RUGBY LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 26 June 1946, Page 6

RUGBY LEAGUE

. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. - _ ; . The weekly meeting of the management committee of the West Coast Rugby League was held last evening, Mr B. F. Connors presiding. , Also present were: Rev. Brother Clarent, Messrs J. Oakley, J. P. Mathews, W. Meates, N. Messenger, L. Coffey, C. Stone, J. Kidd, E. Pattinson, B. Ramsay, and T. F. McKenzie (secretary). A letter was received from the Kumara Club, nominating a club in the schoolboy competition, _ and requesting that a ball be supplied. The nomination was accepted, and the request for a ball granted. The Marist Old Boys’ Club advised that the Runanga Club had played a boy one stone six pounds overweight in the senior colts competition. Rev. Brother Clarent said that after the match he had weighed the boy, who turned the scales at 9st 71b. _ The maximum weight for boys in the competition was Bst lib stripped. It was not a matter of the boy being ignorant of his weight, as. he had weighed in at 9st lib for the fourth grade competition at the beginning of the season. Mr Meates': “We should put an end to boys playing overweight once and lor all. We promised early in the season that the matter would be attended to”. It was resolved that Runanga forfeit the match.

A further letter in respect to schoolboys playing overweight was received from the coach of .the Marist Brothers’ High School protesting against Runanga playing two boys overweight in the junior schoolboy competition, and claiming the match in question. Mr Kidd: “It is too late for them to claim the match, but something should be done”. Rev. Brother' Clarent said that, although there was no doubt that boys had been played overweight, Runanga had received no chance to wdigh boys in this grade since the new Gst 71b scale had been adopted. Mr Mathews suggested that cards be made available with the names of eligible players. After some discussion, It was decided that a letter be sent to the Runanga Club, requesting that more attention be given to the matter of schoolboy football. CAUTION LIST The Referees’ Association advised that it desired the League to keep a caution list as in past, years. Mr Kidd: “I think it is a sound idea. We cannot go on hearsay, or there will always be disputes as to who was ordered off and when. We should have a record.” It was decided that the Referees’ Association request be granted, and that a record be kept. The Referees’ Association advised that the names of Messrs J. Griffen and J. P. Mathews had been forwarded to the New'Zealand League Council as West Coast nominees for referees for .the North Island v. South Island match to be played at Auckland on July 6. The North Shore Albion Club wrote stating that the senior team was contemplating a trip to the West Coast towards the end of the season, and requested the League to suggest a tentative programme. The side .would play on a Saturday or Sunday, and would desire a game with Blackball.

Mr Kidd: “This is.the type of team we want to visit the Coast, it would do our football a lot of good”. Mr McKenzie stated it was a matter which should be handled by the League, and not directly through a club. The West Coast League had no power to grant the match, or to make arrangements at this stage. He suggested that he write‘a personal letter to the North Shore Club, explaining the position, and asking that it refer the proposal to the Auckland Rugby League. Mr' Oakley maintained that if a letter be sent, it be sent directly from the League asking that the Club refer the matter to its parent body. Mr Kidd: “I will oppose any proposal that any letter be sent except officially by the League”. It was resolved that .the secretary be instructed to write to the North Shore Albion Club welcoening the suggestion that it play on the West Coast, and requesting tha: it place the matter before the Auckland Rugby League.

SENTENCE SUSPENDED. After a discussion in committee, it was decided that J. Newton and P. Smith, West Coast and Canterbury players respectively, who wore ordered off by the referee (Mr J. Williams) at last-Sunday’s' representative game, he suspended for one playing week, the sentence to take effect from the date of the return of the South Island team from Auckland in July. On the motion of Mr Kidd, it was decided that immediate steps, be taken! to have the Ain§y Shield suitably engraved. He stated • that, nothing had been done in respect. Io engraving'the trophy for the last 10 years. It was also resolved that all League trophies be called in for engraving at the earliest possible convenience. It was decided that letters of appreciation be sent to Messrs J. Forrest and A. Mundy for .their services to the League.

The matter of grounds for the England v. Coast game, and the matter of gear for next'season’s play, will be discussed at an executive- meeting of the League to be called on Tuesday next.

WEEK-END FIXTURES Fixtures' for the week-end were arranged as- follows:— Senior: Runanga v. Blackball at Blackball, 2.45 p.m. (L. Kinsella); Brunner v. Marist at Wingham Park No. 1. 2.45 p.m. (J. Griffen); Ngahere v. Kohinoor, Wingham Park No. 2, 2.45 p.m. (J. F. Mathews). Junior: Kohinoor v. Ngahere at Ngahere, 2.45 p.m. (A. Kennedy); Runanga v. Blackball at Blackball. 1.00 p.m. (J; Williams): Kumara v. Rapahoe at Rapahoe, 2.45 p.m. (H. Fisher). ..Third Grade: Kumara v. Marist at Kumara, 2.45 p.m. (R. Lisle); Brunner v. Blackball at Brunner. 2.45 p.m. (W. Kerr). Fourth Grade: Blackball v. Brunner at .Brunner, 1.30 p.m. (J. Knowles); Marist v. Kohinoor at Wingham Park No. 1. 1.30 p.m. (P. Sweetman); Runanga a bye. SCHOOLBOY FIXTURES • Saturday Senior Colts: Kohinoor v. Runanga. Victoria Park, 2.0 p.m. (J. Knowles). Junior Boys: Blackball v. Runanga,

at Blackball, 10.30 a.m. (J. Neilson); Marist' v.‘ Ngahere, aj Ngahere, 10.00 a.m. (K. Elman); Brunner v. Kumara, at Victoria Park, 3.0 p.m. (J. Griffen). Australia v. England REVIEW OF THE MATCH. (Special to “Argus” by Jack Fraser). ■ ; -- - • ' ' SYDNEY. The game was a peculiar one. Pait of the time both teams' were playing like champions' and then they would be like" a lot of novices. Right from the start Grice, half, for- Australia, was in trouble— throughout the game he was very seldom'out of trouble. In the first scrum I noticed he never his forwards time to get packed down.' In drop kicking out he kicked the ball high into Egan’s hands and each time he did so, Egan went within an ace of scoring. Grice has a lot to learn. There was hardly any alterations in his play in the second half. , Cooper gave a much better display than in the N.S.W. matches. His try was a real wing three-quarter effort. He seemed to go looking for the ball more than he did in the other games. Newham also gave a good display. Avery was handicapped by Grice’s bad service from the scrum. His defence was sound. Bailey gave a very good display. He always ran straight and it was good to see him rewarded when he scored a very fine try. Fie was also extra sound on defence. Jorgenson was hardly ever in the picture. B al /" inson did a good job and towards the finish' brought olf some very fine line kicks. He was also very sound on defence. , Of the forwards I consider Clues was by far the best. He was in everything and was going just as strong at the finish. Watts also played very well. He too was going great guns at the finish. Kay, one of the Queensland representatives in the team, also played well throughout. . I noticed the -Australian scrum packed down very badly. The two middle row men instead of having their shoulders under the front row men, were resting on the' front row men’s loins. ' The placing of a ball by Jorgenson is quite a .ceremony. First he does a little scratch with the toe of his boot, then he turns and does another little scratch on the other side of the mark he has made, then some times a team mate renders some help witha handful of earth on which the ball is placed ready for kicking. All this business could be done away with by using the heel of his boot, that is of course, with the foot in it. I know the Sydney cricket ground is hard, but I noticed that Lindwall had no trouble in placing the kicks he had and he used his heel. On the English side Risman gave a very bad display. His kicking was atrocious. He had ten kicks and failed on 9 occasions. They were mostly easy shots. Last match he converted 6 out of 9 attempts. His allround play was very bad. With Risman giving such a shocking exhibition and the team losing Kitchens, they did a good job in holding their opponents to a draw. Kitchen was ordered off early in the first spell. Batten played a very good game and was unlucky not to score when he beat Parkinson by handling him. Johnson received an awful still arm tackle and this no doubt interfered with his play. McCue shone out right through the peice. His line kicks were gems, also his side stepping, swerving and timing. Gwens is another whose equal it would be hard to find. He was in everything right from start to finish. Australia was in danger every time -he or McCue had the ball. Egan also played a very fine game. In fact, considering the difficulties the team suffered, they played a wonderful’game.

THE PLAY.

The Sydney cricket ground presents a wonderful sight on the occasion of the first test match, between England and Australia, which is to be played here to-c'ay. The colouring is wonderful, and the whole place has the appearance of a gigantic flower show, the colourful dresses of the women being responsible for this effect. Livery piece of ground has been occupied, and I have just been informed that the gates have been closed. That means that there must be close on seventy thousand people present. It is an ideal day, a warm sun is shining and there is not a breath of wind. The playing ground is in grand condition and everything is set for a good day’s entertainment. There are preliminary matches right up to two o’clock when the main match starts. These preliminary matches start at 9.30 a.m. ■ The teams have just taken the• field and they received a great reception from the' crowd. McCue kicked off for-England and the English forwards immediately carried play into the Australian twenty-five. After some ruck work the home team was forced back on to their line. Risman had a shot at goal, but failed, and a scrum went down on the Aussie line. They won the ball, but the half, Grice, fumbled and tne English five-eighths, Horne, beat him and scored in a very hand position. Risman missed a very easy shot at goal. The Aussie forwards now took the play into the English side of half-way and the visitors were on the defensive. Shortly after this Jorgenson kicked a very good penalty from a long way out. England attacked and Risman again missed a fairly easy chance. He was given two more chances, hut could not improve the score. The Eng-

lishmen, with McCue and Owen combining well, werenearly over several times? From a goal line drop out Egan caught, beat the' defence, and dived over in the corner, but the referee ruled no try. Almost' immediately he caught the ball from a similar kick. He dodged a couple of men and passed to White, who was tackled by Mulligan, and this time the Englishmen were running all over the locals. Owen broke clear and looked like scoring, but Parkinson' brought him down with a very good tackle. Batten got the ball from the' blind side of a scrum and was stopped just short of the line. About this time Hitching, centre three-quarters for England, was sent off for punching Jorgenson. The English team then scored their second try. Ward short punted and ■following on fast caught the ball passed to Johnson and on to Whitcombe, who scored in the corner. Risman failed with a difficult kick. The Englishmen again attacked and after several of them had handled it was pass-, ed to Batten, who rani some distance and ‘jumped clean over Parkinson, but he was pulled down within a few yards of the line. Half-time sounded soon afterwards. In the first .half England won-14 scrums to Australia’s 7; they were awarded 8 penalties and

Australia 5. . ' Australia attacked early m the second half and Jorgenson failed wit a penalty kick. Australia, was i penalised and Risman missed his seventh attempt at goal. Parkinson and Risman, the two full-backs then had a kicking duel. McCue secured and after beating several opponents, was well tackled by Parkinson. The ball was sent back to half way where Baily gathered it,'and after a good run, in which he beat Risman with a beautiful dummy, scored a good try. Jorgenson missed a difficult kick. Clues, who had been playing a wonderful game, put Australia on the at--tack but Grice was off-side and Rismari’s kick drove Australia back. Grice swung the ball out to Jorgenson who was penalised. This gave Risman an easy shot at goal and he increased England’s score. Johnson returned the kick-off to Newman, who ran very hard and passed to Grice who was tackled. From the ruck. Owens and Horne broke through. Watt barged his way through and kicked to'Johnson who,, when he was going for a bounching ball, was stiff (md England was in Australia’s twenty-five - when several of the home team handled the ball. Cooper received and following a brilliant run, in which he never gave Risman a chance, scored a good try in the corner. Jorgenson missed and the scores were 8 all. Shortly after the kick out Australia was on the attack due to the efforts of Watts and they were awarded a penalty inside the Englishmen’s twenty-five and right in front of the goal. The crowd was silent as Jorgenson made his kick, but he failed very badly. McCue, and Owens broke away, the latter being' thrown into touch when he was. almost over. Risman inade a very feeble attempt at a field goal. Ward, knocked on and Risman had another shot at goal, but ■ he again failed and shortly after this time was called and the game finished 8 all.