RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 186, 9 May 1928, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CLUBS GETTING INTO THEIR STRIDE

NEED FOR BETTER HANDLING

(Notes by “Five-Eighths.”)

The 102 S seaspn has now been properly set . going, and from Whangarei to Invercargill clubs are hard at work knocking their men into shape, and sorting out the best combinations for success. Club football is the backbone of the game in this as in every other country, as it is bi these competitions that the big army of Rugby players enjoy their exercise. It is surprising _ the amount of public- interest which is taken, in club championship contests in every centre. A deciding match for a chib championship will invariably attract as good a gate as an ordinary interproviiicial fixture. It is fitting, therefore that those in control of the game should allow club competitions to be interfered with as little as possible before the interprovincial contests are commenced. The Season’s Programme.

Followers of the game will have much to interest them this season. A .New. South Wales team, which will include a majority of the Waratah combination which so successfully toured Great Britain recently, will visit the Dominion, in August, and play matches against Auckland, Wanganui, Hawke’s’ Bay, Southland, and Marlborough, besides two test matches against New Zealand—at Wellington, on September 5 and at Christchurch on September 15. The test matches should afford the New Zealand players who failed to eatch the selectors’ eyes an opportunity of proving their worth, and showing that New Zealand can easily place two fifteens of international standard in the field.

After the second test match, the New Zealand team will travel across to Greymouth, and play a match -against the West Coast, which should' do much' to quicken interest in the game in that isolated region, which does not often receive visits from outside teams.

North v. South. A match which-should serve as an excellent trial game to sort out the New Zealand team for the tests will be the annual match between the North Island and South Island, which is to be played at Christchurch on August IS. What a magnificent contest this annual fixture provided at Athletic Park last season. For the first time; for many years, the South Island on that occasion fielded big, strapping forwards who quite held their own with the iron of the North. The issue was in doubt right up to the final bell, and the game seesawed in a manner which kept excitement at fever pitch. It was anybody's game, and the southerners had the luck to have their nose in front by two points when •‘no-side” was sounded.

It will be interesting to see whether, with the pick of New Zealand’s players away in South Africa, the players left behind can give something approaching the stirring tussle provided"last season. Hahfurly Shield.

Later will come the battles for the Ranfurly Shield, and Canterbury, the holders, will have their backs to the wall from August onwards, stalling off challenges from Wairarapa, Auckland, Manawhemia, Wellington, Otago, and Southland. Having sent eight of their best men with the New Zealand team to South Africa, public sympathy will be with Canterbury this season, and all good sportsmen will hope that they will be able to retain premiership honours.

Sound Management. As the Management Committee.of the New Zealand Rugby Union was reelected at the annual meeting last week, it is clear that everyone is satisfied with the way in which the game is being controlled. The only alteration was that Mr. J. Roache was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the transfer of Mr. C. L. Mullany to Taranaki. The vote of confidence passed by the re-election of the Management Committee was deserved, and from the reign of the present committee can be traced a new era in the sound government of the game in this country. Under the guidance of Mr. S. S.Deau, the present committee has brought order out of chaos, and one of the wisest acts they ever did was. to elect Mr. A. E. Neilson as secretary. The present committee was responsible for the new method of selection of New Zealand teams, which has done so much to bring out the best talent from the whole of the Dominion. _Their reelection last week was not only a reward for work well done, but sound judgment on the part of the delegates, who were satisfied that control of the game was in good hands.

The New President. Mr. G. Maddison, of Hastings, who was elected president of the New Zealand Rugby Union at the annual meeting last week, should till the office with dignity. Mr. Maddison, who is Mayor of Hastings, ■ occupies a seat on many public bodies in Hawke’s Bay. He was a noted athlete in his day, and has represented Hawke’s Bay at Rugby, tennis. and hockey, and still plays cricket and golf, holding the position of president of the Napier Golf Club. He is an active Rugby referee, and has controlled Ranfurly Shield and representative matches recently. On his return from the annual meeting last Friday night, he was installed as chief orphan of the Hastings Orphans Club. It was a graceful act on the part of Mr. G. H. Pownall, of Wanganui, to withdraw from the contest in order that Mr. Maddison might be elected unopposed. As Sir. Maddison remarked, Mr. Pownall would have filled the position as well. The Wanganui man’s turn will come, as he has done much for the game, and his sound Rugby statesmanship has won the respect of the body of delegates. • Poaeke’s Star Again Rising.

Many people were under the impression that Poneke would not be very much in the limelight this season. The Red and Blacks, however, have always been a virile institution. Their string of successes in the past loudly proclaims this fact.

Poneke resolutely set out this season to reorganise a new side, and they have apparently succeeded admirably. Handing over the coaching of the backs to the veteran, Billy Wallace, and of the forwards to Alt. Griffiths, the Poneke Club have had the satisfaction of winning both I heir games in the senior A championship this season. They created something of a sensation jr.st Saturday by overwhelming University by the wide’margin of 21 points to 9. It was to the strength of their vanguard that Poneke owed their victory on Saturday. Led in inspiring fashion by their captain, Jack Shearer, the- Red and Black vanguard is a formidable proposition with such big men as Pickrang. Sly. Peterson, Jessup, Smith, and Organ to roll the chariot along. What makes Poneke so dangerous is that Shearer, Pickrang, and Jessup are what can be described as scoring forwards. If a try is going begging, they will be after it, and if any one of this trio secure possession near the line it takes more than one man to slop them going over. Another feature which has much to do with Poneke’s success is the soundness of their defensive work. “Thou shalt not pass" is the motto nailed on their goal-post, and they live up to it. Against a weaker defensive side, the 'Varsity backs would have scored several tries oil Saturday. Turner played a sound game nt centreS rec-quarter for Poneke on Saturday. is defensive work was sound, and he ■otched a good try, which lie converted jlimself, and he also put over a penalty *°Witli the line set of forwards they possess, Poneke will take a lot of beating

this season. Their backs, without being brilliant, are a serviceable lot, and it may be that Poneke intend' to put their name on the championship banner for the thirteenth time this season.

A Battle Royal. It is long since a more evenly contested game was seen as that provided by Athletic and Oriental at Athletic Park on Saturday. It was anybody’s game from kick-off to “no-side.” and the way in which fortune fluctuated kept interest at boiling point. IThe-Side which played with wind and sun behind them had a decided advantage, and it was when the breeze favoured that most of the scoring was done. Heazelwood, the Athletic full-back, dominated the play in the first spell. He showed most intelligently how to harness the wind, his powerful punting many times sending the leather from one end of the field to the other. The exOtago player proved himself a first-class full-back. Not only can he punt, drop, and place-kick with power and accuracy, but his defence is first class. He thinks quickly, and several times dashed up to meet attacking movements, instead of waiting for trouble to sweep down upon him. It was bad luck for Heazlewood that he was injured in the trials last season, otherwise he might now have been on his way to South Africa. He is the best full-back who has been seen here sines George Nepia burst so sensationally into the limelight in 1924. Heazlewood played with the Zingari Club in Dunedin before coming to Wellington last season. Another Zingari man, in the person of C. .Stewart, made a first appearance in an Athletic jersey on ’Saturday, and shaped quiet well at five-eighths. A Brilliant Inside Back.

Wellington hate received some valuable recruits from outside centres this season, and one of the best of these is Pelham, the ex-Ponsonby (Auckland) player, who did so well on tour •in Great Britain with the Maori team in 1920. In his swallow-like swerves and nimble side-steps, he reminds one of A. E. Cooke. Once or twice he went’through the Oriental backs on Saturday in dazzling fashion,- but faulty handling pulled up the movements.

An Exciting Race. The best bit of work seen at'Athletic Park was when Walker intercepted a pass about halfway in the second spell, and raced for the goal-line. Pelham set out with great determination to head off the runaway, and ,the'spectators witnessed a most exciting race.- Travelling at surprising pace, Pelham made his dive at the correct moment, and so effective was his tackle that Walker was knocked out for a brief spell. ' It was one of the best bits of defensive work seen on the Park for many a long day. It looked a forlorn hope when Pelham started out on his long run to endeavour to stop Walker; but he got him. This only shows what determination can do. Pelham did not-prevent a score, as it happened, as Davies was handy, and picked up to score after Walker had been grassed. Had other Athletic backs followed Pelham as Davies did Walker, Pelham's splendid effort might have averted a score. A Determined Runner.

This Walker can travel all right. It was a sensational try be scored when he raced- up the line in the first spell from halfway. He only failed _by a yard to repeat the performance in the second spell. He is a well built youth, .who shduld develop into a really good scoring. winger.. A Clever Centre.

Allen, who played centre-three-quar-ter for Oriental, is a very useful man in this position. He is equally at home on attack and defence, and left the Athletic backs standing when he cut in in the second spell to score between the posts. He was a, prilific scorer for his club last season, and bids tair to carry on the good work.

A Sturdy Half. Another very valuable man in the Oriental side is Chambers, who is playing half-back this season. He is a good man in any position, and was quite-at home in his new role. He is a tiger On defence, and his rush-stop-ping and deadly collaring had much to do with keeping the Athletic score down when they were attacking strongly with the breeze behind them in the- first spell. Condition Tells.

Oriental owe their unbeaten record so far this season to physical fitness. As in their game against Petone, they clapped on the pace in the last 20 minutes against Athletic on Saturday, and owed their victory to keeping going at top speed until- they had overhauled their 01 a burly forward on the Athletic side who kept going well, played with the Linwood team in Christchurch last season. . .n. It is reported that Webber, the Athletic lock, may have to return to Christchurch shortly. He is a builder, and occupies a responsble position in the erection of a new theatre in the City of the Plains. Cliff Porter and “Snowy Svenson, the two 1924 All Blacks and once prominent members of the Athletic Chib, were amongst the spectators who watched the Athletic colours being lowered last Saturday.

Erin Go Bragli. After a most- unimpressive display in their opening ‘ match against PoiiCite, Marist staged a good come-back on Saturday when they soundly defeated M dlington at Wakefield Park by 14 points to lt was the Green and White rearguard who supplied .the fireworks. Lroderic-v, the ex-Aucklander, was m dazzling form, waltzing over the line for two brilliant 11 Barry played well at five-eighths, and Grab am was as'reliable as ever at wingllUWelllingtou had a run of bad luck for this match. 'Phillips and Hill were nursing injuries, and Rathgen was in Cfl However, the Yellows had a good recruit in Stanley, an Englishman, who formerly played for the Harlequin team in London, and was a member o tie Midland Counties team which met the All Blacks in 1924. He did not get much chance to show up on baton lay Julian played a sterling, game at halfback for Wellington, showing up well in all departments of the game.

Pctono Extend Old Boys. After their heavy defeat by Oriental, it was thought that Old Boys would pile up a cricket score against the village fifteen on Saturday on Petone Oval. Reinforced by those good scoring backs, Hawkins and Welsh, the I e tone team played up so well that they had the Whites thinking hard, and made them travel their fastest to eventually win by 11 to 8. It was a bright game, in which plenty of open play figured Hawkins scored a good try on the blind side for Petone, and IV ixon and Wylie notched tries for Old Boys. I enalty shots were put over by Malcolm and Boys will be hard to dislodge from champion position this season, as they possess better training facilities than any club in the competition. live powerful arc lights make Wellington Col ege ground ns light as day, and this. enables the Old Boys’ backs to indulge in passing movements, and the forwards to practise dribbling at night. H. Hand, who has been relegated to

the junior ranks this season, was, in good form on Saturday against Selwyn, as he notched three tries. It should not be long before this, player regains his place in the Old Boys’ senior fifteen, as he .is a good stamp of forward, and is quick to score when opportunity offers. Berhampore ' Score a Victory. Berhampore registered their first victory of the season by defeating Eastbourne by 11 points to nil oir .Saturday. Pickering and Love were in good form amongst the backs, and the forwards, headed by Glennie, Dixon, and Mollier, worked consistently. For Eastbourne, Clark (full), Fennimore (half); and E. Foley did well. How to Take a Pass.

Dropped passes have lost -many tries in local games this season. It is heartbreaking to see what should be certain scores thrown away by a bad mull at the critical moment. It is quite evident that the majority of local backs do not know how to .take a pass. They gather the ball with their hands stretched out in front of them, much as a.cricketer takes a catch. This really means that they have to take the ball with one hand, and then clap the other hand on to it. Is it any wonder that so much faulty handling is seen? The correct way to take a pass is to turn in the direction from which the ball is coming, and make a basket of the body with fingers outstretched. It. is impossible, to drop a ball taken in this fashion, and players can take a pass in this way without losing pace. ,

Wellington’s Sole Selector. The Wellington Rugby Union has wisely reappointed Mr. J. N. Millard as sole selector of representative teams this season. They could not get a more competent selector, as he is a good judge of a Rugby player, and the best men will get the coveted places. Selwyn Coining On '. The senior B match, Selwyn v. University. on Saturday, was most interesting, incident followed incident so quickiy that the enthusiasm of the spectators.was well maintained. .Selwyn as a team showed 101) per cent, improvement on their previous display. The forwards worked with a higher degree of combination, while, together with the backs, they tackled with greater determination. ’Varsity as a team played with considerable vigour, the backs supporting their vanguard in a fashion typical of the ’Varsity A team. Mason, at full-back, played soundly, nipping in the- bud several dangerous Selwn thrusts. Bailey, at wing-three-quarter, ran and tackled with determination. Airey (wing forward) played excellently, while his line-out play was of a high standard. Uudby, Sclwyn’s three-quarter, was always dangerous. He needs very little room for his attacking movements, which are always full of dash and courage. Haudcock, at half, outshone his vis a vis, being tricky and quick to take advantage of possible openings. The Selwyn forwards played a solid game, but still nave much to learn of line-out play. Churchill showed out best in tins respect, while his following up and saying tactics were invaluable. Fuller and Mitehell hooked well, the former, -iriELnii’ scrummaging splendidly, while Mitchell was always conspicuous in the 1. requeue loose rushes. ME Mason, coach, must be congratulated on the improvement ol Ins team. .