RUGBY FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20263, 4 August 1937, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

STAG TROPHY GAMES. FRANKTON’B GREAT WIN. HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY. Perhaps the greatest feature of the Stag Trophy Rugby games played in Hamilton and district on Saturday was Frankton’s meritorious win over Technical Old Boys, who still have a big lead in the championship. Frankton must have been over a stone lighter all round and they were also a man short throughout, yet they never gave the champion team a chance to get going and won by a margin that could easily have been greater. Another pleasing feature of the games was the high standard of play, especially in Hamilton, where two excellent matches were played. The ground was cut up a great deal after the Springbok game but was not against bright, open play, and the ball, though heavy, was not greasy. The attendances at all centres were very unsatisfactory and the standard of play certainly warranted greater support. Championship Table. The position of the teams in the Stag Trophy competition has altered slightly since last week. Technical still assume the lead by five points from Frankton, who now lead from Old Boys by one point. Cambridge Blues are down to fourth place, having been in second position since the •beginning of the season. Te Awamutu have also gone up one place.

A Promising Player. One of the most promising players in the Waikato at present is R. Paterson, Old Boys’ fullback, and lie should go a great deal further in the game. Over the past three or four weeks he has come into prominence with his perfect handling and exceptionally accurate and long line-kicking and on Saturday he reached the peak of his form. Besides handling and kicking as well as ever, his general defence showed gx-eat improvement on Saturday, while he rounded off a great exhibition by scoring two tries and opening; the best score of the day. With his great speed and penetrative ability it may be said that he is wasted as the last line of defence, but he comes into the attack so well that he should be left where he is. He came into the attack on his own goal .lino on Saturday and dummied and cut his way through to the half-way line before drawing the defence and handing out for Carroll to do his bit and score a fine try. The other two tries Paterson gained were great efforts, while his goal kicking was again of a very high standard. Everest Makes Openings. Both the openings for Frankton’s two tries against Technical Old Boys were made by the centre, Everest After a nice series of cut-ins he passed to Jones, who let out to Pearson, and he made a dash for the line, scoring without opposition. The second score came from a good run by Heeps, who handed on to Everest. Hp ran for about 15 yards before returning the ball to Heeps, who was tackled on the line. A scrum on the spot saw the Frankton backs again in action and after Everest had handled Jackson gained possession to go over near the posts. Everest was undoubtedly the best back on the field. Ho was always looking for work and shot through any openings with great speed. It was a pity to see so much of his excellent work go for nothing, Pearson being the only other back in the same class. Fine Combination. A feature of the match between Old Boys and Cambridge Blues on Saturday was the perfect combination of the Old Boys’ backs, and it was this coupled with their speed, that gave them such a wide victory. Dovi was placed at half and against the heavy Cambridge pack this was wise. H. defended very solidly all day, his defence being a feature of his play, but he also opened up the game well at all times. Gillespie at first five-eighths was standing flat footed for his passes but he swung the ball straight >n again most times and with the penetrative ability and resource of the Lissette brothers this was not the handicap it may otherwise have been. H. Lissette played his best same far some time on attack and defence, while A. Lissette was always in the picture on attack. Carroll was much more impressive than Reid on the wing but did not see as much of the play !Ie scored two tine tries, both the result of Quick thinking and grasping opportunities opened by R. Paterson and A Lissette respectively. Much Better Service. Another factor that contributed to Frankton’s success on Saturday was the improved service they received from the scrum. Sykes, although very much on the small side, handed out well all day. and Pearson took full advantage of every opportunity. In really good company Pearson and Ev-* crest would go well and they will have to he considered for the next Waikato team. Jones was impressive at times, but looks much more like a winger than an inside back. Forwards Work Well. The seci’et of Frankton’s success in defeating the competition leaders. Technical Old Boys, on Saturday, lay in their forward pack. Although much lighter than their opponents, they held Technical well and in spite of being one man short in this department they showed no signs of being outclassed. In the loose they were always conspicuous and their fast following up was a deciding factor in their success. Non© of the forwards were particularly outstanding, the whole pack working together. Two-Three-Two Scrum. The Cambridge Blues’ forwards met their match in the lighter but harderworking’ Old Boys’ park on Saturday. The visitors again played a two-three-two scrum but .ini not gain any defin it© advantage in hooking; in fact, they hooked the hall from a few few r scrums than Old Boys did, and their rover could not spoil many of Old Boys’ back movements owing to the speed with which the ball was transferred to the second five-eighths. Fell, Hall and McGovern were again the most conspicuous, with Hewitt a fine worker in the loose rushes. Cambridge Blues were credited with being the host pack in the competition at one stage, but they did not look it on Sat-

Goosman Shines. Although Technical Old Boys scored six points to Frankton’s ten, both their tries came from well-directed movements. The first three points resulted from a clever piece of work by Goosman. A set scrum near the halfway was won by Frankton and Sykes passed out the ball to Pearson, who cent on to Jones. He whipped it out to Jones, but Goosman intercepted and raii from half-way with Everest in hot pursuit to score in the corner. However, this was really the only chance the Technical backs had to operate freely, the Frankton forwards keeping them well marked the whole time. Pardington was the other scorer for Technical. He dribbled the ball from the twenty-five to pick up and touch down. Fullback’s Poor Display. Playing for Frankton against Technical Old Boys on Saturday, Heeps was by no means an impressive fullback, attempting to do too much on his own by making short dashes which rarely made any appreciable difference to his team’s position. Time and again he was caught in possession, when he had plenty of time to kick or hand out to his backs. At one stage in the game Heeps made a good run, beating several men, and at the vital moment, when he should have handed out to Everest, who was in support, he was tackled and the pass went astray. A certain try was lost. When he makes more use of his boot by picking the correct time to kick he should find that his difficulties will be alleviated to a great extent. All Worked Well. All the Old Boys’ forwards worked well against Cambridge Blues on Saturday, and the credit of the team’s victory must be given to them. They gave their backs the ball when they most needed it and held off the heavier Cambridge van very well. Jones was again one of the best of them and he scored a well deserved try, while D. Paterson and Holloway were also conspicuous. A new player in Barber was a great acquisition, while Turner and Kirkbride were always on the ball. One of Old Boys’ best forwards is Sharp and again on Saturday his resolute and low tackling and the manner in which he got. down on the ball at the slightest sign of danger, saved his side many times. Were Not Happy. The Cambridge Blues’ hacks, in their match against Old Boys in Hamilton on Saturday, were not a happy combination and continually harrassed by the fast-breaking Old Boys’ forwards and met with very solid tackling they were hardly ever in the picture. Although he was behind a heavier pack, Green the half, had a hard day, as the Old Boys’ break-aways were never far away from him. Kneebone was not allowed much room in which to work and he was not as impressive as when last seen in Hamilton. The team undoubtedly missed their best back, Stewart, but he wouTd have little chance as the backs were chasing the ball all day. Trubshaw, at fullback, was sound, but often had two or three hacks to mark at the last minute. Meredith was the better of the wingers, and would have been dangerous if given more opportunities.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Tech. O.B. , 12 10 2 0 200 98 20 Frankton 12 7 4 1 161 121 15 Old Boys 12 6 4 2 L48 112 14 Cam.Blues \ 15 5 4 3 121 111 13 Te Awa. 11 5 5 1 140 97 11 Rovers 12 4 6 2 123 139 10 Stars 11 4 7 0 99 102 8 Taupiri 11 4 7 0 116 215 8 Marist 11 2 8 1 74 141 6