RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

GOSSIP OF THE GAME. NOTES ABOUT PLAYERS. THE REP. MATCH OUTLOOK. J. H. Parker, the All Black rover, who is fruit-farming in Canterbury, has been succeeded in the wing-forward position in the Christehurch Old Boys' Club by his younger brother, for whom critics predict a big future. Stan Kirk who is playing behind the scrum for College Rifles in Auckland, got his cap at Wellington College a couple of seasons ago. With him is Sheen, who played a big part for Christ College in the memorable game against Wellington College in 1922. The South Auckland half-back, J. Wright, made an excellent impression in the game against Auckland B last week. Hβ proved tricky and resourceful in attack, and with support might have opened the way to several scores. His defence left nothing to be desired. L. Brownlie, brother o£ Maurice and of Cyril, is playing Rugby again in Hawke's Bay. He was the first of. the three to win an All Black jereey— against New South Wales four seasons back. Hawke's Bay had a new three-quarter in the field against Wairarapa on the King's Birthday—Tait who learned his Rugby at Scot's College, Wellington. A belief held strongly by Norman McKenzie, Hawke's Bay selector, is that if a man cannot play all the season, it is no use putting him: in youi representative side. And that leads to the next thing, which is to find out that a man is available before you choose him. The Wellington selectors don't do that (says the "New Zealand Times.") They announce that a team is to go to Auckland one day, and next day they learn that four or five of them can't go. Then they scurry round and try to fill the gaps, whereupon more players think that the team is to be a weak one, and also •withdraw. Some people won't like the tone of this par ,[rom a Hawke's Bay paper:—"lt is my modest opinion, and I find others share it that the selectors of the senior representative teams should seriously consider the desirability of giving a chance of representative honours to a few besides the old "stock-in-trade" men. In such fixtures as the game against Wanganui, Manawatu and Otago, who may without offence to them, be described as unlikely to jeopardise Hawke's Bay's position, it is to my mind not ai all desirable or necessary to put in the strongest team, or to make certain oi an overwhelming victory." Jimmy Mill, despite the ■ fa«t of i< being his first game of the season in Napier, was undoubtedly the inspiration to the team. Swinging the ball away from all angles, ' dummying and side-stepping he was the Mill that the public delight to watch.— •Hawke's Bay Herald/* on a' match a fortnight ago. Since then the elusive J im m y, whose name, by the pear in the Maori trial match teams, emphasised good reports of his form by his performances in the Ranfurly Shield games against Wairarapa and Wanganui. British Rugby received another nasty' knock recently, this time at the hands of France, the "baby" of Rugby in Europe, for, in the annual intercity fixture, Paris beat London by 11 points to 8, after a good game. Several prominent international footballers played for each side. This is the fourth ■uccesaive victory for Paris, and since 1911 (not counting the war years) London has won three times and Paris seven. "Jock" Richardson made a welcome reappearance in Pirate garb on Saturday week, in the match, Pirates v. Southern (says the "Southland Times.") The debut of the All Black lorward was as startling as it was unexpected, he first of all filling the position of fullback. However, he later got into the thick of things and played wing-forward, in which position he played with exceptional stamina, considering a spell of many months' duration prior to the game. It is just likely that he will be seen out again, but he has definitely announced that he does not intend to play regularly, for the present season at least. UNIVERSITY'S "COME BACK." After- their debacle against Ponsonby the previous week University delighted their supporters on Saturday by the game put up against Grammar Old Boys, and the game itself was reminiscent of old-time contests between these teams in the days when Grammar were top dogs in the competition, and the students now and again used to knock them back. For the greater part of the game it looked as if the students might once again stage a surprise. As the second spell wore on it became clear that Grammar were slightly the better team, but Butler's goal-kicking developed as a factor which looked like evening matters up. As a matter of fact he ultimately failed by only the narrowest margin to pull his side out with the points even. Taken all through, the game was wonderfully even, a slight superiority by University among the forwards being counter-balanced by the Grammar backs showing the greater skill and nippmess, asd the game throughout was spectacular and exciting. A feature of the game was the fact that outside of Butler's goal-kicking there was very little individual play. Grammar's back play was rather better than has been the case hitherto, while University's improved fifty per cent, probably the effect of Macken's steady work at inside five-eighth. In the second spell Loft was moved to the centre, and Freeman to outside "five to counter the Ifwersen-Goodacre attack, but though this improved the, 'Varsity attack it was not effective defensively. Probably the only really prominent player of either side was Keene, who was übiquitous in both attack and defence. It was refreshing, however, to see University playing again in something like their old style of team-work. A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY. . Grafton had apparently made up their mind when they took the field on Saturday against Ponsonby that they were in for a father of a hiding. Their expectations were fully (and deservedly) realised. If they had taken their courage in their hands and "given it a go, they probably would not have won, but they would at least have had the satis-

faction of • considerably reducing the almost criminal margin by which they allowed their opponents to win. There is something sadly wrong with the esprit de corps of a club when a side composed largely of young and promis- I I ing players so far loses all semblance j lof enthusiasm as ■to allow a lackadaisi- , cally-playing opposition to walk all over them, and metaphorically, if not j actually, to wipe a motley collection of j muddy, boots on their classic features. A number of the forwards and especially Noakes, Stewart, Finlayson and Keary, I are to be excepted from these remarks. The manner in which this quartet in particular led a forlorn hope in the third spell was one of the few bright spots in an unedifying display of football. On several occasions they went through the opposition in great style with well-controlled dribbling rushes, and they were making a splendid fight of it in front until they realised that their backs were badly off colour, and that is putting the matter mildly. Austin was the donkeyman of the rearguard, and he got through a heavy afternoon's work in more than creditable fashion. On most occasions he had no chance in the world of stopping a passing movement when it reached him, owing to the failure of backs in front of him to tackle their man, but, on the whole, he got in some very good work at times. McGregor also appeared to be standing up to things pretty well, but the inside backs kicked far too often whan : they got-the ball. For Ponsonby, the match was little more .than a practice, and the backs in particular simply cut the opposing defences to ribbons as suited them. Cammick sparkled with rare brilliance, and if .coming events cast their shadows be- . fore- them, this young man seems de- | stined to take a high place in Auckland

and New Zealand football before he is many years older. Tonkin, also, showed out in several dashing bursts of play, and the indefatigable Hook was here, there and everywhere—a fullback who may yet give George Nepia the shock of his mercurial life when he runs up against him, if the fates (and the Auckland selectors) are kind. And now, this generally cautious critic having in a weak moment indulged in two prophesies, it may be just as well to cut short any further references to the game under review, beyond remarking that Grafton are capable of much better things than their display on Saturday indicated. COLLEGIANS V. ELLERSLIE. The game between Ellerslie and Training College was more or less of a scramble all through, with the exception of those occasions when the College three-quarter line got possession of the ball. The local players evidently realised that their only chance was to keep play amongst the forwards, and they carried out this theory with some success. As a matter of fact, they had the play at their opponents' end for lengthy periods, yet they never looked like scoring even when a few yards only separated them from the scoring line. They just played a rough, bullocky game, utterly devoid of system, or the finer points of Their chief assets were their determination and fine condition. Otway and Davies were a very useful pair in the forwards. Perkinson did the work of two ordinary players, and he was well supported by Irvine and Sturm ey, who had a busy afternoon repelling their speedy opponents. As already mentioned, the Collegians were slowed down perceptibly by the spoiling tactics of their vigorous rivals, and in addition their combination was partly upset through the absence of Meyer and McLeod. Their wing forward, Wells, was also an absentee. However, after the first spell had concluded the reconstructed machine commenced to function harmoniously, and College soon rattled up a score. At the same time it must be mentioned that their tackling as a whole was not up to standard, whilst many of their passes were wild; and were intercepted, so that only poor following up by the opposing backs kept their lines inviolate. Colvin, Cumming3, and Anderson shone out amongst the forwards, Matheson, Carter and Dobson in the rearguard. McLean's work at full was excellent, as was also, his. placekicking. NEWTON'S FIRST POINT. By making a draw of their game with Manukau, the Newton fifteen gained their first championship point, having previously been-beaten in every game they played. The game, in which both teams scored six points, Manukau notching two tries and Newton putting over two penalties, was not of the brilliant order, although strenuously contested throughout. After half-time the Newton forwards showed to advantage, but the work of their backs was patchy. Callaghan, the rover, got through a big lot of work, while in the rear division Hanlon did well on the wing. Pickering was very safe, and, incidentally, put his toe to the two kicks which gained Newton their six points. There is no doubt that Manukau have given better displays than their effort against Newton. ..Although playing their usual bustling game, the forwards were nol allowed to have all their own way, and the backs, who did not get going as often as they might have done, failed to do much "as. regards actual scoring MeClusky played -well and; had- bis trj near the posts been converted Manuka* would have gained the win.

"BACKBLOCK" CONDITIONS i Way back in the 'eighties footballers tsed to carry their goal posts up to the )omain and erect them before each natch. Then the City Council collected id from each man before play started. Conditions like those of long ago ibtained to a lesser degree in the "backtlocks" of Avondale. To send senior earns to play their match miles from own and under shocking conditions is omething of a throw-back to the old lays, the result of the scarcity of playng fields. The Shore team went touring 0 Avondale to play Suburbs on Saturlay, and they were frustrated on every iand. Way out by Point Chevalier, the ms broke down. Another vehicle was ibtained to convey the team to Avonlale. Once there, the team changed into heir togs, climbed back into the bus md travelled another mile or so to the Cew Lynn football ground", which was 1 quagmire in places. "Picnic parties" ike that were not uncommon 30 years igo, but they are not appreciated or xpected in 1926. Play throughout the match was fast i.nd interesting. The forwards kept the >all to themselves most of the time, >ut they gave a good exhibition of drib>ling and passing. In nearly every crum Shore hooked the ball, but the tacks were right off their game and they et their forwards down badly. The suburbs' forwards are a hard-working ot, and the backs can sometimes show l glimpse of combination; but that is >nly occasional, for they are a set of ndividualists. Playing for the first time since last ieason, Curtayne, on the wing for Shore, jave a fine exhibition and scored a treat try. Easily the best try of the lay was the result of the Johnstonsparkling combined effort. Fohnson, coming up from full-back, iwerved and side-stepped half the Suburbs team, then sent on to Nieholls, vho handed the dummy right and left md scored under the posts. But even ;hen Nicholls could not convert. Again he Shore team had an off day with :heir place kicking. Solomon and Clarke vere again at the head of all the green md white forward movements. They ire a great pair, and seem to be the aivot of the whole green and white nachine. THE DEFEAT OF MARISTS. Sheen's ability to size up an oppor;nnity for a drop-kick at goal wa9 "esponsible for another victory for Colege Rifles on Saturday. In the third juarter of the game at Xorth Shore, Harists, who had defeated the Rifles Then the teams met in the first round, .vere leading by S points to 5, and were lolding their opponents at bay. Then t was that Sheen, taking advantage of i badly directed. kick-out by Broderiek, anded a beautiful goal from nearly half .vay. Subsequently College added another iry to their score, but without Sheen's jjoal the game would have been a draw. Play was very even, but it was hard md keen rather than brilliant. Howjver, some glimpses of back play relieved in exciting forward struggle, and it was their superiority in these back movements that gave College the victory. There was very little between two solid packs of forwards. For College, Sheen played a brilliant game at first fivejighths, being dangerous on. attack and reliable on defence. jHis straight-running was a feature, while his pace on several occasions left the opposition standing Gilleapie played a sound game at full back, although he made a couple of mistakes. Fogarty, Gallagher, and Anderson were the pick of a solid pack. Marists lost countless chances through their backs running across field. The wings were crowded on numerous occasions, and at times the ball would pass from half to wing with only a yard oi two being gained. However, Loft was responsible for some fine individua work, and in this respect Bradanovich O'Brien, and Wright were also prominent £. Hadley and S. Hadley played souml forward games, though the handling oi the latter could improve considerably. REP. REFLECTIONS. Auckland has not yet had a look af its rep. team. Though one rep. mate! has been played, it was at Hamilton where the Waikato team was beater 36 to 3. This score, by the way, appears to be popular in current games for it represents the margin of win alsc by Hawke's Bay over Wanganui, while the same figures were registered locally by Ponsonby and Grafton on Saturday On the result it has to be conceded that the Auckland backs got togethei better than had been anticipated, and there is now less inclination to believe that many changes will be made foi the regular rep. games. At the same time the performance of the B team against South Auckland showed that the province has excellent reserves. In the South Auckland game the out standing player was Hook, who seemec to revel in greasy conditions that be trayed other backs into frequent mis takes. His running, handling, fieldinj and kicking were the features of the game. Another re assuring point aboui the game was th< showing- of H. Mat son, the ex-Al Black wing-three quarter, as a centre threequarter. Sinci injury placed Vii Badeley on thi shelf, the three quarter line hai been something of s difficulty. Man] local critics believi that Lucas, whil< an excellent centre, is more effective on th wing, but so far lack of a centre o class has necessitated keeping Luca there. Matson has not been considerei as other than a winger, and it was th accidental non-appearance of Meyer a five-eighths that resulted in his bein: at centre last Thursday. His gam there certainly left the impression tha he is a "find" in the position, and tha a threequarter line with him in the centT and Lucas and Hook on the wings, wbul satisfactorily eolve Auckland's three quarter line difficulty. RUAPEHU RESULTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) RAETIHI, this day. The Ruapehn Rugby Sub-Union's result last Saturday were:— SENIORS. United 13, beat Junction 3. Raetihi 6, beat Ohaknne 3. JUNIORS. United 16, beat.Karioi 9. THIRD I-GRADE. United 20, beat Raetinl 14.