THE RUGBY GAME.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 193, 10 May 1924, Page 18

THE RUGBY GAME.

MATCHES AND PLAYERS

NEWS AND NOTES FROM ALL SOURCES

A BUSY SEASON

(By 1

“Five-eighths.”)

The Management Committee of th© New Zealand Rugby Union are to be congratulated upon the comprehensivo scheme of trial matches which they have arranged in order to unearth the best possible talent for the All Black team for England. Practically every portion of tho Dominion will be afforded an opportunity of parading its best players. . A glance at the following list of fixtures should convince everyone that no effort has been spared in order to give every played in the Dominion a chance to win his spurs:— May 21—Possibles v. Probables (North Island), at Wellington. May 21—Seddon Shield Districts’ Trial Match, at Wellington. May 31—North Island v. South Island, at Wellington. June 3 —Possibles v. Probables (New Zealand), at Wellington. July 16 —v. Wairarapa, at Wairarapa. August 27—v. Nelson, at Wellington. August 30 —r. Taranaki, at Wellington. September 6 —v, Auckland, at Wellington. September 10 —v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. September 13 —v. Marlborough, at Wellington. September 13 —v. Otago, at Dunedin. September 17 —v. Southland, at Invercargill. September 20 —v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. September 20 —v-. King Country, at Wellington.

The first of the trial matches will be played) at Auckland to-day, tho complete list being as follow:— May 10 (Saturday).—Auckland, North Auckland, Thames, and Waikato v. Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, and Poverty Bay, at Auckland.

May 12 (Monday).—Te Mori Rose Bowl match between teams representing the Northern and Southern Maori districts, at Auckland. May 16 (Friday).—Wellington, Wairarapa, Horowhenua, and Bush Districts v. Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, and King Country, at Wanganui. May 21 (Wednesday).—Possibles v. Probables (teams comprising North Island players), at Wellington. May 21 (Wednesday).—Marlborough, Nelson, and Motueka-Golden Bay v. West Coast and Buller, at Wellington. May 24 (Saturday).—Canterbury and South Canterbury v. Otago and Southland, at Invercargill. May 28 (Wednesday).—Possibles v. Probables (teams comprising South Island players), at Christchurch. May 31 (Saturday).—North Islartd V. South Island, at Wellington. June 3 (King’s Birthday).—Possibles v. Probables (teams comprising players from both islands). It is pleasing to see that the governing body is giving the Maori players an opportunity of winning places in the team for England. New Zealand has produced many sterling Native Rugby players in the past, and tho young Maoris of to-day are just as keen on the game as were the Warbricks, the Wynyards, or the Taiaroas of th)e ’eighties and ’nineties. It is not too much to say that Hawke’s Bay owes her position as premier Rugby province of the Dominion to the strong leavening of Native players in the composition of its representative teams during the past few years. Te Auto College and the Maori Agricultural College are nurseries of Rugby, at which students from all parts of the Dominion congregate. It should certainly add to the drawing power of the Now Zealand. team at Home to have a few Native players of the calibre of Jack Taiaroa, Joe Warbrick, or Alick Takarangi, on the side. Not only would the English crowds flock to see tho Native players in action, but men of this stamp would add materially to the playing strength of the New Zealand team. In any case, the New Zealand Union are to be commended for giving the Maoris an equal chance with the pakehas of winning a place in the All Blacks for England. On Wednesday, May 21, followers of the game in Wellington should enjoy a regular Rugby banquet. A trial match will he played that day between two teams composed of the pick of the players from the West Coast of the South Island. The West Coast has turned out some good men in the past. It is only necessary to recall the name of J. Steele, one of the best scoring wing-three-quarters tho Dominion has ever produced. This match will be played as a cur-tain-raiser to the Possible v. Probables trial match, -which will comprise players from both islands.

All over the Dominion for tho next few weeks similar trials of Rugby ability will be in progress, and it will be surprising if, from this army of younn New Zealanders, the selectors will not be .able to choose a team which will do justice to the Dominion.

When the 1005 New Zealand team was selected, it was not the magnificent Rugby combination it later proved itself to bo on the playing fields of Old England. It will be remembered that the 1905 All Blacks' were beaten in a match by Wellington before they sailed for England. No one thought for a moment that they would astound the Rugby world by running up 55 points in their opening match in the home of Rugby. What was the reason for this wonderfu change of form? It can be explained in the one word—combination. For a month this band of Rugby silgrims were on board ship together. 'hoy practised Rugby, they talked Rugby, and they thought Rugby till there' was scarcely a point about the grand old game which had not been exploited. When at last they reached England, it was a new breed of RugbyItes who broke loose upon the stereotyped players of the Old Land, and overran the country like a prairie fire. Never before had the world seen such a perfected football combination. It should bo the same with the .team which New Zealand will send Home this wear. We do not wish to boast , that the wearers of the silver fern will beat England, Wales, and France, lhe players of the older countries will not bo caught napping as they were in 1905. But wo dp say that the New Zealand team which steps off the boat on to English soil will be a 50 per cent, better football combination than the one which embarked from Maoriland. It may almost ho said that New Zealanders have really never seen their representatives play Rugby football, except, perhaps, when they have

returned from a lengthy tour . Players then have usually had quite enough of strenuous play, and arc not too keen upon getting into the jersey again. New Zealand representative teams are never given a chance to acquire combination in a test match. They are usually assembled from widely different centres, and arc lucky.it they get a week together in a tramin°- camp. Let those same men remain together for six weeks, and they would not be recognised as the same side. Combination is the alpha and omega of Rugby football.

SELECTION OF ALL BLACKS

With such a wide field to cover, tho selection of the New Zealand team for England is a difficult task, and the Management Committee ot yhe New Zealand Rugby Union did wisely this week in increasing the number of selectors to seven. Ihe selection committee, at first sight, may appear unwieldly, but, after all, it is only three for each island, with a represervative from the New Zealand Rucby Union. It was just as well to widen tho representation on the selection committee as much as possible, in order that the whole o. the Dominion should share in tho responsibility of choosing the team. \Vitli only 29 places available, it. goes without saying that many sterling player., will Co loft behind when the Al Blacks embark for Europe, but with seven selectors to make the nnai choice, no portion of tho Ponynion should be overlooked by the fine-tooth comb which will be used to rake. in the very nest players for the touring ' It is to be hoped that the selectors, in building up tho side, will find room for some players of the unorthodox typo. By this we do not mean hot-headed players who will upset combination at the psychological moment by cutting in away from their supports, but there is room n\ Zealand players for quick-thinking opportunists who can beat the oppos - tion bv doing the unexpected thing. There is a danger of combination being made such a fetish as to. make al attacking movements so obvious that they can be blocked. In the match nt Twickenham on March 10, when England signally defeated Scotland by 19 points to nil, the English >.eam gave evidence that they were not afraid to play on unorthodox lines. The forwards threw the ball about in great fashion, on what they, call in England the “faithfly” principle. This may not be exactly sound tactics, but it at least opens up the game, ana instead of the Scottish doing the intercepting it was the Englishmen who cut off much of the Scottish passing. Many old Rugby shibboleths have gone’ by the hoard of recent years. At one time, “never pass m your own twenty-five” was a . stern unwritten law. When the Spring.ooks were with us they ware not afraid to pass even behind their own goal-line, as a means of defence, and I saw them clear more than once on the tour ni this fashion. We can rest assured, however, that New Zealand has little to learn about Rimbv tactics, and when the team commences playing on English fields they will know all about every, dodge that has ever been worked in the past and will probably have a few brand new cnes of their very own. LACK OF FINISH With two such teams as Petono and Oriental in the field, the couple of thousand people who braved the wintry elements at Athletic Park last Saturday looked for something out of the ordinary. The conditions, however, were all against a scientific display of Rugby. , Tho honours were certainly . witn Oriental in the first spell.. With a howling gale of wind against them, they resolutely set out to keep the score of their opponents down as much as possible, and succeeded admirably. They adopted clever tactics in keeping the game tight, and preventing Petone from setting their backs in motion. Both teams had powerful sets of forwards, and many r.trenuous scrummages were witnessed. The Orien tai vanguard were better on the lineouts, and invariably secured from these and broke away. , Petone tried hard to penetrate the defence, but the tackling was very sound;. Mason was playing a great defensive game for Oriental at inside fi/ve-eijghths. He was here, there, and everywhere, and had an almost uncanny intuition whore danger was likely to threaten. Moffitt was inspiring the vanguard to great deeds, and for the first half-hour .Petone, though swarming on the line, knocked at the door in vain. Petone’s first score came from a capital effort by Mt Nicholls,who landed a penalty goal from the lino well beyond the quarter-mark. . What a great asset the Nicholls family are to the suburban team. Four of them were on the side on Saturday—G. Nicholls (full-back), “Doc” Nicholls (centrethreequarter), M. Nicholls (inside fiveeighths), and H. E. Nicholls (half). And they were a great quartet. They know each other’s play so well that they drop naturally into position for concerted work. But they were up against stubborn defence on Saturday. Petone’s second score came from a smart bit of work by J. King, who scored with a smart dive. H. E. Nicholls was responsible for the second try. He made a nice opening, and when he transferred there was a clear field' before Graham. M. Nicholls converted) both tries, and Petono had a lead of 13 points when the sides crossed over.

Oriental should have won this game with the wind behind them in the second spell. The desperate work the forwards had put in in the first spell, however, seemed to have taken a lot of the dash out of them. It was the Oriental backs who let the side dow". though. Time and again they had excellent chances of scoring, but they had no notion of scoring tactics. The high lob passing was antiquated, and gave the defenders plenty of time to get to the man who had the ball. That usually sure placeJkicker, E. King, also had some glorious chances of putting on points for his side, but he could not direct the leather aright. Oriental’s solitary try was due to a brilliant solo effort by Moffit. In hot work near the Bctone lino, H. E. Nicholls secured the 'call. Moffitt was upon him like a flash, and the I’otone half sent a short pass to his brother, Mark. Moffitt intercepted the pass, and before anyone knew where the leather had gone to he was lying upon it over the goal-line. The Oriental passing was very wild at times. The backs threw the ball anywhere, as if they were glad to be rid of it. This kind of haphazard work rarely hrir.e* *baut a score. Books

should never pass unless to a. team mate in a better position. Possession in an attacking movement means a lot. and it is the height of follv to lose control of the leather by tossing it into space. The Oriental backs should also learn to run straight, and give their passes so that the. leather can be taken 'oy comrades in their stride. Much of their passing in tho second spell on Saturday afternoon was so high and slow that tho playerg had to pull up and wait for the leather. This kind of passing will never earn tries, and it did not do so against Petone. The Petone forwards. in the second spell, were guilty in the loose of pushing their opponents with their hands. This is an illegal practice, which should be promptly penalised by referees. There was also a good deal of playing men who did not have the ball. Barring these infringements, however, it was a good, hard game, in which the collaring was determined. ANOTHER WIN FOR MARIST The Marist combination secured, its second successive win on Saturday by defeating Selwyn, who played a man short for the first spell, by 14 points to 3. Weather conditions were not conducive to good football. A stiff southerly interfered with back, play, and the' frequent showers of rain did not improve the state of the ground. Marist owe their success to the fine work of their forwards. The division was much heavier than the Selwj’n pack, and. displayed more pace in the loose. Mcßae, Bowman, and Bell were outstanding among a hardworking bunch. Of the Selwyn. forwards McLucas and Rose were always prominent. The Selwyn back line worked particularly well on Saturday, and if sufficient support is forthcoming from the forwards they should go a long way this season. Scaddon, nt half, played a fine game, and easily outshone McCleary, the Marist man, who, unfortunately, seems only to strike form when the ground is like a quagmire. Wogan, at five-eighth, carried out a deal of hard work, and was unlucky in over-running the ball as often as ho did. He had sound support in McQuade. In Eastgate and Nickless. Selwyn possesses two three-quarters who should make good. Both are fast, nippy players, who take a ball well, and have a turn of speed that frequently caught the Marist combination by surprise. Jackson, the remaining member, is the weak link in the line, and will have to learn to. take a ball better. Malin was not impressive at full-back. The Marist back division did not play up to its usual standard. McCleary was too undecided behind tho pack, and attempted too much on his own account. As a five-eighth, Murphy is a good kick —he always has had that qualification—but otherwise is of very little assistance. His passes on Saturday were bad, and his knowledge of tactics a minus quantity. Carmody did auite well as second five-eighth, and Holtz and Dossett on the wings wore responsible for some good work. Mahoney kicked too much for a centre. Sidet was sound at full-back and made few mistakes. s

WELLINGTON V. BERHAMPORE If Wellington never get another win this season, they can look back on the match against Berhampore with justifiable pride. Few anticipated a victory for them, and fewer still anticipated such, an excellent exhibition as that provided on Kilbirnie Park ground under such adverse condtions. It seems difficult to believe, even with more favourable conditions, that the standard of play of both teams could have been appreciably improved. It was indeed a real test of the football capabilities of both teams, with the result in favour of what undoubtedly was the better team. Hard, fast, and keen as the game undoubtedly was, it is to the credit of all players that there were no questionable tactics. Both teams displayed an equal facility in attack and soundness in defence, and defence is more often a more, accurate indication of a team’s-capabilities than attack. Wellington’s principal weakness, in fact, their only weakness, was in the matter of passing. Tn that they were much inferior to Berhampore. Both were hard and certain at tackling, and fast in getting, to tho ball. In a game where all thirty, mon are well trained, and have a desire to play the game, and where for the. most part the individual sacrifices himself for the sake of team work, and the larger issue, it would be unfair to institute comparisons or distinctions. There was not one single passenger. Every man did that which was expected of him. and did it well. It was little wonder that, despite the heavy state of the ground, the rain, the wind, and intense cold, the spectators were raised to a high pitch of enthusiasm. A word of praise must be given to the referee, Mr. Leith, who was sparing in the use of the whistle and who used the ’vantage rule to the fullest extent and in the way that it ought to be used if Rugby is to be at all brightened to a gamo worthy of attention by all classes of people. His was an eminently just controlling of the gamo, OLD BOYS V. ’VARSITY

'Varsity completely outclassed Old Boys at Newtown Park last Saturday, and it is a wonder that they did not win by double the score. Old Boys were in poor condition, and their team work and general tactics were not visible. In fact, the only player to play in conjunction with the rest was Malcolm. This player was at his best, and his handling and lino kicking were a treat to sec. It is evident that Old Bovs were feeling the effects of the gruelling they received against Athletic, and perhaps, most of all, tho lack of a gymnasium. The play throughout was of a most ragged nature, and it seems that the lack of combination shown must bo duo to the above reason University played a capital game, and suited themselves to tho weather conditions. Their hack combination was at times pretty to see. Their forwards, led by Mar-tin-Smith, McKenzie. Jell and McRae, got all over thc-ir opponents, and on three occasions Martin-Smith crossed the lino, only to bo recalled for infringements. Of tho Old Ploys pack, Preston, Menzies and Loe wore prominent throughout, and were tho only forwards to really work. The Hart-Britland-Walpolo combination was excellent, although Britland was inclined to hang on too long, Both R iggs and Malfroy were well fed. Riggs is bv far the better wing threequarter of tho two. and on several occasions he held up on the line. He is a solid runner, and a verv hard man to tackle. Kelly, as first fiveeighths, showed improved form nnd should do well when better training facilities have been arranged. L. Warwick, as half, played well. but his passing was erratic.

THE JUNIOR GRADE

THE PLAY AND THE PLAYERS

The conditions again last Saturday militated against bright play, but fortunately all the matches in the junior grade wcro contested. There are many players in tho junior grade not playing the game; in other words they are letting down their teams. They are coming on to the field of play,' and are not in condition. Wo arc now well into the season, and there is no excuse for unfitness. It is to be hoped that there will be a considerable improvement in form from -to-day. Petone should take particular note of this. . Tho lack of good coaching was apparent in some cases last Saturday. A few teams went on the field, and did not attempt to play any kind of a game. Their object seemed, to be to kick the ball and run after it. Junior captains should remember that they should compare the qualities of their own teams with those of their opponents. If .a captain thinks that the opposing side has a good set of backs, and he has a weak set of backs but a strong set of forwards, then he should instruct his side to make the game a close forward one. In at least two cases last Saturday, fifteens were beaten, because they obviously played the wrong game. Junior players must Wr in mind that there is more m the game of Rugby than the mere kicking and running with tho ball. The'heavy forwards of Porirua proved too good for their lighter opponents and the suburban team defeated Old Boys by 12 points to 8. J. Solomon and J- Reno were outstanding in the Porirua pack. The backs worked very well together, D. Wi Neera and Ricketts at first five-eighth and half respectively being especially noticeable. Ran Wi Neera is a spasmodic goalkicker. Some Saturdays he can land some wonderful shots, but he was right off on Saturday last. He failed m six attempts. Cox (2), J. Rene, and Dimmock scored for Porirua. Foden scored a really brilliant try for the town side. He ran some 50 yards before touching down. This player also kicked a penalty goal, and Taylor converted a try. Du Chateau, the young. ex-Welhngton College half, could not get going m the first spell, but he warmed to his work in the later stages. This was his first game in the junior grade, and no doubt he suffered from “stage fright.” Hester and Taylor, second five-eighth and centre, play with nice understanding. . Marist had no great difficulty in defeating Oriental by 12 points to 6 at Wakefield Park. Both sides had good forwards, but the appalling weakness of the Oriental backs made the balance swing in favour of Marist. The mulling of the Oriental rearguard gave the opposing forwards chances time and time again.’ The Marist backs are fair with the exception of the five-eighths. They are a very weak link between the fine half, Toohill, and the centre-three-quarter. Their play should improve with practice however. Porter, on the Oriental wing, was dangerous on occasions, and J. Hill, and Thompson were outstanding in the forwards. Tancred scored for the winners ; Heavey landed a. drop kick; while Toohill converted a try, and kicked a goal. Porter scored for Oriental, and Chambers landed a penalty goal. It was not expected that Training College would defeat Petone, but the suburban team went under by 15 points to 12. Petone did not deserve to win, for many of the players had evidently not been near a gymnasium this season. In addition they played a wrong game in the first spell. Training College had a fleet set of backs, and tffe slower moving Petone i meh endeavoured to make play j open, with tho result that they , had nine points registered against them ' at the end of the first spell. As an I excellent illustration of what method I will do, it might be stated that Petone made the game close in the second spell, and scored 12 points to their opponents’ six. Training College, with | their fine set of backs, should go far I in the competition. Warden was outstanding in the Petone vanguard. I The value of sound coaching is very i apparent in the Eastbourne team, who are under the guidance of Teddy Roberts. Tho suburban team ,'easily accounted for ’Varsity B by 35 points to three. Unfortunately, ’Varsity could only muster twelve men, and they offered little resistance to tlie excellent opposing combination. E. Cunliffe 3, C. Hodge 2, and V. Moore 2, E. Foley and L. Foley one each, scored tries for the winners. E. Foley converted three tries, and Moore one. Of all the teams in the competition the Eastbourne side seems at thV present time to be the most promising. The players are very keen, and anxious. to do well in tltoir first essay in junior ranks. Johnsonville, last year’s champions, were defeated on their own ground by Wellington bv six points to nil. This is quite different from the results of last year’s games. Saturday afi<u Saturday teams journeyed to Johnsonville only to be well beaten by the local team. But the Johnsonville of last year is not the Johnsonville of this yfear. Two of the best backs— Morgan and Moore —arc now playing in senior ranks. ’Wellington kept the ball close nil the time, and the big forwards made good use of it. Especially were they effective in the line outs. Christie, the Wellington half and captain, has the same difficiiltv to contend with as has Toohill, of tho Marist team. His inside backs -are not as bright ns thev might Hp, and when tho ball did get out it was generally mulled before it reached the wings. On the only two occasions when it reached the wingers, Jackson and Couper, they scored tries. Cleland and Carter played fny> games in the Wellington vanguard, and Anderson was safe at full-back. Chaney, the Johnsonville half-back, is playing his usual good nnd heady game. What a surprise ’Varsity A had at Hutt. The Collegians went out to plav tNe suburban team, thinking they had an easy thing on; nnd they had good reason to believe that a win was a certainty, because the ’Varsity B team defeated Hutt bv niee points to nil or the PHevions Saturday. But tho town team went down to tho tune of 14 points to 8. Tho result was indeed the greatest surprise of the dav, and can be attributed to the great improvement of Hutt. De Castro, in tho five-eighth line, played a good gamo for Hutt. Other promising players on this side are Power and Mclntosh. The Pukutapu brothers intend to join up. and they should greatly strengthen the forwards. . The half is Periti, last year of the Porirua team. Tt is interesting to note that this was the first game Hutt have won for two years. Loadbetter played a fine game in the ’Varsity back line, and scored a brilliant try. Whiteman, in the forwards, was always prominent. In the past, Hutt have always been short of a conch and players. But now the junior team has a good coach, and 23 candidates for a place in the junior team. Athlotlo were superior to Selwyn in overv department.. and defeated them bv 26 points tn nil. The game was a most, uninspiring one. and was very ragged. There is a tendency to overdo talking in tho Athletic team. If I remember rightly this was a fault o f last year.

Berhampore and Poneke drew, but if anything the play was for the greater part of the game in Poneke territory. Play was of a forward nature almost throughout. Mason scored for Borhampore, and Gibbs for Poneke. Kelly, tho half-back, was always prominent for Berhampore. The forwards worked hard throughout, and they were opposed to an equally hard-working pack. K. Scott did some smart work behind the Poneke scrum, and H. Tilyard at centre was the best of the backs. Bcrhampore now have the best team they have had for some seasons. HELP THE YOUNGSTERS!. An interesting scheme for the fostering of football among the lower grades was outlined at the meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union this week. Tho appearance of several applications for withdrawal by lower grade teams set tho ball rolling. Tho chairman (Mr. J. PrendeviUo) expressed the conviction that clubs paid too much attention to the higher grades at the expense of the lower. Some clubs had experienced difficulty in getting coaches, and tho position was unfortunate since there must have been a demand at the beginning of the season. Mr. Laws: As a rule they are verykeen. The chairman: It has beon suggested that each club adopt a school—a jolly good arrangement. Mr. H. Murphy: Wo tned it last year, and offered players every inducem Mn E. H. Ward (primary schools’ representative): It’s a pity the scheme fell through. ... I’m quite sure that boys drift out of the game after they leave school. The chairman: Tho military authorities suggested that they might do something through the Cadets. Mr. J. N. Millard: That’s what the Community Club intended to do, but it seems to have fizzled out. The chairman: No, they are still going strong. ... I think that some scheme should be formulated. Mr. Ward undertook to go Into tho matter and prepare a report. "Hie Referees’ Association has submitted to the Wellington Union the names of the following referees. who are available to control mterprovmcial matches during the coming season:— R. T. Bailey, G. E., Bradley, W. J. Carson. T. A. Fletcher, D. J. Guiney, R. E. Herron, E. S. Hylton, J. 8. King, A. C. Kitto, H. S. Leith, J. Moffitt. E. Perry, L. Simpson, R. N. Wilkinson, J. B. Watson. The results of Saturday’s games places teams in the club championship in the following positions:—Wellington College, 21; Petone, Marist, Athletic, 12 each; Wellington, 11; Eastbourne, 9; Oriental, 8 “It seems rather early for a grouch from the referees,” commented the chairman (Mr. J. Prendevillel at tins week’s meeting of the Wellington Union, when a letter was received from the Referees’ Association drawing attention to tho number of changes in fixtures that were being made at the end of the week, and also to the number of defaults. Members complained of the attitude of the association in ventilating their grievances in the Press before the union had a chance to go into the matter. Mr. 'I 1 - A. Fletcher admitted that the questions should, have *oeen dealt with in committee. In the course of a general discussion, it was pointed out that every ’effort was made by the union tn advise alterations m fixtures. It was decided to duect the attention of clubs to the rules governing defaults.