Rugby Football

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 225, 19 June 1929, Page 8

Rugby Football

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“Five-Eighths "

NEW ZEALAND’S CHANCES IN AUSTRALIA

A WORD FOR THE “SHINERS”

On Friday next qnce again a New Zealand team will leave Wellington to cross the Tasman in order to prove whether New South Wales or the Dominion has the right to he classed, equal with South Africa, as the paramount Rugby country of the Southern Hemisphere. A few years back such a suggestion would have been laughed to scorn, but to-day New Zealanders are not so certain that they are absolute cocks of the walk beneath the Southern Cross. South Africa in 1921 and again in 1928 proved that they were our equal on the Itugrby field, and now New South Wales, profiting by the lessons learnt in years of battling against the All Blacks, have seriously entered the lists, and the series of Test matches which are to be played in Australia during the next few’ weeks will prove whether or not New South Wales has at last arrived at man s If Australia manages to beat us in this series of Test matches, it will be not the slightest use our saying, “Oh, we did not send our best team over.” The team a club or a nation places in the field is always Its best team. If better men w;ere available, they would have been included. New South Wales were extremely anxious that New Zealand should send its best team over this season, in view of the visit of the British team next year, and New Zealand was anxious to send its very best team for the same reason. Nominations were called for from all the affiliated unions of all players who could definitely make the trip, and from these the selectors made their choice, after viewing the trial nuxch at Wellington on the King’s Birthday. Some pessimists have declared that the 1929 All Blacks are the weakest side New Zealand has ever sent across .he Tasman, and a doleful utterance to this effect by a youthful New Zealand scribe has been broadcast in Australia. - Personally, I can see no good reason for such a doleful view. The team which will leave for Australia on Friday has been picked on its merits. Who is there whom we could have included to strengthen the side? Few of the All/Blacks who made the tour to South Africa in 1928 arc playing at present ip convincing fashion. Take the Wellington contingent, for instance. Neither Rushbrook, Hark Nicholls, nor Lance Johnson have shown form good enough this season to entitle them to places in the national side. New Zealand’s weakness in South Africa last year was lack of pace, and in this respect it must be acknowledged that Geddes, Stringfellow, Hook and Oliver are all faster than the backs who carried the silver fern last year. With Nepia, Dailey, Lilburne, Carleton and Grenside to reinforce this quartet, how can it be said that the 1929 All Blacks are a weak side?, As a Sydney Rugby Union official ruthfully remarked the other day, “No, New Zealand team can ever be regarded as weak.” With regard to the forwards, they certainly appear dwarfed in. comparison with the giants who comprised the 1924 and 1928 All Blacks, but, after all. they arc, according to the selectors of the provinces, the best available to make the Australian tour. It was said that the reason the New Zealand pack could not get a sight of the ball in South Africa was because they did not honestly push in the scrums. 1 do not hold with this view for a moment. The forwards who represented New Zealand in South Africa last year were as fine a pack as the Dominion has ever fielded. The reason that they could not hold the South Africans in the scrums was because of New Zealand's mistaken idea that seven then are better than eight. The South African forwards were Ufa. heavier, and one inch taller per man than the New Zealanders, and when tugs-of-war took place between the Springbok eight and the All Black seven there was only one way for the contest to end. If Cliff Porter, the captain, can only evolve some elective method of scrum formation, it may be found that Sonntag, Steere. McWilliams, Kivell,. Rika, Re? side. Palmer, Cottrell, Snow, Souter, and Reid can push with the best of them. Although they will be up against the stiffest opposition a New Zealand team has ever had to face in Sydney, it would not be surprising to find the 1929 AH Blacks come out of the ordeal with honours. More than this, many of the mem. bejs of the team, who are being given their first chance on the national side, may do so well on this tour that they may be retained for the Test matches next season against the Britishers. So to the 1929 All Blacks we say: “Good luck to you, boys. The honour of New Zealand is safe in your hands. Show the redoubtable Waratahs and the

Doubting Thomases at home that New Zealanders can play Rugby as well as every they did. Kia kaha I”

Birth of Rugby in the Wairarapa. Mr. John McMaster has. something interesting to record-of the birth of football jn the Wairarapjj, “In 1870-71,” . he says, "I was sent to school in Masterton, and lodged with the schoolmaster. Also lodging there was a Mr. Henry, who hailed from Tasmania, a Post and Telegraph official. He talked of little else but a game called football, and eventually a number of us subscribed a sufficient amount to enable him to send to Tasmania for a ball. As far as I can remember, it was a very round ball, very different from the present day ones. yVell, it duly arrived, and the question with most of us was what to do with it. There was only Mr. Henry and one other resident of Masterton who knew a blessed thing about the game, and they did their best with, as you can imagine, a pretty tough lot., I can safely say the most of us were more often offside than on. , I know we played for two spells, spells of an hour each. I know I chased the ball from start to finish, and could scarcely crawl to school next day. In about t'W'o months the ball was kicked to pieces, and that ended football in the Wairarapa for about two years. I then went to school in Wellington, where the game was just being started, and I was one of the first to bring a football and start the game . in the Wairarapa.”

Who Shall Be King? With only three points separating the five leading teams. It would be a rash prophet who would forecast at this stage which team will be crowned as club champions for 1929. With Ramson back in his place as centre-three-quarter, It was not surprising that University regained pride of place on the championship ladder by decisively outplaying Athletic on Saturday by 15 points to 7. University owed their success to sound team work. The forwards got Into their work with dash and vigour, and were so well trained that three of them sprinted away like three-quarter backs just before the game closed to indulge in a burst of passing which ended in Blacker, the burly lock, flash over for a try. Some people declare that forwards have no right to go sprinting about the paddock like backs. Their duty, these peculiar people say, is solely to push in the scrums, and leave all the flreworks to the backs. No men on Athletic Park last Saturday pushed harder In the scrums than did Blacker, Blakeney, and Deiderich, but this did not prevent them keeping going to the very end, and finishing up the day with a burst which left their own speedy backs standing, and brought a score. Would we had a few more such "shiners” in New Zealand football. 'Varsity owed their victory largely to the sterling work put in by Ramson at. centre-three-quarter. Two years ago I singled Ramson out as one of the best centre-three-quarters in the Dominion, and I have had no cause to alter that opinion. Both the tries scored by Mackay, the speedy winger, were due to Ramson having sufficient pace to race away from the Athletic backs, and give Mackay a clear run in. Leys was not at his best behind the • 'Varsity pack. Too often he allowed Porter to smother him when he had plenty of time to get the leather out to Mackenzie. The latter played his usual consistent gamy at first fiv«-«lghtb*. There are few

cleverer Inside backs In the game in this country to-day than the Victoria College rnnf-Hin He is sound alike on defence ana attack and a quick-acting brain him to do the right thing on the instant. It is a treat to watch Mackenzie sending out a pass" and it is also a treat to watch * AthktiXn newr%o far until they can get the leather out to their capable lingers Huxtable, and Chetwin. It was pathetic tJ w™the two Hawke’s B»y wingers on their toes all the afternoon, waiting tor chances that never cam®. . „ . The Blue and Blacks sadly missed Pel ham on Saturday. His pace would have been invaluable in P™ ve “ t l n ?Jf““ 8 i n 11 f thia running away as he did twice in t game.

A Great Full-back. The more one sees of Heazelwood, the Athletic full-back, the more one frnfls to admire in his all-round excellence, Inis well-proportioned youth not only possesses outstanding ability, but be has confidence, courage, and intelligence of a high order. I don’t think Heazelwood could fail to take a 'high kick if he tried to. Like Nepta, there is no need for anyone to drop backin case he should fall to take the ball ' Heazelwood saved Athletic trom tight corners time and again on Saturday, and be always bobbed up Where danger threatened. A praiseworthy feature about his Play is that he always moves UP to meet P attacks, instead of waiting e f ?l u ght enemy to bear down upon him. He taught Leys a salutary lesson on Saturday w hen the ’Varsity half-back chivalrously kicked o7t instead of forcing down or. one occasion in the second spell. It Is exceedingly foolish to hand the ball to a man like Heazelwood on your own luarter-iuark. No sooner had Heazelwood received the leather tha£ he sent it sailing far and sure over the very centre of the crossbar, it was a beautlfut drop-kick; and almost from the identical spot from which he potted thl goal against Wellington the previous d d a? has seen'slnce the days of George Spencer. Richard Himself Again.

Cliff Porter, the Athletic captain is rapidly regaining the form which made him famous In 1024, and secured f° r tl,a ‘ year the captaincy of the All _Blaeks> pn the tour of Great Britain. He was a tower of strength to his side on Saturday, and worked like a demon to turn the tide of battle when the score was 10-j-7 in ’Varsity’s favour. Several times lie pounced upon Leys before he could get the ball out,, and he also acted as an extra back in the passing movements. Porter should be at his best in Australia, and his inspiring leadership should mean much to Hartwel™’tbe Athletic half-back, is proving with every game. He is a useful utility man, and makes quite a good scrum half, considering this is his first season in the position. He can now sell tpe dummy with the best of them. He caused sojne amusement on Saturday w A en Grant, the ’Varsity rover, pounced on him before the could get the ball away. Hartwell made up his mind thattif he could not get the ball the other fellow shouldn’t. He grabbed Grant by a leg, and was about to upend him when the whistle reminded him that it was a breach pt the rules to collar a man who did not have the ball. Beaten at Their Own Game. Time was when Old Boys were renowned for the speed of their backs, but 7 since Grenfell dropped out, the forwards have had to carry the. baby. They played Ppneke, a team renowned for their hustling forwards, at their own game at Newtown Park, and beat theifi in dash and hustle. The Old Boys’ pack has been remodelled this season with satisfactory results. ,T. Lamason, who played as rover last year, has been brought into the scrum, and is one of the most useful men on the side. It is pleasing to see that the selectors have at last wakened up, and restored Hugh Hand to his rightful place in the. A team. Hand has always been one of the very best forwards Ola Boys’ team has possessed during the past three years, and it is difficult indeed to understand how he ever came to be relegated to the* B teamHe, with Clarldge and Emerson, was the spear-head which led all the forward thrqsts on Saturday, and beat the husky Poneke forwards at their own game. Poneke has, never recovered from the severe loss they sustained when they lost Neal, their brilliant young flve-ejghths, a fortnight back. With Neal they continued to win matches; without Neal, they have continued to lose them.

Julian played a sterling gape for Poneke behind the scrum, but unlike Atlas, he was unable to bear the world upon his shoulders, broad as they are. Rushbrook did good things at fiveeighths for Old Boys, but there was not sufficient combination to enable passing movements to be successful. Hughes, on s the left wing, showed promise on the Ohl Boys’ side, and Meadows, a junior player from Christchurch, did well on the threequarter line for Poneke. Jack Shearer did his best to rally the Poneke force, and was well supported by Sly. Quirk, and Wilson. Between Two Stools.

The Petone Club appear to be unevenly balancing at the present time between two stools. Since his return from South Africa, Mark Nicholls, the Petone captain, convinced in his own mind that the 3-2-3 scrum formation is better than the New Zealand diamond-shaped method, has induced his team to give the British apd South African system a trial. There has been some opposition to this, . and last Saturday it was a significant fact that Mark Nicholls was a spectator, while his team reverted to the good old New Zealand 3-3-2 scrum formation. This may have been a coincidence, but it is a fact that the Petone team had to play for their very lives to win out against Eastbourne in a heavy-scoring match by 22 points to. 17.

Now, thjs would denote that either Petone is weak, or that Eastbourne is very strong, and I think we can safely arrive at the lattc> conclusion. By their defeat of Marlst las. Saturday week, and their brave showing against Petone last Saturday, Eastbourne have come right up to the pest standard of club play. They'were going great gons in the dying stages, and with a little luck might have carried off the honours.

Good football was witnessed in this match, the handling by the backs being much cleaner than has usually been the case in senior games this season. It was a great mu which Pollock made when he raced away to send Peterson over for Petone’s second try. The latter is one of the fastest three-quarters in the competition, and no other man could have clapped on the pace as Peterson did to overtake Pollock, and get up in time to take the pass. Peterson also had a hand in Elvy’s try. as he drew two men before sending the ball to the winger. Udy is a handy man for Petone, and his field goal was quite a neat bit of work But if Petone had their greyhounds, Eastbourne had some whippets. The crowd was thrilled when Dinniss, the speedy winger, intercepted, a pass in his own twenty-five, and raced nearly the length of the field to send Delabarca over for a sensational try. This ex-Taranaki man can travel.

The Foley brothers and Murray were in fine form for Eastbourne, whose backs are always nippy, The forwards on both sides kept going well, and infused plenty of dash into their play. Thomas (Petone) and Price (Eastbourne) were perhaps the outstanding pair qn the day. Win for Marigt.

One can never tell what mood the Marlst players will be in from week to week. One day they go out and get trounced by Eastbourne, and the next they make mincemeat of Welington. The Green and Whites got all over the Yellows at Prince of Wales Park on Saturday afternoon. Wellington is acknowledged to have a fine set of forwards, but' in the second spell the Marlst pack pushed them all over the paddock. The superiority of the forwards gave the Marlst backs a chance to shine, and they took Cull advantage of their opportunity. It was a sharp dash which McDonald made when he cut through the Yellow backs to score near the posts. This little ex-Sacred Heari College lad can run like a hare, and swerve with the agility of the same animal.

Stiver, the one-time Wanganui player, had his kicking boots on, and this materially assisted towards Marlst’s handsome victory by 17 points to 3.

Much interest attached to the first appearance on a local field of Jack Tuck, the Waikato half-back, who has been selected to make the tour to Australia with the New Zealand team. It wus bad luck for Tuek that the Wellington forwards were so completely outclassed on Saturday that he seldom saw the ball in the second spell. He, however, shaped like a scrum-half of class In the first spell, and was responsible for the trv scored by Lewis. It was clear that Wellington have secured a clever scrum half In the Waikato’ youth. Another Win for Berhampore.

It Is always leasing pto see the bottom dogs gettlfte a niche higher on the ladder. Butempoaa did really wall Saturday

to defeat Oriental, if it only was by 9 points to 6. Both teams played quite bright football In this game. The forwards hqstled throughout, and showed some neat foot-work at times.

It was a magnificent kick which Mouat made when he put over a penalty from the centre of the field in the second spell for Berhampore. It was also heady work which led to the score between the posts for the same team by Glennie. N. Taylor got away and passed to Thompson, who raced down the line, and then centred perfectly to Glennie, who onlv had to toddle over between the posts, This little manoeuvre was so neatlv worked that it was apparent that the Berhampore boys must have been practising it on the municipal golf links by moonlight. It is qiever strategy such as this which wins matches.

The Busy Bees. Oriental are still leading for the Senior B championship. They have not tasted defeat so far this season, but had to be content) with a draw in one game. The Magpies are two clear points ahead of Hutt and Johnsonville, while Training Colleg are two points further back. The following Is the position of the competition;—*

When J. Shearer stole Neal from his brother Sid, the Johnsonville coaeh at once set about finding another five-eighths of class. They appear to grow them up amongst the everlasting hills, and it was not long before Sid. Shearer's experienced eye picked out the lad he was looking for. Sid. was all smiles on Saturday when young D. Mason, the find referred to, potted a neat goal for Johnsonville against 'Varsity. Sid. Shearer thinks a great deal of young Mason ns a coming inside back, and considers that Carthcart. the Johnsonville rover, has few superiors in the senior A ranks.

FOOTBALL FANS.

Remove the effects of standing and sitting in chilly surroundings—ELLD MAN’S EMBROCATION.—Advt.

1 p. W. L. D. For. Ag. Pts. Oriental .... « t) 0 2 Ill 57 14 Hutt 7 0 1 0 140 20 12 Johnsonville 7 ' • 6 1 0 125 20 12 Training Col. 7 5 2 0 91 77 10 University .. 7 3 3 1 72 58 7 Selwyn .... 8 2 5 1 40 74 •Upper Hutt 7 2 4 1 02 65 5 Wellington 7 2 4 1 50 84 Old Boys ... 7 1 6 1 42 131 3 Porirna 7 1 6 0 20 80