RUGBY FOOTBALL REVIEW

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL REVIEW

Comment. on Play and Players

UNUSUAL INTEREST IN APPROACHING SEASON

By

“Poster.”

The Wellington Rugby Union’s competitions commence on Saturday, when twelve teams in the senior A division will parade to initiate a bus}’ season. Au earlier commencement than usual has been found necessary by the union, which has been guided, no doubt, by the difficulties which were experienced last winter in completing a competition considerably interrupted by interprovincial games and the tour of the Australians. The approaching season contains more interest titan usual by reason of the legislation which is coming before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union relating to the formation of the scrum and the hooking of lite ball. The proposed changes are drastic ones, likely to be sternly opposed from many quarters. hut nevertheless they invest the new season with added interest. A further feature of the season will be the selection of another New Zealand team to undertake an Australian tour. Last year several men were capped for the first time, the selectors disclosing a slight appreciation of youthful talent, and the contest for this year's honours will make for keener play. Club Strength.

The composition of the back team fielded by Hutt, the premier side of last winter, will be much the same as last year. Lilburnc. who led them to many triumphs in his first season under the red and white banner, is again in charge, and has associated with him Kileen, Hansen, Ball and T’oroare. Sadler, their stock half-back, has joined College Old Boys. Generally he served the team fairly well last year, playing a couple of outstanding games, but his form was not altogether consistent. Hutt , should not have much difficulty in filling the position. . The team has lost its best forward tn the transfer pf Barry back to Jlarist, his former club. Barry is at present engaged at his occupation in Hawke’s Bay, ■ and every other week-end manages to get home. At its meeting on Tuesday night the Rugby Union granted him permission to play for his club on alternate Saturdays. Barry was one of ng forwards In Wellington last season, but the peak of his form was attained too late to entitle him to a just reward. He will considerably strengthen the Maris't pack, and should he reproduce his best this winter, he will he a. strong claimant to the highest honour Rugby can bestow on its players. Petone.

The activities of the Petone elub will be followed with close attention. In the past Petone has won many a match by overcoming deficiencies in skill , with superior tactics —no doubt a reflection of the Nicholls influence. The . great All Black has given up active play, nnd

will coach the side this year. It cannot be suggested that he will be of as much practical value to them as a coach as he was as a leader on the field, but the Petone fifteen must benefit from the scheming of such a sagacious Rugby mind. , Nicholls is an avowed opponent of the existing New Zealand scrum formation. This, however, does not mean that Petone will adhere to any set formation. Experience in recent years has shown that Petone, more than any other side, is prepared to alter its tactics and its complete team formation to meet a_s they arise, and probably that' is what will occur this season; they will play a formation which they believe best suited to the occasion and varied as the strength or design of play of the opposition dictates. In a recent preliminary match Petone packed 3-3-2 with a good deal of success, and tins probably will be their mainstay, though it is known that they lean strongly to the seven backs and eight forwards team in certain circumstances, a formation with which they unexpectedly brought about the defeat of Hutt last year. It is stated definitely that Pollock will remain in Wellington throughout the winter and will be played at centre three-ejuarter, the full-back position being taken by McKerrow, an arrival from Alliion, Christchurch, Jack Steele’s old club. OTlallorau, who has graduated through the club’s lower grades and played fourth grade last season, is being promoted to senior half-back, and places in the rear division tire also to be found for Huxtable and Valk. Most of last year's forwards are, again available, but Fell, who finds difficulty in attending weekly practices in Petone. has - transferred to Wellington. A.t his best form Fell is a good type of forward. Marlst.

The Murist team, the .rock on which many championship hopes have foundered in past years, was squeezed out of the running only in the last few matches lust season, and it can be taken for grunted that it will be nearer the top than the bottom of the ladder Ibis year. Several new players are offering, including Collet, from Dunedin, a solid and rather than brilliant scrummage!', Keegan, of Rotorua, and Dougan, from the West Coast ol the South Island. Robins ami McDonald. the foundation of the Muristbacks last year, may be expected to improve. Both have their best football dilys before them, and sufficient was seen of them' last winter to suggest hopeful possibilities if the men chosen to support them arc up to the required standard.

The return of Barry, mentioned previously. can be regarded as a windfall. Their forwards last year lucked - weight and a leader of Barry s size,, weight, experience and skill will materially aid the pack. Mouatl and Broderick will not be with the side this term. McHardy limy piny Inter in the season when h.lias completely recovered from Hie operation he underwent recently, and Cuming and Condon will act mainly ns emergency players.

The slightest improvement on their form" of last year would bring Marist into premiership calculations.

Eastbourne. There was a refreshing snap in toe play of the Eastbourne side last year, a quick-moving, lightly-weighted combination which bore unmistakably the imprint of the hand of E. Roberts, the former New Zealand half-back. Practically the same set of forwards will be relied on this year, but several new faces will appear among the backs, Dinnis. Clarke. Armstrong and Foley being the absentees. Barton, formerly a Rangitikei player, and Hamilton, of Petone, who distinguished himself ou the athletic tracks during the summer, maybe found positions. Wellington. ~, Kilby. Johnson, Page and Oliver will be the foundation quartet in the Wellington team, the lastnamed having re turned to thi city from Wairar apa, which he re presented last win ter. D. Hay, the ex Canterbury man who joined the clu! last, season, has re tired. Though m showed occasiona flashes of footbal skill. Hay was not ■. success for Wellington, his play never reaching rue srauiiuru it held when he was associated with Halley and. Innes, for Canterbury. It is said that Upchurch and Prydc, both of whom have recently returned to New Zealand from overseas, will be available if selected. Fergusson, Brown. Smith and Heffernan, who played for Wellington last year, are now living in other districts. Old Boys. Old Boys made a dlisappointing combination last season. They were at times beaten by huge scores, yet on the run of play were little inferior to their vanquishers. Lack of weight in the forwards was their main weakness, and despite the Are with which their packmen played, they seldom got far with it. Hu Chateau, their solid and useful half-back, has decided to give up active playing, Itushbrook and Claridge will not be available until the season is under way, and Gill and Emerson arc another pair of last, years players who will have to be replaced. It is likely that many promotions from lower grades will be necessary to complete the team.

Athletic. Athletic, which has fallen on lean days since Svenson ainl Porter were in their prime, will have the assistance of Mollicr and McDonald, the Berhampore .front-rankers of last season. For his size Mollier is a forward above the average, and could he match better with Jessup, he probably would have played for •he representative A team instead of the B. Pelham, from Poneke, Atbea, from Miramar, and Todd, of Mutt, are other converts who may play under the blue and black flag. Athletic fielded many inexperienced seniors last year, and an improvement cun be confidently expected for most of those players are again available.

Of tile lesser lights Miramar appears to have plenty of new material to strengthen up its team. The team has lost the two Smiths (half and three-quar-ter), Hassett, Taylor and Rennet, but plenty of newcomers are available to till the places. There is the usual amount of preseasonal talk of losses and gains, but Saturday will be the deciding day, and will present a better opportunity of gauging the strength of thq competitors tor 1932 honours.

Selector Reappointed. At its meeting on Tuesday night the Wellington Rugby Football Union reappointed Mr. J. N. Millard to the position of sole selector. Much of XVellington’s Rugby success in interprovincial engagements can be attributed to this official’s painstaking work. Though he appeared to tiepart for a while last season from his usual policy of team building, he left his critics little on which to justify their views. His willingness to experiment with young players and his courageous disregard of football reputations, have left their mark on his voluntary efforts in the interests of tbe Rugby Union and its players.

In Supreme Command. It has been pointed out by a number of writers that the task of the referees will be made more difficult with the enforcement of the new rule regarding the hooking of the ball. There is no reason why it should if the referees will act firmly up to the full extent of the powers vested in them as of fact. A great unpaid service is given by the referees to Rugby football, but it must be pointed out that failure to exercise a supreme command has. in a large measure, resulted in the trouble now brewing over the wing-forward and illegal scrum tactics. Whether from an inferiority complex, from a luck of players’ confidence, or from a doubt, that their unions would support their hands when firm and disciplinary action was adopted, many of our referees have themselves contributed Io the existing conditions, which arc imperilling our standard of football. Those people who patronise Rugby merely for pleasure would welcome the appearance of a white-jacketed Mussolini who would firmly, hut fairly impress on players that Rugby laws wore made to bo observed. and that in the modern code there is no place for the cheat. REFEREES ASSIGNED Saturday’s Senior Gaines Referees were, assigned yesterday for the senior A grade Rugby matches which will be played next Saturday. The appointments are as follow: — Ohl Roys v. Wellington. Athletic Park No. -I, 2.15 p.m.. Mr. J. Wilson. University v. Poneke, Athlotie Park No. 2. 3 p.m., Mr. R. Paton. Hutt v. Oriental, at Hutt Recreation Groupd. Mr. G. Rathbone. Berhampore v. Mirnniar. Polo Ground. Mr. D. Calcinai. Marist v. I’etone. nt I’etone Recreation Ground. Mr <l. Holey. Athletic v. Ensllxilirnc. nt Eastbourne. Mr. 11. E. Leith. The senior R Rugby match between Petonc and St. Patrick's College Old Boys will be played at I’etone on Saturday week.