RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1932, Page 18

RUGBY

BY "DROPKICK"

AN EARLY START

LOCAL SENIOR MATCHES

EXPERIMENTAL" WORK

No .time has been . lost locally in getting under way with ' the senior chanjpionship competition, and-the first day's results have given rise to the Usual.' speculation as" to which team' is likely to gain the premiership. By their runaway victory, Poneke- are carrying much favour, but-it .is far too early as yet to determine, the respective merits of the teams with any degree of accuracy. Poneke are completing their fiftieth year, and as this will be followed by their jubilee celebrations it would be fitting to see them at the top of the ladder for their big occasion. However, that is a distinction which will have to. be earned, and the fact that they had a convincing victory in their first championship match is not to be taken as an indication that the way will be easy for them throughout the series. Poneke themselves would be the last to look at the position in this light. Other teams, whether successful or not last Saturday, will be striving for honours just as keenly as Poneke, and the material at their command suggests that the championship is going to have an open appearance for some time to come. The play to some extent is likely to be affected-by the change-of scrummage formation which has been recommended, and for a While,"'at any rate, there will be-a good deal of-experi-mental work. Whether this will lead eventually to an improved standard of play all round ..remains to be . seen. After last Saturday's exhibitions, however, it is certain that scrummaging, for one thing, will not be one of the best features of the game; in fact, it promises to present more difficulties than under the old system. Clean heeling and quick service from the scrummages have been, advantages with the 2-3-2 formation, and it seems likely that they will be lost to a very considerable extent. ' iV—riouS "Formations. The new order—it is Teally only a recommendation—does not suggest any particular formation, except that the playing of three men in the front row is urged. As was anticipated by the writer, the result is that various formations are being tried. At least four different methods of forming a scrummage were seen in Wellington last Saturday, and various formations have been used in other centres. It seems that with this state of affairs the change which has been recommended is not likely to have the results- expected by those who advocated the discarding of New Zealand's traditional formation. However, the position is much the same so far as the Rugby game internationally is concerned. In tjie Home countries, as has been pbi_ted out by the writer, various £orma_ons rare being used. Too J_uc_ Law! 'It seems also that adherence to new and amended rules is not going to be an easy matter. For one thing, referees are faced with a very drfficult matter in determining when the ball has reached a point in the scrummage at which any foot can attempt to play. Bjfeaches of the new rule were frequent last: Saturday, and ; very often illegal hooking was carried out without any penalty. Many times, too, the ball was kicked out of the side of the scrummage. It was apparent, also, that different views are held as to what is meant by having the ball "gently propelled" into the scrummage. Again, there is a rule which states that players must not leave the field at half-time without the referee's* permission, "which should only be granted in special circumstances.'" Will this rule be; observe-?" The Canterbury Bugby Union evidently does not intend to enforce it, and when the matter was under discussion this week members of that union became very heated in giving expressions to their opinions about the laws being made by the Home .authorities. "Loyalty to a governing body is a good thing," remarked one member, "but we are getting kicked every way, and it is time to: make a stand." "There is, too much d—— law" in "the game," said another member, while others agreed that the prohibition against teams leaving the field at half-time was ■ridiculous, Mr. W. C. Dalley remarking "It's a lot of rot; it's a stupid idea." Still, the ride is there, and New Zealand, ,iias'agreed" to. accept the laws as laid" down by" the "Home authorities. Evidently the idea of "falling into line" is not .proving wholly'acceptable. Hutt and Oriental. The unavoidable absence of Lilburne was ho doubt a big "factor contributing to. . Hutt's. defeat at tho hands of, : Oriental. However, the latter thoroughly deserved "their win, but the main credit must go to their energetic pack of forwards. Early in the game they completely outclassed the Hutt pack, and heeled the ball from the scrum every time. Later, when Hutt improved and started to get the ball out,' the- Oriental forwards broke up quickly" and tackled the ' Hutt backs before they had time to make ground with passing rushes. Towards the end of the game the Oriental forwards began to tire, and -Hutt held the upper hand. Oriental's backs did not combine at all well, and in that" respect were much inferior to Hutt. Oriental's" wing three-quarter, Packnatz, was the best of the backs, but he did not get many chances. His tackling and line-kicking were good. Their fullback, Eitchie, also played a sound game. Most of the Oriental attacks were led by the wing-forward, Wilkinson, who was outstanding throughout the game. Lang and I. Ramsay were also prominent amongst the Oriental pack. Ball played his usual spectacular game as wing three-quarter for Hutt, but Stephenson, who was on the opposite wing, shows promise of becoming a serious rival. His repeated efforts to break through the Oriental defence towards the close of the game showed that he has plenty of stamina as well as speed. The Hutt full-back, McCan, played a ' y^ry—good-game-throughout.'. Feneke and University. that University would be able to follow up their promising display in the practice match against Wellington jon/the previous Saturday by extending Poneke were not realised when these teams met at Athletic Park. The_ students, however, were up against a difficult proposition, and Poneke, on the day, were a real match-winning side. There was the right material, and it 'was evident that sound coaching and intensive training had combined to insure that the side produced the best of which it was capable. There has seldom been any doubt about the Poneke forwards, and, after several lean years, the backs are now on hand to give the necessary support. In the front row Poneke had Jessep, a tested compaigner, playing as well as ever, and Quaid, an honest toiler, to do tho hooking, together with Shearer, as the loose head, alive to any opportunities for spoiling work or for opening up play..Gair, McPherson, and Quirke formed a solid trio in the, second row, and J_-S-a_dr.fiitoaog-thg joaner-a^jtt'qmqted

I junior, who packed at the back of the serum, lent able support. It was a well-balanced scrum, and it proved a power to contend with in the opening. Behind the forwards was Julian, who was a live wire, and caused endless trouble to the University defences. Each of his four tries was well deserved, and he could probably have added to his '.<bag"vhad he not seen to it that his supports were given every opportunity to play their part. Griffiths and Neal made an effective pair of five-eighths, and Edgar, Chesterman, and Mincham also played splendidly. Mincham promises to bo a decided acquisition to the team. Payne gave good service both at full-back and at centre-three-quarter, where he was placed when E. Neal retired hurt. University have apparently not yet decided which scrum is the best substitute for the 2-3-2 formation, as they tried both 3-3-2 and 3-4-1, without achieving much success with either. Incidentally, although some of the scrummage work in the match was quite good, the ball frequently camo out of the side of the scrum. Diederich, who has been elected captain of the team, with Euru as vicecaptain, gave tho forwards a splendid lead, and Blacker and Wood also did good work, but the pack was not nearly up to the same standard as the Poneke eight. University were unfortunate in losing Young, their speedy right wing threequarter, within a few minutes of the start of the game, but although their display,was not altogether convincing, the backs gave promise of better things to come. Wellington's Backs. For rather more than half the game, which was played at Athletic Park on Saturday, Wellington College Old Boys gave just a3 much as they received (if not more) from Wellington, their heavier and more experienced opponents, and thus it .was that not until the second spell had been in progress some time were Wellington in. the lead. Up Until this point Old Boys' forwards had stood up to their job very well, but their efforts then began to toll on them. They tired a little, with the result that Wellington saw more of the ball, and Kilby was able to give good service to a good back line. The result—Wellington made' up the leeway and won by a comfortable margin. Old Boys adopted a 3-3-2 scrum formation, and Wellington put down a 3-2-3 serum. In the majority of the scrums Old Boys held their own so far as getting possession of the ball was concerned, but it was not always given a quick passage, and sometimes, instead of coming back to the half-back, Ames, the ball trickled out at the side. Among the forwards seen in action none played more impressively than Stanley (Wellington). For the first championship g Name he showed remarkable dash. Fell also put in some solid work in the forwards for Well—ig-. ton. ':■.: .. •.."' .j Although young, Old Boys showed that they have" a useful pack 7J. Lamason, By_der,'__d Williams we're three" who did very: well. , ;; j. Kilby "was in'good form, and plentyof dash was also shown by", the fiveeighths, Page and Johnson. A newcomer, McLaughlin; who was played at centre-three-quarter, showed himself to be a heady type of player, although at times he seemed to. be a little slow off the mark/ In Ball and Pryde Wellington . has two. wing-three-quarters who should give the team good'service. Both were unlucky on Saturday in not scoring. Olliver will be available Bhortlyi ■;..;.... Baldwin and Atkins, the Old Boys' five-eighths, although up against Johnson and Page, did a lot of good work, Baldwin in particular. No one had worse luck than S. Grenfell, Old Boys' "centre,'? who, throng- mistaking the lines ; and grounding the:ball five yards ■out from the goal-line, lost a certain try. J. Lamason is captaining Old Boys, and F. D. Kilby is the Wellington captain. Eastbourne and Athletic. Whatever defects the team may have, and, no doubt, many will be found as the competition progresses, Eastbourne have one attribute which is going to seriously trouble every other team in the competition this year, and that is their speed. 'It is seldom that a team is so fast on the average back and forward, and a team which will be a"ble to clap on that extra bit of pace at the end of a hard fought game will always be a thorn in the sides of their opponents. Although it appeared from the side line that the surburban combination always had an edge on Athletic on Saturday it was in the last half hour or so that Eastbourne really showed up and then they ran their opponents right off their legs. It would not be surprising if Eastbourne decided to change their scrum formation, or at least alter the places of some of the forwards. On Saturday the scrum appeared to be badly packed in the first place" and" secondly the front men did not have too happy a. time facing Mollier and McDonald, whose hooking was up to their usual high standard. N. Dellabarca worked as hard as any forward on the field but the best player for Eastbourne was Price, who is again captaining the team. In Hamilton and Dingle, Eastbourne have two wings who are going to give the enthusiasts some thrills before the season is finished. Dingle has been playing as half-back in the junior team. Athletic, who virtually packed a 2-3-2 scrum with Watson a loose head, when required, showed up well in the scrums and'line outs. Mollier and McDonald, who went well both in the tight and loose, gave the backs plenty of the ball but unfortunately for the side the rear line could settle down. Pelham did some good work in the second spell but it was all solo. Tindill played a solid game behind the scrum but the other backs did not make full use of their opportunities. Petone and Marist. Half-way through the match between" Petone and Marist at the Petone Recreation Ground it appeared that the sides were so evenly matched that the one best able to stay the distance would win. Petone, however, changed their tactics' in tho second spell, and maintaining their form they won comfortably. Petone tried the' 3-3-2 and 3-4-1 scrums, and gained the greater share of the ball. Marist generally used the 2-3-2 formation. The Petone backs outplayed Marist's. Valk, on the wing for Petone, ran with determination, and was perhaps the best of the Petone backs. Valk is not heavily built, but is an excellent type of wing three-quarter. Pollock, centre three-quarter, was undoubtedly clever at times and O'Halloran, half-back, made a favourable impression. There, were not many who stood out prominently in the Petone forwards, but all worked hard. Pickard impressed by his play in the loose. Carr and Potts were two solid grafters. Hepburn, the Marist full-back, possesses . a powerful boot, but his line kicking was a trifle erratic. However, he has proved himself to be a good full-back. Robins and McDonald are two backs who stood out last year in the Marist rearguard, but against Petone they were far from being up to their best form. The most outstanding forward for Marist in the first spell was Stiver. He had no opposing wing forward, but nevertheless his work in the loose was deserving of praise. Gill, Ottaway, and Connor were others who impressed. The whole Marist pack followed up in good style in the first spell, but fell away J in 4_v-second, halk