THE RUGBY CODE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 271, 29 August 1935, Page 7

THE RUGBY CODE

FOOTBALLERS IN REVIEW.

SENIORS’ TWO GRAVE FAULTS

(By “Onlooker.”)

Although the Ashburton Rugby Union’s senior representatives had a comparatively easy match against Ellesmere, they showed improved term in.many directions, and if this is the side that is going to Dunedin, Ashburton will not be disgraced.

There are two grave faults that will have to be rectified, one in l the forwards and the other in the backs. The forwards give away far too many penalties, three players being mainly responsible, one for offside play. A.pparently lie is not conversant with the rules. Another forward is still inclined to stand offside through overkeenness, while the third handles the ball in scrums and uses his hands to hook the ball back. These players should remember that they, are liable to lose the game for their side by such tactics.

Deplorable Line-Kicking. The backs’ line-kicking in the last two matches has been deplorable, and this department of their game needs attention. It is. most heart-breaking to forwards having to rush up l and down the paddock through faulty kicking, and nothing will tire players quicker, so remember this and make use of the line. It was most pleasing to see the 'manner in which the forwards handled the ball, rind some of their passing movements were excellent. S; AY. Kerr filled full-back position after a spell due to injuries, and while not at his best, did not let his side down. His kicking was weak, and only found the line two or three times. j. Lilley and L. Vessey were on their game, both playing well, especially Vessey. His centring kick from which Dalton scored, was a fine hit of work. G. Stephen, at centre, spoiled his display by bad handling and too many “knock-oil’s” caused through overkeenness.

J, Varcoe played another sterling game, and made many openings. He is still inclined to run into a mass of players and lose the advantage gained.

G-. Day engineered many movements and capably led the:side. When he : shifted to full-back, the thrust the inside backs had been showing was . gone.

Quick Thinking. T. Cates played a much improved game, and his in-and-out passing with Lilley, which resulted in a try, was a piece of excellent work and quick thinking. 'Cates, Day and Varcoe have developed ihto a fine combination ot inside backs.

The forwards played well and it would bo hard to discriminate between them, with the exception, 'perhaps, of G. IDalton, who, playing a' roving game, was in practically every movement.

R. Rose again played a fine game, and worked hard all day. with A. Young and N. Hawke in the front row. Hawke is not the forward he was last season. He is inclined to shine at times, and does not appear fit. A. Young got a fair share of the ball, but his play is a trifle -wild. C. Pablecheque lias not rid himself of his old trouble. He cannot expect to go further while lie infringes. K. Doig is a tiger for w6rk and, with A. Dolan, makes a splendid lock. Gus played his usual honest game. B. Doig gave his best display to date, and is now showing the football of which lie is capable. He has a good turn of speed, as evidenced when he ran away from the field at half-way to score.*

G. Dalton had a field day with tries. He played a splendid game, and was an example to all with his followingup. Promisingi Juniors.

The junior match showed that there are several promising juniors coming on, and that the weakness in the senior team will be overcome when these players are graded up. Rickard (Hinds’ three-quarter) should develop into a fine player. He is huilt well, has speed, and can handle smartly.

O’Grady, on the other wing, is also a fine playter. Wilson (full-back), was another who “took the eye” with his play. The forwards were a. fast, hardworking lot, and at the head of every rush and movement were Kelly, mathieson and Loehheadl, three players who would not disgrace any senior team.

The Scrummage Law,

Questions relating to the revised scrummage law have been asked of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s management committee from several quarters, and in Otago anu! Auckland particularly there appears to have been some doubt as to tho correct ruling on reading the circulars, issued hy the New Zealand Union. A sub-committee was set up to go fully into the questions raised by Auckland and Otago, and in terms of its report the following letter has been sent to the unions concerned: — “We gather from your correspondence that you are having difficulty in reconciling the ruling regarding the scrummage as set out in our two printed circulars, but if these circulars a reread carefully and in conjunction with the laws of the game it will he found that there is no l conflict in the meaning of the two circulars. According to iZv 15 (8), the ball, to be fairly in the scrummage, must ho put in straight must have touched the ground and have passed one loot of a front row player of each team. The Rugby Football Union instructs that the ball must be put in sufficiently fast to reach the fourth foot, and that is why m thencircular they say: ‘This ensures that tho outside players shall not hook the ball direct before it lias reached the far foot of a centre player.’ “And the statement in our printed circular: In effect this will mean that when tlie ball, has passed one foot of si player on both sides and has touched the -ground, it is fairly in the scrummage,

and the first and fourth feet of each team can be used to book the ball, it is not in conflict with the statement in the English Union circular. We think that it is the intention of the Rugby Football Union, England, that the fourth foot must first he brought into action with the first foot following up the movement, but nevertheless the first foot may lie raised when all the conditions above referred to have been complied with. “But simply, the position, is this, when the hall has passed the first foot of a player on each side and is on the ground,, the first feet may lie raised and so may the fourth, but if the ball is put in sufficiently fast to ensure that it reached, the fourth foot, there is little chance of the first foot being able to reach the ball before the fourth foot, This fully explains the statement in the two circulars.”

A Diversified Career.^ J. R. Page, who has gained selection in the New Zealand team for Great Britain, has had a very diversified Rugby career. He was a member of the Southland Boys’ High School Rugby fifteen for five years, being captain, for three. His first year in the team was Frank Kilby’s last, and another All Black associated with him at school was Bert Geddes. Leaving school, ho went to Sandhurst Royal Military College with a Government scholarship, and while there gained his Rugby colours. He played for London Scottish Club, gained: a place in the Army; team, and was reserve for Scotland against Ireland. One match between Army and Navy was postponed for a week, and on the eve of the game, Page had the misfortune to break his leg. That ended his, football until he returned to New Zealand, when he joined up with the Wellington Club, and he has represented• Wellington province regularly since 1030. He gained a place im the Now Zealand team against Australia at Auckland in 1931, when Oliver, was unable to play, toured Australia in 1932 and! 1934 with the New Zealand team, and was vice-cap-tain last year. Incidentally, he is a physical training expert—his father is gymnastic instructor at Southland Boys’ High School—and in this connection he should be very useful in assisting to keep the team fit on the journey Home. Brothers in Rugby. Although only a few of the thousands of Rugby players in New Zealand are honoured with All Black recognition, there have been several instances of brothers wearing the fern leaf. Apparently the only two families with three representatives arc the. Brownlies, M., C. and L., and the Nicholls, H. IS., H. 0., and M, F. Both these families provided outstanding players of their time in M. J. Brownlie and M. F. Nicholls, both of whom have been included among the best players in the world at different times.’s

Instances of two brothers being All Blanks arc more numerous : C. E. 0. and V. Badeley, of Auckland, A. and W. Bayly, of Taranaki, S. and W. E. Hadley, of Auckland, A. and H. Good, of Taranaki, J. D. and S. D. Shearer, of Wellington, F. and J. T. Tilyard, of Auckland, H. \V. Brown of Taranaki, and IT. E. Brown, of Auckland. In the case, of the Brown brothers, representation has been obtained from different provinces. Alter H. E. Brown left New Plymouth Boys’ High School ho started his club career as a junior at Inglewood and was subsequently transferred to Taumarunui, where he played Rugby for two or three seasons. Transferring to Auckland ho joined the College Rifles. At the end of that season Brown was transferred to Papakura, 20 miles south of Auckland. He joined the Ot-ahnlni club, the nearest city, club to Papakura and has been with tha club ever since. H. E. Brown has had a far harder battle for All Black honours than his brother, and) it is to he hoped lie will have more success in Great Britain. Acrobatic Maoris An Australian report states: — In connection with the Maori Rugby Union team’s visit to Australia this winter the Maoris, natural Rugby footballers, have always been extraordinarily popular in Australia. Their football indicates that in their acrobatic individuality they enjoy every moment of it.

If the Maoris can give to New Zealand one or two of similar calibre to Nepia, Joe and: Billy Warbrick, Tom Ellison, Davy Gage, and many others who made their names on British and Australian as well as their own New Zealand fields, they will contribute largely to developing, in future All Blacks a combination of rarest Rugby eh arm and class.

Some Maori footballers in the past have sported names which sounded qucerly in pakelia ears. Thus we have Faraire (Friday) Tomoann, tho great Hawke’s Bay half-back of tlm late eighties and early nineties. Wcncrci (Wednesday) Rika, one of tho All Black side which toured Australia, in 1929, was another whose parents fancied the days of the week for their offsprings’ “given” names. But S* Reid, the lost Hawke’s Bay forward has a Christian name far surpassing these in originality. Reid is usually known as “Tori,” which might easily pass for pukka Maori, but is really short for “Sanatorium,” which was the magnificent handle bestowed upon him at his baptism. Rare Point in Rugby

When Cardiff heat Newport at Cardilt by one try to nil, this only score presented: a point in Rugby law that is very rarely encountered (states an overseas Rugby writer). There was a high, blustering wind blowing over all the South Country that day, and reports of matches everywhere bear eloquent witness to it. H. Rees, a Cardiff forward, made a perfectly good pass—that travelled several yards backward —to W. Reardon, a wing. But then a violent gust carried the ball well forward in the direction qf the Newport line. Reardon pursued the ball, gathered it cleanly, and passed the ball to his centre, Brown, who ran over for the only score—amid the protests of some of the spectators that Roe’s original pass was a. forward one. The referee however, quite rightly allowed this decisive some. The pass in Rugby law was good.