RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 11

RUGBY

RUGBY BROADCASTS. I MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN REAL THING! The time when ' television would change the whole outlook of Rugby football from the spectators’ point of view was mentioned by Dr G. J. A'dams, chairman of the management committee of the Wangandi Rugby Union, at the annual meeting, in support of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s making a vigorous effort to confine broadcasting of matches to international, inter-island and Ranfurly Shield contests. Dr Adams said that, if broadcasting was allowed to go. on as at present, it would he impossible for country unions to maintain their finances. Ho felt that, knowing the position as it affected country unions, the metropolitan centres would sol ten their hearts and take action. It was only a matter of time when television would enable patrons to s t at home and, not only hear a description of matches, hut also see them played, and unless action was taken .now it would he lamentably late.

Mr A. C. Danielson president of the Metropolitan Rugby Union, supporting Dr Adams said that there was another aspect of the matter-— : the quality of the actual matches which were brcmleaist. Very often drab lootball was so described by the announcer that it became exciting io listeners, and they were actually following the progress of games which fell the progress of games which well far'.short of the standard of those being played just round the corner from their own homos.

Mr R. C. S. McKenzie represc-nt'ng the ißangitikei union, said that the most striking example of what the country unions wore up against in the broadcasting o; matches war- given in Bulls on the occasion cf the last test with the British team An important, club match was being flayed a Bulls on that (day, and it drew two -spectators. “Yet I have never seen the town so full.” Air McKenzie said. “Everybody was grouped round loud-speakers listening to the test in Wellington." The meeting decided to .send a remit to the New Zealand union’s annual meeting asking that broadcasting he limited to international, Rnnfurly Shield and inter-island matches.

A FIRM START

PLAYER. ORDERED OFF AT NAPIER.

The o l 'dering-off of T. Reid, the well-known Hawke’s Bay representative forward, in the Piratas v. M..A.C. Rugby match in -Napier on Saturday occasioned a good deal of comment from the sideline at the time, fer it appeared to the spectators that he was not the offender in the incident that caused it. Even Pirate players and supporters expressed regret at the decision, for they all regard Reid as- one of the cleanest players in the game.

This action by the referee was the culmination of several incidents which had the effect of warming up the game. Several more serious engagements were noticeable to the spectators, if not to the referee, at an earlier stage of the game, and ultimately some action from the referee was necessary and warranted to control offending players. It happened that among a number cf more serious altercations one in which Reicl and McKnight rolled cn the ground outside the line after a tackle was singled out by the referee for action. And even in that Reid appeared to take a very .small part—small enough to suggest that it was not lie that should have been ordered off. He seemed to do nothing except try to free himself.

A growing practice on the Rugby field, too, is that of headlocking opposing players. On two occasions headlocks were the means by which players were knocked out in the M.A.C.Piratqs match. TTeadloeking liar, no place in the Rugby code, aruj the time appears to he opportune for definite action hv reiei’ees to e-tamp it

A DROPPED GOAL. DECIDES INTERN ATT ON AI. RUGBY MATCH. It certainly appears that the Ne\V Zealand Rugby team which is to tour Great Britain this year will have to encounter much mere xserlous opposition than the 1905 and 1924 All Blacks met. Tile match between Wales and Sootland at Cardiff on February 2 produced a standard of play above that of many recent International games. Wales won by a dropped goal and two tries to two tries. The .fact that Wales won by means of that mueh-disou’ssed form of Rugby scoring, .the dropped goal, would not bn quoted as an instance of luck, even by the most fervent hater of the fourpoint goal, for Wales, when leading by six points to 3 wore deprived of tiie services of Cliff Jones, their flyhalf, a, cruel piece of nib-fortune, reports “The Observer.” He hurt his arm. and was off the field for more than half the game, the result being that the passing of the rearranged back division lost all its .smoothness during the remaining play. Davey and Wooller, in fact-Jmrd as Idwal Rees, tried to make up for the loss—were only half as effective as before. This was lucky for Scotland, as the earlier play had shown that Scotland’s midfield men were not strong enough to hold up these two powerful rtf Oners. Scotland, ' in fact; had considerably the worse of tho argument outside the scrummage. Sometimes" Dick tackled well, but his positioning wa§ unsound, and he'seonied to’be anglitig for the interception 'where orthcflox defence Wiis required. Had Shaw seen nibfe of the ball the Welsh defence might have been more isovorely tested. The samo rbinrirk applies: to Johnstoiiy hut Fyfe, who, had most' df the Chances’ was Very closely markefd and 6duld not circtimvtht either' Idwal Rees, or Fear. Logaii had father the better of a. battle, of if its ’ find speed ivitit Powell, but seldom got a swift service of the ball from his forwards,

while Grieve, overshadowed while .Tones was oh the field had opportunities during the second half of exploiting his penetrating and elusive running.

Beattie, leading Scotland’s pack, dwarfed every other forward on the ground- He played an incomparable all-round game, and at times seemed as if he must he the only forward on the field. The remaining Scottish forwards never took the hall down in the Joosc in the old traditional style, were generally beaten for the hall in the tight, and just held their own in-the loose, where Burnet, Tllom and Lambic would have seemed great if Beattie had not been there.

The Tv else forwards gave an unexpectedly good display of hard pushing tactics, and the introduction of T. Rees and Williams seemed to have a happy effect. Lang was ‘again a big asset in the line-out, and Day was a model of soundness in his thought!ulnons for his outsides.