RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 42, 17 August 1929, Page 22

RUGBY

By "Oropkick"

RANFURLY SHIELD AUCKLAND AND WAIRARAPA FEW BACKS OF GLASS-

\\: ■■ CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES. "

■When at full strength the Auckland representatives in recent years have been a. powerful eombin c aticm, ana, while "their team has included, some excellent tacks, the most impressive . performances have been those in which the real quality of their forwards has been \ shown. The Auckland pack has been a formidable one, and that it is still a great foreo' to bo reckoned with was shown at Carterton last Saturday. Those Auckland forwards last Saturday had "Wairarapa's measure, 'and "Wairarapa had a solid set in the field. The superiority of the Auckland forwards was so ! marked that, had the backs supporting been" up to standard, Auckland's bid .for the Ranfurly Shield should have been successful. A pair of players such as the Badeley brothers, Ces. and Vie., filling inside positions would have made a world of difference to Auckland. And what a feast there would have been • for one of Auckland's former goalkickers, Ifwersen, for example! ,: Auckland are "badly off for backs, • and Mr. V. Meredith is faced with a problem in finding the players to bring the Auckland rearguard up to its former high standard. He has a very promising little half-back in Corner, who showed up well in the match with Wairarapa, but the inside backs need some sitffening. It is.hoped that this will be ..supplied next year by the reappearance of. Sheen.. Meanwhile tfi"e Auckland selector is doing some experimental work '. with • Bush, the New Zealand University full-back. This player was Auckland's centre three-quarter against Wairarapa, and to-day he was being tried as a .five-eighth. Minns, so far as he was able to perform against Wairarapa, showed that he was a wing three-quar-ter of class. He was Auckland's most . impressive back last Saturday. Lucas, ■ unfortunately, did not have tho opportunities due to a player of his rank" and experience, and it would bavo been to Auckland's advantage had Lucas taken tho place of Bush at centre-three-quarter' last Saturday. Butler played quite ,a good game as full-back, and "Hobk.'one of the players who'was called upon ■to play in various positions on .the Australian tour, was a serviceable , roy.c-r.\ Evidently Hook, is not the equal 'of Keene as a rover, as the Now Zealand; representative; has been included ■among.; the Auckland emergencies for ;£o-day's;game-':'against Hawkes Bay 'at !>ucVJand.v:-'^ .■ . '":",■'■ ■. - ■'■■■ •»a'already; indicated, Auckland is Veil supplied in.ythe matter of forwards, ! the pack last Saturday being a rattling good one, with Hadley and Finlayson ;in the^froht rowj Batty, A. Knight,,and . Anderson'in the middle row, and L. .Knight-and Cathcart on the back. Tho forwards on both sides had a very (tieavy'-'afternoonsVwork, in which they : were called upon to do an exceptional amount of- scrummaging* This was .. brought about by far too much use of the whistle. When the scrummagers went down; the referee was rarely satisfied'with what was going on, and that meant more whistle. • Before Wairarapa registered the first - score'of the match, about half an hour after the start, there were forty scruminagos. That serves as some indication of .what the spectacle was like. Had the referee been more strict,' the game would probably have been much, more entertaining. As it was, the, referee awarded thirty-five freerkieks during th/e" game. Of these WairaTapa had eighteen and Auckland seventeen, and frota them each side made'six attempts to'land penalty goals. Added to" the scrommage troubles was the fact that the ball was not always put in fairly; indeed, on some occasions it did not enter the serum. The referee was often on' tho wrong side to see this, and he was not always up with the; game. There is no doubt, of coarse, that the referee was acting conscientiously and to the best of his' ability, but it; was' surprising that, as an old representative1' player, he did not handle the game in a. manner which would havemade matters' much better for players 'and spectators.. A better application' of the advantage rule would have made a big difference. -.''; -..,-.;, ; Of the Auckland forwards in, the match with Wairarapa, Anderson is tho one. dropped for to-day's 'game „at Auckland to make room, for M'Williams. Anderson justified, his inclusion, in.the team for the Shield .match, andthe vtry which he scored was the work of a tradesman. Batty appears to have come right back to form, and the others jnake up a splendid pack. Wairarapa Disappointing. Better games have been x>laycd by Wairarapa than that against Auckland laajcSaturday, and it can bo expected that, the present holders of the Ranfurly: Shield will sharpen1 up in meeting further challenges. The inclusion of Strihgfellow, Cundy, and Reid, who had been in, Australia with the New Zealand team, did not bring about the big improvement anticipated; in fact, the team as a whole did not perform to tho same advantage as that which resisted Hawkes Bay's challenge. On that occasion Hart was the half-back, Mill and Cooke the five-eighths, Fuller the centre-three-quartei* and Booth and Jury tho wing-three-quarters. That combination worked much better than the set last Saturday, and it also had a very solid pack up against it. The Bay pack, however, was mastered by the . Wairarapa forwards in the second spell, whereas this success was not achieved against Auckland, thus making the task of the backs much harder. Even so, "Wairarapa's rearguard should have shown up to better advantage than it did.last Saturday. The material looked really good. Mill was back in his proper; place, and there he made some good openings and often did good work in turning the solid attacks by the Auckland .forwards. But he was not the Mill of old. Cundy, the first fiveeighth, put a fair amount of dash into his play at times, but his trouble was in going too-far on his own or in sending out bad passes. As a result Cooke's at^ • tacking ability was not used to / any great extent, but Cooke, who is better than ever on defence, was a very valuable man to-his side, and did not appear to be greatly affected by a broken nose. His brilliant kicking was one of the few bright features of the game. Stringfellow, centre-three-quarter, was not very conspicuous. Auckland's young

inside backs were partly responsible for the lack of back play by Wairarapa, as they tackled well. On attack, however, the Auckland five-eighths almost invariably passed too soon and showed a lack of initiative.

Fuller's Record.

In view of his outstanding ability as a place-kick, F. Fuller could not be'left out of the "Wairarapa team, and Mr. E. M'Kenzie found a place for him on the wing. Fuller is only just developing as a player, but what better support could there have been for Mr. M'Kenzie's action in keeping the boy in the team^than the exceptionally fine goal-' kicking performance registered by. Fuller? The Wairarapa selector remarked to the writer some time ago that Fuller was a match winner, and this he was last Saturday. He was successful with five of seven attempts at goal. For the two Banfurly Shield matches in whiph he has played Fuller has the following record: Four penalty goals out of seven attempts, three goals from tries out of three attempts; total points scored 18, from ten kicks. Neither Fuller nor Booth had many opportunities on attack last Saturday. Roach was not by any means up to his best standard at full-back.-feeing, no doubt, affected, by a. knock early in the game.

In an endeavour to improve the rearguard the Wairarapa selector called upon.Corkill for to-days-match, this player taking the place of Cundy, who was shifted .out to the wing in place of Booth, who was not available. Today's game is with Manawhenua, who too"k the Ranfurly' Shield from Wairarapa. two'years ago. Canterbury afterwards lifted; the trophy, and it was from Canterbury last year that Wairarapa regained possession. Although Wairarapa's forwards last Saturday appeared to be better fitted for their work than, they were against Hawkes Bay, they did not perform to the same advantage. It was found necessary to make a change in the front row at half-time, Olliver, who was on the back, changing places with Reid, played well all through. Harvey, M. Willoughby, and tho others had plenty to do, but, though they worked hard, they wege shaded by the Northerners. Irvine was not available for to-day's game, and the hooking was to be done by Reid and Olliver, who, by the way is an ex-Wellington lepresentative. Beside, who was unable to play last Saturday owing- to an injury received on the tour to Australia, was included in to-day's team. J. Donald showed again last Saturday that he has adopted a different style of play in the wing-for,' ward position. He now stands farther away from the scrum, and often makes an extra link in the backs. According to the gate takings tho attendance at last Saturday's ■ Shield match was a good deal below ten thousand. . ". . '.'■;. University Again. - For the second time in succession the Victoria University College team has won the Wellington Club championship. With- the exception of Noble-Adams, Brown, and O 'Regan, the best fifteen this year has been the same as that which was successful last season, and the inclusion of Edgar, Eastwood, and F, Cormaek has kept the team at practically tho same strength, although the.form shown this season has perhaps not; been quite so good as last. On Saturday ;;the..students met Marist, whose win; against Athletic and close game- ■■with University in the first round had heartened their * supporters, but University were speedier in attack and more 'enterprising." ..When the University backs got going they worked as a line. Tho Marist backs did not have this combination, and individual efforts wore often not supported by tho remainder. The game was fast and there was some fine forward play, but the Rugby standard was af-, fected by the" number of mistakes in. passing, handling, and kicking. F. Cormaek; v the University full-back, was' not as .consistent as usual with his live-finding. .-'iiMackay did not get many' opportunities on attack, but his passes infield ,^were ..nicely timed, and his-;defenco was sound. Ramson beat his vis-a-vis, M'Donald badly at times, but did not work well with his "wings. Eastwood, on tho other wing, again gavo promise of becoming a" first-class player. 'His; try'in the first spoil was a splendid effort. Irwin dropped a number of passes, but Mackenzie got through a tremendous amount of work. Ho showed his speed on one occasion by coming in at the end of a fast passing rush and scoring the try. Leys was slow with some of his passes from the scrums, but for the most part fed his backs with beautiful transfers, and in* the loose he was always dangerous. _ Edgar was the best of the University pack, and ho was well supported by Blacker and Cormack.

Cuming played a safe game- at fullback for Marist. His kicking was more accurate than Cormaek's, and he used his boot with'raro judgment. He made only two mistakes in the match, and saved his side on innumerable occasions. M/D.bnald mado soveral nico runs, but his .defence was not good. Broderick was the bettor of the wings. Eville played a solid game in the fiveeighths jjjine, but Keegan, behind tho serum was on the slow sido.

No forward on the ground played a better game than Stiver, tho Marist wing-forward. 'He was the leader in most of the rushes, and his try was well-deserved. Butler and E. Parry were good in the loose, and the whole of the Marist pack-scrummaged well. ' During the game a free-kick against Marist, which resulted in three points for University, brought forth a chorus pi' disapproval from a section on the bank. The referee ruled that M'Donald, the cp.ntre-three:quarter, was standing off-side when the ball was put into the serum. This practice of standing off-side on such occasions :is not rare, 1 but is hard,to detect, as tho roferee is naturally watching the proceedings..in the. serum. Poneke were riot free from blame. in their match against University. A Comfortable Win. Their win on Saturday from Old Boys, and Petone 's defeat at the hands of Poneke, placed Athletic' in second position again on the championship ladder. Athletic, who until defeated rather surprisingly a. few weeks back by Marist were formidable cotendors for the championship honours, had fifteen points to spare from Old Boys at the end of the game. Events in the first spell suggested a much closer score, but Athletic showed out in a bettor light'and romped home. v

Even when a season is nearing tho end it does not look too well when a team steps out short-handed. Old Boys experienced difficulty in getting a team together, and, although the services of lower-grade players were requisitioned to fill some of the positions, they finally took the field a forward short—a state of affairs which existed throughout the game. However, handicapped though they were, the score was small at the interval, with Old Boys only two points, down, and there was no big' change in the points until the second spell had been under way some time. Up until then play had been rather ragged, relieved at times with one or two bright incidents, but it livened up considerably, and with this alteration a gap was gradually opened up between the While both sides played more forcibly, Athletic were the better, combination, showing superiority back and forward, and winning handsomely. When the Athletic^orwards got going; properly they proved a solid force in' the line-outs, and in the loose, but the Old Boys '■ pack, a man short though they were, gave a good account of themselves in the scrummage work. Adam, Kearney, Berry,.and Watson, of the' Athletic forwards, • went well throughout. I

Dv Chateau was missed among the Old Boys'.backs, the best of whom was Rushbrook. Ho put in some fine work

both on attack and on defence, but was not capably supported. The Athletic backs were better all round than the opposition set, and individually and collectively figured in a few quite attractive pieces of play. Huxtable made useof his pace; in fact his try in the second half, when he appeared ,as if-from nowhert to take the ball at full speed and cut straight through the defence, was easily the best of the match. Cookson did his best to serve the backs, and achieved a fair measure of success. Svenson and Pelham were always useful links in the chain. • Petone and Poneke. A game of surprises from start to finish resulted .from the meeting of Petone and Poneke. Poneke upset calculations by registering a win, the game was always spectacular, and it was seldom that movements worked out as expected.- ■ . ' ■. Poneke showed that, when tho spirit wills, they can bo a' much more dangerous, side than their recent performances would indicate. The Red and Blacks have had a bad run through injuries this season, otherwise they would probably be much higher on the championship ladder. Against Petone tho cleverness of the'team was particularly evident, and the Blues had to be constantly on the watch for unorthodox moves. , Outstanding among a fine lot of forwards were Organ, Jessup,'and Wilson, who was making his first apjjearanco after being out since the match against Eastbourne when ho received an injury. Greenall showed that with added weight and experience he will be one of the most useful forwards in the club. Wilson did invaluable service in blocking Petone's back movements, and he was always dangerous on attack.

In the backs, Poneke also went well, although their efforts were mostly of an individual nature. Julian was tireless and was a constant source of trouble to Petone. The men outside him were well on form,'but none did better than Barrett at full-back, who repeatedly pulled the side out of difficulty. Had Lambourne played up to his standard the match would probably have gone the other way.

It would be difficult to account for Petone's showing in a few words, but it can probably be best explained by saying that tie defence wilted before the dashing open movements of the Poneke forwards who, however, were more than held in the tight. The swift short passes among the Red and Black forwards had the Blues rattled, and Nieholls's steadying hand was sorely, missed. ■ . •

The forwards.worked hard and without tiring, but they did not back one another up in the loose as effectively as did tho opposing eight. Coulston's presenco was noticeable in tho front rank and with Martin he was impressive as a conscientious worker. Clayton, a fourth grade player who replaced Potts in the second spell, gavo promise of developing into a hard-working forward.

The best of tlio Bluo backs on tlio day was Elvy, who was dangerous on attack and sound on defence. His potted goal came as a big surprise, but was a splendid effort. Pollock made very few mistakes during tho game, and proved himself' a reliable . place-kick when within easy /reach of the; posts. ' He pulled up 'one op two movements, however, in manoeuvring for a repetition of his field goal against Old Boys. Of tho remaining backs, Coman was hampered by the attentions ho received from Wilson; Byrne made somo good dashes, but also made more mistakes than usual. Peterson was put off his gamo by a bump he received early, and Udy and L'ambouriie were both off colour. • Oriental and Wellington. Following up their defeat of Poneko tho previous week, Oriental added another victory to their season's record on Saturday, when they scored a decisive win over "Wellington. Tho Mag^ pies took a little time to settle down but once they did so they showed that Wellington would have to excel themselves to win. Wellington were not equal to the task, but nevertheless they put up a very gam'o display, and indeed they were going botter at the end of the gamo than .at any other part of it. As a result of tho defeat Wellington's position as a souior *A team is rogarded as somewhat insecure, but it is by no means certain yet that they will bo relogated to senior B next season, evon if' the Bugby Union decides that a team must go down to mako way for Hutt. The position is that Wollin'gton after Saturday's play, had six championship points, Eastbounio eight, and.Maiist ten. If Petone beat Eastbourne and Wellington beat Marist today, Eastbourne and Wellington will then be equal in the matter of points, and it will be left to the Bugby Union to decide-which, if any, of tho teams is to go down.

Once again the weighty Oriental pack paved, the way for their sido's victory. At times they did not have a great deal on the "Wellington forwards, but on the whble they wore superior. The team has a most capable leader in JV Taylor, and both by precept and example he has done great servieo to hissido this year.. Having more than the averagb pace for a forward (ho occasionally plays on the wing), Nalder played probably his best game. His try was the result of the determination which characterises all. his play. iSavo and Graham were as usual always prominent, while "Ward, Smith, Tasker, aiid Hill also did their share.

Of the Oriental backs, no one played a better game than Sharpe, tho exWairarapa representative. Ho was particularly sound on defence, while on attack ho was always good and at times brilliant. ' Davies player a sparkling game at second five-eighth, and "Wyinan was sound at centre. Of tho wings," Packnatz played with greater dash, possibly because he got more opportunity. Although his goal kicking was open to improvement Lochore, at full-back gave a very impressive exhibition. He did not mako one mistake during the whole game. Smith, another Wairarapa player, did everything that was asked of him at halfback.

-" For three-quarters of the game L. Johnson did not show up at all. Towards the end, however, he revealed some of the form which has given him his deservedly great reputation. Johnson is a -great captain, and the way he fathers his team is a pleasure to see. Wright, on the wing, showed plenty of pace, but he played without any luck at all on Saturday. Still gave another promising exhibition at full-back, but his inclination to wait for the bounce, will prove his undoing unless he overcomes it. Tuck, at second five-eighth, played disappointingly, while Osborne's passing from the scrum was far too slow.

It is hard to pick and choose between the pack, for all the members of it grafted hard. Noakes ■ was again always in the thick of it, whilo Butterworth, Stanley, llowatson, Phillips, Laws, Lewis, and Ferguson toiled hard and unceasingly.

■Ruru and South were not available to go on tour with tho Hawkes Bayteam this week. Baird, of Wairoa, was chosen to play in tho three-quarter line.

,'.'...-.. ' "• Points. Clip. "■''-" ■.•■■• -'E.-.W. L. D. Tor: Agst. Pts. tmrersity- .... .18 13 ! 1 230 120 27 Athletic .... Id 11 4. 1! 235.169 23 ,'Petone ...... 16 11 5 0 275 191 22 Old Boys' ..;. 16 1(T 5 1 223 186 19 Poneke '16 9 7 0 203' 192 18 Oriental ....16 7 S 1 151 150 15 Berhampore. ... 16 6 10 0 120 '07 12 Marlst. ..;.. 16 5 11 0 140 213 10 Eastbourne ... 16 4 12 0 113 188 S Wellington ... 16 3 13 0 93 167 6

'.""■- SENIOR A GRADE. •

SENIOR B GRADE.

„,.. ■ ; ,*;■ W. L. D. For. Agst. Pts. HU't , ,. lo. 13 2 0 261 57 26 lohnsoimlle •>.; 15 ,12 2 1 237 68 25 Oriental. -.... 14 .9 3. 2 15D 109 20 Selwyn. .....'. 15 .7. 6 2 103 109 16 Training Col... 14 T TO 124 140 14 University .... 14 G 6 2 135 94 14 Wellington- .. 14 4 73 95 136 11 trpper Hutt .:. 15 4 9,2 128 168 10 Melrose ..-..-. 14 3 9' 2 S8 235 8 Porirua .... 3 10 t ; S m . ?l Old Boys ..... If. 3 10 I S3 199 7 W.-i •' ■"