With the Juniors

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 7

With the Juniors

Lack of training was largely responsible for Varsity’s failure against Grafton on Saturday. xhe University team has not yet been moulded into a winning combination as yet. ine club suffered a severe setback in losing their hooking duo, Robinson and Edwards, who are the senior s front rankers, while McKay. Foreman, McGlashan and Hudson have also been advanced in status. These holes have been tilled by some of the more promising intermediates. The team has been at a disadvantage, too, in not having a training ground, but once tins difficulty has been overcome after the vacation there should be a marked improvement in the standard or play. College Rides ran City surprisingly close at Victoria Park. The Red and Blacks possessed a much weightier pack than their opponents, but their packing was deplorably bad, breakaways and side row men standing with their wrong feet forward and pushin-, outward instead of inward. C i t . y . c , er ' tainlv had the nippier back division and their passing was crisper, but tno inside men of both sides were too keen on crosstield running. Even if a liveeighths cannot effectively cut in and beat his opponent it is better that he runs straight toward him. delivering his pass at the critical moment, dmn to cramp his threequarters on to the line. » * * Good line kicking seems to be becoming a lost art in all grades and o\ en coaches with the possible exception or those at secondary schools are at no pains to instruct players to improve this phase of the game. For instance, how few fullbacks can kick with boch feet? The majority are right-footers and isn't it pitiful to see them manoeuvring in face of a charging forward pack for position to find touen. Both Eden and Ponsonby have piled up big scores in their first two games and are easily leading the other competitors in the number of points registered in favour. Grammar A has performed exceptionally well in running up 3- points and thus far have kept their line intact.