FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 248, 2 August 1928, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

“ALL BLACKS’” TOUR. New Zealand 15 Orange Free State 11 REPRESENTATIVE GAME. Hamilton 19, Putamru 6. A clean, open game resulted when the above teams met at Dowd’s paddock, the visitors winning by a margin of thirteen points. The ground was in excellent order, and the game was played at a surprisingly fast rate from the kick-off to no-side. Hamilton owe their victory largely to the extra pace and finish of their backs, and also the better packing of their forwards.J'Witltjthp'’.defence PuferUitf' lost at leastgjthree: tries through “lack of speed.l 'fjiu.'llome forwards never let up tbjojglippt the game, and in the last garter especially ware buckling the visitors’ scrum and having much the bettdr of the argument in loose play. The backs played their best game of the season, Morton, Wharetine. and McDonald showing outstanding form,The sides lined out as follows: —

Pufaruru (red).—Fullback, Bullot (captain); three'quarters, R. Dunlop, McDonald, Morton; five-eighths, Wharetine, Henderson; half, Robinson; rover,. J. Belcher; forwards, Parker, M. Brown, Hodge, Ensor, S. Belcher, G. Brown, Dunlop. •Hamilton (yellow and black). Fullback, Skeet; threequarters, Clemett, Allen, Collins; five-eighths, Fitzgerald, St. George; half, Boucher; rover, Mitchell; forwards, Scott, Hooper, P—rccti, Ford, Charleston, Stubbs, Christie (captain). \ Referee: Mr. J. G. Gasparich. Putaruru kicked-off against the wind and sun and were slow to settle down. At midfield Henderson cut in cleverly and served Wharetine, but the latter was’ overhauled from behind when a score seemed likely. Twa frees followed to the reds, but Skeet retrieved the lost ground. At the halfway mark Boucher sent out to Fitzgerald, St. George, Allen and Clemett, the latter easily swerving past R. Dunlop for a try. The kick at goal failed. Hamilton 3, Putaruru 0. Another Hamilton passing rush went along the line towards Collins, but Morton intercepted in good style, but lacked support at the fullback, and a certain chance went begging. At midfield McDonald kept downing Fitzgerald and Allen with great flying tackles, and the sound spotting of the home backs forced 'another passing rush from touch-line to touch-line without the gain of a yard. The visiting forwards then attacked In a body, and Boucher failed from a penalty, Wharetine clearing with a big punt. Fr ->m a scrum Boucher, Fitzgerald, St. George and Collins handled, the last-named outpacing, the defence to score. Allen’s kick hit the bar. Hamilton 6, Putaruru 0. McDonald securing in the loose opened to Wharetine to Morton, the ball being taken half the length of the field for Morton to hit the flag. Skeet cleared well, and from a loose rush at the other end Stubbs got over for Allen to Convert. Hamilton 11, Putaruru: 0. Playing with dash in the loose the home forwards got away, and Belcher securing cut in in good style with a thirty yard dash to the flag. Awarded a penalty, R. Dunlop’s kick from the line fell short of the bar, hut Ensor following hard secured and fell over with two defenders holding him. The try was not allowed; and a fiveyard scrum ordered. From another penalty right in front Henderson hit the under side of the bar. The second quarter opened with a rush by the visiting rearguard, hut Fitzgerald bored too much and Clemett was pushed out. The red pack then took *a hand, and carried play 40 yards, G. Brown just being beaten by inches for a try. The reds now warmed to their work and Wharetine made a clever opening for McDonald, who cut clean through the defence, only to be overhauled when a try looked imminent. From the scrum the ball shot across to Morton, who set sail at great speed for the corner, but failed to round three defenders by inches. The reds hammered away at the visitors’ line, and from a free J. Belcher failed from a fairly, easy position. Skeet relieved, and Fitzgerald led an attack to the other end, hut R. Dunlop saved with a huge 50 yard punt to tduch. Ensor headed a short xush, but Skeet punted with judgment, and flora the opening a score

I seemed likely when Morton dashed from the opposite wing to effect a clever save. Fitzgerald and Alle.i sent Clemett away, but the winger was bundled into touch in goal. Two frees to the reds gave some relief, but working the blind Boucher sent Collins away to score too far out for Alien to convert. Hamilton 14, Putaruru 0. Skelton took Stubb’s place on resuming after the interval, and at raidfield Wharetine cut in well and short punted. Morton came up at a greal rate,, but was bumped by Hodge with the line open as he jumped for che hall. Morton next fielded a crosskick and shot down the line, but was pushed to touch when dangerous. On the other wing Fitzgerald, Allen and Clemett handled cleverly, the centre being hurt in the movement. A penalty against W. Dunlop for handling in the ruck saw Allen hit 'ifie post. Morton ran the ball out and Fitzgerald took his kick near the touch line and tried a drop at goal Following the drop out Hodge broke through with the ball at toe, but kicked too hard on approaching the fullback and the ball was cleared easily. K. Dunlop next fielded cleverly at halfway and running to the 25 short punted, hut the ball, went dead.

At the other end Boucher marked on the line, and tried a drop, but Wharetine secured and ran out well. The forwards carried on to the other end, where a red rush on the right was cleverly reversed in-field by R. Dunlop to J. Belcher, who got to the line. From a free Bullot missed a fairly easy kick. Fitzgerald cut through in his own half, and Bullot made a poor attempt to stop Collins, who centred the remaining distance to score the softest try of the match under the posts. St. George converted. Hamilton 19, Putaruru 0. This first serious error in a game brimful of exciting movements aroused the reds to great efforts. From a penalty J. Belcher missed an easy kick and the reds swarmed on the visitors’ line for some minutes till Mitchell brought relief just before the spell ended. The last quarter saw Hamilton on the home line, at the start. A free gave temporary relief, then Fitzgerald, Allen and Collins handled, but the ball went to touch in goal. Charleston was penalised, but Skeet kept the reds defending. Boucher was penalised for picking from the scrum, but Collins and Charleston came baK: and failure to gather the ball probably lost another try. The red forwards lasting well then ok charge, and a series of rushes s'- tv them attacking hotly in the visitors’ 25. Play remained here for some minutes, but the home efforts were blocked by relentless tackling and supporting on defence, until from twenty yards from the goal posts Robinson shot ■ the ball out to Henderson to Wharetine to McDonald to Wharetine, who galloped over at the corner. It was a splendid culmination to a series of fierce attacks. All the’ backs ran straight, drew their man and passed with judgment, Wharetine handling twice. R. Dufilop failed to convert. Hamilton 19, Putaruru 3.

The red forwards now took charge and following a free M. Brown and R. Dunlop shot through and collared Skeet with the ball. From the scrum the ball shot to the right, and McDonald and R. Dunlop interpassed to the line. From the scrum J. Belcher shot over “too far out for him to convert. Hamilton 19, Putaruru 6. > Well' supported by Wharetine and McDonald the red pack again swept down the field with Mick Brown and Hodge in the van, and another try looked likely when Hamilton were penalised near the posts. Bullot took the kick, but failed to add further points. Time was then called with the score: Hamilton, 2 converted goals, 3 tries, 19 points; Putaruru, 2 tries, 6 points. Comments. Though apparently beaten by a big margin the home team played far better than the score would indicate. They rose to the occasion in great style after a slow beginning, and it was simply bad luck and lack of speed and finish which prevented at least three further tries being added to the score, while of several easy kicks at goal two Were missed close to the posts. The game was of the kind which has made New Zealahd Rugby famous, being hard and open, and played from start to finish at a great rate. Throughout there Was not a jarring incident, and the clean exhibition of both sides deserves every commendation: <• Compared with previous displays this season—especially recent ones

a welcome surprise, and if a similar exhibition caij he given next week, the side should have a good fighting chance for the Finlay Cup, if any luck comes their way.

Wharetine at second five-eighths, produced “ one out of the box.” His handling, straight running, dummying and backing up being very fine. Morton on the left wing also showed rare form, his dashes for the line being full of grit, while his defensive work at times was superb. A strong and fearless runner, he only requires to cultivate a low cross kick to make him extra dangerous. A class winger sKould not allow himself to he pushed to touch at the end of passing movements, except perhaps when dashing for the corner flag. Morton’s pace, and determination draws the defence so completely that a cross kick from him would present great openings to his side.

McDonald, at centre, was a totally different player, and gave of his best of two seasons ago. With surprising speed off the mark, he and Wharetine were the thorns of the attack, while his flying tackles frequently nipped attacking movements in the bud just as they were becoming dangerous. If anything, he perhaps was inclined to overdo them, but nevertheless only twice was he hurdled. Henderson proved the best connecting link of the season, running straight, passing fairly well, and tackling hard, as is his wont. He never attempted too much and twice cut in in clever fashion. Robinson, at half, is not yet up to his best form, but is improving each game. R. Dunlop on the right wing showed a weakness in tackling on defence, but punted heftily, and showed speed and determination on attack once he got moving. Bullot has played better games, but took no risks and nursed his forwards at' every opportunity. He made one poor attempt to stop Fitzgerald and Collins, but otherwise his defence was fairly sound and outstanding in gameness. The backs evidently took the recent criticism in these columns to heart, and there was no aimless kicking to the open side. Each time on defence the ball was returned well over the forwards’ heads, the pack thus being enabled to last out a fast game in great style.

All of the fqj-wards were workers. They lasted much better than the visitors and more than held their own in the loose. In the last quarter they badly buckled the Hamilton scrum on several occasions. In hooking and line work Hamilton held the advantage. Ensor playing for the first time for weeks following his injury, mixed it more in the tight tharj’ usual and showed no tendency to hang off. He was unlucky not to be awarded a try under the posts. Of the others Belcher at rover played much above form, while Hodge and the two Browns showed great speed in the loose, with the others fighting every inch and every minute in the tight mauls. One apparent weakness was the formation in loose rucks. While' Hamilton players came round and pushed from behind, local forwards were too prone to enter these scrums from the side, where much of their weight and strength was of course lost. With this remedied a big improvement will he shown for all seven are tireless workers with plenty of speed and devil. Hodge proved a good leader and forward is undoubtedly his place.

FINLAY CUP. Putaruru v. Matamata. So pleased was the sole selector, Mr. J. G. Gasparich, with the form of the representative team last Saturday that, despite several lastminute changes for that game, he has chosen the team en bloc to sustain Putaruru’s challenge for the Finlay Cup at Matamata next Saturday. While up till last week it appeared as if the Putaruru representatives had little chance, Saturday’s form reveals that if it can be repeated they will have a good fighting chance and that Matamata will have to be at their best to withstand the challenge. Matamata have a solid pack of heavy forwards and the Putaruru backs will need to nurse their pack at every opportunity, as they did last Saturday, so that they can last a hardfought game. The Putaruru side is : Full-back, Bullott, captain (Pacific); three-quarters, Morton (Putaruru), McDonald (Arapuni), R. Dunlop (Putaruru); five-eighths, Henderson (Putaruru), Wharetine (Pacific); halfback, Robinson (Arapuni); rover, J. Belcher (Arapuni); hookers, M. Brown (Putaruru), Parker (Arapuni) ; lock, Ensor (Putaruru); supports, Hodge (Pacific), S. Belcher (Arapuni); back row, W. Dunlop and G. Brown (Putaruru). Reserves, Schofield (Putaruru), McClelland (Arapuni), Nuku (Pacific), Rapson (Arapuni), Taylor. Manager, Mr. J. G. Gasparich. the form of the home team came as

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. Sub-union Represen:atives. Matamata 15, Cambridge 11. Hamilton 19, Putaruru 6. Senior Semi-final. Walton 3, Patetere 0. Juniors. Rest of Matamata 3, Wardville 3. Thirds. Matamata 11, Wardville 8. Schools. Rotorua 24, Matamata Secondary A 8. Rotorua Secondary B 46, Matamata B 0. NORTH V. SOUTH ISLANDS. Waikato Men Included. Two Waikato men, R. Kemp (Hamilton) and M. Anderson (Morrinsville), have been selected to play for the North Island B unions against South Island at Palmerston North on Saturday. Kemp will play at Gentre three-quarter and Anderson on the wing. The surprise selections are those of Nepia and Mills, veterans who have proved their ability. If the match has been arranged as a test it is thought that the selectors should have considered the claims of players who have yet to make their reputations.