SOLID PACKS ON SATURDAY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 11

SOLID PACKS ON SATURDAY

FORM IN BTAQ TROPHY GAMES POSITIONS OF TEAMS CHANGED Waikato’s wealth of forwards was seen In true perspective on Saturday when the Rushy football competitions In the district were continued. There ■•ppear to he so many forwards up !o representative standard that the selection of the final two or three in the pack of the Waikato te;*i„ will he no easy task. Some rood hack play was also featured in the stair Trophy matches, hut there the standard was not quite as high as during the previous matches. f>ld Boys are still leading the competition after having played thr»e sanies, but some of the teams who have already had the bye are in close attendance, and it appears that when the first round of the competition is completed there will be no team in undisputed command. Taupiri indicated on Saturday that they will be a difficult proposition if the team is maintained as it is. Te Awamutu also appear to be one of the most difficult combinations, and in extending Old Boys on Saturday they played excellent football.

Frankton Gone Back The Frankton fifteen. which met Cambridge on the Tatter's ground on Saturday, is much below the «trengfh. both in the barks and forwards, of the champion team the club had three seasons ago. The Frankton forwards eould not hold the home vanguard and their rearguard had a trying time. : p fairness to Frankton it must be mentioned that they were without the services of four of their regular players owing to sickness and injuries. This and the fart that Cambridge were without two of their best backs, weakened the standard of play. Te Awamutu’s Game Territorially In a very strenuously-fought game Te Awamutu was decidedly unlucky against r»ld Roys in not gaining victors'. The had a decided territorial advantage for the most part of the game, especially during a long period in the second half. At promising addition to the already.solid Te Xwarniihi forward park is Clarke. Ihe ex-All Rleek and Taranaki representative. \s usual. .1. G. Wynyard was the outstanding forward on the field, playing Ms usual hard and fast game in thp tight. He was also prominent in the loose, his try from a dribble over the line on his own. from well out. being a r eally bnliant. one. He had able supporters In W. Paniell and L. McAlplne and Turney, while all the other members of the forwards played good games An Improved player In the Te Awamutn backs was C. Teddy, the fullback, a promoted Junior, who was '•err sound and never let a ball past him. His handling and line-kicking were also well up to the senior standard. .1. Hanna was solid in defence, and W. Tombs and V .1. Sayers (Old Hoys kept each other well marked and seldom gave opportunities all day. Behind the scrum P. Bell gave a sound and beady display, and often gained ground with well-judged kicks to Ihe line. All the other backs played sound football and it appears as if Ihe team will be very hard to defeat by any other fifteen in the competition. Games at TauplH In the Taupiri I rifon's competitions on Saturday nrini jjefpafed Kainui by 9 points to 3 in a very even and interesting game at Orini. There was Ilf tic? to pick between two hard-working sets of forwards and the home backs were slightly superior to ihe visiting rearguard. R. Garnham and McGan were outstanding in the winning team’s pack, while J. Wright played well in the backs. In the visitors’ forwards Taylor and Joll were noticeable as hard workers and Prinkwater did a deal of good defensive work in the backs. Orinl’s points came from three penalty goals by Gamham. Kainui’s points being an unconverted trv by Joll. Old Boys’ Backs The Old Boys’ backs did not have the same opportunities against Te Avvamutu as on the previous Saturday, and when they did receive the ball they were not able to work effectively because of the solid tackling. As a result the fast old Boys winger. A. J. Bayers, received the ball only on very few occasions. On the day there was very little between the opposing s-rfs of back*. Bell, the '!> \w.iiniitu half, was quite eflicient. l.avvry and Hanna were a good pair of five-eighths, flic : latter showing considerable penetration. but some of his passes were rather erratic. Tombs was good, as usual, and had a great duel with his vis-a-vis, A. Bayers who was improved . neither managing to claim Ihe advantage, billing played perhaps his 1 best game behind the Old Roys pack, ’ but missed the support of his Irani- I mate. Gillespie, who. with Barber and H. Bayers, were not available for the game. On the day the Old Boys fiveeighths did not compare with the Te | Avvamutu pair, although there was an improvement in the second half, when Ussette went to first five-eighth. B. Paterson acain playpd soundly, ran i straight, but could have passed out sooner on occasions with advantage. A. Llssette. who turned out to assist | his club, is still one of flic soundest backs in the district. . ’ | » Taupirl’s Improved Backs The Taupiri backs were greatly im- I 1 proved on Saturday compared with fh»* | 1 exhibitions they gave the previous j week. The |e.«n lias had two games,; only this season, and fhere appears to , I be some definite promise of a fairly * l strong back line being developed. J I Tapp was a solid worker as halfback, i although there was at times a littb ] lack of finish in his work. Taylor and Egan are inside barks who should de- , velop a good combination later if , the understanding and the knowledge of when to pass and when to work solo are acquired. Incidentally there , is still too much solo work being attempted by the majority of the five- ( eighths fn Waikato Rugby this season. • The Taupiri wingers. Maniapoto and J Matena. did not see a great deal of the ( . ball in the match, but it appeared as | 1 work is hard, however, they may not 1 be strong players. Maniapoto. neve* - - j theless. gave indications that he would j be a very strong tackier. |v

A Fine Pack i Cambridge acain this season have a •\ irds. and they vv< Kra lon on £aturd ly. i '‘l the forwards toiled well, but S. Barbu it and Walls were a shade more wards Vincent, liras and Dick were the best. Talent at Matamata The standard of Rugby in Matamata this season is high and* many of the players are in excellent fettle. One of the most outstanding footballers in that district is P. Hawke, the second flve-eighth, who played in representative fixtures last season and also wore the Waikato colours. Is again playing One Rugby. Inside of him as first flveeighth Is his brother. G. Hawke, who Is also well above the usual standard of play of inside hacks. The pair combine very effectively and have some snappy Interchanges of passes in scissor movements. Brown, another former Waikato player, is again distinguishing himself as a halfback. There are several good forwards in Matamata, the • oilstanding ones so far lliis season being Warrender, a lock, Pettigrew, a lock, and Ihe back-row forward, Munro. All appear to be up to representative standard. Backs Fail to Penetrate Acain on Saturday the Cambridge hookers fed their backs well in the came acainst Frankton, but poor use was made of the ball and there was little penetration by the backs. L. Kelly again played well, but he was often bottled up because the first flveeighth was too slow In passing the ball to him. Hugh Peake, at centre, again, cave a fine display. The Frankton backs were not a happy lot. Griffith, on the wing, had to make his own opportunities, and Frankton’s only try ra me from a clever bit of dummying on his part. Jones shaped well, but Wilkins, the half, was trying to solo too much. Old Boys Defend Well If if had not been for their very sound defence throughout the game the Mid Boys would have met their Waterloo. A good roving forward was C. Holloway, who was often back in time to prevent the bustling Te Awainulu from breaking right away. Gray and Turner and H. Paterson were solid toilers, while all the rest, of the pack, including Davy, ably supported. that the heavy Te Awamutu pack did not have things all their own way.

P. W. L. D. F. K. Pt>. Old Bf»y§ .. 3 2 0 1 48 15 5 Tsupirt . .. 2 1 0 i 19 17 3 T> Awamtitu t» i o f 12 o 3 fimbndw 3 t 2 n 31 31 2 } rankton 3 0 I 2 26 40 2 Teehnteal 3 1 2 0 20 27 2 Rovers 2 0 1 1 20 40 1