NOTES AT RANDOM.

Shannon News, 8 July 1927, Page 3

NOTES AT RANDOM.

DANNEVIRKE OVERWHELMED.

Horowlienua clearly demonstratedtheir right to hold the Bebbington ' Shield last Wednesday, when they administered a crushing defeat to Dftnnevirke, the first invaders for the trophy this season, 'the game ending in a sweeping victory for the defenders by the wide margin of 38 points to 13. Jn many respects this game closely resembled the Rangitikei match last season for the same trophy, for on noth occasions Horowhenufi appeared in the role of a team determined to win from the outset, and in last Wednesday s game early success immediately gave them the necessary confidence that al- ' lowed them to dominate the situation. As the game progressed, Horowlienua’s superiority in most phases of the play became more and more in evidence, with Dannevirke’s defence, growing feeble all the time, that towards the finish, they 'were clearly routed. The actual scores are apt to make the average onlooker enthuse freely over Horowlienua s prowess, after the game, but in their indulgence they must not overlook a very important factor towards the victory gained by our representatives, viz., the lamentably weak defensive play, of the visitors, and it must be generally admitted that, owing to this, many of Horowlienua’s attacking movements were made to appear really more brilliant than was actually the case. By this, statement the writer does not wish to convey the impression, that this alone accounted for Horowhenua’s easy will, not for one moment, for a number of their tries were the outcome of really good football. Nevertheless, Dannevirke allowed far too many movements by our men to develop, simply through * indecision, and numberless times did one see three or four visitors hovering around the ball to eventually / allow an opponent to rush in and initiate a passing movement among liis fellow players. As only to be expected, with the game so much in Horowhenua ’s favour, the Red and Blue backs had a merry time and with Jacob'playing back and making the extra man, they indulged in several sparkling passing rushes that called for applause from the spectators, and kept J. McDonald, who is proving a great scoring • man, busy racing over for tries. Warren was easily the best inside back on the ground. * Always brilliant on attack this type of game suited him admirably, and apart from taking liis place in the orthodox rushes he initiated many movements from the loose, liis cleverness and speed enabling him to be ' always handy when an opening presented itself. Owing to Chisholm being incapacitated W. Parata took up the ; half-back position and got through liis ' work .fairly well. His passes to his five-eighths at times were excellent, but - not always. His chief weakness, liow- " ever, was his ground work. He allowed ' the ball to beat him far too frequent-

ly. T. Parata still retains Ins penchant ' for trying to beat half the opposition . before getting rid of the ball. In Roberts, Hunt and J. .McDonald, Horowhenua undoubtedly possess a fine trio who are clever both on attack and defence. Hunt was not as lively as usual, he was nursing an injured arm, while a couple of nasty bumps during, the first spell unsettled him somewhat. J. McDonald covered himself- with - glory, and/ even had the opposition been stronger, judging by the manner ■ in which he scored his five tries, it : iB safe to say it would not have per- ! turbed him in any way. ; The selector must be congratulated Upon having produced one of the finest scoring wing-three-quarters that has yet represented this district. Ryder, Horowhenua’s full-back, was ‘ not asked to do a great amount but, •with' the exception of several weal: kicks, he answered every demand. One noticeable improvement about this player- was the manner in which he went to meet the ball on the full. Against Manawatu lie was inclined to hesitate too much. The crowd could be forgiven for not going into raptures over the forward play on either side, and the display given -by Horowhenua in- this department in no. way set the town talking. In the set scrums, Dannevirke were ' easily, superior, but this was not so much attributable to faulty, hooking, as to weak packing by some of the home forwards. If the front row men are not going to get the necessary support from behind,-then they cannot be expected to do their part, and constantly the supports were observed teebly leaning against the scrum awaiting an opportunity to get out into the loose. Apart from any open play, the veal /test of a forward is his ability to produce every ounce of energy against the stillest opposition in the heavy rucking work, and if a forward is going to sacrifice this duty in an endeavour to shine in the open, then lie, is not worthy of his place in any team. It is all very well for this forward and that forward, to be held up as a brilliant example in the loose, but lot it not be forgotten, that often liis repu- . tafion has been gained at the expense of the honest grafter, in the midst of the ruck who-, although seldom seen, lias more often than not, been responsible : for the play that has led up to the other fellow appearing in a more favourable light. One often hears the remark, “Oh; so and so was not much ’ good. Why, I never even ija*v him, but watch closely, and it will probably • be rtoticed that that particular forward is doing three men’s work in the ruck. 1 In Wednesday’s game for instance, the •; writer would like to draw attention to ." a player by the name of Bond. Never j,’conspicuous in the loose, this player got through a hard day’s graft and .-from the line-outs and tight forward -. play, created many openings that, to the casual observer went by unnoticed. 2 The only Other fonvard who gave of irhis best in this direction, was Tatana, •who, in addition can always be relied /upon to play well in the joose. '■*: ■

By the foregoing observations, the 7 writer does not wish to imply that the ‘ loose type of'forward is not necessary, .’not by* any manner or means, for in - the present day football he is absolutely indispensable, nevertheless the tendency -is to sacrifice the one the

other. How often did one. witness a concentrated foot-rush, probably tle hardest movement of .all to cheek, on Wednesday? Unless memory fails, not once there was too marked a tendency to spoil movements in an endeavour to handle the ball. However, Horowhenua have disposed of one challenge for the Shield and no doubt the selector is on the job weighing up the pros and cons, in readiness for the next on Wednesday, when the Bush representatives will be here seeking our scalps. n The writer was granted the opportunity of witnessing both Danneviike and Bush in action earlier in , the season, and after doing so. was confident that the former’s challenge ’would he jepulsed. . - . , The same also applies to Bush, only on one provision, however, and that is, that additional weight is introduced into the Horowhenua pack. Not that speed should be sacrificed by tins move, not on any account, but, writing from observation it may be stated now, that the Busli forwards are a more rugged lot than those we were opposed to last week, and in every respect will prove a much hotter proposition.

SATURDAY’S GAME ON THE DOMAIN. The senior competition was advanced a further stage on Saturday, when the two leading teams, County and rim Mai had no difficulty in retaining their positions at the head of affairs. The game on the Domain between County and Weraroa, left a lot to be desired and in addition to the poor display of football a bitterly cold wind made conditions so unpleasant for the spectators that many left before the proceedings closed. If County have aspirations to senior honours then they will need to improve considerably on Saturday’s game. ' It was quite apparent that m the early stages they took the opposition somewhat cheaply and in this respect they erred badly for when they set out to gain the upper hand they found it harder to do so than expected and even When they did gain' their point their display was anything but impressive. With a team possessing the number of Rep. players County dpes. it is only reasonable to anticipate something a little bit out of the ordinary when it_ is in action.. However, on Saturday, whatever the reason, they were well below form and failed to produce the goods. During the opening spell,- Weraroa gave every indication of making a close game of it, but' faded out during the final stages when they -weakened noticeably. The Black and Whites are an exceptionally light team, nevertheless, have good material . among their ranks and fiave youth on their side, They are obviously in need of coaching and lost at least two certain tries in the first half'through lack of finish. Weraroa played McGill and Henderson, a couple of II stonevs, as wing-three-quarters. In these positions they were useless, and even had "Weraroa been stuck for players these two should have been applying their much -needed weight in the sciums and been replaced on the wings by a couple of lighter men.

. Broughton Edgint.o,n, Nahona and Cole were the pick of the White forwards, while Bull, McLean and West rujp, were prominent behind the pack. lor County, Bond, R. McDonald, and C. McLeavcv stood out among the for wards. Gle'cson and Run a spent most, of their time off-side, while Gountj were on -the attack, but the forme 1 played a good defensive game. Cliisnoim, who is still suffering from injuries, sliouid have been given a spell, while Webber, Ransfield and J. McDonald were the select of the remaining County backs.