FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 243, 28 June 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

Putaruru 3, Pacific 3. This game was played at Tokoroa, and was patchy throughout, both sets of backs being much below form. The teams lined out as follows: Putaruru.—Fullback, R. Dunlop; threequarters, Brown, Henderson, Rossiter; five-eighths, Patterson, Morion; half, McKeon; forwards, W. Dunlop, White, Pepperill, Brown, Newton, Allwood, Rolfe, Schofield. Pacific. Fullback, Bullot; threequarters, Tanirau, Weriti, Hodge; five-eighths, Waretine, Nuku; half, l'unka; rover, W. Kerr; forwards, Wheatley, Barry, Kerry, Shepherd, Bellring , r, Erleigh. Refei _e: Mr. Graham.

Shortly after the start the blues had Putaruru in their own twentyfive, where a penalty was awarded to Pacific, and Tanirau kicked a goal from an easy position. The blacks then had the blues on defence where play lingered for a time. Offside play gave the visitors a chance, but the kick at goal fell short. A long kick by Bullot which R. Dunlop failed to take caused Putaruru some anxious moments, and it looked as if the blues must score, but offside play got the blacks out of trouble. First quarter ended: Pacific 3, Putaruru 0. Good tackling kept the score down in the next quarter, neither side getting much advantage. Paterson had to leave the field with an injured leg, his place being taken by L. Martin, who showed although he had had a spell from the football field he had not forgotten the game. Half-time score: Pacific 3, Putaruru 0.

Following a free kick Putaruru attacked strongly and the biues had to fight hard to save their line. The visiting forwards then rushed and W. Dunlop, who played his usual good, hard game, picked up in the loose and set sail for the line. He looked to have scored, but a five yard scrum was given. Offside play by the blacks relieved the pressure, and from then on to the end of this quarter the blues had the advantage, but could not add to their score as their passing was wild and lacked finish. Pacific 3, Putaruru 0. The last quarter was full of interest, the tackling being hard though clean. Each side made sure of his man and desperate efforts were made by the blacks to even the score. From a forward rush the blacks crossed the line, R. Allwood touching down. ' The kick was missed, although an easy one. With the scores even the play became very lively. Henderson retired hurt, and with the play still in the blue twenty-five Putaruru haß their great chance in the shape of a free kick in front of the goal but missed by inches. Time followed shortly afterwards. Pacific 3, Putaruru 3. THE FINLAY CUP. Retained by Morrinsville. Morrinsville were lucky on Saturday in retaining the Finlay Cup against the challengers, Waipa. The Waipa forwards outplayed Morrinsville, and the holders were still further hampered by injuries to their inside backs, O’Brien, centre threequarter, having to go off. Waipa were the first to score, Cairns getting a try. Morrinsville immediately afterwards scored from a back passing rush, Anderson going over the line. Neither side converted its try. Waipa had rather the better of the play for the remainder of the game, but the backs lacked finish. The closing moment was exciting. Waipa backs got away and the Morrinsville full-back, S. Thomas, was left with two men to take. He got them both with wonderful tackling. The match thus terminated in a draw, three points each. THE FIRST TEST. New Zealand will anxiously await the news on Sunday of the result of the first test match in South Africa. There is no doubt the earlier defeats of the AH Blacks caused dismay

among that section of the public who imagined that it was simply a case of “ I came, I saw, I conquered.” The position was not improved when the All Blacks experimented with a change of the scrum formation. It was an undoubted experiment, but to a'dopt it and forsake the formation which New Zealand has been years in building up would nave been to court disaster.

Certain factors are overlooked in connection with the tour. In the first place the All Blacks have to play themselves into form. The position is different to that of the team which went to England. Those were selected and departed during the football season. The South African tourists were chosen the previous season and after six months spell from the game left on their tour. How could it be expected that these players would be fit with a few days’ training on arriving at their destination. In the second place the All Blacks have to adopt themselves to the South African game.' Since the amendment of the rules- in this country and therewith the abolition of what was known as the touch line game, long kicking to the line has become almost a lost art. The New Zealanders are probably finding themselves being thwarted by the persistent use of the line with long, well-judged kicks by their opponents. Their own backs have not been sure enough in this form of defence. It is more than probable that the New Zealand tackling, especially of the backs, is not as sound as it should be. Summed out the All Blacks are finding that they are unable to force their style of play on their opponents to the extent they desire and have to 1 beat the South Africans at their own game. It may be eve r that they are formulating a new style to meet the particular conditions under which they play. Whatever the results of the tests may be, they will produce the greatest Rugby struggle the world has known.

WAIKATO REFEREES. Meeting at Matamata. A meeting of the delegates of the Waikato Referees’ Association was held at Matamata on Wednesday evening, when there were present: Messrs. B. Marshall (chairman), W. Bryden (secretary) and Senior (Hamilton), Williams (Waipa) and W. Clover (Matamata). The followingmembers of the Matamata Referees’ Association were also present: Messrs. W. Hollis, J. Green, R. McCready and W. Quigg. The chairman mentioned that last year it had been arranged that at least one meeting should be held at the centres of the sub-unions, with an idea of creating interest and giving the home members an opportunity of discussing rules. Continuing, the speaker said that he was very sorry that there were not sufficient delegates present to form a quorum. They could not do any real business, although the minutes of the previous meeting and the correspondence since then could be read and discussed. The correspondence pertained to the activities of the association and in each case it was evident that the association was a real live body. A circular of the business transacted at the meeting of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, at Nelson, was gone through and fully discussed. During the lengthy general discussion that followed, reference was made to the ruling of the referee in the Walton-Patetere match and the 11/25-26 English ruling, which was J-, s t season forwarded to the New Zealand Association, was quoted. The rule stated that in the case of a player being awarded a try after having gone into touch, the referee discovering this after making his decision, the fate that the player had gone into touch makes the ball become dead, and any play after that has no bearing on the game. At a late hour the meeting was terminated and the visitors entertained at supper.

' REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. The following teams have been selected to represent Putaruru next Saturday against Matamata and N.Z. Perpetual Forests:— Putaruru v. Matamata. —Full-back, Bullot ; three - quarters, F. Brown, McDonald, Harrison ; five - eighths, Morton, Waretini ; half-back, Douglas ; rover, Belcher ; forwards, Logan, M. Brown, Hodge, Taute Brown, McClelland, W. Dunlop, Schofield. Putaruru v. N.Z. Perpetual For-ests.—Full-back, R. Dunlop ; threequarters, Tanirau, Penny, Campbell ; five-eighths, Nuku, Logan ; halfback, Robinson ; rover, Dimond ; forwards, lvedfern, another, Shepherd, Otine, McPharson, Parker, S. Befefer. Reserves, jg?— iTtichardson, Rapson, Rossiter, B&y, Rp}fe,siPepperin. f A AUCKLAND V...WAIKATO. The Waikato Team. The following will represent Waikato against Auckland at Auckland on Saturday:— Full-back, S. Thomas (Morrinsville); three-quarters, M. Anderson (Morrinsville), J. Vosper (Matamata), P. Quin (Waipa); five-eighths, R. Kemp (Hamilton), J. -R. Fitzgerald (Hamilton-); half-back, J. Tuck (Hamilton); rover, L. Kay (Waipa); back row, F. Thomas (Morrinsville), D. Bourke (Cambridge); lock, P. Courtney (Hamilton); supports, C. Robinson (Matamata), C. Oameron. (Morrinsville); front row, -E, Holmes (Waipa), J. Bonham (Hamilton). Emergencies : Three-quarter, Collins (Hamilton); half-back, Wilkes (Waipa) ; forwards, C. Christie (Hamilton), A. Cameron (Morrinsville). The team shows some changes from the one which was so badly defeated by Auckland on King’s Birthday. In the pack C. Cameron, Holmes and Bonham replace A. Cameron, Wallis and Dagg. This improves the pack. On Saturday’s game both C. Cameron and Holmes earned their places, and the tall Morrinsville forward should be very useful on the line-out. A. Cameron’s exclusion was not unexpected. He is not in form to play consistently throughout the game. Kay as rover is a very doubtful experiment. From accounts of the Putaruru-Waipa match he is a wing forward and will get his side into trouble with a strict referee. As a pack forward he would have been in his place. The backs are not impressive. The inclusion of Vosper as centre threequarter will strengthen the attack of the team, but the general back attack ■will probably he very much marred by Kemp being placed first fiveeighths. Kemp is a good defensive player, and at centre threequarter his weakness has always been his inability to make the openings for his •wings. M. Anderson is again -wing threequarter, a position strange to him, and where he does not play in his club or representative games. Quin is persisted in, though he has repeatedly shown that he plays a good fullback game at wing. He is strong in defence and weak in attack. Story on his form last year would be preferable to either wing threequarter. The Auckland Team. The following team will' represent Auckland:— Full-back, Butler ; three-quarters, Falwasser, L. Hook, Minns ; fiveeighths, Badeley, Paewai ; halfback, Jeffries ; rover, Fletcher ; front row, Palmer, Finlayson ; lock, Wanoa ; supports, Batty, Cathcart; back row, Knight, Anderson.

MATAMATA RESULTS. i Seniors. ) Matamata 25, Hinuera 8. >" Patetere 35, Raungaiti 5. Juniors. Matamata 12, Hinuera 8. Wardville 6, Walton 0. Patetete 9, Waharoa 0. Thirds. Wardville 6, Patetere 3. Matamata 17, High School 5.