RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1936, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The West Coast season opened rather auspiciously on Saturday last, the weather being fine, whilst there was a large attendance at Rugby Park, who were provided with interesting, although not outstanding football. The standard of play generally was good however, for the first of the season fixtures, and as was to be expected most of the efforts of players were noticeably of an individualistic nature. The return of the kick into touch rule saw many errors made and openings presented, but due to lack of combination little was profited thereby, except in the case where All Black G. Gilbert landed his second fine field goal. There were no surprise result, except that Cobden with a little more luck and a better understanding amongst their backs would have lowered the colours of United, last year’s premier side. Nearly all the senior teams fielded new players, most of whom showed out to advantage, several indicating outstanding ability. ****** A Fine Half Back. P. Allsop. Cobden senior half back, and last vear a member of the Albion Club (Christchurch), played a brilliant game both on attack and defence. His crisp passing and prompt deliveries from the serum were a feature of his play, whilst on one occasion be secured near half way to clap on a brilliant burst of speed and beat several opponents to send A. King across in the corner. ******* Improved. A. King, the Cobden winger, infused great dash into his play and scored two well-earned tries as the result of keen following up. He is a much improved player this season and again added to his good record as a goal kicker. ******* Players Train. Cobden seniors, and no doubt the juniors also, who did not get a game on Saturday due to Stars defaulting, have been training consistently, but. the same cannot be said about every member of the other clubs. Cobden seniors in the second spell of their match on Saturday with United showed how fit they were, the forwards not letting up at any stage and there were occasions when they had the opposition pack at their wits end to keep Cobden away from their line. ****** Versatile Forward: A. Ironside is a good rugge 1 type of forward, who 'lid valuable work in the loose for United on Saturday. He also worked hard in the tight. ****** Another Good Forward: R, Kirkwood, a forme’- North Otago player, has thrown in his lot with tae Cobden Chib. He is a line type of torward. and a feature of his play is his fast following- up. His efforts in the tight were also jf the best. ******* Too Selfish: B. Fggleton must h ive overlooked .he fact that he had a uselul set ot hacks supporting him on Saturday, as be failed to pass out each time ne seemed the ba’ l , wir’i the i,.su!t that he was either tackled .n possession >.i kicked into the -are ’rials or either McNanb, Gilbert or Cotiello. H’.S other backs were literally starved for opportunities, and the sooner Egglcton realises that he cannot play the whole team on 1-is own the better it will be for his side. Fgglidon must be given credit for making some brilliant openings. which he. however, himself nullified. IBs defence was .sound and he is an all-round uselul player, except for this inexplicable habit of hanging on too long. * * * * * * Got Few Chances: The United backs did not see a great deal of the ball on Saturday, mid as a result had few opportunities to show up on attack. GTber' made several solo dashes, but was well marked. His two field goals were real gems and were accomplished in an almost effortless manner. His two attempts to goal from place kicks fell a long way short of their objective. Gilbert came in for a gr-’.'i deal of defensive work, which ho accomplished in a finished manner, whilst his line kicking and placement ot. the ball showed the fruits of his trip home. Gilbert was nursing a weak knee in the second spell ami was not prominent on attack, except on one occasion when he ran Adams into a good scoring position and sent him across for a good try. ******* Sound Dpfender: J. Costello (United) is a very safe back on defence and his timely clearances made possible by splendid handling, saved his side from what looked like serious situations on Saturday. ******* Promising Full Back: A. Vaughan filled the role of custodian for the Cobden side on Saturday, and his handling and positional play was good. He also tackled well and when he is able to fully exploit the kick into touch rule, he will prove a most valuable player. His vis-a-vis, W. McNabb, is also a useful player, who showed out to advantage on several occasions and got through much useful work. ****** Excelsiors: Not a few reckon the team which for so long has been on top in Westland will be the hardest to beat in the present cup competition. Frankly, it is this year a lighter combination, but the big veterans could not be expected to last for ever. There are no passengers at any rate and last Saturday the Stars never looked like beating' them, and perhaps if harder pressed the red and blacks would have produced harder play. 1 *******

A Durable Half. Malcolm Davidson may this year prove a belter half than ever he was. He certainly will be as good as he ever was, to judge by his play on Saturday, when his anticipation was often shown. With a really sympathetic five-eighth, he should undoubtedly reach rep. standard this year, as he is vet comparatively a youn„, hardy and virile player. ******* All Black Lock: Ron King won the reputation of being the most consistent All Black forward, but on Saturday he, was even less a “shiner” than ever, being instead content to graft away in the tight play. Without him. it could be said that Stars pack would have made the opposition sit. up. Once, however, when a couple of Excelsiors got. an opening near the 25 side line, King hopped from, nowhere into the picture;

and if. looked an even cltum-c whether a score would not result. ******* Young Players: Key. White, Tainui, Parker and other Excelsior forwards are young, but full of go, and against a pack of similar weight must be hard to overcome. Their heeling might improve somewhat. Of the backs, Bradley, Connolly. Maekrill should do well. Muir is playing with dash—too much perhaps. ******* Old Timers: Deere and Stevens have seen years of football, but they were going on Saturday all the way at Hokitika. The former has had a fair amount of experience in good grade tootball, and it comes Io his aid still. Quinn, though not weighty, is a. heady forward. Hammond is a good forward tvpe. no "shiner,’’ but will still do better when his girth is less. ******* Mann: This player in club games has often had to go fishing for his openings, and towards the finish did so on Saturday at Hokitika, but Noonan seems to be a promising centre, so that the winger may do far better as the season advances. Star backs mostly failed to show good tackling abilifv on Saturday. Aloreover they handled most carelessly, especially near their own line. ******* Eager Boys: Two Star lightweights that are full of pep are Aiderton and the junior, Wilson. The former is pretty fast, sure in handling and game. He should keep a closer eye on his fellow backs and then his passes might be even more timely. The Star half back got the ball away smartly on several occasions, and did his bit. ******* Monopoly of Scrums. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the Kiwi-Blaketown match last Saturday was the monopoly the Kiwi pack had in hooking the ball in the set scrums. Time after time the Kiwi rake won the ball for his team but the fiveeighths. although West fed them well with good passes from the scrum, showed no initiative and as a result there was little hack play. It was unfortunate for Blaketown that Marty Olsen was not available as doubtless he would have gained more than a considerable share of the ball. ******* An Improvement. It was not until West (Kiwi) went into half back position in the second spell in the game again,st Blaketown that the Kiwi backs showed any sort of combination. West is very fast and his speed off the mark enabled his side to turn to advantage any mistake that the opposing players made. ****** A Heady Player. Pedrotti. the Blaketown centre, is a very fast and heady player and as the season advances more should be heard of him. It was his speed that got Blaketown out of some awkward predicaments. Another player who pmsseses an abundance of speed is I. Elder, the Blaketown wing, anil if he had a little more weight he could 1)0 considered seriously its a candidate for rep. honours. ******* Speedy Combination. With a greater share of the ball from the serums the Blaketown backs should develop into a speedy combination and as these young players are all keen they should produce some of the bright football in the near future, that the fans are looking for. «****#* Two Fine Forwards: In the Kiwi pack, were t'uv and -IWalker, two outstanding forward-, who were always on the ball and were not afraid to do the r sliaro tn the tight. 'fhe Srandrett Brothers, playing in the Blaketown scrum, were also responsible for some fine football, and were ably supported by 11. Scott and P. Pascoe. COMMENTS ON RULES. One of the most surprising features of the annual meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union was action take in regard to the type of game to be played this year. In the light of events to come, it was urged by some of the delegates that the scrummage providing for three men in tile front row should be retained. Since the .sacrificing of the clean, efficient, and attractive 2-3-2 formation the. standard of New Zealand Bugby has slipped, and the game has also fallen away as a spectacle. The need for a checking of this drift had been stressed from time to time, but the decision of the majority of the delegates was slightly against the move to revert to the game which has served New Zealand best. Whether th,-it opinion, as expressed in the vote taken at the annual meeting, represents the view of a majority of the clubs of the Dominion is hard to say, but it would seem that the 2-3-2 formation was in greater favour among the clubs than the eight-man scrum, which has been anything but satisfactory.

Uppermost in the minds of some of the delegates, it seemed, was the fact that the Springboks were coming next year. That raises the point as to whether too much attention is not given to international football. The best and most attractive football is wanted here, in club and interprovincial contests, and through it there should be a better means of reaching a higher standard of performance in international football than is offering in the existing unsatisfactory state of affairs so far as scrummaging is concerned. While uniformity is desirable, it must be understood that serummage formation is not governed by the laws of the game, except that it is a breach to have more than three men in the front row. “HARD TO FOLLOW.’’ Seeing that the retention of the ‘' three-fronted ” scrum was regarded as desirable in view of tile visit of the Springboks, one would have expected to hear the same argument advanced and carrying most support in the ease of the kiek-into-touch rule. But surprising inconsistency was shown in the fact that a change was made (one affected by the laws of the game) in deciding to reintroduce the amended kiek-into-touch rule. An official of a Rugby Union sums up the situation in a note as .follows: “Why the three-front-row scrum has been retained and the kiek-into-touch rule reintroduced is somewhat hard to follow, and it looks as if the delegates must have been asleep and woke up and voted. Somewhat inconsistent, especially when the matter of the South African visit is mentioned as a eouse for retaining the three-in-the-front scrum.’’ In their wisdom, the New Zealand

Rugby Union delegates passed the, motion for lhe reinlroduetiou of lhe amended kiek-into-touch rule. The reason, of course, is the desire to see brighter .football, but how such an amendment is going Io brighten up the game is a puzzle (writes a keen follower of Rugby). If the apostles of the doctrine had gone the whole way and adopted the Rugby League rule as regards the kick into touch between the twenty-fives, one would have thought more of them. Having the scrum back where the ball was kicked, as the League game has it, is a much more sensible idea than the rule brought in again by the Rugby Union men. One knows that the underlying thought for the new rule is the desire to discourage kicking, but if past experience is anything to go on. then the hopes of many are doomed to disappointment. The game, when the new rule was in force in former days, degenerated into a mere kick and rush, and if a lot of aimless kicking and running about can be called bright football, many people are easily pleased. ****** Optional: It is opt’ornil for th-’ opposing team < 0 Tt-ke a' serum of a line-o-.i’ when a plaver kicks out on the tub outside of his ol.vn (juarter, but tin* rule was misinterpreted by- ett leas 1 one referee on Sa’iuday. who persistently ruled wthout authority, iu favour of :i scrumINANGAHUA NOTES. The Games. bo fat the games played in both senior and third grade show improved form on last season, and future games should produce fast interesting rugby. The amended “kick into touch’’ rule has been played and all must concede that it has done quite a bit to keep the game more open and enterprising. The senior games played so far, Waratah v: Ikamatua, which Ikamatua won handsomely, though Waratah were not at full strength. This game was very fast and more even than the score indicated. In the Star-Cronadun match the country team again was victorious, and won convincingly. Cronadun are a solid combination and with hefty and energetic forwards assisted by trickv backs, should go a long wiay. Stars were not at full strength in this game, but plaved good football individually. Last week-end Cronadun continued on their winning wtiy by defeating Ikamatua by a fair margin after a fast game. Ikamatua’s form was disappointing after lhe former week’s display. Stars narrowly beat Waratah, who were again short by 14 to 12. on the Racecourse, after a fast and interesting game, especially towards the end. Both town teams seem slow to get going but are on the way to more solid performaiiees from tioxx on. In the junior competition Cronadun beat Waratah on Sunday, after a really good game, which was closely contested, Cronadun having more weight and speed than the opposition. Watatahs. the Sunday before showed good form by beating Ikamatua by a fair margin after a fast game. This Week-end.

Stars meet Ikamatua tit Ikamatua where a great tussle should take place. S.ars this Sunday are at lull strength and should put on some solid 'and interesting football. Ikamatua Juniors meet Cronadun at Ikamatua and this clash should be interesting, also Ikamatua have swelled their ranks and this should strengthen and improve their side. Cronadun have a side of clever and hard playing footballers and should put on some grea I foot ba 1 1. Waratah meet Cronadun nt Robertson's l.’addbek, Reefton. Thi.> senior game should be interesting and although the arrow seems to point to a win for Cronadun. Waratahs are a hard team to .beat, and on Sunday will have their strongest team 4” date. Whatever the result, good football is assure.l and the game will be filled with interest, (Tomidun and \\aiatah both fielding new players. Clubs:

Cronadun Club revived this year, and have entered a strong combination, having some prominent transfers from Waratah and Star teams, in addition to many new players ol note. In their ranks they have Smith Bros. Brazil from Waratah. McMahon, O ’- Ke.uin, Douglas from Stars. Lindbom, Garth from Greymouth. Other prominent plavers are: Hunter a hefts forward, Archer. O Malley, Chandiet Bros. Stars, like Waratah, lost some prominent placers to the country club, but have recruits from Black's Point. Taking the field tire well-known players: Sara Bros., Collis, Gray, Ward, Mick Hunt, Mulligan, Cohen, Millar, Grogan, Hewison. Nicholls Bateman llilTßarrow and Robertson, Waratah Club have had their wellknown combination broken a little with the transfer of players from the district and to the Cronadun Club. They promise to be just as hard as in former vears with their fun muster out. Still in the foreground are Dellaca Bros. Mitchell. McPherson. Archer, Crossman, Charlie Hunt. New plajers are Wilson, Ramsay, Kearns and George Hunt. The Juniors have still in their ranks Cut bush. Richdale, Day. Murcott, Dobson, Patterson, Bonifacio McHenry. Bolitho, Jonson and other players of promise. r Cronadun Juniors, like Waratah. have ncarlv the same team as formerly. Floyd, Cutbush, Archer, Carr, Bonifacio. Barnett Bros.. Aeklund, Haves, anil Sara being prominent so far. fkamatua Club Seniors have begun well and are stronger than former vears having some prominent new players as well as the well-known old members. Quinn is again with them, also Peterson, BroadhuLst, Latta, Clarke,, 0 'Malleys,, Bradleys,v Robi.nson, White, Pfahlert, Becker, Bradley, Sheedy, Bannan and other juniors are well-known performers.

Pats. Referees who have offered their services and the fidlowing who have officiated so far. Air. Stevens, Mr. Bradley. Air. Yellowlees, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Warring, Air. Alalley, Air. AlcCormack. Cronadun Club on their performances and complete uniforms of green and white hoop jerseys. Ikamatua Club’s keenness and sport. Waratah and Cronadun Juniors bright football. Quinn and Pfahlerl, good games against Waratah. Koster, snappy try against Waratah; Bryden, good showing on wing. Smith, cool work. O’Regan, on the ball. Dellaca, J. and P. for solid play. Chandler and Hunter, work in tight. Alitehell and McPherson. hard play. Wilson, fitness and following up. Crossman, hooking. Hunt, solid work. Mulligan, line-out work. G. Archer, dribbling. o’Alalley and C. Hunt, kicking. H. Patterson,

good game at half Day and Cutbuslr, following, up. N. Cutbu.sh, clean handling and fielding. J. Sara, snappy half on Sunday. Itiehdale, hooking. McHenry, good solid work. Barnett Bros., varied play. Kioks. Players who are tardy in turning out. Players whose language is loud and not the best. Players who referee while playing the game. Side-line referees.