Seasonable Sports

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1936, Page 9

Seasonable Sports

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

With the championship decided, chief interest will, in. the meantime, be . confined to the representative game in Christchurch on Saturday next, in which "West Coast will attempt to wrest back the Northern Union Cup from Canterbury. Considering the difficulties facing them, the selection committee made an excellent job of choosing the side, and there is generr’ approval of their team, with one or I ■possible exceptions. It cannot be denied that, on paper, the Coast team appears exceptionally strong, but. it must be remembered that the same was thought when Canterbury lifted the trophy. Although Canterbury do Dot now appear to be as strong as when they were successful, it would not be wise to take them at all cheaply.

.The Full-back: Thg first difficulty facing the selectors was the full-back position. Although promising in the early stages of the season, several poor games put W. Hopkins out of the final choice, which was between T. McKenzie and W.' Ritchie. On the game at Reefton last week McKenzie was entitled to preference, but the selectors undoubtedly wisely remembered that McKenzie has shown that he cannot stand a hard knock the same as some of the younger players, and chose Ritchie. He has a safe pair of hands, and is equally as efficient with either boot. He learned his football with J. Dodds, in the Blackball team, and should be fairly safe. The Three-quarters:

The three-quarters, A. Beban, N. Kiely and J. Roberts, are all of the versatile type, and arc the fastest set that the selectors have yet played together, while one can change places with the other to meet the exigencies of the game. The unlucky man in this section was E. Pattison (Runanga), who is being taken as emergency back. He has played splendid football this season, and is more solid than Beban or Roberts, but without their brilliancy on attack. in a hard game it is just a question whether he would not go better than cither of them. Although Kiely made no mistaeks in Reefton, he did not get many opportunities, and he is perhaps a little lucky to have beaten Pattison for the place.

The Fiv?-eighths: z The selection of the five-eighths presented little difficulty, as there were only the two serious contenders for the positions. P. Scott (Inangahua) is a brilliant little player, and his only drawback is his light build. Even so, he must be considered to have a chance for selection in the South Island team. T. O’Connor, although having a change of positions, is the rugged type, and will stand up to the hardest game. He shows plenty of football brains, and was the only possible choice for the position that he fills. New Half: ■ W. Vincent, the half-back, is a newcomer to the code, as last year he represented the West Coast in the Union game. However, at Reefton, he showed that he has grasped the ethics of the League game, and should prove a reliable link. He is another strong possibility for the South Island team. Jhe Forwards: It was in choosing the forwards that the selectors were presented with their hardest problem, and it will be generally agreed that there are just as good men left out as those who are included. The unlucky one is undoubtedly G. Scott, and it seems hard to

understand how the selectors went so far past him as not even to include him aa emergency. Scott is a big, hardworking forward, who never shirks his share of the work. At Reefton he did not shine as much as G. August, who has taken the front row position, but it must be remembered that in that match August was playing as breakaway, while Scott was in the front row, and a breakaway forward has many more chances of coming out into the open than a. front row man. However, as stated previously, it was not a case! of who to include, but who to leave out, and August certainly played his way into the team in the Reefton match. S. Perrin (Blackball) is anothei' who can be considered unlucky. J. Fisher, the hooker, accepted his chance, and at Reef ton proved he was the right man in the right place. Apart from good hooking, he keeps close to the ball all the time, and is a good loose forward. J. Calder and W. Glynn, both New Zealand reps, last season, are playing at the top of their form, and had to be regarded as certainties. Calder’s flair for leadership has again won him the captaincy. W. McNeight is now playing as well as ever he did, and is a very dangerous man near the line, as Inangahua found to their cost. He was another logical l choice. J. Beban, the breakaway, was another who played himself into the team at Reefton, and has the makings of the ideal type of League forward. His style of play is very like that of Neil Mouatt, who was a master of tho breakaway’s game. R. Clark, tho emergency forward has improved his play since he transferred to the Inangahua district from Blackball, but still ha appears lucky to have been given preference over several other forwards.

Strong Opposition: The West Coast delegate to the N-aw Zealand Council dropped a bombshell on the Management Committee last evening, when he wrote stating that Mr. J. McClymont had been appointed solo New Zealand selector, and the advice was received, with considerable hostility. It is apparently another case of the control of the game being centralised in Auckland, and it seems ridiculous to expect a man to pick an international side on one game, the inter-island match, while, to be fair in the matter, the Council should have at least given the various Leagues, the opportunity of nominating the selector, if there was to be a sole selector. The Management Commit-

tee decided to make strenuous efforts to have the system in vogue last season, North and South Island selectors and an independent chairman, reintroduced, and they are assured of strong support, Taranaki already having taken action to upset the apparently hasty decision of the Council.

Senior Championship: With a four-point lead gained through an undefeated record, Marist seniors have now been declared winners of the 1936 championship, with Runanga, last year’s winners, in the position of runners-up. Marist have played good football in the majority of their games, and have put up some record high scores, an average of thirty in their nine matches. Runanga, whilst they have not scored nearly as many points as Marist, have had a remarkably small number scored against them, a tribute to their defensive work. The final positions of the teams on the ladder is as follow: —

Junior Championship: The junior championship was won by Kumara, who were declared winners when they reached an unbeatable position on the ladder. three points ahead of Runanga, with Blackball and Marist closely following. The competition was keen, and the knockout promises to be even more interesting. The final positions on the championship ladder were:—

basketball.

NEWS AND NOTES. Adverse weather conditions made it necessary to postpone all games again, last Saturday. It was a wise step, dividing each grade into two sections, for otherwise the competition woulr have been dragged on indefinitely. The representative players have been 1 going well at practice, and their display will be watched with interest in the trial game, on Saturday. Those who covet representative honours must remember that consistent training is essential. A representative player is not made in a week or two. Part of the practice night should be devoted to practising the correct passing methods, and to games calculated to develop speed in passing. It is to be hoped that the Canterbury Association will be able to accept the West Coast Association’s invitation to send two teams to Greymouth towards the end of August.

NOTES ON PLAYERS. The following notes on the Greymouth representatives for the tournament on July 11, should be of interest and assistance: — Centres: B. Tenncnt (Technical Old Girls) (captain) represented West Coast in 1934-35. She is active and speedy, taking and giving passes in one movement. She has the happy knack of being in the right place for a pass, and passing when it is most effective. She has a pleasing style, and other players would- do well to follow her lead.

J. Greenhill (Technical Old Girls) was an obvious choice. She was unlucky not to make the Coast team last season. Only young, she is a rugged player. She has a sure pair of hand's, and is second only to her club-mate in speedy passing. D. Bunt (Technical Old Girls) has also represented West Coast for two seasons. She will have to get out of the bad habit of hesitating before passing. She handles nicely, and does not get bustled. She combines well with her club mates, and can be relied upon to play a heady game.

B. Dixon (Blaketown), one of last year’s representatives, is active, and handles well, but could do with a lot of passing practice.

Forwards: M. Knapp (Technical Old Girls) represented’ West Coast in 1934. She has a nice style, and is a consistent goalscorer from any position. N. Grogan (Convent Old Girls), last year’s representative, is a lively type of forward; inclined to use one hand too much in passing, but is quick and after giving a pass can be depended on to make another opening. E. Dowling (Runanga), another young player, is new to representative basketball, but has earned inclusion. She is a lively forward, shoots accurately, and should combine nicely with the other forwards.

C. Booth (Technical Old Girls) has also been playing good basketball. She has an • advantage in reach and, although inclined to be bustled" by good defence, can be relied upon to net more than her share of goals. Defence: D. Greenhill (Technical Old Girls) is probably the most improved player in this year’s competition. She would do well to remember to use two hands, and that the sky is the limit when jumping to intercept passes. I. McMillan (Technical Old Girls) represented West Coast in 1934-35 She is a clean, brisk player, and intercepting passes is a feature of her play. B. Rohloff (Convent Old Girls) represented West Coast at Wellington last season, and has been playing good club games. She is a heady player, but could vary, and speed" up her passing to advantage. M. Jones (Blaketowri) is a fit, keen player. With a little experience in representative games, she should improve out of sight. She should remember that anticipation and interception are the secrets to good defence.

SOCCER.

NEWS AND NOTES

The Australian eleven touring New Zealand have shown themselves a brilliant combination. Their goal average for the three games they have played is impressive, they having a total of twenty-one goals, with only four against. Combining short passing, with the long swinging game, and ready backing up with excellent positional play, they have not yet been fully extended in New Zealand. Yet, of the three provinces who have gone under, none has exhibited the combination or team play expected of it. and it has yet to be seen how the Aussics will fare against a well balanced side. All eyes will be on the first Test at Dunedin on Saturday, when a true comparison of the visitors with the home players will be obtained.

Cowe’s Selection: It was pleasing to learn of the selection of J. Cowe, Runanga lefthalf, to fill that position in the New Zealand side in the first Test at Dunedin. Cowe has always been recognised as one of the outstanding players of the game in Westland, and it is pleasing, to find that his worth has been recognised by the New Zealand selectors. Cowe knows the game from Ato Z, is cool in all circumstances, and works like a Trojan. Local followers of the game have every faith in him, and wish him the best of luck. The Combined Team:

The publication of the combined Westland-Bhlller team /to play the Aussies on July 8, contained several surprises. The selector, Mr W. Rafferty, appears to have been. 1 a little over-awed by the performances of the visitors against Wellington and Canterbury, and has permitted himself no experiments with young players. The side, without exception, consists of experienced players; indeed, it would almost appear as though everything has been sacrificed to experience, for one or two of those selected on recent form must bo considered' lucky to have made the team. A notable omission, who had everything in his favour save experience was R. Pollock, who played such a fine game against Canterbury last week. The team:

E. Archibald, goal, was the obvious selection for the position. Although advancing in years, Archibald is still a lino keeper, and stands head and shoulders above all other candidates for the position, although had W. Timlin not forsaken goal to play in the field this year, he must have merited serious consideration.

Backs: W. White and A. Anderson as backs are a solid pair, and have played much together, so they should know each other’s play. R. Lee, Taylorville, was unlucky not to have been given preference to Anderson, his only real fault being in his positional play, which is sometimes bad. Halves: J. Cowe, left-half, was a certainty. He is representing New Zealand at Dunedin on Saturday, where he will get a good idea of the tactics- of the visitors.

G. Orman, centre-half, has also made a name for himself at Rugby, having represented Buller at that code on many occasions. He is a sound positional player, and knows the game well. J. Anderson, right-half, was a surprise selection. In the recent match against Canterbury, Anderson, although a half-back, was played at inside right, where he did not impress. A. Cameron, who fills the inside right position, should have been the obvious selection as right half, after his grand game at Christchurch.

Forwards: J. Timlin, outside right, has only played one game in that position this season; that against Canterbury on June 23, when he received limited opportunities. He has yet to prove himself. A. Cameron, inside right, was a

poor selection for that position. Cameron is a fine player, and could not have been left out of the team, but his correct position is at right half. R. Pollock was the obvious selection for inside right. J. Blythe, centre, could not be overlooked for this position, and if he retains only a little of the skill he has shown in past matches, he will be a thorn in the side of the Aussie defence. N. Short, inside left, on recent performances, must be considered lucky to have made the team. His display against Canterbury, last week, was not impressive. A. Coutts, outside left, thoroughly deserves his selection. His only fault is an inclination to shoot too much, instead of crossing. Summarised: Taken throughout the team is a solid combination, and with the one or two exceptions already mentioned, be considered the strongest available. The following is a selection embodying the criticisms above which, while giving one or two young players a chance, should have given a satisfactory display. Goal: E. Archibald; backs: W. White and' R. Lee; halves: J. Cowc, G. Orman, A. Cameron; forwards: A. Coutts, E. Trotter, J. Blythe, R. Pollock, J. Timlin.

Curtain-raiser: The junior grade Possibles v. Prob-' ables match, which has been arranged' l as a curtin-ruiser Io the big gaine.'i should provide some interesting loot- . ball. With a, view Io making the grade for the representative team to defend the Dewar Cup against Canterbury, the boys can he expected to give of their best. There is a wealth of promising material in the junior grade, this year, and competition for representative selection is keen. Continental Games: When the Brentford party returned to England from Portugal recently, Mr.

1-1. Curtis, the manager, spoke of the rough games in which the team had played. In the game with the Sporting Club of Lisbon, Ire said that play became so rough that just befoie the interval he was forced to call his players from the field. His protest to the referee had been ignored. lhe match was resumed after a delay of nearly 25 minutes, during which the Portuguese players were seen J) officials. Mr. Curtis added that an the Brentford players had received minor injuries. • PREVIOUS TOURS. The tour of the Australian soccer team is not the first to New Zealand as visits have been exchanged since 1904 when a N©w South Wales teain visited the Dominion. They played nine matches, winning five, losing two, and drawing two. Two Tests were played, the first at Dunedin being won by New Zealand by one goal to nil The second, at Wellington, was drawn, 3 goals each. The present secretary of the N.Z.F.A., Mr A. Milliams, was referee. In 1905 New Zealand sent a team to Australia, all of the games being played in the New South Wales district. The team was managed by Mr H G. Mayer, a present vice-president of the N.Z.F.A. The results were as follow:— Played 11, won 6, lost 3 and drawn 2. Three Tests were played against New South Wales, the result being one win, one loss and one draw. No further tour eventuated until 1922 when an Australian team composed of New South Wales and Queensland players visited New Zealand. They played 14 matches, winning 9, losing 4, with one game drawn. Three Tests were played, New Zealand winning 2 and drawing one. Mr Morgan and Mr S. Storey (manager of the present Australian team) were joint managers. In 1923 New Zealand sent a team to Australia, 16 matches being played in New South Wales and Queensland. The results were: —Won 7, lost 7, and drawn 2. Three Tests were played, New Zealand winning 2 and losing 1. Mr H. G. Mayer and Mr H. I. Graves acted as managers of the team.

The next tour was in 1933, when New Zealand sent a team to Australia, matches being played in New South Wales and Queensland. The tour was a disastrous one, for of the 13 matches played, New Zealand won 3, lost 9 and 1 drawn. The three Tests were all won by Australia. Mr H. L. Godber was the manager.

During 1927 a team of Australian schoolboys, drawn from South Australian schools, toured New Zealand. Only one Test was played, a draw resulting, 1 goal each.

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

The display of the West Coast fifteen in last Saturday’s match against Buller, while it was far beiow the form they showed in the Canterbury match, must have given the selectors plenty of food for thought, and there should be several changes, not only in the backs, when the next team (for the return match at Westport on July 11) is announced on Saturday next. Several obvious weaknesses must be strengthened, and one or two who have been given a chance must give way to others, who have shown representative form. Usual Weakness:

As usual, the principal weakness is in the live-eighth. Roberts shows a good deal of promise, but lacks the necessary experience. Noonan, though he must be given credit for his straight running, is playing out of his class in a representative team. On Saturday, with Buller getting the ball regularly from the scrums, Roberts and Noonan, evidently with the approval of the vice-captain, Davidson, persisted in playing deep, and thus gave the Buller inside backs far too much room, and they were too dangerous to be allowed this latitude. Even allowing for the fact that they were playing too deep, the tackling of Roberts and Noonan left a lot to be desired. Here it is that changes must be made. Collins is not a success at full-back, but he is hardly to be blamed, for he had not played there this season until chosen as the rep. team's custodian. He should be given his chance at second five-eighths, where he has displayed form which cannot be overlooked. Collins has not played better than this season, but not at full back. Hendry, of South Westland, has represented the province before, and though he has always used his boot too much, he would be an improvement on Roberts. He is a good tackler and knows the game. Allsopp, the Cobden half-back, is an experienced five-eighth in Canterbury senior football, and if Davidson is retained as he probably will be, I Allsopp could be tried in the fiveI eighths.

Half-Back: Davidson has not the requisite speed and accuracy in his passing, for a good half-back. The weaker the fiveeighths. the more room they need, in which to work, and it is this room that Davidson does not give them. Alsopp should be given a chance behind the scrum, as his passing is snappy and accurate, and would give the five-eighths a chance to do something with the ball. He has not been seen in really bad conditions, but on a lino day he has no equal in the province.

I Tlie Full-Back: ' Lindboin and Agnew appear to be j the only full-backs in the oiling, with Gilbert off the scene, at least for llie next match. LincTbom has done good service for Cobden all the season, so far, but has the unhappy knack of making vital mistakes. Agnew did all i that was asked of him in the Canter- : bury match, and should be given a ' chance. Improved Forward: The most improved forward in Grey is P. Pascoe, who has not pre- . viously come to the fore as this sea-

son. On Saturday, he was few rungs below R. King, and with Kirkwood and King was one of the three Coast forwards to impress. Pascoe had a dayol'f with his goal kicking, after his brilliance against Canterbury, but the way he has justified his inclusion must have pleased the selectors. Three-quarters:

At least for the next match, the three-quarters should be left as they are. Pedrotti appears to have made the grade, and it remains only for him to reproduce form on a dry ground. Mann is known, and will retain his place. Pfahlert is playingas well, if not better, than ever, and has shown abundant dash. On Saturday last, his enthusiasm and dash was one of the features of the game. His handling appears to have improved, but his tackling needs brushing up. The Forwards:

The forwards played so well against Canterbury that the weaker ones were overlooked, but the way several of them performed last week, should find others given a chance against Buller next time. Birchfield and Gilman should now bo included. Birchfield has earned a chance, while Gilman is regarded by competent judges as second only to King in Westland and South Westland.

Averaging Over 11: Trevathan, the Southern and Otago five-eighth, has scored 113 points in ten games this season. On Saturday last he registered nineteen out of twenty-two points for-his side against Pirates, made up of one try, one converted goal, two penalty goals and two potted goals.

Junior Representatives: 'Fhe West Coast Junior representatives were defeated by a narrow margin by the Buller Juniors in a match, which was necessarily a forward struggle on account of the state of the ground. The Coast backs acquitted themselves well, in the conditions, and probably no changes will be made in this division. Stapleton, the Hokitika full-back, justified his inclusion, handling and kicking the greasy ball well. The Coast forwards lacked dash, as compared with the lively Buller boys, and probably some changes will be made here, when the selectors come to choose the next team on Saturday night.

Why a Block? Commenting upon Wellington Rugby, a northern writer says: Tackling an opponent by the head or neck is still very common and apparently many players consider that no tackle is complete without a block. This is applicable to the West Cpast.

1’. w. L. J'or Ag. Pts. Mar 1st Kunanga . ' 9 9 — 274 192 100 58 18 11 Blackball 9 5 4 8.) 10 Ngalierc Pirates . 9 6 100 104 177 169 220 6 6 Brunner . 9 — 15

I*. w. for Ag. Pts. Kumara - 6 126 42 12 g Runanga 4 91 3 j ' 8 Blackball 8 1 105 77 Marist Pirates . . S — 63 21 77 172 0