A Notebook of Sport

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 15

A Notebook of Sport

Rugby Players—Learn to Tackle! If New Zealand Rugby players do not yet know which, of their weaknesses was most ruthlessly exploited by the Springboks last year, the film records of the tour should help to bring home a realisation of just how bad the tackling of the average provincial team was last season. It was a failing, too, that was shared by the test team in two of the three matches. The Canterbury Rugby Union has obtained almost a complete set of the films of the Springboks' matches, and Rugby officials and enthusiasts saw these at a private screening at the Mayfair Theati’e this week. Selected sequences will be incorporated in the union’s already large collection of instructional films. The cinema record of the tour shows all too clearly how scores were given away in every match by inefficient or half-hearted tackling. The South Africans were allowed to teat man after man through the failure of defenders to go hard and low for the attacker's knees —as the Springboks invariably did themselves. In this direction the films will be of the i tmost value, for they not only show how not to tackle but they present clearly the South Africans’ splendid example in this important branch of the game. Cross-Country Race With an entry of 18 teams, the Halswcll cross-country event on Saturday promises some good racing. The teams arc again fairly evenly balanced, though it appears likely that Christchurch will win comfortably. University will field a stronger team than usual, and may take second place. The course will be exceptionally heavy after the recent rains, and will offer a severe test. More Reappears A former All Black, who has found it hard to resist the urge to play again is J. Here. On Saturday in the match Southern v. Taieri. at Dunedin, ho replaced 1.. Niven, who was injured, in the second spell. He was given a round of applause as he went on to the field. I? he were to take up the game again, his reappearance would be welcomed in the Otago pack. He retired at the end of the 1936 season when Otago held the Ranfurly Shield, but was prevailed upon to assist Southtrn when several of the club’s leading players were absent, half-way through ins”. He was selected for the team to defend the Ranfurly Shield, but later withdrew. His leadership of the Otago pack was missed in representative fixtures, and Otago did not have nearly as impressive a record last year as in 1936. F. T. J. French’s Record Two splendid goals in the English Rugby League Cup final,-in which his club. Barrow, was beaten, brought F T. J. Fronch’s total for the season to the phenomenal number of 73, one more than the previous record of J Sullivan, well known in New Zealand for his wonderful kicking. French, the former Sydenham and Canterbury representative Rugby Union full-back has improved to a remarkable degree on his Christchurch form, and he is now regarded as one of the best fullbacks in England. This marked advance he ascribes chiefly to strict training. Winter Golf Problems The prolonged spell of wet weather in Christchurch this winter has caused much discomfort and inconvenience *o golfers. From all parts of the Dominion comes the same complaint—courses .unplayable. The problem of draining water from golf courses is a difficult and serious one. Such courses as Harewood and Russley with their shingle foundations have never been troubled by an excess of rain. They are. in fact, ideal for winter golf, Harewood being particularly noted for its condition in mid-winter. Other courses, Shirley, Avondale, Rawhiti, and Waimairi, are always concerned in this respect. In many cases the difficulty has been overcome by laying pipes, but not until lately has the Avondale Club done anything about its wet patches. A scheme for draining away the surplus rain water was, however, recently completed. In all, 700 feet of piping have been put down in different parts of the course. The work has greatly improved the approaches to the ninth, eleventh, and seventeenth greens, which, between May and Sep* tember, have usually been very soggy, the seventeenth being particularly bad. This improvement was long overdue and was welcomed by the club members, especially those whose less forceful shots have been trapped in the quagmires. The pipes extend beneath the first and ninth greens, and by this means' it is hoped that the bunkers guarding the ninth green will be kept dry along with the approaches. Transfer' of C. K. Saxton The transfer of the All Black halfback, C. K. Saxton, from Timaru to Invercargill, will be a great loss to South Canterbury Rugby. Saxton learned his football at the Otago Boys’ High School and subsequently he joined the Pirates Club, Dunedin. He represented Otago in 1935 and was a member of the team which won the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury. In 1936, when Otago held the Ranfurly Shield, he again played for that province, but was under-study to H. Simon. He captained Otago in the return match with Southland at Invercargill, when on a heavy ground the home side won by 9 points fo 6. He was transferred to Timaru at the end of the 1936 season. The following year he joined the Old Boys Club in Timaru and was nominated for the All Black trials. He was injured half-way through the club season, and this no doubt affected his form in the trials. He was a different man in the South Africa-South Canterbury match, and D. H. Craven declared that Saxton was the best half-back the tourists had encountered. Saxton’s brilliant play behind the South Island scrum in the annual inter-island game this year, resulted in his being chosen to go ,o Australia with the All Blacks. South* land will now have two good halfbacks in J. Purdue and Saxton, If the latter plays for Southland this season, Purdue will probably be the first fiveeighths, in which position he has previously represented the province. Saxton has also played fop Otago and South Canterbury at cricket.