RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 August 1924, Page 11

RUGBY.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL. As was confidently anticipated, the match between Hawera and Tukapa, leaders of groups, proved a keen and closely contested struggle with not much between them, as the run of play proved. It was just what might be expected from two leading teams who had come through the season w.ith the least number of reverses. The two packs were, in the main, fairly well matched, though Hawera perhaps had the advantage in the scrums and showed a bit more devil in the loose rushes. Tukapa generally held their cnvn pretty well. The number of occasions, especially in the first part of the second spell, on which the Tukapa half was able to get the ball out to the three-quarters proved how often the forwards got the Ball. Both sides played a hard, strenuous game, and every man did his share of the work. The Tukapa backs showed much nippier play, and their passing rushes were very pretty. Some were really better executed than that which resulted in a score, but met a stouter opposition and failed to complete. Priar at full-back played a very fine game and had a lot of difficult work to do. Hawera backs showed very good defence, and their passing, though often quite effective as far as it went, lacked the cleanness •: f their opponents. All played a keen, determined game, and their tackling spoilt most of the Tukapa. rushes. Ai. (Paterson, McGregor, Cameron and Thomas did a lot of good work, while Lay and Whittington also showed up well. Whittington’s: kicking was much better than usual, and his try was the result of a clever feint by which he was able to cut in and beat the full-back. Ho had very bad luck 'in not securing a potted goal. Sinclair, at full, after some uncertainty in the beginning of game, played like a champion. His kicking, with either foot, was most effective and serviceable, and his collarlag generally wms very fine, and often he had two opponents to tackle His goal kicking was at first not up to his best, but some of the kicks, and (r'^a® cl <diy that when he converted Whittington’s try, were excellent and judged to. a nicety. Tukapa. made a game struggle, for until well on in the second spell the scores were even, and it looked anyone s> game. As is always the case in a hnal, the play was marked by a lot ? f r har , d tussling which was hardly good football, for each side was so keen to win. But it was a strenuous gaine l and nardly contested, and had a lot of thrills and exciting incidents that kept the* interest of spectators keyed up right to' the end. It was a. fitting finale to the senior championship.

SECOND JUNIORS. tlrenui will play off against Stratford, the winners of the Central Division, and the winners of that game will meet Hawera in the final for the second grade championship. Hawera juniors have had a very successful season and will take a lot of beating. They are having somewhat of a spell and will need to take pains to keep in form for the final. Speaking of the All Blacks’ defeat in the first test, “Five-Eighths,” in the Dominion, says: —The weak spot amongst the New Zealand backs', it was stated; was Badeley, the captain. According to several of the All Blacks, Badeley repeatedly failed to take Mill’s snappy passes from the serum, and the same thing happened in the Auckland match. All the returned men agreed that Mark Nicholls had played exceptionally well in Australia. This, I have, been told, is due to a few words of advice given to him by Billy Wallace. the Admiral Crichton of the 1905 combination. Wallace told Nicholls that the sole duty ,of the first fiveeighths when he got the ball was to steer straight between the opposition inside backs. When he had them moving towards him, then .he should let the ball out. This, declared Wallace, was the sole duty of the first five-eighth ; and he should do nothing else. Nicholls followed this advice out to the letter in Sydney, and it worked excellently. So. you see. that tactics which held good in 1905 arelust as sound to-day.—Why not local five-eighths take a few hints on these lines t

“Onlooker.” in the Christchurch , ar : ' ,as been doing a little figurine which works out thusly: “New Zealand should know the result of the All Blacks-Devon match by 8 a.m on September 14. New Zealand’s time is 11 hours 40 minutes ahead of Greenwich time, so, anticipating that the match will .commence on September 13 at 3 jp.m., New Zealanders will be iv. “I^ aiT ji an< i when C. G. Porter leads the Blacks in their haka on the Devon grouiid. By New Zealand time the Tj i n saould t> e over by 4.20 a.m Add five minutes for transmission of the result to London, and 3 hours 30 minutes for the cabling to Wellington that will make the time 7.55 a.m.! and Christchurch should have the result a minute or so later. If the Telegraph Department carries out its l.K)o policy of having a man on specia* duty post the result outside post oiiffes immediately on its receipt enthusiasts will he discussing the result bv 8 a.m.”

Parker is the fastest All Black He can do the hundred in 10 1-5. Maybe the Rugby forwards of today are the had dribblers they are said to be, but p-fter all most of the good ones can pass; and no one’s vet heard of a, player scoring a try with nis foot.

‘5 facts about the Canterbury and Otago representative matches Tornormw’s same will be the forty-third match The first game was played in Dunedin in 1878. For the first three vear-s neither side won. the matches being drawn. In the first two. years there was no score, and in 1880 each side scored a try. Drawn games were ioi°n P a v? d In , IBBR - 1887. 1902, 1908, oo t ion7 bury has won 14. Otago « u - , , l n 1894 no same was played as Canterbury was affiliated to the New Zeaffind Rugby Onion and Ota»o had not then joined the New Zealand gov.'rni7lc- r bodv. No games were played m 1915 1916 and 1917. ' Canterbury hab had the longest unbroken successes having won in 1912. 1918 1914. 1918 (.twice). 1920 and 1921. In 1882 at Dunedin Otago won by five goals S • Tn 1914 Canterbury won by 31 points, to 8. _ Apropos of the Don Wright All Black agitation, a Manawatu writer 3 to Sydney for the dady papers when the Federal Prime fVi n w r u apP i roa F h^ s the Australian Cricket Board or Control for the inclusion of the googly bowler from

Woolloomooloo, just as H. L. Collins is leading his team into the field. ‘There’s letters in the dailies,” said selector Harry D, “Finding fault with every team we have selected; “Men congregate at corners when their daily work is done, “And they say we ought to die and be dissected.” “Tt- is too late to get into the All Black team now, so you had better give up Sunday football.” This advice was offered by Mr. O. R, OrrWalker, S.M., to three youths, whose action in playing football on the Nairn Street reserve on a recent Sunday brought about their appearance in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Senior-Sergeant Cox stated that the prosecution was the first brought under the by-law. Other boys were playing on the reserve at' the time, but the constable succeeded in getting three names only. Defendants were each convicted and ordered to pay the costs. Talking of life in Italy, a visitor, recently returned to New Zealand, says that Sunday was the holiday, and on that day there would be football, games, and sports of all kinds. RUGBY POINTERS. (Contributed.) As the result of a difference of opinion in the Rangitikei stronghold, the following questions were sent in, and answers supplied : First question: A player intercepts a forward pass. Must he mark the bidl, or can he cany on without doing so ? Answer.—There is no necessity for the player to mafk unless he so elects. The advantage rule applies and he can carry on if he likes. It should be noted, however, that a mark can only be claimed from a throw or pass forward, and a player can intercept at any stage of the game «o long Us he is not deliberately waiting off-side. Second question : When can a referee blew his whistle for half time or noside, and what constitutes a ball beine: held? b

Answer.—The term “held” is invariably used in connection with the tackle, i.e., “when a player is so held that lie cannot play or pass the ball,” although in practice the ball is also considered “held” when an opponent “locks” the ball against an attacker and so prevented it being played. In this case a deliberate breach—by either player—has been committed, and if no free kick is awarded a scrum' for held f all , U; s usually taken. The term held applies here, of course; although, in .practice, referees do not consider that these breaches automatically finish the game if time is up Actually they should, but, under rule 3, section F, referees are recommended to call time only when the ball is actually out of play—in touch. Third question: A free kick is being taken the ball actually placed when it rolls over. Is kicker entitled to another kick?

Answer. Yes. The new not© under rule 10 is definite, and states that: Unless and until in the opinion of the referee the ball has been placed on the ground for a place kick, no effective kick can be taken. A rolling ball cannot permit of an effective kick, and were it kicked the “spot" would be wrong. Therefore the placer is entitled to replace a. ball so dislodged, but of course the kicker must not handle the ball on the ground nor may he be changed. Best Rule in Book.—-Rule 21 states: It, when a law is broken or any irregularity of play occurs not otherwise provided for, and any advantage is. gained therefrom by the opposite S!de the referee shall not blow his whistle but shall allow the game to proceed; but if no advantage is gained by such side, and if no other procedure is provided the ball shall be taken back to the place where the breach of _the law or irregularity ocCU mt ed an d a. scrummage formed.” therefore, if no advantage is gained by the opposing side, the scrum takes place, but with the advantage in sight the game goes on. On the good interpretation of this rule rests the fortunes of a team as well as the reputation of the referee. 1 A LOST ART. HOW TO KICK GOALS. (Exchange.) How many players study the art of goal-kicking' And how many of them practice kicking? Probably not more than one or two. Wednesday's representative match demonstrated a weakness m goal-kicking. While Ido not contend that anyone at all can become goal-kicker, I believe that all the regular goal-kickers can considerably improve their kicking by paying attention to one or two points that might- be considered trifling until they have been put into practice (writes a “respondent). First, the kicker places the ball. There are several ways of doing that, and no set rule can be laid down for it The player must please himself. After doing that, the kicker retires. All too frequently he takes too many steps, with the result that when lie approaches the hall to kick it he is racing like a madman. That is a fallacy. Four or five steps at the most is sufficient to enable the kicker u°/n^r fc llls utmost weight behind the b/i] tor a fifty or fifty-five yards kick. Ano.,her point to hear in mind is that the kicker should watch the ball, not the goal posts alone; and at the moment of connecting with the boot the eyes should be fixed, on the spot where contact is to be made. If the ball is placed accurately, there is no need to watch the goal-posts. Some kickers realise the necessity of placing the ball most accurately “but never give a thought to the matter of “ ie .kicking- loot accurately. \\ hen. preparing to run to the ball, the kicker should first of all place his foot perfectly straight ami then keep it firm—almost stiff—so that It will not assume its natural position of pointing slightly outward when contact is made with the ball. That is fatal, and is probably more often responsible for misdirection than anything else. The last of the points 1 wish to make is the position of the body when contact is made with the hall. I n the lease of a right foot kicker, the left should come within six inches of the ! ball just before it is kicked. The body at that moment of contact should be poised slightly backward, so that it acts as a sort of lever. At the very moment- of kicking the left foot should be raised _ slightly from the ground, so that the weight from the body goes into the ball. f n recovering, the right foot should still be j n the air. It is fatal to- alight on the right foot after kicking the ball as some players do. ’

If these points are studied and practised, goal-kickers will notice a wonderful improvement iu their kicking.

CONDUCT OF MATCHES. (‘ ‘Quidnunc.” Once again I beg leave to enter a protest against the officials of the Taranaki Union on their conduct of important matches. The rep. match at Stratford was a repetition of the Wellington match. One watched in vain for officials giving a hand in making things run smoothly. The pressmen had to help themselves as regards their table and seats, while at half-time the players had not even a tent in which to go if they wanted a rub down or change of “strides.” If rain had fallen there would have been a sorry mess indeed. These things do not seem much in themselves, but they indicate that the general management of affairs might not he any tetter. Also, why did not the union fix the Wairarapa match for seeing the game is played on a- Wednesday ? The ground is infinitely better, and of course the appurtenances are complete, as well as Wednesday being the half-holiday. Some day the union will wake up to the fact that “things is not what “they seem.” MARIA AND FOOTBALL. fßv “M.”) In most respects Maria fulfils her wifely duties admirably. She can cook a chop to perfection, her trifle and puddings are delicious, and her scones, I venture to say, would take a prize at any winter show. As a nurse she is a treasure, and she knows quite a lot about politics, too. Almost without hesitation she can tell you that Coolidge lives in America, that Ramsay MacDonald is to be found in England, and that Smuts is not something you get on your washing, but is a real live person, who, with Hertzog, resides in South Africa, where you get diamonds, and lions, and ostriches, and occasionally a locust. But no one is perfect, not even Marla. The fault with her is a disinclination to listen to football talk and inability to converse about the game. This may seem a small matter to “grouse” about, but imagine what a want it- is to conversation. Her attitude of mind I can hardly understand. Fifty years ago, lam told, women were terribly backward, but today matters are different. They vote, they drive motor-cars, they smoke cigarettes. . It- looks as if Maria is n .bit old-fashioned, a trifle behind the times, as it were. Ia nr glad, however, she does not smoke cigarettes. They are pretty expensive nowadays. Everything, they say, has a cause, though it is sometimes difficult to determine it. Thinking over Maria’s strange indifference to the gam© in which almost everybody I know is interested, I recall some remarks of a lecturer-chap I once heard. Much of his talk was above me, but I recollect his saying that people were influenced by their surroundings, and also that parents often transmitted certain qualities to their offspring. Now Maria had no brothers, and this may partly account for her lack of education in sport. Then as to her parents, they are decent enough persons but “old school.” Her father; for instance, wastes valuable Saturday afternoons pottering about amongst his potatoes and cabbages, while her mother seems to be crazy about roses. The other day I started to 'tell her about trie All Blacks. liVould you believe it, she said she bad never heard of them, and asked me if they were Australian blacks. I wanted’ to explain, but she bothered me to come and see her primroses You can understand now where Maria gets some of her peculiarities.

One evening last week Andy Sprint came to tea. As usual, when Maria, e-xpects visitors she baked something special Andy quite enjoyed his tea, and Maria, was pleased when he said he _had never tasted tetter scones Andy is one of the most intelligent fellows you ever met. He knows football from A to Z, aiid could teach the selectois a- lot, if only they were sensible enough to ask his opinion. Of course, we discussed the All Blacks heir composition and prospects, with £epia, Porter, Cooke, and all th 4 rest to i conversation UVT ’t And y asked Maria what did she think. “I was thinking” said Maria, dreamily, “when I heard vou mention Cook just now-I was thinking whether I should cook mullagatawny or celery soup for tomorrow’s dinner.

A, few days after Andy’s visit I reW,- ed home .{ rom work one evening feeling considerably “off colour ” Maria was sympathetic, insisted upon i y, i ng ’ and asked what she -•ould do. It was a Monday evening and I suggested that she should read na+rb h€ re «° + rt ,° f the bi £ football match on Saturday. I promised to explain all matters on which she was not quite c-lear. The reading, however, did not comfort me much. It seemed to me that most of the time was spent m answering Maria’s questions. I had to explain that the heading weak backs’ was not due to 37,5 lumbago, and that plasters n oukl be of no use for this particular weakness Then she wanted to know 'by a. try” was called a “*tv ” Was aVmrLTiT thi ? g - done ’ P ot something attempted. In ner opinion a “trv” CVmld t 0 caded a ‘‘success.” Could you kick a try? No. But vou kick a goal and why should vou ku ka. goal and not as try? What was a “wing forward,” and did von iot have a wing backward? I had to explain that “converting a try” had ! ’notted SI f ? U V-' S, P? Cance and hat 3 timi U f- d "° remote connec - - tion vilh rooking. “But,” .saidplayer’s M ' y °” iaVe 3 CoOk anion £ st ‘Tes, yes,” I almost shouted. “But Cooke is a surname, not an occupation.” r ~ Well ’ said Maria (and I am glad that nobody but myself heard her remark; it was so awful). “I think football is just silly.” It is fortunate for Maria that she lives in the twentieth century and not in the sixteenth or thereabouts. Had she uttered such a disparaging remark in those bygone days about a community s dearest institution she would have risked liberty, perhaps her life. 1 vent outside into the cool night, seeking to soothe my overtaxed brain. - s paced up and down l remembered that a professor of history at Cambridge once said that after the a .“® °f s j xt - v is practically impossible to learn a new language. As he has a passing acquaintance with 43 languages, he ought to know. T wonder ir there is a recognised age beyond which it is impossible to learn the language, of football. .Maybe it is necessary to catch people young for them to acquire a working knowledge. Jn any case I am afraid Maria is one oi those unfortunate imlividuala who haie not the football mind. SOME PUNCH STORIES. “With the Lenglen bandeau tennis may at any moment develop into blind ana s buff.” The illustration shows tne lady player barely able to see below the bandeau.