RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 247, 9 June 1932, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NOTES ON THE PLAY BAD TACKLING STILL VERY EVIDNT IN SENIOR GAMES FIRST ROUND ENDED (Notes by "Free Kick") Interest on Saturday centred chiefly on the Whaka v. Rotoiti match which was fast and well-contested. Inter-tribal feeling was manifested at times, but in such a way that the referee was not able to see it. Rotoiti pack played well in the line-outs and scrums, but their backs were not equal to the occasion. Faulty tackling on the part of Rotoiti allowed Whaka to register more points than their actual play merited. I would advise coaches to procure rule books and drill forwards in the off-side rule. In all games on Saturday points were lost by players not being aware of how the ten-yard rule works. Forwards must watch out that they do not obstruct the halfback or interfere with him if they have come round too fast. Whaka backs showed up more to advantage on defence on Saturday than in any game to date. , Their work shows that Rotorua can produce men who will tackle if driven to it. Individualism In both senior matches it struck me that there was still far too much individual play. Backs are not working as machines. The weakness lies in the five-eighth, and the selector will, I feel sure, be thankful when a really good link appears to connect up his three-quarter line. Waikite and Hikuwai played a very clean game, and I would like to comment on the fine record for clean football that the latter team has built iup for itself in so short a time. When all is said and done the game is the thing and not just the points. Hikuwai used their weight to advantage and gained the ball nicely from most of the scrums, but their back play is very weak. I think their handling is the worst in the senior competition. Hanging On Waikite threw the ball about well, but the score would have been much higher if the backs had not spoilt :!ome good movements by hanging on too long. ! A Mitchell and Martin McRae were the worst offenders in this direction. M. McRae, at five-eighth, played a pretty game and his handling was really good. B. Rogers and Brennan played their best games to date. Rogers is much fitter than previously and was quite impressive. McKinnon played well in the lineouts, his height giving him a distinct advantage which he was not slow to use. High School gave a very poor exhibition against Rotoiti. After the previous exhibition against Old Boys the public generally were disappointed with the game. Only once did the backs work as a team, and then they scored a very pretty try. The High School forwards did not pack and work together as they usually do. Park's kicking was good, and I rank him as the best kick in the junior competition. Want Co-operation Rotoiti forwards played a good bustling game, and had High School m the move several times. They ,nly lack co-operation with their jacks to make them quite a good eam. Dawson, at halfback for High School, was called on to do some lard defence, which he carried out /ery well. Whaka Juniors and Kahukura fought out a draw. This rather surprised me, as I had expected Whaka ;o win by six points. The weakness 5eemed to be in the five-eighth, who faded badly in the second half. Kahukura have superior fitness to thank iargely for their success. The Cut-in Mania The "cut-in" tendency seems to be developing into a mania with our juniors as well as seniors. I think the stab kick or the high kick to the line 's preferable to this mode of tactics, as a well trained pack of forwards >vill stifle the cut-in in nine out of ten cases. Old Boys were disappointing also xgainst Waikite, and were fortunate to win by as many points as they did. I think the backs could be imoroved by trying T. Hayward at halfback and A. Cottrell further out. Standing Them Down I hear that some selectors have solved the problem of foul play without the aid of the Union. Two selectors tell me that they have adopted the policy of standing down players vho are "putting in the dirt," even if the referee misses it. I think this is a very sound plan, and would recommend it to the other selectors. Waikite forwards played a very good game against what was considered to be a better pack, and with a little more knowledge might have 3cored at least another two tries. Ngongotaha juniors and Horohoro Cought out a well-contested game, yuperior fitness on the part of Horohoro being the deciding factor. Used His Head Marsh, of Horohoro, used his head ,vell, and his cross-kicking gave his ude two tries. I think he might be 'onsidered by the selector as a posibility for the junior representatives, mt his tackling needs to improve. Ngongotaha appeared willing to hrow the ball about, but did not seem ble to make much progress. The )acks stand too shallow and the fivefighths were constantly taking the rnll standing still. Halfback Play I notice that there is a general teniency for the halfback to have to ook for his five-eights before givng his pass. The half should be able o swing the ball out and know that lis five-eigths will be there to take it. rhis requires practice, and only thus ?an backs get moving with the necesary rapidity. The half's job is to get the ball away in a minimum of ime, and he cannot do so if he has to oolc for his supports. In line-outs there is generally more •oom for understanding between the three-quarters and his forwards. The forwards do not seem to know where she ball is going, and obviously this ude of tactics is being overlooked. Inter-Island Game From all accounts it seems that the NTorth Island team won largely by I bad tackling in their game with the 3outh Island. Quick heeling from the

loose by the forwards also helped. This is a very important feature of forward play, particularly when one of the opposition backs is caught in possession. A quick transference of the ball gives one's backs an extra man, and this fraquently results in a try. It seems to me that most teams at the kick-off exploit the long kick too much. This tires the forwards unnecessarily in following up, while an accurate kick by the defence may regain all the ground. Kickers should remember that the ball has only to travel ten yards forward and with practice a pack can reach the ball bebefore it lands and the short kick is used. In drop-outs from the twenty-five it seems customary to kick from the middle of the field, but referees assure me that this is not necessary. The ball can be kicked from any position in the field so long as it crosses the twenty-five. Matches Ahead. The first round in the seniors is now ended, and the first series of the second round begin next Saturday. Whaka and Waikite should provide. good football, as they have both improved. If Waikite backs throw the ball about they may even spring a surprise for football fans. Waikato seem to have been unfortunate against Auckland, but one must remember that Auckland were without the services of several players who were playing for the North llsland. Still it shows our players that they must work hard to earn inclusion in the Waikato reps.