FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 July 1918, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

(By "Wing Forward.")

The weather on Saturday last was anything but favourable for a good exposition of Rugby football. On that account it would not be fair to criticise individual players, but as a team I think a few comments would not be out of place. The Pirates suffered defeat, certainly not to a better team, individually, but to a better combination. The Raetihi players have been practising both on the field and in the hall for some time, and the result gees to prove my contention that the Pirates must practice and get better combination if they intend to uphold their reputation. It was noticeable in the Raetihi team, who made the • game a forward one that when a player kicked the ball and followed up he was not alone, the other forwards backing him up. The result was that the winning try was scored. McAuliffe got in several long-distance kicks, which he smartly followed up. But he was not supported by his forwards. The only explanation is that it was lack of condition; We have the mate- ! rial for three good, teams in Taihape, and judging by the number of specta- [ tors present on Saturday public inter- ! est is not lacking. The writer can re- ! member when this town boasted of a j branch of the Referees' Association and the N. .Z Rugby Union. The majority of the members who comprised these two branches are still, with us. Why cannot a proper organisation of the game he initiated? But this is a digression, and I will return to the play on Saturday last. The Taihape •hookers certainly hooked the ball well, but as usual it Tarely got to the half consequently the backs had no opportunity of doing anything worth while. This is an outcome of the want of scrum practice. Wilgon was the most prominent man in the Raetihi forward division, being always on the ball. The Raetihi half played well behind the scrum, but seemed to be out of place in the line-out, missing sveral opportunities of marking Avhen Taihape knocked on. T. Smith and Bennett played well, especially as hookersT Kelly was several times prominent; J. Pine. I am afraid, must give way to a younger man, as his play on Saturday showed his ability as a prominent footballer has declined. Taking everything into consideration on the day and ground the best team won. Takarangi had three shots at goal, but it was evidently an off day for him, as two out of the three attempts missed the goal by only a few feet.