The Rugby Game

Evening Star, Issue 23645, 3 August 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Rugby Game

Still in Winning Vein. The King’s High School first fifteen continues on its winning way. Its match with Otago Boys’ High School earlier in the season, which it won decisively, was an intermediate grade game, and the annual fixture between the two schools has yet to be played. King’s drew with Waitaki Boys’ High School (9-9) and defeated Southland Boys’ High School last week by 23 points to 6. The team is a particularly well-balanced combination, back and forward, with resourceful inside backs and a speedy three-quarter line. Southland’s Splendid Record. Three more Southland representatives hare to be added to the list of Southland players who have enlisted in the military forces. They are D. B. Herron (Eastern), D. R. Sutherland (Bluff), and J. P. Newell (Marist). The total has now reached 48. _ Sutherland represented Southland in 1933. He was a member of the Northern Subunion team that year, and went on tour with the Southland team (says “ Onlooker ” in the 1 Southland Times ’). Newall won his cap last year. Another Cerutti? History-repeated itself after 13 years in Sydney the other day, when B. Ross took his place in the St. George Rugby Union first grade side against Gordon. Rosa made the team when Bill Cerutti, great international forward, well known to New Zealanders, had to stop clown through an injury. He is only JG4 years of age, the same as Cerutti was when ho made his first grade debut in 1927. Weighing list 91b, ho is thick set and as tough .as Bill has always been and revelled in the testing rucks and scrums. Last year he played with St. Mary’s School, and has been playing third grade with St. George this season. The old front-row master has taken an interest in him. and if he proves as good a nlayer and as fine a sporting personality as Cerutti, the Rugby Union will be fortunate. Player of Great Promise.

Excellent promise is being shown by the ex-Training College player, lan Murdoch, at second five-eighth for Union this season, and the fine understanding existing between him and Harvey on Saturday paved the way for some of the best moves of the day against Zingari-Richmond. Murdoch is full of resource and initiative, handles well, and is very quick to take advantage of an opening in the defence. It was quick thinking on his part which led to Werner’s second try, for when he found himself blocked he kicked across to the wing, where Werner snapped the ball up and threw himself over for his second try. Murdoch’s covering work was also fine, and at the present time this ex-King’s High School player stands out as one of the most promising youngsters in the senior competition. He_has a brother, D. H. Murdoch, in the King’s High School first fifteen, and the younger Murdoch is just as promising as the Union player. Strong School Side. Christchurch Boys’ High School is building up a fine record in its interschool games this year, the side being reputed to be one of the strongest fielded by the school for a number of years. Earlier in the season, Timaru Boys’ High School was beaten, and the school team beat Christ’s College in the annual game recently by 24 to 9. Last week Christchurch Boys’ High School defeated Waitaki Boys’ High School by 29 points to G, the winners showing superior initiative and better combination- in the backs. The pace was fast, and, although they went down, Waitaki contributed their share of the fine play that delighted the crowd. Assaults were launched by Christchurch from-all parts of the field by both backs and forwards. Once again the Christchurch inside backs were impressive. F. B. Smith, the half, was never at a loss to get the ball away, and his keen eye for an opening earned him two fine tries. A. S. Richards, a cool and skilful five-eighth, was the pivot of the attack, and he seldom attempted too much. The annual game between Christchurch Boys’ High School and Otago Boys’ High School will ho played at Christchurch on August 16. Enlistment of “ Wallabies.” Fifteen members—more than half —of the Australian Rugby Union team which went to England last year have enlisted. Nine have joined the A.1.F., five are in the R.A.A.F., and the captain. V. W. Wilson, who remained in England, is in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. The list is :—R. Rankin, B. J. Porter, L. TT. Smith, C. Rnmalli, A. J- Hodgson, K. S. Windon, K. M. Ramsay, J. E. Turnbull (New South Wales), V. M. Nicholson, W. P. J. Me. B. J). Oxlade, W. E. M'Lean, V. W. Wilson (Queensland). S. Y. Bisset, and A. AV. Barr (AMctoria). Crossman Impressive. C. A. Crossman, King Country inside back and the best first-five in the New Zealand Rugby trials last season, continues to produce form which would have taken him to South Africa had a New Zealand side made a tour of that country this year (says the 1 Sports Post ’). He was the star of the King Country rearguard in the match with Auckland last Saturday. Much of his good work was killed by the lateral running of the men outside him, but he never ceased in an endeavour to capitalise the occasion. Crossman isn’t brilliant, brilliant in the sense that he is » footballer with a rapier-liko thrust, but he is a careful player, a player who is not so impressed with his own importance that ho forgets there are other rear-guard units besides himself. And no one Iras ever cavilled at his defence. Versatile Player. Undoubtedly one of the most versatile club players in Dunedin, A. Mason has filled in satisfactorily in nearly every position in the Zingari-Richmond back line from half to full-back. He was a resourceful player behind the scrum, but is figuring even more successfully in the full-back berth, and his taking and fielding were features of the game against Union last Saturday. Another highlight of the game was the place.kicking of both full-backs. Mason landed two penalty goals and converted

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two tries, and Silver kicked a penalty goal and converted three tries. Both full-backs have registered over 40 points during the present season.

In Top Form. Willis Perriam, the Pirates centre three-quarter, has been showing exceptional form in the club games, and against Dunedin was the mainspring for all the attacking movements. He made some fine openings, and finished off a couple of them himself with two well-earned tries. Perriam runs with excellent balance, and besides having plenty of speed does everything in a workmanlike manner. There was no doubt of his brilliance on Saturday, and of the 19 points scored by his side 16 were registered by him—two tries, twb conversions, and two penalty goals. This brought his tally for the season to 85. Perriam is playing as well as at any stage of his career. Consistent Scoring Man.

The solid and well-built Union wing three-quarter, Lionel Werner, rarely turns on a bad game, and since he first represented Otago in 1937 he has been one of the most consistent scoring men in the senior competition. With two tries on Saturday he brought his “ bag for the season to 10, and there are few more determined_ runners or dangerous men near the line than the Union player. His keen anticipation and covering work on defence were often in evidence against Zingari-Rich-mond, and he was one of the best backs on the field. Although selected for the Otago team last year, Werner was unable to tour, and the only game he took part in in the north was against South Canterbury, when he came from Dunedin to reinforce the touring side at Timaru. In the three seasons he has gained representative honours he has worn the Otago jersey nine times. Half-back Laid Aside.

An injury received in the game with Kaikorai has kept Blennie Samson, the Union half-back, out of the game since then. Samson suffered a torn cartilage in his knee which kept him in hospital for a week or two, and Rugby followers will wish him a speedy recovery.

Zingari Fully Extends Union. The improved form of recent games was more than maintained by ZingariRichmond in the game at Carisbrook, and Union had a very close call to win 18-16, the issue being decided by Union’s superiority in the set scrums and by the backs showinga shade more finish and method in their play. Territorially, Zingari held their own, and a fast and mobile pack displayed great dash in the loose. There was not, however, the same quick penetration by the Zingari inside backs as was shown by the Union men, but the Colours were not afraid to open up_the play at every conceivable opportunity,- and the result was that though there was a good deal of broken play the game was a bright and exciting one to the end. F. H. Vorrath again led the Union pack in fine style, and, as usual, his experience was of great value. His liue-out play was high-class, and whenever the Zingari forwards looked like pouring through Vorrath was usually there to stem the tide. A. Faris, the centre hooker, did a good job, and one of tiie most consistent members of the pack is E. Morrison, who was up with the play from start to finish. Morrison is a bustling type of forward and a hard worker. I). Slyfield was always dangerous in the loose, and V. Newall and T. Gensik were another good pair. Substituting for Samson, A. Divers acquitted himself very well behind the serum, especially as lie was playing in the fourth grade as recently as last season. A. Harvey was a good link, and as mentioned already Murdoch was always in the picture. AV. Fleming showed pace and resource in the centre position, and A\ 7 . Ireland, who was taken from the pack to the wing, made a fairly promising showing, though his handling still leaves room for improvement. At fall-back R. Silvef made very few mistakes, but it proved costly when ho tnisfielded a shot at goal by A. Mason right on the line and V. Short pounced on the ball to score. Standing out in the Zingari-Rich-moncl pack were L. Pollock and V. Short, the former giving a fine allround exhibition of forward play and lending the pack in great style. Short’s pace in the open was a big asset, and he was rewarded for fast following up with a try in the first spoil. R. Douglas, AA r . Pockson, and R. White played well, hut the whole pack hunted in good style together in the loose.

H. Trainer opened up play quite nicely at the base of the Zingari scrum, and one splendid cut-through by AA r . Mason gave him a good try. The Zingari first five was just a little hesitant, however, and inclined to overdo the cut-in. The weakest link of the back lino was E. Barabithe, at centre, and other than in speed he is lacking in the requirements of this position, his tackling especially being very weak. Neither A. C. Proctor nor G. Smith had many chances in combined movements, but T. Mehnlski at second fiveeighth again played soundly.

Rugby Followers Confounded. To put it mildly, local Rugby followers were astounded when the news of Otago A r arsity’s 29-8 defeat hy Canterbury College came through last Saturday. and oven when the absence of three such stars as Trevor Berghan, E. J. Peterson, and A T . L. Smith was made known there was still wonderment iu the camp, so to speak. Y r et, from all accounts the game was by no means as one-sided as the scores would indicate, and it seems almost incredible that with its forwards commanding the greater share of possession from the set serums an Otago Varity back line should have failed so badly as appeared to he the case on Saturday.

But I am told by a keen follower of the game who was present in Christchurch that, with the exception of a coupe of tries, Canterbury’s scoring efforts were runaway movements by Cartwright, who was given a Jot of latitude by weak tackling of tho former Maori representative, H. A. Steele, who was substituting for Peterson. R. Skelley moved in one to fill Trevor Berghan’s place at first five-eighth, and linked up well, but Alee, at second five-eighth, was very slow, and often kicked away possession. As a result R. L. Jones was handicapped in the centre position, where ho was opposed to tho fast-hreak-ing A. Cl, Hunter. In the second spell, however, Jones settled down, and showed something like his real form.

An injury early in the game affected the play of Laurie Simpson and brought about his retirement at half-time, when he was replaced by the Hawke’s Bay Maori player, M. N. Paewai, who played brilliantly. The latter is to be congratulated on being selected as a reserve for the Otago team which met Southland to-day.

T. Kawe, at full-back, was weak and unimpressive, showing nothing like his form of recent games in Dunedin. In the Otago Varsity forwards the raking of C. N. D. Taylor was a feature of the game, and this light but clever forward is also to bo congratulated on being included as a reserve in the Otago team against Southland to-day. Another young forward who proved his worth in Christchurch was M. J. L. Phelan, the promoted B player, who worked hard in the tight and shone in tho loose rushes. P. P. Poote was a host in himself in all departments of play, and R. Logan’s pace was always an asset in tho loose.

Tho Canterbury representative packman. G. S. Walter, was the best of the Canterbury College forwards, leading tho loos© rushes in fine style and having splendid support from George Wilson, also a Canterbury representative player. At the base of the Canterbury College scrum was M. P. Donnelly (the wellknown New Zealand representative cricketer), who lias already proved himself as a full-back, and is quite a serviceable half as well. Kimberley, at second five-eighth, was very sound, and at centre Hunter did some very bright work, more particularly in the first spell, though he was more closely marked by Jones after the interval.

Of the three-quarters, Cartwright was the particular star, and ho played a very big part in Canterbury’s convincing win. On the other flank. M. D. Fountain was held well in check by the speedy Otago winger, J. \V. Green.

Taieri Turn On Fireworks. Kaikorai received something of a shock when Taieri beat them at the Caledonian Ground fairly and squarely on the merits of the play by 16 points to 6, It was a Taieri team going at full steam ahead, and forwards and backs alike entered into the fray with a vim and determination that the hill team found impossible to altogether stem. Not that Kaikorai were overwhelmed far from it for they fought back hard and valiantly from start to finish, and, at certain periods, with good effect.

The pleasing part about it was that the game was not one of those dour, grim affairs that are so frequently seen when two teams are going hammer and tongs. Indeed, something of the sunshine with which footballers were favoured on Saturday seemed to have got into the spirit of the play, with the result that, with all the vim and tigerish play,' there was plenty of sparkle. Both sides threw the ball about freely; it was given, as they say, “ plenty of air ” ; so much that it was surprising that the ball did not burst with the joy of it. Taieri particularly indulged in some passing rushes of a nature spectators are accustomed to see when Varsity is at its top. It was, in short, a case of Taieri rampant. It would be invidious to pick out any of the winner’s forwards as being better than the rest—the whole padk was on the job, and on the job as a pack; though, if forced to details, one might name J. Grant, AV, Bissett, and IR. Barnes’as leaders on many occasions.

Among the backs, Seaton M’Cartney, on the wing, was always in .the play throughout the day. G. Murray, in the centre, was frequently prominent alsoi breaking through the defence and setting the machine going. Then there was Johnstone, as second five-eighth. He, too, set things in motion frequently and was responsible for much of the bright attacking work. S. Whitson, behind the scrum, was alert in delivery and always ready to hold up the attackers. M'Leod, at full-back, kicked well. The Kaikorai forwards were more often than not beaten for tbe ball, and had rather a bad time with the fastbreaking Taieri pack, but they worked hard in the loose and in the line-outs, with the two Aitkens perhaps the most conspicuous. Cox, at full-back, 'was not in good form. Manning (centre) and Calder (second five-eighth) were the best of the backs, Spiers also helping with some long line kicks. The left-footer was, however, all astray in his attempts at goal. Teams Lack Finish.

Southern beat Alhambra by 11 to 0 after a game in which neither side showed any finish. Southern commanded the greater share of ball from the scrums and rucks, but their backs did not display the resource that would have enabled them to take advantage of it. The Southern forwards played well in the tight, but their backing up in the loose left a lot to be desired, the Alhambra forwards frequently beating them in this department of play, which accounted for Southern scoring fewer points than they might have done.

The game was largely confined to tlio forwards, although the Southern backs occasionally handled the ball quite well. Of the Southern pack, G. M'Donald, 11. .1. Tyrio, and I’. Edwards were the best, and R. Nieper was again prominent in the loose play. Tyrie showed improvement in form, no doubt accounted for by the fact that he is now getting fitter. Ho did not play in the earlier part of the season. Although the scrum and line-out work of the Southern forwards have been good, they have been disappointing in other departments of the game, showing little initiative in the open play. If the side is to finish among the leaders, the forwards will require to show improvement in this respect. S. Robert, the Southern half-back, again played a very sound game, although his passing from the scrum was at times badly directed. Ho made two or three penetrating runs from the scrum, but was left unsupported through poor backing up. The other Southern backs were not very impressive, although Eric Bolton, at full-back played a steady game and Dave Trevathan, at first five-eighth, was sound without showing anything like the football he is capable of. Alhambra forwards battled hard throughout and, though outplayed in the tight, their backing up of the backs on defence was first-rate. Alf Brown

was again noticeable for good all-round play, and Billborough, Mockford, and Treewick were a good trio, with Hansen also doing useful work. The Alhambra backs had few opportunities in concerted attack and consequently they were largely on the defensive for the major part of the game, and let it be said that their tackling never faltered.

L. Casey, at half-back, was very sound on defence, and he also made nippy breaks from the scrum. He sent out good passes when the ball came Alhambra’s way. The beat of the

Alhambra backs was S. Robinson, and this reliable live-eighth made one or two very good runs which cut the Southern defence in half, but bad handling on two occasions lost what looked like great chances of scoring. B. A. Taylor, the ‘ Bamas ’ centre, was good on defence. He got up very quickly on Churchill when Southern secured the ball, and the Southern backs failed to use the obvious counter to this move, the short kick in behind the Alhambra three-quarter line.

j. Broadfoot moved up from the fullback to the five-eighth line during the game owing to injury to one of the other players, and J this dependable player shaped very soundly.

British Tour Recalled. Last Saturday Ron Bush and Bill M'Neight, members of the Army team, met for the first time since both were in the South Island team in 1931 (says

the ‘New Zealand Observer’). M'Neight, who is now 33, is in the garrison unit, but has enlisted for overseas service. After captaining New Zealand at League ho left the West Coast permanently and was working in the Te Kuiti district when the war broke out. M'Neight recalled on Saturday the match 10 years ago in which he scored two tries against the British team at Greymouth. It was a remarkable game, as for a long time the Coasters held their own with the tourists. Late in the second spell the score was 11 all. An interesting point recalled by M'Neight was that the British team, with a brilliant bout of passing, scored direct from a kick-off, none of the opposing team having an opportunity to handle the ball. After the kick at goal the ball was kicked off again, and onco again the tourists began a dazzling combined movement which ended in a try without any of the Coast team touching the ball.

Poor Positional Play Is Costly. Showing more cohesion in the backs, Pirates ran up 19 points in the first spell of the game against Dunedin, during which the defence of the Dark Blues was easily penetrated, the Dunedin backs being very slow to recover their positions. In all but scrum possession, however, the Dunedin forwards held the opposition. There is no doubt

that the infusion of new blood has benefited the Dunedin pack, and Tom Fogarty, a promoted junior, showed himself to be a rugged type of frontranker and quite a good rake. Pat Treacy, L. Marshall, and R. Marshall were hard-working packmen, and K. Thompson, a promoted junior, is also a solid type of forward.

together it should soon recapture the form which made it a force to be reckoned with earlier in the season.

The half-back, M. O’Connell, opened up play nicely, but a lot of his good work and that of A. Manion outside him went for nothing because of a lack of finish and poor positional play on the part of the others. Manion was instrumental in paving the way for Spillane to pot a goal. Spillane is always quick to seize an opening, but is inclined to lose touch with his supports. The best of the three-quarter lino was G. S. Reynolds on the wing, but he had few opportunities in concerted attacking movements. At full-back J. Dougan was reliable and his line kicking was very accurate. The Pirates inside backs linked up well, Peters and Campbell showing a good understanding of each other’s play. The former played a much improved game. Although Willis Perriam invariably ran his wings into position, A. R. Dulf

lost several chances in the second half which, with more determined running, might have resulted in tries. On the other flank 1. M'Leiman had few chances.

J. Patterson substituted for Tom Webster at full-back and had a good day, fielding well and kicking with good judgment. In the Pirates pack W. Kaler and J. W. Clulee both worked hard in the tight, and A. Hennessey played a serviceable game, his rush-stopping being a feature. A. A. Parkhill was not so prominent as usual.

Promising Schoolboys. The annual game between Otago Boys’ High School and Christ’s College was well up to recognised secondary schools’ standard so far as bright and' attractive open play was concerned, and had the tackling of the Otago team been anything like as good as other features of the home side’s play there would not have been a 28-11 margin in favour of the College fifteen. Otago’s defensive work left very ; much to be desired, and a considerable improvement will be necessary before the annual game with Christchurch Boys’ High School a fortnight hence. In relief to that of some of the others, the deadly tackling of the Otago centre, J. V. Ingram, was in keeping with the rest of his play. Ingram is a lightlybuilt youngster, but he bowled his vis-a-vis over in desperate fashion. His quick thrusts and fast and determined running paved the way for some of Otago’s best moves, and he and B. E. M'Pbersoh, the speedy winger, combined in , some very ; effective attacks, Ingram Was easily they bbst of the Otagp backs, and. shared With D. A. Monaghan, the College first the distinction of being the outstanding player on ; the field. These two lads showed promise a long way above the ordinary. Monaghan, who hails from Timaru, is a strong, straight-run-ning first five-eighth with penetrative ability and plenty of resource and determination. The two most spectacular tries of tho day were scored by him, and he generally had a hand in the College attacking movements.

Auckland Beats Hawke’s Bay. Auckland Rugby representatives scored a third and most important win of this season when they defeated Hawke’s Bay by 18 points to 12 at Napier on Saturday (says the Auckland ‘Star’). The Bay still has a grand pack, and its ruggedness in barging through from line-outs and handling in loose rushes were reminiscent of the years 1922-26, when the llanfurly Shield stayed in Napier. With a front row which included the two former All Blacks, E. S. Jackson and D. Dalton, the home side got the ball most in the scrums. Despite this inferiority, Auckland forwards played remarkably well, and in the final stages of the game against the wind were overplaying their rivals. The backs rose to the occasion, with the captain, N. Pearman, the best on the field, and were superior to the opposition. Though Auckland got only three tries to the four of Hawke’s Bay, the splendid goal kicking of W. Hare decided the match. He converted the three tries and kicked a penalty.