RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON V. SOUTHLAND.

(Special to the “Star"),

WELLINGTON, July 25. The first Rugby representative match played here this season took place this afternoon, under fairly good conditions. An excellent display of football was witnessed. Southland came with a good record, and a forward division which had gained quite a worthy reputation, and it must be said that though defeated, the forwards acquitted themselves particularly well. For all this, it was in the forwards that they were badly beaten. Not that the Wellington backs were inferior to Southland, but the forwards controlled the game throughout, and in that department Wellington was superior. Wellington got the better of the Southland vanguard by making the play open and fast. These tactics suited the City team best’ and succeeded admirably. It was largely due to the fast open nature of the play that there was so much scoring, Wellington registering 30 points and Southland 18. In the first spell, Wellington led by 14 to 8, Swain scoring three tries for Wellington and one try being awarded for obstruction, while Mark Nicholls converted one try. For the South, Clarke scored a try, which Agnew converted. and White also crossed the line. Wellington’s scorers in the second spell were Kogers, M. Nicholls, Duncan ami I. Thomas, and two of the tries were converted by Mark Nicholls. Brown and Blick scored for Southland, Agnew converting both. As the Shield was not at stake, chief interest centred in individual peifcrmances now that the New Zealand selectors are busily on the lookout for men to form an International team. As far as the Wellington team goes, it may be said it played the best football turned in by the wearers of the black jersey in the last two or three seasons, and perhaps this may be given more than a local application, and taken as an indication that the standard of play is on the improve. A feature of the match was that the football played was sound and not flashy. White, of Southland, was the best forward on the ground. He did Ins bit in tight play and got through wonderful work in the loose. His try was the result of a great solo effort, in which he controlled the ball with his feet for nearly half the length of the field. He completely beat the Wellington defence and scored. Wellington, ever impartial, roared itself hoarse in appreciation of one of the finest individual efforts ever seen on Athletic Dark. Another line forward among the visitors is Fraser (the lock;, but apart from these two, none of tile forwards stood out, and they seemed to miss Richardson, who would have been particularly useful on the lines out, a department in which Wellington were much too clever for the visitors.

(_)£ die Southland backs, Bell (liveeighths) came under much notice, and he showed himself to be a really firstclass man, who should thoroughly justify his inclusion in the South Island team. He is very dashy and is good in all departnfSnts of five-eighths play. One of the great weaknesses ot tile visiting team was the full back, Agnew, who was not at home in the position. I'lie Wellington team revealed some good material. Mark Nicholls played the best game he has yet shown on Athletic Park, but he still has the fault of taking his passes while standing still. The handling by the Wellington backs was excellent, and all played well, especially F. Tilyard, who got through a lot of work well. It was the forwards that gave an exhibition most pleasing to those an xious to see New Zealand come into its own again in the Rugby world. Duncan (lock) played a great game, and it is safe to say that as matters stand at present, he will displace Moffatt, who has been the Wellington and New Zealand lock for .some years, but who is now on the down grade. Pringle was responsible for about four tries as the result of good work on the line out, and Swain, who scored three tries, showed himself to be an ever dangerous forward always likely to score when near the line. One of his great values is his ability to anticipate play, and get to the right place at the right moment. Of the rest of a good forward team, the best was A. Thomas. The game must have heartened enthusiasts as it left the impression that the standard is on the up grade, and especially that there is much good forward material about.

W AIR ARAP A v. MARLBOROUGH. (Per Press Association.) MASTERTON, July 25. W; irarapa to-day defeated the Mail brongh touring team by 22 to 6. The home team was depleted, eight of he best men being down with influenza The game was played on a heavy gr> nml, and was not an inspiring exhJ. t on.

SEDDON SHIELD TEAM. (To the Editor). Sir, —I am sending you as promised last week, the names of my selection for the Seddon Shield. As a preliminary a short criticism of the chosen team will tend to a better understanding of my choice. Full-back, Goodall.—Has not played his usual game for some months back, and thougn he is stronger in the boot than Stevens he is developing that unpardonable fault in a full-back of “being found in possession of the goods.” Several times recently I have seen him upended near his own line, with the ball still in his grasp. I have never seen Stevens caught like this. Three-quarters. —Nothing to say, your Worship, except that Moynihan being probably now on the left wing and once more out of his place will likely be not so successful in his cross-kicking as he was against Mokihinui. But, you can hardly put Mat out of his place. He is the utility man amongst the backs. Five-eighths. —Should like these two players to get rid of the ball quicker. McKay will find that the pretty little stunts he shows us in club matches when he jigs along with the ball held in front, ready to pass, will not last long against Nelson. Half. —Palmer is out of his place here ; he is too big and too good to be breaking his back here. He should lake Nelson’s place at five-eighth, which is where he always plays. Here he would distinguish himself, but if he is kept at half I’m afraid half Nelson will be on top of him before he gets going. If Heapliy (whom I prefer) was not available for half then undoubtedly Coghlan is the man to fill the position. This little Digger whether in the mud or the gravel is always very much alive. I am looking forward to see him worrying Grey on August 4. What a treat it will be I Forwards. —Hager, out of his place. The best trained man at any period of the season. Don’t think I’ve seen him playing a. club game in which hr «

did not score. His motto is “Always on the ball." Can imagine him “weeping tears of blood”__if he happens to be locked up Tn the scrum when the ball gets away. To the rest of the forwards I would say : Follow this man’s example, break up quickly and go quickly. It doesn’t matter if you cannot see the ball as long as you can see “Brick" Mouat, Burley, and O’Regan, too burly to fit in my team. The latter used to be a splendid placekick, why try Warnes and Mouat when you have a man that can kick? Bannister, though large, is fast and experienced. Davis, unknown to me. Jamieson a more suitable man in the company 1 would choose for him, which would be “fast and loose."

Devanney a good worker who has been “rusting.’’ Picked on one game as one of the best Southern forwards was eliminated on one gajrne. Here I refer to Walker of the Kiwis (who by the way had the ’flu). This man throughout the season has played a consistently excellent forward game. Looks to me to be either a glaring case of incompetency on the part of the Selection Committee or what is equally as bad, condemning a man for his bad luck. Returning to Devanney, he plays an average game "bellind the scrum, and when here is smart at picking the ball up from an opposing forward dribble. Here’s my team : —

Full, Stevens; three-quarters, Steel, Russell, Moynihan ; five-eighths, McKay, Palmer; hall’, Coghlan; forwards : (wing) Hager, (hookers) Carter, Devanney, Gugowich, Bannister, Churchouse, Jamieson, and Walker. Emergencies : Backs—Robinson (Hari Ilari), J. O’Connor (Diggers); forwards : Cunningham (Kokatahi), Wright (Grey).—l am, etc., “JERSEY."