RUGBY CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 221, 19 August 1931, Page 9

RUGBY CONTROL

MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. Tlio weekly meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby District Council was held last night when there were present : Messrs J. A. Colquhoun (in the chair), Joblin, Eglinton, Fitzpatrick, Mackie, Crawford, Hatch, Hands, Arnott, McHerron, Pagan, Clevely and Hardio. Mr A. It. Miers, Feilding, made application for the customary expenses in connection with four Feilding third grade players who had participated in the match versus Te Kawnu juniors. —The account was passed for payment. The Feilding Old Boys Club lodged a complaint that its junior team had travelled to Palmerston North on Saturday to meet United, but 10 minutes before starting time they had been informed that United could not held a team. It was asked that the team be compensated for the expense entailed.—lt was decided to hold the matter over for one week to permit of an explanation being obtained from the United •Club. PLAYERS REPORTED. Mr H. Garner, referee of the Woodville-Okl Boys A junior match on Saturday, reported Hutchinson and Walker, two members of the Woodvillo Club, the former for tripping, and the latter for striking a player. The referee considered that Walker had been playing hard football and he had committed the offence in the heat i of the moment. I Mr Mackie stated that Hutchinson I was in attendance, but Walker had been prevented from attending through indisposition. Mr Crawford considered that, from the report, the offence was not a serious one and he moved that Walker be placed on the caution list. Mr Hatch seconded. Mr Mackie stated that he had seen the match and it had been a dull display. He had failed to see the in- ‘ cident in which Hutchinson was concerned, and on being questioned on leaving the field, Hutchinson had admitted that he had been guilty of tripping. Two minutes later Walker had been ordered off, but the latter player had not been aware of the offence he had committed. While a Woodvilie forward had been warned early in the game, the play had thereafter being clean to all appearances. Mr Hands moved, and was seconded

by Mr Joblin, that Walker be stood down for one playing Saturday. Mr Arnott took the attitude _ that players should have some latitude; football locally, was not hard enough. Mr Clevely considered that a word from the referee at the moment would have been sufficient. Mr Joblin considered that there was a principle involved and the referees should be supported for, after all, the referee was on the spot and had a better view of the play than the spectator on the stand. The chairman commented that he was becoming rather tired of the remarks relative to supporting the referees. The members of the council were out to support the referees. In this instance the referee had presented a very lenient report and it remained for the members to adjudicate on the facts presented. Mr Hands said that a distinct breach of the rules had been committed and should be punishable. AVhen put to the meeting the motion was carried. Commenting on the Hutchinson incident, Mr Eglinton asked whether the rules did not require a player to be cautioned for tripping and, if ho committed the offence again, then be ordered off. Mr Hatch moved, and was seconded by Mr Fitzpatrick, that Hutchinson be placed on the caution list. : Mr Hands moved as an amendment, and this was seconded by Mr Pagan, that Htucliinson be stood down for one playing Saturday, the latter speaker stating that ho considered tripping to be one of the worst offences on the field. When put to the meeting the amendment was lost and the motion was carried on the voices. SENIOR COMPETITION.

In accordancse with notice of motion given at last week’s meeting, Mr Crawlord moved that the senior competition be terminated on the 22nd inst by the matching of United and Kia Toa. The mover pointed out that, if the three rounds were played, the club matches would not be concluded till September 29.

Mr Eglinton stated that the Old Boys Club did not wish the United Club to be penalised, but taking a broad-minded view, the club considered that it would be preferable that the subsidiary competition be entered upon and thereby given the players—outside the two leading teams—increased interest.

At the suggestion of the chairman, •the motion was divided into two sections, the first, that the motion on the books requiring that throe rounds be played, be rescinded, being carried. Mr Crawford then moved that the two leading teams be matched on August 22 in the final and the second competition then entered upon. In the event of the three rounds being played, pointed out the speaker, it would not be possible to play the subsidiary competition. Mr Eglinton seconded pro forma. Mr McHerron moved as an amendment that Old Boys meet Kia Toa and, if necessary, that United oppose ivia Toa in the final, and concurrently that another competition be arranged. Mr Hatch seconded.

When put to the meeting, the amendment was carried, only three members voting against it. Mr McHerron then moved and this was seconded by Mr Hatch, that a full round be played in the Goldfinch and Cousins’ Cup competition and that it commence next Saturday. The motion was carried, although it was decided that the Old Boys-Kia Toa game would not count in the subsidiary competition.

THE MIDGETS. Mr Joblin reported that, owing to some of the sports masters going out of town, and also some of the players, it would not be possible to carry on the midget matches on Saturday or during the school vacation. Permission was granted the Primary Schools representatives to participate in the annual tourney at Masterton. THIRD GRADE GAME. Mr Hatch put in a plea for the staging of a game between Wellington fourths' and Manawatu thirds as a curtain-raiser to the Wanganui match on September 5. He moved that an invitation be extended to Wellington, who are due to visit Palmerston North. Mr McHerron seconded. While it was pointed out that the Manawatu Union had decided not to play any. lower grade representative football this season, it was decided to endeavour to arrange the fixture. PARK ROAD GROUND. The question of proceeding with the laying out and extending the improvements at the Park Road area was discussed, it being decided to fence the whole area with a 7ft iron fence, two entrances to be provided. Mr Arnott agreed to undertaking the work of determining the amount of material required. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. The following fixtures for Saturday were adopted: SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Kia Toa v. Palmerston North Old Boys, Showgrounds, 3 p.m., referee, Mr E. Seeker. GOLDFINCH AND COUSINS CUP. Feilding v. Feilding Old Boys, Johnston Park, 3 p.m., Mr F. S. Hewitt; United a bye. JUNIOR GRADE. Palmerston North Old Boys A v. Kia toa, Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m., Mr I. Ross; Feilding Old Boys v. Woodville, Johnston Park, 3 p.m., Mr J. Holman; Bunnythorpe v. St. Patrick’s, Bunnythorpe, 2 p.m., Mr G. Hancock; Old Boys B win by default from Massey College; P.N. High School v. United, Showgrounds, Mr L. Cope. THIRD GRADE. St. Patrick’s v. Feilding High School, Feilding High School ground, 3 p.m., Mr I. Robinson; Kelvin Springboks v. P.N. Old Boys, Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m., Mr H. Hughes; Kia Toa v. Feilding, Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr W. Rowland; Y.M.C.A. v. United, Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr H. Hands

MANAWATU’S. RECORD. ANOTHER LOSS RECORDED. (By “Crcfes Bar.”) Manawatu’s appearance against Horowhenua at Levin on Saturday marked tlieir fourth game for the season. Unfortunately, it brought in its train defeat for the third occasion. The playing area could not have been termed hard by any means, but it furnished quite good going. However, the way in which the Manawatu men slipped about on occasions made it appear as though attention had not been given the studs in their boots.

Up to the interval it had appeared as though Manawatu might squeeze home, but the green hookers were badly beaten for the ball in the second half and as a result the backs were starved foir ball and they were for the main part kept on the run repelling the electrical movements of the opposition. The real turning point in the game

-camo when Roddick gave Horowhenua the lead by landing a great penalty goal from the touchline. Thereafter, the reds like hounds which had picked up a defined scent, took complete comnjand and they gave the ball a feat airing. Much of their work was ulty, but it was at least entertaining.

One repeatedly hoars the expression from the man on the street “What’s wrong with football locally?” Saturday’s exhibition made it evident that the tactics adopted by the clubs are at fault, for forwards and backs, save in one or two clubs, are not encouraged to throw the ball about enough. There was a distinct contrast in the styles of the opposing sides, Manawatu being strictly orthodox, whereas Horowhenua were most unorthodox on occasions. With the greeen backs in command of the ball, the forwards did not aim at taking up positions across field with a view to the ball coming inwards. Horowhenua, on the other hand, did, and the tactics paid. While the score was but 12 points to five in Horowhenua’s favour, it might well have been greater. True, Manawatu went very close and were indeed somewhat unlucky not to ndd to their total oil occasions, but in the second spell Horowhenua were over the lino repeatedly only to be beaten to the force. There is no gainsaying the fact that Horowhenua were a 15 points better side than the greens in the second spell. It was very satisfying to" witness the support of the Horowhenua players, both forwards and backs, when one of their fellows had possession of the ball. Backing up was a feature of their play ana repeatedly the ball was handled by as many as 10 players in the one movement. Possibly the handon was made all too quickly in several instances, but it evidenced that the members had been coached along the right lines. THE RIVAL DIVISIONS. Ryder, the Horowhenua full-back, was again faultless, his display being quite on a par with that given at the Showgrounds on the occasion of the first trial. While Bramwell, the green full-back, did fairly well, ho could not compare with his vis-a-vis. Both Elliott and Page were starved for the ball and they were seen but little on the attack. They, however, did their full share on the defence, particularly Elliott, whose hard and low tackling was refreshing. Broughton, the Horowhenua right winger, was head and shoulders ahead of the other winger, Gee, who was palpably off colour.

The rival centres, Fletcher (Manawatu) and Graham (Horowhenua) had a great duel all day. Fletcher carried out a vast amount of work on the attack in the first spell when the greens were having a shade more of the game than their opponents, and a lion share on the defence in the second spell. Graham was almost equally sound, while he displayed distinct improvement when on the attack in the second spell. Had Johnson been available, the selectors might have been in somewhat of a quandary in respect as to where to play him, for with Ryder playing so well at full-back they could hardly have deposed him. No doubt Johnson would have partnered Warren in the five-eighth line, but as it is Graham moves one place in. Just how the combination will act remains to be seen.

In the first spell Robb and Dewe went fairly well when Shapleski was furnishing them with plenty of the ball, but all three did not have an enviable role in the second spell. With Lo Quesne standing wide, both the green five-eighths were inclined to stand in too dose and, as a result Horowhenua quite frequently had one or more extra men when the line was on the move. While still somewhat burly, Warren has lost a lot of his condition ,and is still a great attacking player. Winiata, who replaced W. Parata in the Horowhenua team, played his way into the Manawhenua team as the result of the opportunities given him by his hookers in the second spell. He varied his play quite well and employed the blind side very advantageously, lie seldom encountering opposition from our breakaways. Tama Parata joined in with his back line vory happily in the second spell and, on the ury’s play, he deserved his preference to Le Quesne in the eyes of the selectors. Undr the circumstances Manawatu were probably fortunate to secure five positions in the scrum, it being one of the peculiarities of the game that Miles, of Oroua. who liad come in as emergency, should gain inclusion in the Manawhenua team. It was evident that the locking of the serums was not altogether perfect on Saturday and the Oroua player goes in in that capacity. Henry and Roddick, the front row men for Manawhenua, should make an ideal pair, but the main point is, will they gam their full share of the ball in the set scrums? Time alone will tell. Gordon and Findlay are well matched in height and both possess pace, while Williams and McKenzie fill the back row positions. Some of the Horowhenua scrummagers such as Tatana and Payne must feel disappointed at being passed by, more particularly as the former had been deemed worthy of nomination for the North Island team. Save in the back row, where the weight does not appear to be over-well balanced, the Manawatu forwards should mould into a useful set. However, there is a doubt as to whether the Manawatu inclusions can adopt the same open style of play as Horowhenua men and co-operate with the backs to the full advantage.

HUBBARD BANNER. CENTRAL SCHOOL CONTEST. The Hubbard Banner match, which is annually contested between the Standards 1 and 2 of the Central School, was played at the Showgrounds yesterday afternoon when, following a close and interesting game, Standard 2 emerged the victojrs by 11 points to six. Standard 2 were the first to open their account, Okey Pratt being the contributor, but within a few minutes J. Carr replied with a score for Standard 1. In the closing stages of the spell C. Ayres was able to give the older boys the lead when he put in a determined run to score well out and the interval was called with Standard 2 leading by six points to three. On resumption Standard 2 were compelled to give ground and it was from a defensive position that Okey Pratt broke away in possession to run practically the full length of the field to score between the posts. He added the major points himself. Although faoed with a heavy task, Standard 1 made big efforts to make up the leeway and they were rewarded by a try, A. Cliffe being the scorer, but the final scores were:—Standard 2, 11; Standard 1, 6. After the match the teams were entertained at afternoon tea.

PRIMARY SCHOOL TOURNEY. MASTERTON, Aug. 18. The annual tournament of Wanganui, Wellington, Manawatu, and Wairarapa primary representative Rugby teams will be held by the Wairarapa Primary Schools’ Rugby Union from Saturday next until the following

Thursday. Games will be played at both Masterton and Carterton. The draw is as follows:- —

Saturday.—Manawatu v. Wellington, at Masterton, 10 a.m.; Wanganui v. Wairarapa, at Masterton, 11.15 a.m. Monday.—Wanganui v. Manawatu, at Carterton, 1.45 p.m.; Wellington v. Wairarapa, at Carterton, 3 p.m. Wednesday.—Wairarapa v. Mana. watu, at Masterton, 1.45 p.m.; Wellington v. Wanganui, at Masterton, 3 p.m.