RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 14, 16 July 1921, Page 12

RUGBY

THE SENIOR CHAMPION-

SHIP

PETONE WELL IN THE LEAD

(By 'iDrop-Eick.' 1)

The senior championship now appears to offer a fairly reliable indication as to the final result. Petone, with a clear lead of four points, haVe strengthened their hold on the honour, and something quite out of the ordinary run of expectations will. require to eventuate to give other teams, Poneke in particular, a chance of overtaking the leaders in the few remaining. games to be played. The suburban team is showing fine form, whereas Poneke, in recent matches, have sadly disappointed their supporters. Three losses in succession is something unusual for the Bed and Blacks, especially after the great display which accounted for Petono's only defeat. Poneke's luck has certainly changed, and the reason is found in the condition of the players. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that at the present time they represent something., like a team of cripples. Most of the players have suffered injuries or ailments, and on no occasion in recent matches have Poneke been able to put a sound fifteen into the field. This is unfortunate, as, after Petone's defeat, a ' keen ■ tussle for supremacy was anticipated between these two teams. However, Poneke are still confident of repeating their firstround success against Petone, and as some of the other teams appear to be quite capable of upsetting the leaders, there is still a' possibility that an interesting final may develop. 'Varsity, for instance, are now in good 1 trim, and Marist maintain a good standard of play. Petone can look to a hard fight with these two teams. In' any case, there will be exceedingly keen contests for the position of runners-up, Berhampore and Oriental keeping well up with Poneke. Berhampore also appear to have had a run of mfsfortune lately, quite a number of their players being on the injured and sick list.

The position of the teams after last Saturday's matches was as follows:

"DARK DAYS" IN N.S.W.

The reception to the Springboks in Sydney was. described by Mr. G. W. Slade, chairman of the N.Z.R.U., as remarkable, and the Sydney Sun supports this description by the following:—lt is a long time— r in fact, if ever—that such a representative gathering of citizens has attended a similar function in Sydney. They were full of enthusiasm, and when during the proceedings somebody exclaimed, "Is the Rugby Union dead !"' i there was an answering chorus of "No IT The nature of the assembly might 'be further gauged from the fact that >d r . Slade, chairman of the Few .Zcii.'&nrl Rugby Union, during a speech remarked that the New South Wales: Union, was having its dark daya, but nobody .would ( realise it at such a gathering. i Mr. Slade's part in the prooeedfags will' be-of interest, in view of hip recnvt that Rugby in N.S.W.' is -improving. Sir Henry Braddon, who, by the way,, was a member of. the 'first New Zealand team to go to/ Australia, presided, and gave the toast of the N.Z.R.TJ. In reply Mr. Slade asked; '"What 'is the matter with the Biugby Union in N.S.W. ? You have a great gathering here, yet you seem to be in - trouble. What is the matter? New South Wales is having its dart: days, bu,t as long as the New Zealand Union can it will help you. We only want you to fight on. I think you will como through." (Cheers.) Mr. Payn/3, of the Canterbury (N.Z.) Union, also spoke. When proposing the toast of the "Chairman," Mr. R. A. Arno)d touched upon the vexed question of the Cricket Ground. "The union," he 'aid, "may be in dark days, but I thh/.k-also that it will come through. Thfj superiority of the game must assert ifc/elf. My one regret is that we are not to have our matches on the premier ground of Australia. It is a reflection /an New SoutK Wales and the trustees that that ground has been tied up to one /particular body. The trustees have had to go cap in hand to ask to allow us, to have a game there on Wednesday. That state of affairs was never intended when the ground was dedicated : to sport." JUNIOR CHA7tfPIONSHIP. The first round ofc the junior championship was completed last Saturday, the position of the teams being as follows : —

PLAY AND PLAYERS. TJ. P. Calcinai, the well-known Poneke and Wellington representative forward, has been compelled to retire from the game, owing to a sovere injury to a knee. Although Wellington is strong in forwards he will be missed from the representative pack, but his club will miss him more, as it is badly at present int. need oC such' players. A poisoned too has given Fuller, the Bevhampore full-back, much troubln lately, and he has been compelled to return to his home in Marlbovoagh. During the progress of tho PetoneBerhampore match, Mark Nicholls received a severe knock. It is to be hoped that it will not affect this young player's entry into international . football next month. T. Price and Fitzgerald were absent from thc,Petone paok last week, and a general change in the scrnm was made. The Parker brothers had a turn at the side^of the scrum, and Wylie and Pole I acted as front-rankers. Among several five-eighths who 1 have shown much promise this season ia Walters, of Berhamporc. In the match at Petone last week he played a sterling [ game, and it was not his first this season. As a forward he was also prominent, ano\ being able to take, almost any place inxa team he is a player .'who should be watched. • Pfitone's back division is a treat at times, and last Saturday was one of many occasions on which it has shone. The combination seems to be brought about by each player having a knowledge of what is coming. It was noticeable on: Saturday, however, that the two wings on many- occasions gathered speed too quickly and got ahead of the ball—in anticipation. Apart from this and the dropping of one or two passes by E. Byan and Corner, no fault could (

be found with the suburban backs, who, on Saturday's form, would do credit to any provincial representative team. The Nicholls brothers bring off gome clevor little stnnts at times. One was. carried out against Berhampore. "H.E.," getting the ball from a scrum, swunrj out his arms at full length towards hite backs, who were stretched out across the/ field. Meanwhile Mark was dodging; ronnd to the other side, and just as the opposition were making off to ujmt an expected passing bout, "H.E,." w.th the quickness of a conjurer, delivered the ball to his brother on the b'iind side. Spectators appreciated the neat trick.

Berhampore's fifteen against Petone was a much weaker one than that which has put up many good displays during the season. This was mainly '3iyj to injuries to players. An application was made to the union this week far a spell nest Saturday, but in view of; the necessity to complete the champios.ship in ,the few remaining Saturdays 'the relief could not be given. In any case, other ■teams have been in the samo hox. Oriental could have done with a spell on the day of their match with J.'etone, and. ;Poneke would have apprecia/ocd a day off last Saturday. One member of the BeiJiampore Club who has shown consistently good form is W. Malm (forward). He was very conspicuous against Petone;. He did well, it will be rememberec'/, in the match against the New Zeala'adr University representatives, and hawing maintained •good form he should bo able to retain ■a place in the Wellington representatives.

It is pleasing to sco Alex. Bruce at play again, and during the past few Saturdays he has beqi 1 of assistance to Athletic. The selectors have noted his' reappearance by' including him among the probables for the representative team.

The hero of lagfc Saturday's game at the Park was undoubtedly Siddells, the 'Varsity full-back. There are those who claim that* his pJ.ay is unorthodox, but wasn't it claim cil that a great part of the success of Uie 1904 All-Blacks in England was dne to the—from the English point of view—unorthodox nature of their play? In football that is worth while, there is a maxim that it is the unexpected that pays. Siddells's knack of ■ turning h:ai!iself into a three-quarter when the opportunity occurred, and thereby inifefoig passing rushes, when he was plainly expected by the opposition to content himself with kicking for the linf) was successful on each occasion on Saturday. That sort of thing can be overdone, of course, but. Siddells does not work the thing to death, and thereby rob it of its very virtue—its unexpectedness. His. one fault is his tendency to fail on occasions in his linekicking. It is interesting to recall the criticism of him by the Bulletin during the recent Australian tour of the New Zealand University team. "On Monday," said the Bulletin, "the Maoriland stndents downed their Sydney bret'arfjn, chiefly owing to their forwards who <lribbled finely, and showed great paoe, and Siddells, the full-back. Ho wrra never at- fault when it cama to j b-riu.ging down the rijsht man, though i Ins kicking lacked Nothling's preciJ sicn." , , Some players are adopting a practice which should be killed at once by referees. Tripping is a breach of the rules, •is dangerous, and is not sporting. On three or four occasions there were glaring breaches of this sort at the Park on Saturday, but in no case was. action taken. One of the worst offences was in the second spell, and brought forth a roar of comment from the stand. The offender was a player who has no excuse for indulging in these tactics, for he is a fine player, who. has won a reputation for hard biit clean play. It is only fair to say that the offences, as seen from the press box, were on the part of only the one team. Judged on their play earlier in the season, there seemed no reason at all for the defeat of Poneke by 'Varsity on Saturday. But ,the trouble is that the play of the Poneke team of to-day is absolutely different from its efforts earlier in the season. In the first few games of the season, for instance, forwards were not content to loaf offside as was too often the case ou Saturday. These forwards forget that the day of miracles is past—four working forwards and four onlookers cannot hope to withstand the attack of eight forwards putting all they possess into the struggle. Christian Science seems no good on the football field. Sickness and injury have, ;no doubt, affected Poneke. NO REPLACEMENT OF INJUP,ED PLAYERS. • The announcement that the South Africans have insisted that in matches injured players shall not be replacedl has not been viewed very .favourably, and the hope is expressed that the visitors will see fit to dp away with the rule ' during the New Zealand tour. Should a team lose some of its players early in a match or even at any stage, the result can be well imagined. In any case, whether the decision is adhered ■to or not, the selectors will require to 'alter the usrial method of selection. Players who, through previous injuries, are likely to fall to hard knocks, will .have to be overlooked and preference given to the. sounder men. It may be 'mentioned that of the local players in .the team for 1 the first Test (emergencies included), Algar, Hughes, and M. 'Nicholls have each been nursing recent injuries, while S. Shearer had trouble iwith his legjs not long ago. The Wellington Unidn's attention was drawn to matter this week by a local selector ;(Mr. E. Perry), who asked for a' ruling » medical examination of ,players. "I want fifteen sound men to go on the field," he remarked; and that sums up the jposition—sound men. It .was stated thai; the selectors had power ■to send men io a doctor for examination. • The experience of the Oriental fifth:class team in having to forfeit a match which was won by 29 points to nil should impre/.s upon club coaches and ■other ofiicialsi the need for careful inquiry into Hie past records and history of new playetrs who may offer their ser.vices. With Oriental it happened that 'two boys want along to the gymnasium land asked for a game. They said .that : they had played for Wellington College 'last year, and there being no reason to idiflbelieve this statement, they were put down as emergencies for the team. They played in one game and nothing was said. Following the second game, however, the Wesley Club notified the Union that two of . its members were playing ; for Oriental, and the first intimation that Oriental icceived was a letter from the union. -The result was that Oriental lost the matveh, as stated above. Since then nothing hhs been heard of the two ■players. To lose a match under such circumstances i;i most disappointing, particularly to the: coach (Mr. A. Nancarrow); and it meant that Oriental were deprived of a chance of being runnersup in the competition. However, the Eugby Union :js evidently bound by a hard-and-fast iwle.

P's. P's. C. P. W. L. D. For A. Pts. Petone ... 11 10 1 — 206 73 20 Poneke ... 11 8 3 — 110 55 16 Berhamopre 11 7 4 — 108 81 14 Oriental ... 11 7 4 — 128 114 14 Athletic ... 11 5 5 1 125 112 11 Marfst .... 11 4 6—l 72 76 9 University 10 3 7 — 88 117 6 Selwyn ... 10 2 7 1 71 134 5 Wellington 10 — 9 1 41 187 1

i P.-fW, L. D. F. A. Pts. Old Boys ... 11. 11 0 0 213 63 22 Petone ... 11 8 1 2 138 60 18 Hutt ... 11 7 2 2 117 41 16 Berhampore 11 6 2 3 117 44 15 Selwyn ... 11 7 4 0 .91 59 14 Oriental ... 11 6 5 0 74 82 12 Athletic ... 11 5■ 5 1 69 67 11 Johnsonvilla 11 5 5 1 98' 80 11 Wellington 11 2 8 1 59 91 5 Mavist 0.8. 10 2 8 0 54 114 4 University 10 19 0 29 183 2 Poneko ... 11 011 0 25 200- 0