RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 84, 5 October 1929, Page 22

RUGBY

By "Dropkick"

PROSPECTS BRIGHT BRITISH TEAM'S VISIT NEW ZEALAND TALENT As a result of this year's Bugby football in New Zealand there is every reason to look forward with confidence to the invasion by the British Eugby team next season. Apart from the players brought out on trial by the New -Zealand selectors, there are many oth-V-*s throughout the country who have «hown convincing form this season, and _c indications are that the British team next season will be' faced with strong opposition not only in the Tests but also in some of the provincial Sa.P es' •;As was recently stated in The Post," the British team is not likely to be finalised until January, binee the preliminary selection was made many other players have been sounded as to whether they would be Prepared to make the tour to New Zealand, this action being taken by the selectors in view of the fact that a number of those players chosen in the first place were unlikely to get away. J. B. Paterson, the Scottish international forward, was among' those originally invited, but he has announced his retirement from the game. One of the_ mew players who has been asked to join the team is H. E. Cards, a Cambridge University player. He is only 20 years of "age and is 14J We in weight. .There are others not so well known -air the; internationals, but it is expected that quite a number-of the latter.will. be-able to make the tour .fr view.of.the fact.that he is one of «he selectors of the team, George Stephlookei un n°ted IliSh P^Vcanbe tour ff° H as certainty for the t"' fe was in-the original selecth P "Rrir if + °pea that the strength of the British team will not be reduced to any extent by the changes whfch a re taking place. In this season's play at Home the players will have any amount of^ opportunity of getting into properorder for the tour. * l Material In Plenty.

From those who played in tho interim TU«*cl» last Saturday New Zea-' fi^ e°uld Place.a fine team in the %ta l earn Which took the field on Wednesday was made up of interSeveral of those who played last Saturday were not available tor the mid-week game. Then again another fine team could be chosen from tho players who did not play in the inter-Island match, but who have proved themselves to be up to the required standard. An idea of the amount g.' material in the Dominion this season' can be gained from tho fact that about one hundred players who havo represented/ New -Zealand were in action It seems, however, that Dominion honours are being made too easy when such a large number is included in the list of active players. And with all those players who have worn tho silver fernleaf there are; still more who havo proved .themselves to be in the same class. So far as Now Zealand honours in the future are concerned, it is to be hoped that tours will be arranged and selections made in a manner which will ■prevent any recurrence of the experience in getting a team away to Australia this season. That team, as was pointed out in "The Post" when the selection was made, was one of the weakest that has ever represented New Zealand. This was due in part to the fact that many prominent players wero not available. There will be no end of pjayers available next year, when the big'games are to be played at home. Heazlewood and Harris demonstrated in the inter-Island game that they are capable full-backs, and then there is Nepia, These three do not complete the list of good full-backs in the Dominion. Elvy, Minns, Grenside, Eushbrook, Mackay, Oliver, M'Kay, Webb, Hart, and Wilson are just a few of the wing-three-quarters, and Lucas, Itauison, M'Clyniqnt, Carlson, Carletdn, and Stringfelloware some of the centres. The offering in .-the way of five-eighths is not quite- so big, although thcro is real,quality in. the- few who. have figured prominently this season. Cooke, Nicholls, and Johnson make up a sterling trio, and Lilburne, if his form is right," is also entitled to serious consideration. Johnson gave excellent evidence-of-his capabilities last Saturday.' Of halfbacks there are plenty—Kilby (back in Wellington), Mill, Dalley (who has been on the injured list), Julian, Corner, Mullan, Holden, Leys, and others. Wingforwards are also quite numerous, but it seems that there is only one to fill the bill in the Tests with the British team next year, .and that one C. G. Porter. On this season's form, the writer places J. Donald as the next best wing-forward. Front-rankers are in good supply, and they include Finlayson, Hadley, Reid, Cottroll, Burrrows, Thomas, Palmer, Soutcr, and four or five in Wellington who have performed very successfully. Several of those named, however, will have to improve very considerably to get in the New Zealand team next year. Several good locks can be produced—Harvey (who seems to strike misfortune when he is most wanted), Sonntag, Steere, M'Pherson, Knight, to mention a few. For the other places in the pack there is a formidable list of claimants, and in making the choice next year special care will have to be taken in finding the best scrummagers.. Attention will also have to be paid to general scrummaging work, which is in need of improvement. "Shiners" are still very much in ovidence, and their number will have to be reduced very considerably. One looks forward with every confidence,to next year's events, and in the trials to precede the series of Tests there will be seen some great talent.

Pakehas and' Maoris.

With all. the sparkle in the match between the Maoris and a New Zealand team, played at Athletic Park on Wednesday, the quality of the football could have been much better, especially that shown by the New Zealand team. Throughout the .first spell the performance of those selected from the inter-Island match was nothing like that which should have been given by players of international rank.' As a trial in:view of next year's important engagements it left much to bo desired. Much better doings were recorded in the second spell, after Porter had handed out some good advice to his men. At the same time, there was still plenty of room for more polish, in spite of the fact that scoring then became a comparatively easy matter. The Maoris surprised by their dashing activities in the first spell. If only they could keep going throughout a game at ythe pace set in the first spell on Wednesday they would be something like world beaters. "While their football is bright and entertaining, it would be well for them to pay stricter .attention to the rules. In their eagerness to make a strong impression on Wednesday they were apt to get off-side and to obstruct the opposing players. The cases of obstruction were particularly noticeable in the efforts to keep Porter in check. The referee was very lenient, but there may come a time when such breaches will bo costly. Otherwise the play of the Maoris was a delight, and it always will be so long as the enthusiasm which they have for the game is maintained. Such engagements as that provided on Wednesday will help the game amongst the Maoris.

There wa3 a general opinion that the «lcet of those players from the inter-

Island mat-ch would prove much too strong a proposition for the Maoris, but it was expected of the latter that they would supply good measure of that play characteristic of them, and the spectators were not disappointed in this respect. • It .was not until an hour or two before the match that the Maori team was finalised. W. Kika, of North Auckland, was expected by each train, but he failed to put in an appearance, and Baroa was included. Another late change wa the dropping of M'Donald (Marlborough) to make room for M'Kay (Poverty Bay), this action boing taken in view of tho fact that M'Donald had played in the interIsland match. In some quarters it was felt that, the team could have been improved, notably by the inclusion of Falwasser (Auckland), Reside (Wairarapa), and Wilson (Hawkes Bay), who were passed over.

While the pakeha team was regarded as rather too solid, the Maoris were fired with determination, and once on the field they exhibited exceptional dash. Eight at the start of the game the Maori forwards threw their weight into the serum, and it took the heavier opposing set all its time to hold them. It was the same in the loose; the Maori forwards brushed through in great style. With the ball at toe or in hand they took a power of stopping, and so well did they pave the way that the backs were given opportunities galore. W. Parata, quite superior to Mill in the first spell, was always on the job behind the Maori pack, and he kept a nippy trio, Hohaia, Ebbinson, and Pelham, well supplied^ whilst Jones and M'Kay'in turn were able to show their paces. M'Kay repeated the good form shown by him in the Prince of Wales Cup match. The play of the Maoris was full, of sparkle, but for all that it was not of the finished order to gain the best results. The one idea was to give the ball plenty of air, but much of the throwing about was erratic. Still, .it was entertaining^ and the eleven thousand spectators thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as the' Maoris appeared to be outplaying' the New Zealand team. The attention paid by Tama Parata to Porter was; an entertainment on its own, and it was also a delight to the spectators to see the big Auekland'er, M. Kahu> making his seventeen and a half stone felt in'tight and loose play. He was always conspicuous, but there was no more dashing forward among the Maoris than Leach, with . Tatana and S. Gernmell the best of the others. Throughout the first spell tho Maoris were on top, and some of their most effective play was •in smothering the opposing backs, who were given few chances.

Matters were completely reversed in the second spell. Paying heed to the instructions as to the plan of action for the second session, the pakehas played as a different team, and for the greater part of the spell there was only one team in it. Forwards and backs alike showed marked improvement. The pack made more use of its weight, which averaged seven and a-half pounds per man more than that of the Maoris, ;?'d, gaining mastery in tight and Ibose, the forwards were able to take a turn at the'passing game, and in this several of them showed up to advantage. . The pace and the conditions, more suited to cricket than football, told on the Maoris, although there came a time late in the game when they seemed to get a "second wind. By then, however; the pakehas had the issue settled. # ■ ':'.'- -.... Millj- who has been showing very little of his old-tiino form, camo to light with some efforts of the class which made him an international of note. Very often, however, his passes were erratic, and Lilburno frequently found it difficult to gather them up; in fact, on some occasions thero was no hop 9of Lilburne taking the ball. This, of course, "handicapped the Canterbury player, but at ho time did ho show the form expected of an international first five-eighth. . On occasions he carried out some fine work on defence, but there were times when he,.* and somo of the others, too, were badly beaten. Lilburne has had some severe knocks this season, and it is possible that thesa hampered him in giving of his best. Cooke and Lucas have played better games, not showing up so attractively as they did in the interIsland match. Lucas fumbled more than is usually the caso with him, and so did Elvy. Certainly thero were occasions when the play of Cooke and Lucas was pretty, but taken all through it did, not reveal anything like the class of which theso two aro capable. For all'that there is no getting away from the fact-th'at they, aro good. To some extent the manner in which the ball came to them was to blame, as it gaVe them little opportunity of making tho best of openings for the wings, Elvy -and Oliver, who rarely had much room in which to work. Each of the wing-thi-ee-qtKirters, however, succeeded in scoring a good try, Nepia being unable to stop Elvy, and Oliver showing good head and foot work in dribbling the ball across the line when he was likely to be caught in possession. In spite_ of the great amount of attention paid to him, Porter was just as full of business as ever. He has finished up another season of notable achievements, and has added to his reputation as a great leader. Thero should be no doubt about the man to lead New: Zealand against the British toam next year. In the Now Zealand pack the best all-round performer on Wednesday was Finlaysou, a fine type of front-ranker, who never seems to let up in'all that there is to do apart from hooking. M'Lean played another good game, and, for a new chum M'Phail made-quite 3. good fist of the locking duties as well as getting through a good deal "of 3olid work. Campbell did not impress quite so favourably as on Saturday, but Stewart and Hazlett appeared to be all the better for the previous game, while Cottrell contributed '-well to a performance by the forwards which was infinitely better than that in the first spell.

Splendid Kicking,

The games with: the British team next year are to be played under international rules, a trial of which was given in the inter-Island game and that between Pakehas and Maoris' on Wednesday. It is evident that no great difficulty is likely to be met in reverting to the old rules, and that attractive Rugby is not going to be affected to any extent. The touch-line wa3 not used as much as it might have been in the two recent games under the old rules, and that added to the brightness of play. The number of deliberate kicks into touch from points between the twenty-fives was little more than twenty in each game. Some of these served to illustrate the value of the powerful attacking kick. Ncpia's hefty boot; which gave such excellent service /in touch-finding during, the 1924-25 tour, was brought into action, and "several of his left-footer's on Wednesday gained much ground in the first spell, when the Maoris were • playing with the wind. Similarly, in the second spell, Heazlewood, then more accustomed to the old order of things, helped his side in maintaining a territorial advantage with some powerful line kicks.

Heazlewood's ability as a scorer from kicks was strikingly illustrated again on Wednesday, when he converted six tries and potted a goal. In his last six representatives games he has kicked seven penalty goals, converted seventeen tries, and potted two goals. Porter was another player who show-. Ed no signs in the recent games of being flustered by the reversion to the old rules. He made good use of the kick to toucn when necessary.

Wellington's Becord.

The matches against Hawkcs J3ay at NapVsr, and Taranaki at Wellington brought Wellington's representative programme for 1929 to a close. Although Hawkcs Bay decisively stopped the touring team from completing its

northern matches without a luss, the season's record is a good one and follows the meritorious performance of last season in the course of which a southern tour resulted in a string of victories. The programme of engagements this season was a lengthy one and included fourteen games. It was necessary for Wellington on some occasions to place two teams in the field on the same day, and on one Saturday there were three local senior representative teams inaction. With this taken into consideration the record appears in an even better light. Although there were occasions when players were not available for teams when their services were desired, the union was fortunate in that teams were seldom affected to any great extent from this cause. There was also any'amount of good talent. The performances of the teams reflect credit not only on the players but also on the sole selector, Mr. J. N. Millard, who combed the material offering very well in making his selections. A large number _of players were called upon to train with a view to being picked and it is a tribute to their'keenness that there were good attendances at the practices. . Another. point that cannot escape comment is that the number of local players given a trial by, the New Zealand selectors'is hardly- in keeping with their individual performances against- the representatives of other unions. Wellington certainly "produced the goods" this season and proved that its standing in football is high. The complete record for this season is:— '• ■ ' -.'■•..' v. Canterbury, at Christehurch, won, 23-16. ..-.'.' v. Taranaki, at Hawera, lost, 3-6. v. Southland, at Wellington, won, 35-7.' . ■ ■ ■ ■ v. Bush Districts, at Pahiatua, won, v. Otago, at Wellington, won, 18-12. v. King Country, at Taumarunui. won, 18-6. v. Canterbury, at Wellington, won, v. Waikato, at Hamilton, won, 22-6. v. Auckland, at Auckland, won, 22-16. . ' v. Marlborough, at Blenheim, won, 23^9. V v. Manawhenua, at Wellington, lost, 20-24. v. Wanganui, at Wanganui, won, 27-19. . v. Hawkes Bay, at Napier, lost, 12-31. v. .Taranaki, at Wellington, won, 44-8. -. . . . Summary:—Played 14; won 11; lost 3; points for 307; points against 166. Player.of Note. George Stephenson, Ireland's Rugby captain, who is coming to Now Zealand with the British 'team, holds a record for appearances in international machos greater than that of any other player in the Home countries. • Last season he was unable to play against Scotland, and.that was tho first time he had failed to take the field for Irelaiid in an international match since I.^l. He played against England, Wales, and France last season, and brought his total appearances in international games up to 38. , Stephenson has played in ten matches against Fiance, nine against England, nine against Wajcs, eight against Scotland, and in one each against New Zealand and New South Wales. It was in 1920 that ho first represented Ireland, and for the next two seasons ho was quite good, but it was in 1923 that ho showed up as one of tho best centre-three-quar-ters ever produced by any of tho Home countries. In 1927 he took over the captaincy of Ireland. George Stephenson is now 28 years of age, but he is regarded as being .good for several seasons to come.-,.-He is a 'member of tho committee selecting tho team for New Zealand, so that it can bo taken for granted that he is one of tho eortaintics. Stephenaon's play is marked by attractive methods. Ho is a great attacking player; who runs .. hard and straight, draws the opposing player boforo getting fid. of tho ball, and supports hia wing-threo-quartor consistently. Ho is splendid on defonce—a fine tackier. Still another strong point is his ability to kick goals, and ho is credited with being very successful with cltorts trom a long range. Notos. Members of the Now Zealand team which played the Maoris on Wednesday were not given tho opportunity of wearing jerseys bearing tho silver fernleaf ahe game was regarded as a trial. H. F. M'Lean, who represented Wellington last season, and who gained North Island honours as a Taranaki representative this season, oxpects to bo back with tho Wellington Club next year Another player likoly to transfer to Wellington, is Heffernan, of Hawkes Bay. Advice has boon received from England that lan M'Nichol and Joo Williams, formerly of the Oriental Club are likely to play with the Harlequins in England. As they are attached to tho Air Force, it would not be surprising to find them playing their way in tho B.A.F. team. Both are reported to bo doing splendidly. The selection of referees for matches played under the control of the New Zealand Rugby Union appears to be done more or less at random by tho New Zealand Selection Committee which is comprised of three gentlemen resident in Wellington (writes, the yNew Zealand Herald"). If it is of importance that the New Zealand selectors should see the best players, in action, surely it is of equal importance that some member of the Eeferees' Appointments Board ' should, travel a little and see various officials in action! One has in mind an appointment made by the board in connection with a match played in a southern centre against a New South Wales team four seasons ago. The referee was quite incompetent, and the game at times developed into a farce with rough play frequently in evidence. Such a happoning next season would'take the edge off the British team^s tour.

What New Zealand really requires for next year is a first-class lock (writes the "New Zealand Herald"). Harvey will, no doubt, fill the bill provided he is in good health, but he seems fated so far as big football is concerned. Steere and Sonntag are both good average locks, but they arc not quite up to Harvey's standard. Wanoa .and A. Knight will come into the running next year if they play up to form. The final of the Taranaki Rugby Union's senior competition between the winners of the northern and southern divisions was played recently, when Opunake (southern) . defeated Star (northern) by a try and a field goal to a try.

A great deal of interest has been aroused by the report that negotiations are in train for inviting another Indian Army 'hockey team to tour Australia and New Zealand within the next' two years, writes •" Centre , Half " in the "Otago Daily Times." . Though nothing official has leaked out, there is the strongest reason for believing Mr. Rothwell took the opportunity while visiting Christehurch to talk over a tour with the New Zealand Hockey Association. Doubtless something definite will soon be made known.