RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 21

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Wellington Rugby team tour the goutb Island next month, beginning with South Canterbury on September 16, and following with Otago, Southland and Canterbury. The Wanganui Rugby selectors placed Bellis centre tliree-quarter against Nelson. It was a dramatic move, but perhaps when it is explained that Bellis plays second five-eighth for his club, the change does not appear quite~so drastic. Anyway, Wanganui won 31 to 7. A disgruntled enthusiast who had just witnessed his old team defeated stopped the referee as he was leaving the lield: '•"Where's your dog?" quoth he. "Dog?" echoed the 'whistler, , "I have no dog." "Well, how do you get about? Every blind man ought to have a dog," retorted the barracker. The Sydney 'Varsity Rugby team cancelled their visit to New Zealand because they had a. big chance of winning the club championship. But they were badly beaten by Eastern Suburbs, and; the latter wri?. Western now head the contest. A sJfew Zealander named McGill is helping East to some purpose. I Says "Serum" in the Napier "Telegraph," discussing the Hawke's Bay Eanfurly Shield team, of "Jimmy" Walker, of the Aotea. Club:—"Jim Walker continues to play good foothall. He is very little behind the redoubtable O. G. Porter in his conception of the wing forward game. Walker is probably one of the fastest wing forwards, at presept playing in New Zealand, and has a fine idea of opening up the game. It is true, but not strange, that very few journalists can spare time from their tasks to excel in the sporting world, but Mr. E. Greatorex, of the "Daily Telegraph," Sydney, is one of the few who has managed to combine business and sport. He is a crack Rugby Unionist, and his form with the ball has earned him some well-deserved fame. iLast year he represented the State as one of the team that toured New Zealand. . The Southland method of jiirect pass proved more effective than the violent whp-toack of the .Canterbury' flyers, who try to cut a man out by sending the ball well behind them (saya the "Southland News"). It is not the first Canterbury team that has used £bis method, its origin dating in Canterbury from "a certain secondary school coach. It has little to recommend it, its violence not being compensated by the blocking position of the giver of the ball. The honour of being the best back on the ground in the Canterbury-Southland match must be given to Harris (Canterbury), says the "Southland Times." He is not a spectacular player; similarly he is not a speculator. But all his work was stamped with the seal of unwavering sureness and deadly effectiveness. He raced up for high' balls in an unhesitating fashion, kicked surely if not as far as some of his Dominion rivals, while his collaring and rushetopping were superb. On defence, he was here, there and everywhere, and some of the slashing forward 'rushes he stopped would have daunted a. less resolute player. Soutliland won by 18 points to 12. SECONDARY SCHOOLS NOTES. Mt. Albert Grammar School played a return game with the Ponsonby third intermediate fifteen last Saturday. An attractive game resulted, and it was always fast and keenly contested, though, perhaps not quite as open as the' psevious game. 'This may be explained t by the fact that old rules ■were played and the forwards coming through the scrum spoilt open back play to a great extent. The game, however, had the spectators shouting with excitement and the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle. Aa in the previous game the club boys had slightly tlie better of the first half, but the third spell saw Mt. Albert forging ahead while , in the final quarter the college champions were- consistently attacking. The margin of one point just about shows the difference between the teams. For Grammar, Butler at fullback gave another good display. He is an improving player. . The three-quarter line allowed to advantage, particularly in the last spell, when Kirkpatrick scored a try which raised cheers. He snapped the ball up going at top and raced over, beating several opponents by sheer speed. Ash, the other wnnger, also scored well when he wormed hi 3 way through the whole Ponsonby defence. - Jenkin, the first five-eighths, was again the •tar of the team. He did not allow the spoiling play of the Ponsonby van to bustle him, and he varied his attack nicely. Once he cut through beautifully' and had he gone alone he might have scored. Pinxt was handicapped by t.ue old rules, but he played well in the pivot postiion. Ewen at rover played a dashing game and was a constant menace to the Ponsonby inside backs. The forwards played well, but it them some time to warm up to their game. The Ponsonby forwards following the ball through spoilt clean hooking, but Henderson and Brownlee got their fair share of the ball. Harrop,--Kiinnear and Gardner were conspicuous for good all round forward play, while Barks pace and handling made him an outstanding , figure in the loose. Ponsonby changed their team for this | game, including several heavier forwards i Hnd some new backs. They also altered their tactics a good deal, and played * spoiling game rather than opening it I up. The backs, however, brought off J several bright movements, Taylor always being prominent in these. C. Cammick at outside five-eighths was also good while the three-quarter line ! displayed pace and dash, Jensen "and Menzies being outstanding, Malcolm at I rover was hardly up to Ewen's j •tandard, but he played a good spoiling , 6*me. The pack played splendidly, showing up in good footwork and fast breaking up. Coglan and Buchanan played well, while ..Gray was also good until he received a knock wEich necessitated his retiring. At the time of writing, Sit. Albert's game with New Plymouth appears to be still more or less uncertain. It is to be hoped that the Grammar boys will be able to try for the covetec cup, which is the emblem of prowess in New Zealand collese football. It is undestood ] that St. "Uede's .(Christcliurch) liave , withdrawn their challenge, so this' might make it easier for Mt. Albert to Ret away, ■ -•. - j