PLAT AND PLAYERS.

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 150, 25 June 1921, Page 9

PLAT AND PLAYERS.

Poneke had the kck of wind, weather, bounce, and rulings on S&tui-diay against Bernampore, and came out of the first round!.of the championship unbeaten. It was, unquestionably, one of Mr. Simpson's off days, and his. rulings did' not always please the public, i It was noted' that his stand of observation was usually to the Poneke side of *c scrum andl the line-out, whieih. would randier it difficult for him to see what was going on at the other side. Mr. Simp Hon. ranks as one of our-best referees, and in the: past* most of his expositions have b^an. perfectly satisfying. "Too much whistle" is the ruin of Rugby, and, for the, sake of the game in its struggle _ with a more easy-going codie, referees might well play th« port pf the merciful judge in tlieir interm»taticni of the laws. < , . There was a freely-expressed opinion after the Ponelts-Bernainpore match that Poneka's only try—scored by King—was wrongly given, spectators who. saw the passage alleging.that KKinjj-^ gronncl'edi. tne ball in play, and "rabbited" it over the line. A referee who witnessed the incident, however, declares it a try, on Mke ground that if. a flayer touches; theball do'^n in the playing area'rhe-is allowed to reach forward over the line,"a»d tou«h; d«3wn there. -'Some of the pldler, cefflirees miglit have been inclined to overlook this point. King, the Poneke wing-forward, on his form thi^ season ought to get a game in almost any-combination in New-Zea-land. He ie th* life and':Boul of the Poneke team, and on Saturday last was more responsible than anybody else for the victory of the Reds. ._ „ If Hickling, the Berhampore wing three-quarter, would only get into condition to complete some of the runs he starts so well,, he might very well get a place in representative football .of the highest grade, in these day's when, wing threat-quarters are in ; such very short supply. But a man wants the wind to aiee a big game through. > Fuller, the Berhampore full-back, was most | disappointing on Saturday, and after such a performance can hardly be. recommended again for first-class representative v honours. He is one of our best place-kicks and a fine, drop-kick, but he is obviously one-footed,' and his tackling in the teeth of a forward rush leaves much to be desired.

If there is one thing more than another, which delights the small boy at the Park it is in taking up a stand on the line to scout for the ball when it i;s sent out of play. In doing this work the juvenile renders a good service to players and spectators—that is, if he does it well. There ha« been a tendency, ■ however, tp^ permit too many boys to act as scouts, with the inevitable result thai there is keen competition for possession of the leather. Sometimes when play is dull the little side event offers a. touch 'of comedy to a more or less uninteresting afternoon; but often it means delay; and not infrequently, when spectator* have been worked up to a pitch of excitement (as has been the case recently), it causes annoyance. Officials should make a point of limiting the number of'bpys for scouting toj two (one on each of tie touoh lines)r During one match two boye in front of the stand'engaged in a placekicking competition until disturbed by the voice of a patron. ' '

There was one outstanding incident in the Selwyn-Marist match, last Satunlay —the manner in which Connop scored a try. When Malit> essayed a "pot'V Obnnop received the ball with full force almost immediately it left the Selwyn full;back's boot. The young Manst player's hands seemed to close automatically on the leather, and from his own twenty-five he galloped to the other end of the field with Malini and LinJey at his heels. Nearing the line, he swerved in towards the paste, thereby avoiding a tackle by IJnley. ; Many a player receiving the full force of the ball as. tkmnop did would have been unable to stand up to itJ The try was one "out of the box," and a surprise to spectators.

If Selwyn and Marist are to meet again this season, steps should be taken to see that there is not a recurrence of last week's experience in regard to the jerseys. Rain has changed Msrist's colours to something resembling those of Selwyn. l ' ' \ , The most impressive bade in the Poneke-Berhampore match was Walters, one of the light blue five-eighths., He played a sound game throughout, and made good use of his ability to kick the ball with accuracy. This young player was prominent in-one, of the ■ soldiers', teams in England, and played behind "Teddy" Roberto. i

W. Ohristwphersoii donned the jersey for Poneke last Saturday, and played well as cenfcre-three-quart&r, His brother ably filled the baK-back position, which, by the way, is not new to him, as he has been a junior representative half. C. Tilya,rd was unable to play owing to an injury (causing Mood-poiaominjr) above one of hia eyes. '

Peacock and Brice were absent from the Sebeyn teun kefc week, both imSeg*

ing from injuries. De Clifton has recovered from his recent injury; and did more than his share of work against Marist. . ' - Absentees from the Marist team' last week were Markharo (suffering' from a slight disability) and Sullivan. Spectators at the Poneke-Berhampore match had an opportunity of comparing tho two hookers nominated for the North Island team—Hnghes (Ponekc) arid Standen (Berhampore). Both men were without their usual partners, S. Shearer an d B. Spearman respectively, thereby enabling ■ a reliable comparison to be made. Any doubt ac to superiority was fettled; Standen overshadowed Hughes. Iti has .left the impression that the selectors have put the wrong man in the North Island team-, and that S. Shearer may be given a good deal of the credit for the hooking done by Poneke in previous matches. However, Hughes has bean a great hooker. . ■ .. The latest addition to the Selwyn's ranks is C. R. M'Lay, an ei-Waitaki Old Boys' player. He was a North Otago Tepresentaltive ill 1919.- •' In cprtneHion with, the fourth-class championship, it has been decided that the three leading teams in the A and B grades will play off, commencing againi on level terms. It has been rumoured that Bellis is to play for a local senior team. The North Island and Now Zealand representative played for Taihape last Satoday. It was stated that he was in Wellington- on that day, so that there is evidently no truth, in- the rumour. . ■ - - - -•■" .