RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 299, 12 August 1932, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

"Free

Kick.")

SATURDAY'S GAMES GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN SHOWING OF TEAMS. SPECTATORS' CONDUCT.

(Nqtes by

The attendance at Arawa Park on Saturday was poor, but fans who were not present missed soxne good snatches of play. Whaka pressed High School hard, and the latter were jfortunate to scrape home by a couple of ppints. The necessity of players arriving to time was sh'own in this game, as High School added their points while Whaka had only thirteen men on the field. Old Boys and Kahukura provided easily the best exhibition of the whole day. The wind spoilt some good movements on both sides, and it was the only game in which' the taclding showed any elements of consistency. Too Much Cut-in. The reorganised back line of the Whites is showing much improvexnent but there is still too great a tendency to cut-in. It is a sound princip-le of football that you must feed the wings. They are predominantly the scoringxp.cn in a good back line. The inside backs of the Blua and Whites were not tackling, and gave Matthews several chaxxces which he was not slow to take. Had it not been for the splendid defence of the Kahukura pack, the team must hava gone down badly. The two packs gave the best exhibition of forward play seen in the junior competition this year. McRae was the outstanding man in the line-outs, but was followed by Bell and Lodge. Deserved to Win. The Kahukura boys were the fietter team and on the run of play deserved to win. Old Boys have not yet the necessary co-ordination among the backs xxecessary for suceess. Waikite came to light against Kahukura, who gave a very disappointing display. It is difficult to expect juniors to play two hard games one after the other, but, in my opinion, the junior players in the team gave a better display than the seniors. Waikite threw the ball about in good style, but lob passing is fatal at any time and was doubly so in the wind on Saturday. There is still too much of a tendency to hang on to the ball instsad of letting it out. Spectators' Conduct. The eoxxduct of spectators was a great improvement on that of the last few Saturday s. I am pleased to see the uixion taking a firm stand in this matter and can assure them of the whole-hearted approbation of those fans who do not expect to have to fight for a chance to see the game. The union xnight make a rule that only line umpires may stand inside the fence, and others must either sit or stand outside. Hikuwai and Rotoiti gave an exciting and spectacular display, even if it were not good football. One pr two fundamental rules cropped up in my mind as I watched that game. They were: — (1) Never stpop to pick up a rolling ball if you are on attack. Keep it at yoxxr toe till it bounces high enough for you to take it cleanly. otherwise you are bound to knock-on. (2) Nevor stop play for ap infringe rnent, maxk, • off-side, etc., until the whistle goes. The referee may not see the ihcident and by stopping you give the opposition a chance to scort. (3) When kicking for the line, make sure you get it, even at the sacrifice of distance. A poor line-kicker can nearly kill his forwards if he has them running usolessly up and down the field. In this matter I would lilce to comment on the sound work of the Hikuwai full-back, who, to my way of thinking, has forgotten more football than most of the px-esent playersi ever knew. A Good Game. The exhibition given by Whaka and Ngongotaha was very different from the debacle staged a fortnight ago. The game was clean, open and fast, and from the spectators' point of view, quite good to watch. In this respect, too, I woixld lilce to appeal for a little less of this tribal feeling which is so obvious between teams. Good, keen rivalry is the ei ' sence of football, but there is nothing I to be gained by half-killing an opponent. It's dangerous to yourself and team, as you get a short shrift if caught. Its' also rottenly unfair tactics, as the rule governing no replacements is now in force. Win if you can, but let it be a clean victory. A win gained by rotten sportsmanship is its own condemnation. A last word — get fit, throw the ball about, and keep up with the play, and you won't have time to strafe opponents.