RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 264, 1 July 1932, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

£Free-kick.")

GENERAL JOTTINGS SOUND SELECTION FOR SATURDAY'S REP. GAME. NOTES ON THE PLAYERS.

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Football was bright and interesting on Saturday last and all three senio'r ; matches offered some good play. De- i spite the very greasy nature of the J grounds, I was pleased to see more repeated attempts made to throw the ball about. Waikite deserve to be congratulated on their stand against High School. The School settled down to it early and rapidly registered eleven points, but after that failed to improve. Fraser, for Waikite, played^ soundly and was the best of a hard-working pack. Another feature of the game was the bright handling of the ball by the School forwards. This on two occasions caused general appreciation. The School fullback did not impress me, but I think he handled matters creditably for a junior. I know from experience that it is not easy to fill a fullback position without some experience. Rotoiti pressed Old Boys A hard and the Whites were just a little fortunate in registering a win with a short team. Should Turn Out. I have noted with concern that the latter team have been fielding short for the last couple of Saturdays. While not wishing to criticise coaches unduly, I think the coach or selector should drop men who do not turn out when picked to play, unless, of course, reasonable explanation is given. In this respect I would urge on all players the necessity of letting selectors know if they are available or not. It is the only fair thing to do for the team's sake, and the fact that teams are short of players is a significant proof that this is not being done. Rotoiti pack played quit'e a good bustling game and worried the Old Boys inside backs well. I thought, however, that the Blues were not quite experienced enough as they kicked through often when they should have Tinndlp.d.

Easy Victory. Whaka had an easy victory over Old Boys B. This was, of course, expected and the Whites were outplayed in every department. Good following up by Randerson gave them a well-merited try. I would lilce here to reeord my own appreciation of the sporting way in which the weaker club are sticking together. It seems to me that they are as full of fight as ever and this speaks volumes when players might be disheartened by continued losses. Interesting Position. The first round of the junior competition is now at an end and sees Whaka, Old Boys A, Kahukura and High School in a very interesting position. I understand that the junior draw is to be divided in the next round and I think this is very advisable in every way. It will give time for two rounds. to be completed comfortably. High School travels to Hamilton | on Saturday to play the High School J there. Free Kick wishes them a dry ground and a hard game. He feels , sure that under those conditions Ha- | milton will have to work hard for a victory. Reply to Criticism. I feel it incumbent on me to reply ; to "Be .Fair" in Monday's issue. ilt : is my duty to criticise and comment | and all my criticism stands, as before. ' Some of it from time to time will ; cause dissatisfaction, naturally, and ! if it does so I feel that these lines are not in vain. I would remind "Be | Fair" that fairness is purely a reI lative term and point out to him that he virtually accuses me of unfair criticism. "People who live . . ." you know. As for the referee, nothing in i that note can give the slightest hint or suggestion that he was deliberately unfair. I merely stated that he missed a good deal of off-side and hold ; to that statement. Hikuwai staged a good fight against Whaka, and in my opinion, fully deserved to make a draw of things. It was essentially a game of backs versus forwards and the Blacks shone ; in their own particular department. Their paclcing and loose forward play were good to watch. This was a case i where forward play was good footI ball, as the Black backs are very | weak and it would have been a waste ' to give the hall to them. I mention j this in contrast to the tactics defend- ' ed bv "Be Fair." Kahukura juniors

have good backs and any tactics whi'eh do not attempt to feed good backs is poor football. The best of eritics agree that it is not good tactics generally to give the ball to the opposition, particularly when the opposition is strong. Possession is nine points of the law in most things and ten in football. Poor Exhibition. Waikite put up a very poor exhibition against Ngongotaha seniors, who deserved to win by more on the day. I thought the Black and Whites Superior in all departments and only on occasions did Waikite show flashes of the form displayed against Whaka a fortnight ago. In both teams the tackling was very poor. Rotoiti registered a good win against Kahukura and this was the best game of the day. Both sides showed a willingness to throw the ball about and Greening put in one or two tricky runs, which stamp him as a possible wet-weather back. Both packs of forwards played good football, Rotoiti excslling in the loose and Kahukura in the tiglit. Te Ngaio obtained more thajx his fair share of the ball from the set scrums and I heartily endorse his j selection in tbe local team. BrOwn is too small and dight to

play half -back for Kahukura seniors. Sutherland cleared well with His lcicks but let Rotoiti forwards through for their second try. I do not like his defence against bustling forwards. General Notes. The All Blacks registered a good win in their opening match. From the press accounts it appears that the inside line is weak and I note that a change was made for Wednesday's game. Collins was a failure at fullback and Lilburne has gone back to his old position. I see that the three-four-one scrum was played in the first match, and from what II hear of play in the centres I think this is likely to become New Zealand's favourite form of attack. ^ Congratulations to Mr. Selector on his team. I think he has made a very sound selection. The defence is weak in the backs I thing but the attack is strong. The pack should give a good account of itself. I am particularly pleased to see the inclusion of Barber from Rotoiti. His play is mueh improved, but he wants to watch out for one or two rather suspicious tricks which may attract the unfavourable attention of a strict referee.