RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 259, 24 June 1932, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

"Post"

SATURDAY'S GAMES KAHUKURA STAGE SURPRISE IN SENIOR COMPETITION SERIES. NOTES ON THE PLAYERS.

(Written for the

by "Free

Kicks ) Adverse weather conditions faced football fans on Saturday last, but those present were treated to some good football and a few surprises. Old Boys A defeated Old Boys B j with a very weak team, but their handling of the ball under very adj verse conditions was really good. The j A rearguard gave their best exhibii tion to date. [ Old Boys B lost largely through : poor tackling and through not using [ their forwards enough against a weak pack. Waikite and Horohoro put up a very scratchy game in the junior division, n'either side rising above the "root and boot" type of game. It seems to me that some club coaches are neglecting their junior teams gs the style of play tends to show that ( the juniors don't know how to go about things properly. Kahukura secured a rather fluky victory over High School. Despite the fact that they were robbed of a try by the temporary disability of the referee, I still think that a draw , would have been a fairer indication. Kahukura forwards smothered the school backs well, but from 90 per cent. of the set scrums they were off side, not having both feet behind the ball as it came out. Their tactics were successful but not good football as they simply gave the ball ^ to the School and then spoilt play. Had the referee been a little stricter, I think results might have been very different. Good Exhibition. Lillas deserves to be congratulated on- his game at full back. It was the best exhibition I have seen a junior put up this season. Kicking and tackling were faultless and in both departments he out-shone his opponent. The School three-quarter line was not working well, particularly the Matthews-Mitchell combination. A certain amount of excuse can be found for dropping a greasy ball, but the passing was very poor indeed. School did not vary play sufficiently. Dawson could have saved ground by making his forwards take the ball through when he found the opposition forwards on top of him. Park did not develop the low kick along the ground as he sometimes does. Conditions were ideal for this and would have suited his forwards. Sound Tackling. Kahukura backs did notget going much but their tackling was very sound and undoubtedly saved them points. M. Bell played a good game in the pack and was one of the mainstays of his team. Rotoiti had little difficulty in defeating Waikite. I had expected this result as the Rotoiti boys are greatly improving. Provided their tackling improves I would not be surprised to see them lower Whaka's colours when they meet again. A Good Pack. Barber played a great game for Rotoiti and is proving most consistent. The Rotoiti forwards are a good bustling pack, but would be much improved if they would heel the ball quicker from the loose when on attack. It is strange to see the numbers of forwards who rush up to a loose scrum and just heave into it without the least attempt to get he ball back. Halves should talk to their forwards more and tell them what is wanted. A good half behind a good pack can work wonders this way. Old Fault Persists. Waikite showed the same old trouble — not tackling. I .can't understand this as I understand they have the service of N. McRae and P. Haupapa, both of whom were good in their day. They will never be any good as a team till this aspect of play is greatly improved. Again I would suggest the use of the tackling bag. It is the only way to get decent tackling. Kahukura seniors gave fans an agreeable surprise by their very convincing victory on Saturday last. They tlioroughiy deserved their win. I would hesitate to suggest that Whaka had swelled head, but it certainly looked that way as they did not seem to me to be fit. Even when they did settle down to business they

were not what the ehampion team should he. I think they received a bit of a shock and had taken things too easily. A GREAT GAME. Kahukura forwards played a great game and put up a really first-class exhibition as a pack. They scrummed well and broke away quickly. Young, Archer, and Seott were the pick of a really hard-working team. The backs also played well, being willing to throw the ball about at any opportunity. Morrison, at centre, spoilt the Kahukura back display, and should be out on the wing if he is to remain in^ Duff and Steele proved quite an effective pair, and their tackling saved Kahukura from some nasty situations. Sutherland did well at full back and showed some of his old form. He was fairly busy and showed coolness and judgment in both tackling and kicking. Defence Not Good. The. Whaka defence is not good. Players are too prone to wait for interceptions or else to show a fondness for tackling their man from behind. This has never shown up so clearly as it did on Saturday. Hitherto Whaka has been mainly an attacking team, but failed to come up to expectations on the day. Backs must learn to go down on the ball, to stop forward rushes, and not just back into things. All players might watch K. Park of High School in this respect. I hear that C. Pipson will soon be seen on local grounds donning the white jersey. He should be a decided acquisition to the white backs, particularly at half or second fiveeighths. Mr. R. Mason should be proud of his junior reps. this year as they will be the best seen here for several seasons. I hear that the local Maoris have challenged for the Maniapoto Shield again. Players are fitter than I have seen for years, and the local team should give a good account of itself if it is selected early and gets in some solid combination. New Zealand seems to be falling on bad days as-far as good fiveeighths are concerned. Although there are many of a fair standard we dqn't seem to have many of the Cooke -Nicholls breed to draw on for our All Blacks, and the fact that Lilburne is still one of New Zealand's best is rather an interesting commentary on this department of the game. Fans in the centres should witness some interesting games with players absent on the All Black tour. Auckland had little difficulty in handling the Thames Valley team this year. This is no surprise as I hear the Thames people cannot be regarded as a strong side.

Grading of Referees. I was pleased to see that the Referees' Association have graded their referees this season. Although not in sympathy with the list exactly as published, I think tha,t in the main, the appointment board has made quite a good job. The All Blacks play their first match on Saturday next. A win after the rough crossing should be quite a meritorious feat as the New South Welshmen are fielding quite a good side. I have heard quite a lot of favourable reports from the centres on the playing of the three-four scrum with the odd man as a rover. I would recommend this system to a team with good forwards and weak backs as it offers every advantage for a quick break-away from the scrum. To date I have not witnessed a single potted goal in the local eompetitions, and it seems to me disastrous that this effective method of scoring should have been allowed to fall into disuse. Rotorua forwards deserve to be congratulated on their improvement in dribbling the ball. I think McRae of Old Boys is the best exponent of the art at present. Others are learning quickly, but are inclined to kick too hard and so lose control of the ball. In another department the forwards are very weak. I refer to packing round in the loose. High School show just what a light pack can do by consistent work in the tight, and I think I am safe in saying that they have never yet been beaten for their fair share of the ball.