INSIDE BACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 23

INSIDE BACKS

MEW ZEALAND'S EXAMPLE

English Rugby, on the1 showing of the 1936-37 season, appears to have developed a dearth of a certain type of player—the first-class stand-off half and the first-class centre. Reasons for this dearth have been discussed by the "Birmingham Post" -With a. reference to the type of play expected by New Zealand players occupying similar positions. ■ '■

"Occasionally, in pondering this ques-| tion, one has wondered whether young) men who are learning the games are! being imbued with the right ideas con-, cerning the duties of the stand-off half, and the centre-three-quarters," the paper says. "The frequency with which we are presented with the spectacle of tne two half-backs, and at least one of the centres, 'handling the bafll •without doing anything in the way of beating their opposite numbers, makes one ask whether they have got the piroper conception of successful attack) by passing advances. -

"After the last New Zealand team to visit these shores had left, it .'was frequently said they had taught British Rugby men nothing new. But the New Zealanders did, at any rate, exhibit their continued faith in atiiidca which we seem to have forgotten; and that is, that no attack can be successful unless the men immediately behind the scrummage do their full share in its development.

"A good deal of mild fun has been poked at the practice of the AH Blacks in describing certain of their backs as five-eighths instead of using our terms of stand-off half and extra three-quar-tpr. But a New Zealander will tell you there is a sound notion behind this distinction. The players who; occupy thu five-eighths positions in ,Tnidfleld have it impressed upon them that they have special duties, in which they should specialise. 'They are told it. is their particular job to pierce the defence, cut out an opponent or two by straight running, and so provide for the "man over" when the ball gets to the wing. And they are further informed that unless they can succeed in doing this on a reasonable number of occasions, they are not fitited for the position. "The New Zealand idea,/ in fact, is that, by giving the playeßs a. special name, they Impress upon them the necessity for special duties., Our own conception, as exhibited la recent seasons, is to get the ball out&to the wings

.Eastbourne packed a. 3-4-1 scrum against Old Boys' 3-2-3 formation. The Eastbourne half was served liberally from the scrums, but the backs failed to profit by this initial advantage.

Eastbourne's scores against Wellington College Old Boys were all from goal-kicking, s Crisp scored three penalty goals, all good efforts, and Fleming ' dropped' a goal. Old Boys, by good open ■ play, scored four tries, Burns and Souncss each touching down 'twice.

The- Eastbourne forwards played untiringly against Old Boys. Dellabarca was always in the van. The backs, although getting plenty - of- the ball, lacked penetration.

Playing; at first five-eighth for , St. Patrick's: Old - Boys, Stevenson had a busy time against Athletic and-he made few mistakes. Always dangerous when in possession, he handles well and is a forceful runner. He is also a good place-kick.

The Athletic forwards toiled gamely against St. Patrick's College Old Boys, and though the odds were against them, they did not let up until the final whistle. Troy gave a versatile display, and Pope and Smith also went, well. . ■ _

Boddy, who filled the full-back position for the Athletic second fifteen, gave a better exhibition than the St. Patrick's College Old Boys full-back, Vile. His kicking was accurate and he handled cleanly. It was unfortunate that Bqddy received an injury which necessitated his removal in the latter part of the game, as there was no doubt that Athletic : sadly missed him. : ■

There was an interesting discussion the other evening at the ineeting o£ the Canterbury Rugby Union on the question of providing facilities Emnight training in Hagley Park., One speaker considered that it was "throwing money away" to light the grounds, but the majority of those present thought differently, and the matter was referred to the finance committee.

Mr. W. Maxwell is the manager of the Canterbury Kugby representative team to play in Wellington next week. The sole selector, Mr. W. J. Whitham, will also accompany the team.

In reply to a request from the New Zealand Rugby Union to forward the names of referees qualified to control international matches, the Auckland Rugby Union has submitted the following: Messrs. C. F. Paull, J. G. C. Wales, G. Peace, J. A. Malcolm, and G. W. Henderson.

Two leading international cyclists— Cecil Walker, ( an Australian, who has made his home in America, and Nino Borsari, an Italian—are now in Sydney. They have been racing in Melbourne for several months, and have performed brilliantly. Borsari visited Victoria in 1934 for the Centenary Thousand road race, winning the title of champion of the mountains, by doing the fastest time in the 15 miles ascent of Mount Hotham. He is versatile, and during his recent season on the wooden track at the Melbourne Exhibition Ground won two point score teams' races. Borsari was accompanied by the Australian sprint champion, J. Fitzgerald, who.V.s in New Zealand recently. Walker will return to America, accordIng to his present plans, on May 13.

his.way through.the melee, he emerged into the open' with only the Petone full-back ahead. He took.the tackle after running a support into position for an easy try. ■■

G. O'Halloran did his work well in the front row and it was hard luck for Central when a spinning ball eluded O'Hallorah's grasp as he dived for it under the posts.

C. O'Connor played a sound game as full-back for Petone and overshadowed ,W..Dixon, whose fielding of high punts was uncertain.

Coman exploited Dixon's weakness and continually punted high, but the Petone forwards were too slow to take advantage of the ten-yard off-side-rule •snd Dixon had time to and Clear. -.

A. Selwood impressed in the breakaway position. He handled well and was always in-the thick of things. ; R. Williams, an ex-West Coast and South Island representative, raked successfully for Petone. Whenever possible, Williams marked the man playing the. ball. St." George expected to have A. O'Connor back behind the scrum today and A. Swanberg will resume his position as breakaway. Swanberg has been a more than able deputy for O'Connor. ■ ,

T. Taylor, formerly a Tarrciaki Rugby League representative forward, is showing good form for Randwick. Taylor has a fine turn of speed and a peculiar dodging run. He has scored three tries in two matches.

R. A. Drury, a member of the Canterbury Rugby League, was an interested spectator at Newtown Park last Saturday. Mr. Drury had been to Auckland representing Canterbury at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League., He is also a keen worker for amateur athletics and is: trainer of V. P. Boot, the Olympic Games representative.