JAPANESE EXPONENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 12

JAPANESE EXPONENTS.

FINE LOT OF SPORTSMEN. LACK SPEED AND PHYSIQUE. If Japan could produce footballers of greater stature they might hope to take their place in the world of Rugby. As it is, their physical attributes are not sufficient to give them much hope of doing so (says a writer in the “Sporting Globe”). That is to be regretted, for, judging by the spirit in which representatives of the Wasida University played at Sfc. Kilda, Rugby would bo none the worse for Japan’s inclusion in international contests. The Japanese have a lot to learn of the game itself. In chivalry and sportsmanship they are already past masters. Their lack of bulk is their greatest handicap, with only moderate pace another drawback. Built heavily enough from the hips down, they do not average up in the higher regions. They are a great machine. They play well to the book—or as much of it as they have mastered. But their book belongs to tbe primary division. Against teams of their own build tbe Japanese would develop into good players. Against the giants of other nations they would always be under too great a handicap to do so. Tbej- know little of Rugby as we know it. They would learn, no doubt; but always there would be the physical barrier. THREE-TWO-THREE SCRUM. They bring one novelty—a tbree-two-three scrum. Their centre front row man does not touch the ball. He stands with legs wide and behind the line, each gripped by a second row man about the thigh, making him a sort of lock, while his outside companions hook the ball. The eighth forward puts the ball in. He is not a wing-forward as the New Zealanders use him, for he does not follow the ball along his opponents’ serum. The half stands fairly well back, facing a wide avenue along which the bail is propelled with great speed at times; while at others it comes hip high, the result of a sharp hook as the ball hits the ground in a sort of backward drop-kick. Tbe forwards play willingly enough, but lack tbe weight for solid rucking

and line-out play. They are keen in the open, and, like all the team, use the “ball at toe” method fairly well. The backs know the rules of passing, and are usually very safe in taking the ball. Some of their gathering was excellent. However, they show little variety in their work. A cut-in or a “dummy” whs quite foreign to them, as was seen when the Victorians employed either Frequently the home backs went through as if there was no defence, so readily did the visitors accept their indication that they were going in a certain direction. TACKLING WEAK. Nor are the visitors adept at tackling. The fend appeared new to them; very seldom did a man get low enough surprising in view of their own lack of height—to take a man properly. Getting down to stop a rush was far less frequent than it would be in a Sydney game, an indication that the pace and virility of Australian forwards are not known in Japan in Rugby. Tne fastest man on the Japanese side was no faster than the average Victorian. Everybody knows what a handicap lack of pace is to a side. So far as Rugby in Japan is concerned, the visit is sure to be beneficial, for it would not need university students to assimilate the many lessons that are sure to be provided. As for tiie players themselves, it can be said it was a pleasure to see them, under conditions quite alien to them, going all out to the last ditch- Physically they had to give way, because the battle was uneven; their spirit of endeavour was not even dented by the vicissitudes through which they passed

WAIMATE JUNIOR TROPHIES.

The history of the Waimate Football Club embraces many of the best performances in the annals of the game in Taranaki, and many years ago Wairnate had a senior team which had a marvellous run of success and provided ni any players who wore the Taranaki jersey, as well as eight who have won the Silver Fern. During the seven successive years (1908 to 1914), in six of which Waimate claimed the McMasters Shield, 67 games were contested by the first fifteen. Fifty-seven of these were won by Waimate, eight were drawn, and only two were lost — a record which is probably unequalled in the Dominion. But the record in the junior ranks has also been very good, and this is borne out by the possession of two trophies, which have been held for the club for some years by Mr E. J. Massey of Manaia, and are still in liis house. They are a junior championship banner and the Jury Cup, whilst this season the Gibson Banner has been annexed as a further trophy. The first-mentioned banner was presented by Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Bashford, and was made for them by the Dominican Sisters of Dunedin. The Gibson Banner, which goes annually to the best junior team in South Taranaki, was given by Mrs Gibson, of Hawera, in memory of the late Geo. H. Gibson, a great supporter of Rugby. The Bashford Banner has been won by Waimate in 1903, when they played off with Inglewood; in 1904, with Tukapa; in 1912, with Clifton; and in 1913, with Stratford. The Gibson Banner has been won liv Hawera in 1919, 1923, 1924; Kaponga, 1920; Okaiawa. 1921 1922; Eltham, 1925; Patea, 1926; Waimate, 1927. Both are much prized by the club, and are well looked after by Mr. and Mrs. Massey, who are proud to have them in their halls. BOOMING IN VICTORIA. The Rugby game is now fairly well established in Victoria, and in a recent game the Victorians put up a. remarkably good showing against the New South Wales team that is to tour Great Britain. The game is spreading rapidly. and several of the colleges have taken on the game. It is not generally known, however, that the introduction of Rugby football in Victoria is largely due to the well-known Southland Rugby administrator and All Black selector. Mr. A. J. Geddcs (says the “Southland News”). Two or three years ago Mr. Geddcs was on a visit to Victoria, where, apart from the Australian game -—which has a tremendous following, some 110,000 people witnessing six games—the only code of football played was Rugby League, and it was not very strong; and one of the clubs, the Tviwi, included many New Zealanders among whom may be mentioned L. Daigleish and M. Dalgleish (ex-South-land Boys’ High School players), McNeilage (of Bluff), and R. Coupland (a Tourist Office official, who is now In "Wellington, and was regarded as a 1

first-class five-eighth), and these players were keenly desirous of embracing the Rugby game. At Mr. Gctldes’ suggestion a meeting was convened to consider the matter, and flic League clubs, after being addressed by Mr. Geddes and the wellknown Wellington and All Black wingforward, “Off-side” Mr. McKenzie (who is now a circulation manager of a large Melbourne daily), decided to go over to Rugby in a body After the players were reinstated the Victorian Rugby Union was formed, and since then the progress of the game has been so marked that home-and-home matches with New South Wales have been .arranged, while the profit on the Victoria-New Zealand match was over £2OO.