard’s hands, who scored. Dare converted with a fine kick. Waikato 13, Thames Valley 3. In the following play Robson twice did good work in saving and following his kicks. The game livened up a little and from a series of kicks Campbell going through fast smothered a yellow back and the forwards had a score at their mercy but for Courtney getting offside. Play to Waikato’s advantage ensued, but generally the play was poor. 1 In the closing moments Dare put in a great run passing to Paki, who was stopped near the line.

The last quarter opened sensationally, Montgomery took the ball from the kick out and running right through the opposing team scored between the posts. Dare converted. Waikato 18, (Thames Valley 3. From the kick out Thames Valley went to the attack, but passing between Nicholas, Towers and Malt was spoilt by Buchanan missing the ball. Another penalty against Waikato and Johnston kicked a goal. Thames Valley 6, Waikato 18. Waikato were soon attacking. From the thick Mitchell passed to Dare. Howard came in between the five-eighths and taking the pass ran through the centre to pass to Anderson, who cleverly sidestepped the full back to score between the posts. Dare added the major points. Waikato 23, Thames Valley 6. On resuming Howard again shone out in a movement with Campbell. Thames Valley attacked and Peacock was prominent. Then occurred a peculiar incident. The ball was kicked out. Campbell picked up the ball and threw out to Howard, who passed back to Campbell, who scored. The ball was called back, the line umpire ruling it had not been thrown in from the right spot. Howard started a passing rush which gained ground. Waikato forwards showed more dash. Waikato were continually on the attack. Paki got over from a passing movement, but was called back for going into touch. The Waikato backs were showing good passing. F. Thomas broke through the thick and there was more open play. From the line out Montgomery broke through to send out the ball on the short side. Campbell picked up smartly and scored. Dare again converted from a difficult angle. Waikato 28, Thames Valley 6. Dare put in a great run, but the following movement was checked by a good tackle. Waikato continued to launch a series of attacks. In the last minute Mitchell dashed down the side line and passed in to Courtney who broke through and scored. Dare failed to convert. Waikato 31, Thames Valley 6. The whistle then went. Mr. R. B. Penlington was referee. MATAMATA RESULTS. Seniors. Walton 3, Patetere 0. Juniors. Matamata 17, Hinuera 0. Patetere won by default from Waharoa. Wairere forfeited to Walton. Thirds. High School 8, Patetere 6. Matamata 5, Waharoa 0.