RUGBY FOOTBALL REVIEW

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL REVIEW

Confusion Over Replacements Law

HUTT PLAYS WELL; PETONE DISAPPOINTING

(By

“Five-eighths.”)

Just how necessary it is that the New Zealand union should give a ruling once and for all on the replacemeut question was shown in the Wairarapa on Saturday, when there was open eoutiict between decisions of the referees and those of the Wairarapa Rugby Union. At a recent meeting of theWairarapa Referees' Association the president, Air. 11. J. McKenzie, made it plain that in future referees would have to rule that no replacements could be allowed, and though, when the Wairarapa Rugby Union discussed the question later and decided that replacements could be allowed pending a definite ruling by the New Zealand union—an attitude that is fairly general—the referees agreed that their interpretation of the English rule would stand. As a consequence there was utter confusion when the matches were played on Saturday and two players were injured.

Player Went On—and Off. In one ease the referee’s ruling that there would be no replacements was accepted, but in the other, in the DalefieldRed Star game, the coach of one of the teams approached two Rugby Union officials. who told him that in accordance with the union’s decision the player could be replaced. The captain of the opposing team was agreeable, and an emergency player went on the field. Then the fun started, for each time he touched the ball the referee penalised him, and with such a state of affairs he was soon back again on the bank.

Mr. McKenzie's attitude to this was a simple one. The Wairarapa Referee,’ Association bad agreed to play the English rules as adopted by the New Zealand Rugby Union. One of those rules said that no replacements could be allowed. “The Rugby Union controls Rugby al! right,’’ he is reported as having said, “but it is the referee's job to see that the laws of the game are administered as laid down in the rules.” New Zealand Union's attitude.

Leaving aside the more or less local question as to who was right, Mr. McKenzie or the Wairarapa Rugby Union, the main difficulty still remains, and it can only be dispersed by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Its attitude of sitting on the fence is only confusing the local unions. It is not enough to sit back and say the English laws say this and that, and we have agreed to abide by them, without putting the whole question on a definite basis. Whether or not replacements are advisable is only a side issue at present. The pros and cons of that can be discussed when it is decided whether or not they are allowed, though if they are allowed it is difficult to see what satisfactory expinna tion can bo offered to overcome the fact that the English law definitely says they are not permitted. As it is. one province is not allowing them and others arc. and that is a position that should be remedied immediately—in fact, it is a position that should never have arisen and would not had the New Zealand ui,’ 'I given a ■. ling before the season started. Tts delay in acting has caused the present position, and it should remeds it before matters are allowed to go anv further. Half-hearted Discussion. Members of the Wellington union had nothing useful to say on the question when they half-heartedly discussed it ten days ago. Mr. Murphy expressed his complete disagreement with Mr. 11. J. McKenzie’s opinion that replacements | should not be allowed, but his argument I

’ that if one man came off. and another went on, there were still fifteen men in the side, was merely an evasion of the real issue. When fifteen men go on the field they are the side, and the English law says that the game shall be played by fifteen men on each side. A replacement would mean that the side comprised sixteen men. Mr. Griffiths’s remark that he was not clear on the subject yet could be applied to a considerable number of Rugby officials, and Mr. Millard’s contention that it is contrary to all ideas of sportsmanship to play 14 men against 15 is also an evasion. The members generally apparently agreed that replacements were in order so long as the opposing captains agreed—which is a •-■omfortable decision to arrive at but still does uot get over H's fact that the English hi tv sa/s replacements are uot permissible. The only really valuable contribution to the discussion was from the secretary, Mr. A. E. Neilson, who gave his opinion that if it was right to allow captains to object to replacements it only went to prove that replacements were wrong—replacements were allowed by the courtesy of an opposing side.

Spectacular Face. The Hutt-Eastbourne match at Athletic Park last Saturday was easily oue of the best club games that has been seen there for a long time. Its pace alone was enough to make it interesting to the spectators, and when the Hutt backs bs gan to show really splendid form, especially in the second spell, it became, as spectacular as enthusiasts could wish. It was a case of one good side, >n top form, meeting another good side that was not playing its best. Eastbourne was outplayed in the second spell, though in the first spell the forwards held their own in the loose, and got a good share of the ball in the scrums. As the game progressed, however. Hutt’s superior combination began to tell. Lilburue was the guiding star of the Hutt team, and seemed to be always handy at the right moment. He was very safe on defence and on attack showed plenty of ingenuity. The back line, from Sadler to Ball and Ross on the wings, worked well, passed quickly and accurately, and eliminated the position so often seen in club matches of promising movements breaking down through bad handling or too slow passing. Both Ball and Ross played excellent games on the wings, and Ball's try was the result of an excellent sprint accompanied by a swerve that left the Eastbourne full back hopelessly beaten. Fuller, the Eastbourne winger, got through n lot of useful work mid gave the impression that on the day he was a bit too good for the men who were supporting him. He made some excellent openings and took full use of the chances that came his way. Unfortunately for Eastbourne he appeared to he having a day off as far as his place kiei'ing was concerned.

Coman was not up to his usual form behind the Eastbourne scrum, and some of his passes were both too slow and badly directed. Gibbons and Price played excellent games for the Eastbourne forwards, and Price was responsible for spoiling some of the Hutt chances by getting round the scrum quickly and interrupting Sadler and Killeen. Collision, Jagger and Roberts showed ■ p consistently in the Hutt pack

f‘clone's Disappointing Showing. Any I’etone supporters who were cherishing hopes of the senior fifteen carrying off the championship again this

season must have been sorely disappointed by the display of their favourite agaiust University at the Petone Oval on Saturday. Actually, on the run of play, Petone’s effort could not be assessed within three points of the display given by the students. Mark Nicholls accounted for eight of its fourteen points with a field .goal and two conversions, while two tries were scored by forwards from scrambling rushes. Against' this University scored four tries, all of them from bright concerted movements, and generally had much the better of the play. Ruru Impressive. Kuril, the native player from Hawke’s Bay, stood out among the University backs. As an attacking unit he was fast and resourceful, varying his method of attack, while he showed keen anticipation of the occasions when University looked like getting into trouble and was invariably in position to avert the danger. Ruru exploited the infield pass occasionally. It brought success at the first time of trying and had his supports possessed speed equal to his they would have scored at least one more try than they did.

His absence, together with that of Mackay, from New Zealand with the University team in Sydney, will considerably affect University’s combination aud weaken it as an attacking force. Mulvehill, at second five-eighth, was the mainspring iu University’s works. Though not profiting a great deal from the efforts of Pacey behind the scrum, he made a good deal of play on his own account, aud in this direction he received valuable support from Mackenzie aud Ramson. Several times Mulvehill transformed I’etone attacks into University attacks by his swift gathering of the ball and his equally swift dispatch to the men supporting him. Altogether, he could be counted the brains of the University machine on the day.

Cormack was very safe at full-back. His kicking was sound and on the whole carried direction. University did uot have to face the stern opposition usually expected from Petoue forwards. As a pack Petone played as individuals, and the contrast in playing methods was all in favour of the students. Diedrich, Dixou and Blacker wore always where the fight was thickest.

More Coaching Necessary? The nil-round display by the Petone fifteen prompted the thought that much more coaching will be necessary before it can hope to take a high place on the championship ladder this winter. There was an entire absence of combination between Brice, the half-back, and Mark Nicholls. This may be excused by the fact that Brice is new to the position with the senior team.

Only once, and that was late in the game, when Pollock was brought in from centre to five-eighths did the Petone backs function as a combination. Prior to this they were swamped by the fastmoving University spoilers on the few occasions that the forwards did win the hall cleanly. Nicholls, lacking the opportunity, was for most of the game like a fish out of water, and Huxtable also saw little of tlie ball. Petersen was hampered by an injury, but gave it a go each time the ball came his way. Petone’s failure lay in the inability ■ i

the forwards to effectively silence the raking rushes of the University pack Any advantages gained individually were not followed up by the remainder of the team, It seemed almost that they preferred to stand and admire the individi: J success of one or two leaders in u rush than back up with much-needed support. Carr negatived his usefulness by playing off-side in one or two vital move ments. while Spence was another to offend in this manner. Martin was noth.ed putting in some solid work, while Lind, thoroughly justifying his promotion I" the senior team, never slackened. Had they all put the same amount of vigom line their play there mitib: have been -i differ ent story to relate.