RUGBY FOOTBALL SENIOR COMPETITION

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1948, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL SENIOR COMPETITION

‘Playing greatly improved football Star seniors deserved their win over Kiwis by a comfortable margin. While Stars had to play against a heavier pack, their superior fitness ran the visitors off their feet. The most impressive back was T. Hurren, the Kiwi half-back, . who clayed one of his best games to date. M.' Stoop showed glimpses of good form but was unfortunate to receive too little of the ball. R. Stoop made several good attempts to score. T. Manera 'is a promising five-eighth ‘and can be relied upon to catch the selector’s eye in the future. The best of the Star backs were D. Steel, E. Steel and L. McDougall. In the Star forwards, J. Pegley, A. Stokes, D. Wilson and G. Nelson were the best. Of the visitors, R. Eastgate and A. McLean were the only forwards to show much form. United’s surprise win over Excelsiors gave Stars the lead in the competition. United’s forwards were the deciding factor and held a territory ial advantage. Glen, Mathieson and Holmes were especially prominent in the scrums and line-outs. Dewar and Laing in the backs gave sterling performances and lent drive and dash to their attacks. • In the Excelsior team, E. G. Walker and W. Amberger played a solid defensive game, and though the United forwards were on top of them most of the time saved their side on several occasions from serious trouble. Because of very heavy ground conditions the visitors backline were unable to get into action. To-day St. Mary’s will play Stars in the main attraction at Rugby Park and a very keen game can be expected. St. Mary’s can give a very good account of themselves, and will certainly extend the home forwards, but the Star backs can be relied on to weather the storm. Cobden regained some of then former dash when they defeated Blaketown, but their very unwise selection of an outside player resulted in the game being awarded to Blaketown. During the past three Saturdays, no very good line-out play has been seen. The players have not appeared to be very enthusiastic. A player must combine with his team-mates in the line-outs as well as in scrums. It is not customary for a good line-out forward to remain with both feet on the ground. It is hoped that better play in this department will be seen this afternoon. Points in Competitions Points gained by teams in the various grades in the West Coast Unions’ competitions are as follows:—- . Senior: Star 20, Excelsior’ 18.-Unrt; ed 16, Blaketown 17, Cobden 10, Kiwi 12, Celtic 5, St. Mary’s 4. (Excelsior has to play one more match to be on even terms with the other teams). Junior: Celtic 20, Cobden 17, Technical Old Boys 16, Magpie 15, Blaketown 14. Third Grade: Celtic 6, Cobden 2, Technical 2. Fourth Grade: Hokitika 18, Blaketown 16, Technical 15, Cobden 11. Fifth Grade: Cobden 20, Star 14, Technical 11. Hokitika 9. Sixth Grade: Technical 21, Blaketown 17, United 10, Celtic 8. Seventh Grade: Celtic 24, Star 11, Blaketown 11, Cobden 10. Eighth Grade: Celtic 7, Cobden 3, Blaketown 2, United nil. WEST COAST SCHOOLS' TEAM The selector of' the West Coast Primary Schools’ Seddon Shield team Mr Fj. R. King, has chosen the following boys to represent West Coast at the' tournament to be held at Motueka during the school holidays: J. Robertson, H. Sutherland, N. Williams, Graham Patterson, R. Smith, B. Harrington, G. Cooper, A. Jamieson (Grey Main); T. Edgerton (Cobden); £'. Harris (Hokitika Convent); R. Wildermoth (Marisi); J. Foster (Ross), J. Parkinson (Reefton; G. Hughes (Paroa); R. Hyndman (Woodstock); W.Tainui (Kaihinu); G. Veale, M. Smith (P.lcketown); B. Prentice (Koiterangi). Westport Trials The ambition of nearly every firstclass Rugby player is to gain All Black honours, and during the year every effort is made to catch the selector’s eye. In the Seddon Shield Districts and in Canterbury several players who have looked promising were given the opportunity of demonstrating their ability in trial matches held at Christchurch and in Westport However in the latter trial the display was from all reports disappointing as it appeared that there was a tendency to< “shine” by the forwards instead of trying to nlay football, and a lack of aggressiveness, while the backs were indecisive and lacked finish. The best backs were E. G. Walker (West Coast) at centre threequarters in the B. team and J. Lindbom (West Coast) full-back, and L. T. Savage (Canterbury) half-back in the A. team. O. Small holme (Buller) was outstanding as a five-eighth in the B. team. In the forwards D. Max (Nelson), J. 'G. Bond (Canterbury) in the A. team and B. J. Chandler (Canterbury), and W. Mumm (Buller) in the B team were the only ones to impress as suitable players for consideration as All Blacks. In this trial, the performances of the majority of the backs in the A. team must have been disgraceful, as the half-back, Savage, received more of the ball than his opposite number A. Luff, in the B. team, and consequently fed his backs more frequently, yet the B. team backs scored several tries against whom the A. team backs scored none. To the selectors who were present the display must have been disappointing. MAORIS AND SOUTH AFRICA It is hard to realise why the New Zealand Rugby Union has decided on a tour of South Africa when an All Black team could have easily been sent to England, Australia —or perhaps France. There is a lot to be said for the tour and a good deal to be said against it as well. However, those who realise the racial problems affecting South Africa will not disagree with the N.Z.'Union on its decision to select a wholly European team for the tour, providing, of course, that the decision was reached in a sportsman-like manner. It is disconcerting to learn of the N.Z.R.U. statement that the expressed wish of the Maori Advisory Board was that they, the Maoris, should be regarded as ineligible for selection in a team for South Africa, and then to find that Mr W. T. Parata. a member of the Maori Advisory Board emphatically denies that the matter was ever discussed with the N.Z.R.U. or that the Board ever discussed the matter. In answer to this charge the Union has been strangely silent. It is hard to believe that a sporting organisation like the N.Z. Union is going to be the first in New Zealand to practice racial discrimination, and this at the totally unwarranted instigation of a few unfortunate Boers, suffering badly from a fear complex. The most important point in favour of the visit is that South Africa is the premier Rugby country in the world to-day and the All Blacks can gain* valuable experience to' bring back to New Zealand. When the New Zealand team

leaves for South Africa next year, they should let their opponents know that it is only at the courtesy and realism of the Maori people of New Zealand. When the pakehas are away on the tour the Maoris will be at home keeping “the Rugby billy boiling.” However, if any ill feeling is to be aroused, it would be better to abandon the tour than to let the happy relations between the two races in New Zealand be disturbed.