Football.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 342, 12 June 1930, Page 1

Football.

MATAMATA RESULTS. Seniors. Matamata 9, Patetere 3. Juniors. Matamata 6, Old Boys 0. Hinuera 3, Patetere 0. ) Wardville 19, Arapuni 6. Third Grade. Patetere 17, Matamata 0. Wardville 18,, Walton 0. Putaruru 29, High Schooi 0. Only one senior game was played on Saturday, the Walton-Wardville match lapsing through no referee turning up, though both teams were on the field, and the PutaruruArapuni match being abandoned .on account of all workmen at the hydroelectric works being called up for special work. In the Matamata-Patetere game the latter team was defeated for .the first time this season, after a hardfought battle. The home forwards more than held their own in tight play, but in the loose they were slightly inferior to the faster seven from Patetere, Matamata and Patetere are now level in the competition, and unless the unexpected happens, and one of them suffers defeat, they will have to play off to decide who shall hold the cup, as each has beaten the other once this season.

In the junior division Patetere drop to second place, with Hinuera and Wardville level in the lead. In the third grade Matamata suffered their first defeat of the season, but they still lead by one point. The Wardville junior team is now the only undefeated side in any of the Matamata competitions. SENIORS.

Matamata 9, Patetere 3. There was a large attendance at Matamata, and the spectators were provided with a game which, if far from being spectacular, was fast and willing from start to finish and was mostly a stern' battle between two evenly-matched packs. The teams were:—

Matamata (black and whife). — Full-back, Fitzgerald; three-quarters, Robertson, Carlson, Kneebone; fiveeighths, Story, I)avies; half-back, Egan; rover, Mehrtens; forwards, Hodge, Wright, Ensor, Malligan, White, Higgins, Ford. Patetere (black). —Full-back, Stewart; three-quarters, A. Brown, Wilson, Sutherland; five-eighths, Shaw, G. Brown; half-back, Campbell; rover, Flutey; forwards, Hope, Fell, Fraser, Moore, Syme, Amoore, Simpson.

Mr. Macdonald was referee. Matamata had first use of the wind and the forwards made things lively in the opening scrums. Egan opened up on the blind side to Davies, but Carlson overran the ball with the line open. From the free Flutey led a rush to the home 25 but Fitzgerald returned past half-way. From a lineout .Wright and White got away

and dribbled over the line. Several players fumbled the ball and Ensor touched down well out. Fitzgerald made a good but fruitless effort to convert. Matamata 3, Patetere 0. Egan put Matamata on the attack with a lengthy punt, and Mehrtens and Egan gave Kneebone openings ; of which advantage was . not taken. Matamata were getting the ball but the blacks were spoiling in great style. With the wind in the second quarter Patetere quickly penned

Matamata in their 25. Hope led a rush to the line, where Fitzgerald’s kick was charged over the dead ball line. Matamata took a turn, Hodge and Davies gaining much ground. Davies made another opening but Carlson dropped at goal with Robertson on his right. The Patetere pack worked to the home quarter, where Flutey was just held on the line. Two minutes later a dozen blacks handled in an exciting shortpassing rush but the defence prevailed. Fitzgerald was left unsupported with a bouncing ball and G. Brown just failed to get across. The Bptetere forwards, playing in great style in the loose, swarmed on the home line. After half-time the home team changed its back formation somewhat, Story playing at rover, with Mehrtens half-back and Egan first five-eighths. Flutey led a black rush but Egan saved. The blacks were having the better of play against the wind, the changed Matamata formation not proving satisfactory at this stage. The game had now become a close forward one. From a throw in Mehrtens sent Carlson and Robertson away, but the winger was caught. Mehrtens sent to Davies to Carlson to Kneebone, who scored far out. Carlson’s kick missed. Matamata 6, Patetere 0. Almost immediately Mehrtens sent a quick pass to Story to Davies, who scored. Carlson’s kick missed. Matamata 9, Patetere 0.

Against the wind for the last quarter Matamata showed great dash, Ford and Davies being prominent. The blacks had a short attack but Story got away and bustled Stewart. White and Robertson dribbled on, but the bounce of the ball beat them, and Flutey kicked to touch. Stewart moved up to fiveeighths and quickly made his presence felt. A. Brown was carried off at this stage with a damaged ankle. Keeping up the pressure, the blacks charged Davies’ kick on the line, and Hope picked up and forced his way over at the corner. Flutey’s kick hit the post. Patetere 3, Matamata 9. Story and Egan dribbled from halfway but Wilson saved cleverly near the line. Matamata were pressing when the ball rang.

JUNIORS. Matamata 6, Old Boys 0. This game resulted in a close contest, with the losers giving the most polished display. In the first quarter Davies made an opening for Molloy to cross, and there was no further seoi-e until the last quarter. Just before the finish Davies made another opening and this time Grainey got over. Hinuera 3, Patetere 0. In a very close contest Swap scored one of the best tries of the season, running through the whole Patetere team and diving over the tacklers to score. REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS.

The following- teams have been selected to represent Matamata against Morrinsville at Matamata on Saturday:— Senior A. —Full-back, J. Stewart (Patetere); three-quarters, C. Fausett (Walton), W. H. Carlson (Mata|mata), Story (Matamata); five--1 eighths, G. Brown (Patetere), Davies (Matamata); half-back, S. Egan (Matamata); rover, Flutey (Patetere); forwards, Hodge (Matamata), Fell (Patetere), H. Ensor (MataI \ "17

(Matamata), Ford (Matamata), Lory (Putaruru). Emergencies : Forward, Syme (Patetere); back, Paterson (Putaruru). Senior B.—Full-back, I. Marshalli Inman (Patetere); three-quarters, Shaw (Patetere), W. Carroll (Walton), Kneebone (Matamata); fiveeighths, Hall (Arapuni), A. Wallis (Walton); half-back, Campbell (Pa-

tetere) ; rover, R. Hope (Patetere); forwards, Fraser (Patetere), Heke and Fyfe (Arapuni), Ayres (Walton), Simpson (Patetere), Malligan (Matamata), Dixon (Walton). Emergencies : Forwards, Higgins and White (Matamata), Moore (Patetere); backs, A. Brown (Patetere), Fitzgerald (Matamata).

THE BRITISH TEAM. The Wellington Match. It was generally recognised that the Wellington match would provide the first real test of the strength of the British team. And so it proved. But because Wellington won it is not to be thought that New' Zealand must be victorious in the Tests. Wellington had a strong side to commence with. It had a good pack of forwards, it had two of the greatest football brains—Porter and Mark Nicholls—behind them, and it had speedy backs. What was more to the point was that the tactics of the game had been carefully planned, and the team thoroughly coached in

the plan of campaign. This is where the Test team will be slightly deficient to Wellington. There will* not be the time to coach and train them as thoroughly as would be liked, since they can only be assembled three days before the match. . On the run of the game Wellington appears to have been a trifle lucky in winning. Aarvold made two mistakes which were expensive, and Morley missed a “ pot ” by inches. But the match showed that hard determined tackling can keep the British backs in check. Reports from Wellington show that in getting the ball the British pack was a little more successful than Wellington, but in the general work they were outplayed. The Wellington Evening Post states: “ The total gains from the set scrums were: Britain twenty-tv?o, Wellington fourteen. On the line out the ball was obtained cleanly by Britain fifteen times, and by Wellington twenty times. In forty-three of the line outs the bid for possession did not succeed either way. Infringements were frequent, and yet many were allowed to pass without penatly. For major breaches eighteen penalty kicks were awarded, each side hav-

ing nine.” “ In spite of their defeat the British players are great side, and for pace, combination and acurate handling must be given the palm when compared with other teams that have visited this country,” writes the same paper. “ The visitors play the type of game that appeals, and they demonstrated yesterday, as they have in other games, that Rugby under the old rules can be made very spectacular. There are one or two points about the play of the visitors which would make their performance even better if eliminated. There is too

much offside play by the forwards, | particularly those who break away > quickly. The wing forward in New ! Zealand “ has nothing on them ” in this respect. Then the method of , putting the ball into the scrum ! is frequently open to question. Breaches in this respect are likely to be costly under strict refereeing. “Porter once again Vas one of the outstanding figures on the ground. He directed his side’s operations in a highly-capable manner and was always a thorn in the side of the opposition. His play was delightful, as good as ever it has been, and was in striking contrast to that of the opposing breakaways.”