SPORTS and PASTIMES

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 May 1925, Page 9

SPORTS and PASTIMES

selves upset this assumption,- hut I proved for myself that- changing centres round can he introduced with, ease in even a hoys’ team- —as was demonstrated to my satisfaction in a preparatory hoys’ school team I coached for several seasons. HALVES OF THE BEST.

Another objection raised was to the effect that it was fairer to the centres themselves .to allow them to take their turn and turn about on the run of the game. Why, then, is this method not used at the moment with regard to the half-backs? Twenty years ago a half —when the scrum formed on the left side of the field —was a scrumhalf, and when on the right side a fly-half. Since then, of course, the scrum-half and fly-half positions have rightly become fixed ones; so why should not the same principle he .instituted with the centres? I have no hesitation in saying that sucli an innovation would increase the efficiency of every team playing by at least 25* per cent. Think how much more dangerous the Scottish threequarter line would be with A] then to make a few quick yards at the beginning of a movement —snap the hall, to Macpherson to side-step, or to sell the dummy —and then a quick pass to Smith or Wallace!

Would not the English .line, coo, be ever so much more dangerous with Corbett always the last centre left in possession; for as a rule the famous Bristol centre, when next to the flyha tf, can do little more than whip the hall, say to- Locke, who is hardly nippy or fast enough to create the kind of openings wings like Raymond or Jacob need to enable them to make the best use of their pace. With the space at my disposal I have not been able to do more than touch upon the fringe of the question; though I hope I have done enough to draw attention to a manoeuvre that could he introduced with ease —and developed with highly satisfactory results —by any team anxious to improve their game.

EARLY RUGBY. A : Free Lance correspondent claims that the Rugby game was first played in Nelson, and his claim is based upon definite statements.- Football was first played in Wellington in 1868, but it was not Rugby, although claimed to he the beginning of things as far as the playing of the game is concerned in the Empire City. Granting even this, there was a similar kind of football played in Nelson about the same time. The first match played under Rugby rules, and the first between anything like, properly-organised teams, ' was played in Wellington on 22nd July, 1871, the- contesting fifteens being drawn from the Wellington Football dub and the Armed Constabulary. FIFTY YEARS AGO. Football. —The- opening match of the season will take place to-day, at 2.45 p.m. Members from the College and Rangiora clubs are invited to join in, and should the weather prove fine a good game is anticipated. The colours will be:—Sides A to L, blue caps, versus M to Z, red caps. It is hoped that all members will provide themselves with suitable caps. CLUB GOSSIP. Falwasser and Mill will both be playing for M. 8.0.8. this season. Sam Qemmell is already in good fettle. Three Beuths, three Grensides, two Mitchells and two Brownlies are among those whom Hastings seniors may put in the field this season —quite a family affair. H. 5.0.8. have shown great keenness over their training-—a good augury for success in the forthcoming season. Several acquisitions will line out in the white forward line, considerably increasing the aggregate weight of the vanguard. , A HISTORIC FUTURE. This year’s meeting of the Te Ante College and Wanganui will be staged at Hastings, under the edict that in future the historic encounter is to he an alternative home and home match. Up till last year the game was played at Palmerston North, as a drawing card for the Winter Show. A new headmaster (Rev. C. F. Pierce) came along, and forbade such ..plebeianism, and henceforth Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui will have to match in alternative years. Two or three years ago the series had reached an extraordinary position, the two- schocfls having won an equal number of matches while the aggregate of points was also equal.

GLEANINGS. Among the trophies acquired by the Brownlie brothers on the tour of the All Blacks is a fine tray won by Maurice in an open swimming match in Canada. Both the massive brothers are good in the water. AH the six Hawke’s Bay All Blacks will be in action iii the club matches in the province. Paewai was reported not to be playing, but the writer understands that he will again take the field. Without Mark Nicholls, Wairarapa will not be such powerful bidders for the Ranfurly Shield on June 3. But doubtless their forwards* will be as good as ever. Who will win the Napier-Hastings Club championship ? The problem is a difficult one to answer at this stage ; but Hastings on paper seem again to have the strongest team. RULED OUT. Strong comment is being passed *in sporting circles in Central Hawke’s Bay at the action of the chairman of the Waipawa Sub-Union refusing to put to the vote a notice of motion, which was quite in order, which had for its object the changing of the name of the sub-union to read, “Central Hawke’s Bay Sub-Union. “ Further action is being taken, it is understood, to see that the ruling is upset.

ENCOURAGING THE GAME. The New Zealand Bugby Union is keen to advance Rugby in other countries, as well as its own, and it is particularlv keen to see the game in New South Wales come bac-lGto its own. A word for New South Wales was put in by Mr. S. S. Dean, a New Zealand delegate, at the Imperial R.ugby Confidence, held in London during the tour of the All Blacks. Mr. Dean had extended an invitation for a British team to visit New Zealand and New South Wales' next year, and he pointed out that acceptance of, the invitation would do a great deal of good to the game, particularly in New South Wales. “They are having a. hard fight,” he added, “but we are pleased to say that New South Wales is ‘coming back.’ I had a letter from the chairman of the union the other day. They started the last season with a deficit of £9OO, and as a result of our team’s visit to New South Wales they finished up with a credit balance of over £IOOO.. They are re-establishing

Rugby football in the country districts, and a Visit from a British team, particularly to New South Wales, will do them a tremendous amount of good. I trust that you will do everything possible to let us have a visit.’ Hie advice was received by cable recently that the invitation could not be accepted for next year. CANTERBURY.

At the last meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union, Mr. Britten introduced the question of the similarity in tone of the whistles used by referees in three matches played at Lancaster Park. He averred that the blowing of a whistle on one ground had the effect of causing players on another field to pull up. A little discussion on the matter took place. One gentleman suggested that the union shouid acquire a special whistle for referees officiating on the oval. This led the chairman (Mr. A. Dev) to remark that they could need a sterilising plant at the park. He was of the opinion that a referee desired to use his own whistle. As there had been no difficulty in this respect in the past the members of the governing body came to the conclusion’ that it was the earliness of the season which led the players astray, and no action in the matter was therefore necessary. There is likely to be an interesting discussion at the next meeting of the Canterburv Eugbv Union regarding the replacing of players injured during the course of a match. Dr. W. SSeed has given notice of motion — “That no player shall be replaced after half time.” There js something to be said both for and against the practice of bringing on new men at any stage of the game. It may give one side a slight advantage to have a fresh man assisting them, for the last quarter of an hour or so-,, hut such advantage is nothing compared to that which a full side obtains over fourteen or perhaps thirteen opponents. Of course, the players are the first consideration, and it would seem that it is a matter which could very well be left to the two captains to agree upon. As for the public, they pay to support the game, and naturally want the best for fheir money. The question is, will they get it if the teams are unequal in number at any part of a match?

RECORD ENTRIES. A report was made to the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union recently that entries of teams for the various grade competitions this season constituted a record Apart from the secondary and primary schools, which were engaging in separate competitions, clubs had entered 121 teams. For the special grades for the colleges there were 32 entries, making a total of 153, as compared with 133 teams last season. The grade totals were given as follow.- Senior 11, junior 18, third 24, intermediate 15, fourth 19, fifth 15, sixth 10, seventh 7. It was also stated that 45 teams would be taking part in the' public schools’ competitions. PLAYING- TIME. A suggestion was made by Mr. J. N, Millard at a recent meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union that the playing time for the sixth and seventh grade players might be shortened. Members agreed with this idea, and pointed out that in bringing it into operation the difficulty in regard to grounds would possibly be eased to some extent. A decision was . made that the playing time for sixth and seventh grade matches be one hour, and that the fifth grade matches occupy 70 minutes. It was also decided that the main game at Athletic Park each Saturday must commence at 3 p.m. until further notice.

MAORI RUGBYITES

PROPOSED BRITISH TOUR

Rutana’s camp lias become a stronghold of Rugby football, and it is probable that before long a very interesting announcement will be made (states the Auckland Star). One of Ratana’s officials said to-day that the natives were not altogether satisfied with the treatment . they had received in the past from those who guide the destines of Rugby in New Zealand, and that a likely" development in the near future would he a federation of the native Rugby forces. In and around Wanganui and Rangitikei the Maoris could raise six or eight good senior teams, to say nothing of junior teams, and could have a good competition of their own. Their representative team was assured- of matches at Rotorua, Taupo, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and in lHast Coast districts.

Proceeding, the Ratanaite said that while their party 'was in England Rugby matters were looked into, and it was ascertained that a New Zealand representative native team could secure sufficient matches, principally with teams in the North of England and France, to make a successful tour. In any case, a number of wealthy natives in New Zealand v r ere prepared to finance the venture, and some arrangements in that direction had already been made. If the suggested tour w 7 as made sufficient players to participate in exhibition matches in other countries would be taken.

Concluding, the Ratana official pointed to the. great success achieved by the New Zealand native team of 1888, which put New Zealand Rugby “on the map,” and to the brilliance of the native combinations which toured Australia' in recent years and the wonderful Rugby reputations built up by players of the calibre of Gage, Keogh, Ellison, Asher, and Nepia.