FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 155, 21 October 1926, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

WAIKATO UNION. PRESENT AND FUTURE. In the history of all unions is found lean and fat times, periods when strong teams are fielded and seasons when the quality of football is weak. Provinces fluctuate in ranking. During- recent years the positions of the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay provinces provide examples. If the records of the two travelling teams that Hawke’s Bay sent out this year are a criterion it would seem that the day is not far distant when the supremacy of the Rugby world will pass from the wearers of the black and white to otherhands. Will Waikato be one of the provinces which are arising from mediocrity to be ranked among- the great teams of the Dominion ? That is a question which rests in the hands of the controlling authority. The lesson that the past season teaches is that there must be a change in methods if the Waikato is to be ranked among the first grade sides. This year the sole selector was adopted and it was an improvement over the previous system. There may have been disagreement over the selection. The writer has not always seen eye for eye with the selector. But it is not to be expected that there will be a complete unanimity of opinion as to the selection of a team, no matter who the selector may be. A diversity of opinions will prevail. But this jiear the selector worked on his own idea of the team, and adhered to it. There was not the constant alterations which have marked previous years. A number of young players were included and the benefit of this will be felt next year.

The selector chose the team and did his task. If the results were not all that were to be expected the blame must not be placed upon his shoulders.

The lesson taught was the union must be prepared to support the selector by enforcing- training. And in the use ot this word not only training for physical fitness, but training in tactics and strategy in implied. The Waikato team started off well. It showed good form and gave great promise in the first match against Thames Valley. But it improved but little; in fact, in some of the games the combination went back. The weakness became obvious as the season went on. It was a team of individuals whose games and methods did not quite fit in with each other. There always seemed a weakness in some of the links. Forwards and backs did not work together as was essential. The backs played spasmodically and there was never apparent that mutual understanding and cohesion which is imperative to create a dangerous back division. After the first Auckland match the only side which was manifestly superior to Waikato was Taranaki. Waikato should have won the second Auckland match, but it had not the ability to take advantage of the openings that came its way. This all comes back to the question of training. Had the players been brought together on a couple of nights for the purpose of blackboard lectures and the determining of certain tactics to be played and supplemented by a little gymnasium work the team would have been a very different one. There would ha\ e been less waste energy on the part of the players, and organised attack of the whole would have replaced the individual efforts seen so much. (Continued on Rage 8.)