BEATEN AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 10

BEATEN AGAIN

HAMILTON RUGBY MATA MATA TEAM’S VICTORY POOR STANDARD OF PLAY The Hamilton Rugby representatives were defeated again on Saturday when they went down to Matamata by 10 points to 5. It was one of the poorest exhibitions of Rugby seen at the Park for many a day and certainly the poorest representative match staged in the town for many years. Matamata had a feast of the ball from scrums, line-outs and rucks and should have beaten Hamilton by a very wide margin. Although Hamilton’s display was poor Matamata did not impress as a good team would have run up a big tally of points with little trouble. No Attacking Chances The Hamilton backs, the strongest division this season, had practically no attacking opportunities at all as once again the forwards were overshadowed. It is a long time since Hamilton has fielded such a poor forward team. The old back who played to anything .like his form was J. Everest, who captained the side. He made one or two nice breaks and co-operated splendidly with Nesbit to score Hamilton’s only try. Nesbit was keen on the wing but did not always tackle low, while Perkins shone out on defence though he had few opportunities on attack. Too Much Kicking Although Matamata had the ball all day the backs had very few runs, Carroll kicking far too frequently or else Brown sent out an untakeable pass. The backline, in the one or two concerted movements attempted, appeared very sound and had it been permitted to make use of its opportunities it would have provided some spectacular football. Strong, Tyrrell, Childs and Lowry all appeared to have the necessary handling ability and pace, but had no chance of showing if they had the necessary determination. Reece’s Last Game One of the disappointments in the Hamilton team was the display of L. G. Reece, Waikato’s five-eighth. He had no opportunities on attack, where he usually excels, but his poor defence on Saturday was not like his usual play. Reece has been accepted in the Fleet Air Arm and will sail shortly to undergo all his training in England, and perhaps his care to avoid injury in his last game attributed to his disappointing display. Houghton, ’ the Hamilton half-back, again played a very plucky game, without and protection from his forwards. With more experience and more protection to enable him to get the ball away, he should develop into a first-class player. Players in Army

Besides Reece, Jim Everest is another Waikato representative who will shortly not be available as he is awaiting mobilisation for the army. There are a number of Waikato and ex-Waikato players already serving, and in the next mobilisation, which was postponed from this week, two more well-known ex-Waikato players in L. F. Denz (half-back), and A. J. Denz (wing three-quarter), will join the others. Numerous club* players are in the armed forces and next year’s teams will mostly comprise very young players. No Goal Kicker.* Although Hamilton did not deserve to win on the run of play the side may have been victorious had it possessed a reliable goal-kicker. Johnson missed several shots within range and the only kick put over was the short one in front of the posts by Reese. The Hamilton forwards showed out a little better individually on Saturday but there was little concerted action and the van was too light to get the ball. When it was hooked, which was rare, it was often held in the middle for a while and then kicked back for Matamata to hook. Dick was again always conspicuous, following the ball relentlessly all day while Bremer’s backing up saved Hamilton several times. The forwards concentrated on kick and chase tactics, which, besides starving their own backs, gave the Matamata backs even more of the ball. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY The following- is the draw for Rugby matches in Hamilton on Saturday:— Clarke Cup Final.—Raglan v. City, No. 1, Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m. Morris Cup.—Semi-ilnal: Railway v. State Advances, No. 2 Rugby Park, 2.30 p.m.; Power Board, a bye. Non-competition Matches. Manukau fourth grade v. I’rankton fourth grade, No. t Rugby Park, 1.15 p.m.; Rotorua juniors v. Old Boys juniors. No. 3 Rugby Park, 2.3 0 p.m. school Representatives WAIKATO TEAM SELECTED MATCH AT PAEROA The Waikato Primary Schools’ Rugby representative team to play Thames Valley, at Paeroa, on Saturday, for the Vancouver Cup, will be selected from the following players:— J. Dorns, G. Shakeshaft, P. O’Dowd (West), R. Hickton, R. Waite, G. Jeffrey (Whitiora), G. Spencer, R. MacLachlan, R. Faigan, V. Paine (Southwell), I. Fletcher, T. Arnold, L. Laing (Cambridge), A. Watts (Taupiri), R. Gainford (Motuomaoho). J. Riddell (Gordonton), F. O’Brien (Marist), C. Elliott (Forest Lake).