POOR BACK LINES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20507, 25 May 1938, Page 12

POOR BACK LINES

STAG TROPHY RUGBY COMBINATION MUST IMPROVE A WEALTH OF GOOD FORWARDS After brilliant display* of Rusrbv football In the early matches of the Staff Trophy competition of 193«. mediocre exhibitions were seen last Saturday, and an** factor stands o:it pfe-ernfnent. It. is the fact that non-** of the seven teams battling foe supremacy has a really first-class l>vk Hue. Certainly there ore many excel lent individual barks. but weaknesses in the lines of each team are tending to cramp the stvle of bark plav in the Waikato. If the brilliance of the early pames is to be maintained ttie combination amonff the barks must be improved. The teams should endeavour to attain a bettrr combination, so that the class pla>ers. of which there are some in practically every team, ran gain better opportunities. on feu ore i - slons this season have any of the wfnffers playinor seen a treat deal or the ball In any one tnateh. Wi'li practically every movement !here i* i breakdown somewhere in »lie ranks before every member of the line has had an opportunity to i ret under wav. Certainly in the early part of the championship «ood bark play was sc*n, but apparently if was due to ttie farfc that as the draw worked out the opposition to the better teams was not

as strontr. Old Roys appeared *o have a strong bark line, but farfnff the sfronff opposition of Taupiri last Saturday the tram indicated that ttiere are weaknesses in the links The sa»ne has been evident in all Hie teams, but until the present ance of the play has not been seriously affected. However, the good backs vannot carry the burden of others’ mistakes all the season, even if they did it well on the first, three Saturdays Weaknesses will always be found out. and now that the teams are all ffeftfnir fitter and the opposition all the time stronff°r the backs will need to become more alert. Three Weaknesses There are three weaknesses in seme of the back lines which have been outstanding. They are that many of the players retain possession too long, then pass on indiscriminately when the next, man in huddled-in and not in a position to make use of the pass: that sortie of the inside backs kick too frequently and deprive the outside men of opportunities: and that in altarkinsc many barks stand too shallow. with the result that passes are received when the player is either standing or has not clapped on fiiil speed. There are other points that need attention, too. of course; but the material is there in all teams if the players take care about their physical fitness and train with a view to combination.

There is a wealth of excellent forwards in the Waikato and the majority of the teams in the Stag competition have good packs. If the backs rlo not slip the standard of Rugby m the district should be maintained at

the heights set at the opening of the season. Changes on the Ladder Since thp inception nf the Stas Trophy competition a Hamilton team has been victorious each season. Old Roys trave the local enthusiasts hopes ; Tor another Hamilton success early in j the competition, hut now. with the first round half completed, the conn- ! try tennis are swinging into stride and < prospects are that one of Ihose teams * may take the lead at the outset of the •second round. Old Boys have not the [ forwards to cope with such a team las Taupiri. while first-round form j Indicates that Technical Old Bovs j may not he a match for some of the j country teams in the second round. (However, the country fifteens arc always at a disadvantage in the con--1 rinding stages of the spason when I many players are forced to retire from : the game owing to milking duties. | However, if Taupiri maintains its prei sent fifteen in the field throughout the ; season, and if its present improvement « ay' be favourites J before long. Cambridge were unfor- | lunate to take two Saturdays to settle ' down, otherwise they might have ! been in the pielure. Much will dej pend upon the team's result against, Te Awamutu next Saturday as to how J ft will fare when Ihe points are tallied at * t end of the tirst round. Te Awn - • miifii i« a team fo be reckoned with, si appearance in i Hamilton last Saturday it was not | particular).' impressive. The points f table has bpen change.] considerably

School Rugby The Hamilton Hitch School first fifteen will play its first, representative match of the season on Saturday. When if will meet the first, fifteen of the Sacred Heart Collccm at Ruffby Park in the curtain-raiser to the Technical mm Boys Old Boys Sta? Trophy

The Best Forwards Many good forwards were seen in action at Rugby Park on Saturday, when Te Awamutu and Frankton met. For Te Awamutu the outstanding men in the pack were Wynyard, Daniell. McAlpine and May. The last-named is a hard-working front-row man. Clarke, an ex-All Black who wore the New Zealand jersey in 1032, still shows a canny knowledge of forward play, but he is now past his prime, although he was nearly always on the ball and played one of the best games Of the day. For Frankton. Vincent, was the outstanding member of the pack. Gray. Sklenars and Kidd were the best of the others.

Technical Backs Erratic Against Hovers at Te Awamutu on Saturday the Technical Old Boys kicks were too strong for the opposition, and Hie team’s scores usually were the result of back movements. However, the passing of the Technical backs was not always good, bad handling and knock-ons being frequent, and at times the passing was erratic.. Tel/.la ff. behind the scrum, combined well with Broad, and the latter made a number of good openings for his side. F. Hauffhey was sound and his straight running gave him one good try. \\\ Dalbeth played a good game at fullback', although towards the end I tie fumbled at times. His kicking, | lioxvevcr. often gained 40 or 30 yards at a lime.

A Great Goal-kicker Not since the days of W. Burke, who could kick an angle-goal from half-way with case, has Cambridge had such an accurate goal-kicker as M. Hewitt, who on Saturday last gained with his kicking 1 I of Cambridge’s 14 points in the game against Putaruru. He is also a good rucking forward. Harbutt Seeking Waikato Honours At Hamilton and at Cambridge the Cambridge senior team has ah own that it has a fine set of forwards. The two outstanding arp S. Harbutt and F. Hall. The former is a former New Plymouth High School representative. He is a heady player and is right back to form again this season. He must have claims to Waikato honours. Hall should he close to Waikato representative honours this season also. Missed Everest The Frankton backs have missed R. Everest, the logical choice for the centre three-quarter position in the Waikato representative team to play Auckland, since he was injured in the first match of the season. He is fit. again now. but in order to make a full recovery and allow his thigh to become strong again he did not plav last Saturday. The foam has a bye next Saturday, and it is expected that Everest, will play the Saturday before tlie Auckland representative, fixture. Although he has had hut ope game he cannot he overlooked for the Waikato team, and the extra rest should do him good before the big game. Without his guidance the Frangton backs are a fairly scraggy combination, although severai of the * individuals are good footballers. Haworth a Good Fullback Among the prominent players in the Cambridge-Putaruru representative fixture at Cambridge on Saturday xvere: Haworth, fullback, brilliant in handling the ball and equally outstanding in clearing line-kicks: H. Peake, centre, a straight runner on attack, who played an outstanding game; c; . Harbutt. E. Hall and XT. Hewitt, solid tollers In the back pack, \x-ho all played their usual hard games, were the outstanding Cambridge players. Berg. Childs, Mate and Lory were impressive Putaruru backs, and Brennan and fiabolinsky xvere the best forwards In that team.

Rovers' Pack Beat Technical The Technical Old Boys’ pack was beaten by the Rovers’ forwards, hut they played a hard game. .T. Flannagan was always prominent, both in the tight and in the loose, and he scored one try as the result of fast followingup. Other hard-working forwards were O'Meara, until he was injured. Tait, Smith and Barber. The Rovers’ forwards again dominated the play in their department., bustling the Terh- ' nical defence with their loose rushes j and had the best of the tight piny. : C. Meredith was to the fore in the loose rushes and also worked hard in the rucks. A. Thomson and T. Mackv bore the brunt of the hard work and Nicol worked solidly throughout. The Rovers vanguard was very weak and time and again easy passes were dropped, which let the opposition through. The defence of the backs was also very weak, and as a result the opposing five-eighths cut through frequently. McGovern played a sound game at. halfback, but he had no co-operation from the rest of the backs. Morrinsville Senior Select The Morrinsville sub-union senior representatives to play Te Puke at Morrinsville on Saturday are as follows: Fullback. A. Cameron; threequarters, R. Clarkin, J. Aitken, P. Barker; five-eighths, J. Ensor, L. Chase: halfback. L. Russell: forwards, J. Leeson. G. Faulkner. B. Spinley, E. Leeson. G. Wetere, T. Wilton, 0. Harding. G. Leeosn.. Reserves, M. Fahey, p. Holes. D. Morris, T. Clarkin«This team has a number of old players such as Aitken and Russell in the backs, and J. Leeson and G. Leeson in the forwards. Most of the others arc young, several being promoted juniors. Harding, a tall forward, who played for Hamilton High School first fifteen two seasons ago, has been doing great work in the line-outs. The three Leeson brothers are a verv fit trio who should be on the ball all the time. Wetere is a young Maori player who has been the most successful goal-kicker at Morrinsville this season. R. Spinley, p. Barker and L. chase are three of last, year’s juniors who will wear the Morrinsville jersey as senior representatives for the first lime. Chase has played outstanding football at first five-eighths, and as ( he is still in his “ teens ” he has great possibilities. A. Cameron, the fullback. is a powerful line-kicker, who lias represented Morrinsville on several occasions for the past six years. Putaruru Extend Cambridge Although Putaruru were defeated by li points to nil in the first representative match of the season, at Cambridge on Saturday, the game was very evenly contested. Only one try was scored by Cambridge in a bright and interesting exhibition. A knockon foiled one cerlain try against Putaruru. but on the other' hand the visitors’ backs were impressive, and it was only solid tackling by Cambridge and a truly magnificent display by Haworth, the home fullback, that kept the visitors from crossing on a number of occasions. Cambridge forwards were the heavier and were a little superior to Putaruru’s vanguard. The Frankton Back Line In Wilkins, Frankton have a promising halfback who has a pretty pass, well directed and long in its 'flight. His game on Saturday against the big Te Awamutu pack was very creditable. There was a weakness in the first five-eighths in the Frankton line, however. Jackson being placed in the position only a few moments before Hie team took the field, and he failed lo settle down. .Tones, the next link, is playing a better game. Ileeps did a great deal of hard work at centre, hut Hie wingers were not strong. Griffiths had the pace to carry him over on more than one occasion, but repeatedly he faltered and curbed his progress when a dash might have brought results. Davies, on the other wing, was not impressive.

First Representative Qame In Auckland to-day a trial game for the selection of the Auckland representatives to meet Waikato at Hamilon on June 6 was played. The following players were selected by the ; Auckland • sole selector. Mr F. W. Lucas, to train for the representative team: Fullbacks. B. Killeen (Grafton) and W. Hare Marist); three-quar-ters. D. Flett. Finlayson 'Grammar), T. Dick, F. Prentice (Grafton;. D. Martin University . K. Moses, Hudson Ponsonby). R. Hardy .Marist); flve-eic-hths. P. ?oinmon (Ponsonby), X. pparman Grafton . F. Brady (Suburbs . A. J. Slyfleld North Shore) ; halfbacks. F. Cooney Marist), W. Frankham Ponsonby ; forwards, T. Pearce and C. Pepper Manukau . L. Drake. Lanpo University . D. WhiJlans North Shore . .1. Barry. W. McGrory. M. McHuph Marist), A. Brown. A. Mcßoath Grammar , H. Mot,can. R. Hull. B. Anderson. C. Passmore Grafton . Bond. W. Carson. F. Solomon and B. Johnson (Ponsonby . Webb .Achilles;, J. Beiliss Otahuhu).

Looking for All Black Honours The outstanding forward in the Waikato this season is .T. G. Wynyard. the Te Awamutu break-away. who is rapidly making the grade to All Black honours oncp again. When the selection of a team to visit Australia this season is being considered Wynyard must be in tlie mind of the selecter. Tie is at the top of physical fitness and keeps on the hall all day long. He played a fine game on Saturday for Tp Awamutu against Frangton at Bngbv Park. In the line-outs be is particularly brilliant and In the loose a safe handler, rin more than one occasion on Saturday he joined the backs in passing movements, and it was his co-operation which enabled Te Awamutu to gain the first try. (n the scrums Wynyard has the weight to he useful and as a breakaway he is ever vigilant to trap the opposing halfback, although at times. In overeagerness. he is inclined to play a little far forward from the scrums, with the danger of being ruled off! - side. Tf he plays a good game for Waikato against Auckland in the two games this season his chances of making the New Zealand team must be

Hamilton Lower Grade Results The fixtures on Saturday in the Hamilton Rugby Union’s lower grade championship* resulted: Senior B Baclan 0. Te Kowhai 3: Citv 0. Rovers n. Juniors—Old Boys 13. Frankton 3; Railway 21. City 3: High School 5, Rototuna 3: Technical old Boys 14. Karamu 3. Thirds —Frankton 44. Kara mil 0; Technical Old Boys 3, City B 3: Technical School 23. Old Boys 6. Fourths—City A 30. City B 3; Technical Old Boys in. Marist 3. The Te Awamutu Backs The Te Awamutu team had earned a good reputation fpr back play early in the season, but the combination of the line did not. impress on Saturday in the game against Frankton. Bell xvas quite a sound halfback, but there was a definite weakness in the next link in McEwan, the first five-eighth, whose handling was not always the best. For that reason Hanna, who has played good football of late, was rather handicapped as second fiveeighth. hut even so be did not have the penetrating abilities which were expected of him. Tombs, who has been considered for Waikato honours this season, played on the wing, and although he was the best back in the team, he appeared to lack drive in his running and his penetration was not always successful. Almost every time he was outpaced by Griffiths, the Frankton winger. Tombs’s handling was quite good, as was his positional play, and a little more determination and thrust would make him a firstclass winger. Teddy, the young Te Awamutu fullback, is one of the most promising players in the team, showing definite capabilities, which, after a little experience, should make him an outstanding custodian.

CAMBRIDGE MANAGEMENT FIXTURES FUR SATURDAY (special to Times) Cambridge, Tuesday. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Cambridge Rugby Subunion was held last evening, when Mi B. Brewer presided over a good AttendIt was decided to leave the distribution of Tootballs to the district schools to the school committees, with a recommendation that Kaipakl receive one. When reporting on the senior game played against Putaruru on Saturday, tht manager stated that Putaruru wished Cam bridge to play a return game there on the first available date. Three players—G. Hinton, G. Box ana D. J. Mackie—were placed on the Insurance list, and L. Harwood and C. Kneebone were declared otr. F. Laboll and XV. Pearson were registered and allotted to Hautapu juniors, ana R. Hayson to Leamington third grade. The following are the fixtures for next Saturday:— Senior. —Cambridge v. Te Awamutu at Victoria Square at 2.30 (Mr C. Wallace). Junior.—United v. Leamington at victoria Square at 1.15 (Mr C. Hadley); Northern v. Hautapu at Leamington No. l ground at 2.30 (Mr 11. Klrkman). Third Grade.—Northern v. Hautapu a? Leamington, No. 2 ground, at 2.15 (xir L Bear) ; United v. Leamington at LearningDl 1 /™. 1 " 1 ' 1 ’ »« !•<« (Mr A. Moore). Hifh 11 ' h lacle ‘ —nlteo v. Learning-ton at Hign sctiool at 1.15 (Mr X. Ellcy).

HAMILTON SUB-UNION RUGBY PARK IMPROVEMENTS FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY With a view to making the grounds and accommodation sufficient to cater adequately for the largest attendances, a sub-committee of the Hamilton Rugby sub-union, together with Mr IR. G. Howell, carefully considered at tlie week-end the re-alignment and re-arrangement of the playing areas at Rugby Park. At a meeting of the management committee last evening the chairman, Mr A. E. Gibbons, said that the whole area would be surveyed and a full report submitted to the committee later. Appreciative references were made to the services rendered by Mr Howell. At the commencement of the meeting a welcome was extended to Mr R. Johnston, junr., vice-president of the union. Clearances and Re-gradlng A clearance was tabled and approved for P. Lee from the High School Old Boys’ Club, Waipukurau. N\ Cunningham (Rototuna), was regraded to junior with the approval of the Junior Board. An application by the Rototuna Club for the use of the training shed was granted for Wednesday nights. Technical Old Boys also use the shed on this night. The matter of a se\'en-a-side match was discussed and the possibility of playing it on or about June 18, when the spare Saturday between the first and second rounds of the Stag Trophy competition may occur, was mentioned. A sub-committee was set up to make arrangements. Matches on Saturday Following is the draw for games to be played on Saturday:— Stag Competition—Old Boys v. Technical Old Boys, No. 1 Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m.; Te Awamutu v. Cambridge, at Cambridge; Rovers v. Taupiri, at Te Awamutu; Frankton a bye. Secondary Schools.—Sacred Heart College v. Hamilton High School, No. 1 Rugby Park, 1.15 p.m. Senior B. —Te Kowhai v. Tunaeke, Te Kowhai, 1.45 p.m.; City v. Raglan, No. 2 Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m. Junior.—City v. Rototuna, Rototuna, 2 p.m.; Frankton v. Railway, Weka Street, 2.30 p.m.; Battery v. Technical Old Boys, No. 2 Rugby Park, 1.15 p.m. Thirds.—Technical School v. City B. No. 1 Hinemoa Park, 1.15 p.m.'; Karamu \\ Old Boys, No. 3 Rugby Park. 1.15 p.m.; City A v. Frankton, No. 3 'Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m. Fourths.—Marist x r - City A; No. 1 Hinemoa Park, 2.30 p.m.: High School v. Technical Old Boys. No. 2 Hinemoa Park, 1.15 p.m.; Technical School \\ City Park. 1J.5 p-m. i

i this week, and now reads— P. \V. L. n. F. A. Pt<*. H!d Bov? .. 4 2 1 1 5 < 2 6 5 Tnupiri a 2 0 i an ?a 5 T ** \TVJ»niut«l 3 2 ft f 28 9 5 f ? ? 0 48 SO 4 Camhrtdare 3 1 ? ft 31 3 4 2 rrankton 4 ft 2 y 2w 5 6 2 Bnvers 3 0 2 1 38 65 1