RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 165, 13 June 1936, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NOTES ON AIID-WEEK GAAIES

(By “Toucliline.”)

The mid-week series of Rugby matches were continued on Wednesday, both games being played at the Showgrounds in inclement weather. United emulated the feat of Pirates by drawing with the competition leaders, Kowhai, and it can bo said that if the whites had played their previous matches with the same vim and spirit, they woidd certainly be higher up on tho competition ladder. Kowhai will have to play with more vigour if they are to maintain their position on the first rung of the ladder. St. Patrick’s, playing Pirates on the adjacent area, won by four points, but it was only their superiority in the backs that won the day for them. The black forwards played well in the loose, but were out-liooked in tho scrums. St. Patrick’s had a nine-point lead for most of the second half, hut Pirates staged a final rally which decreased the greens’ lead by five. Pirates took the field three men short, with tho result that they were forced to play without a full-back, and one member of tho back line had to drop back on many occasions, thus disrupting the combination. THE PLAYERS. At full-back for United, Podjurski played an improved game and more than once ran up to set his backs in motion. Alsop was a determined winger. ITolden showed initiative at five-eighth. In the forwards, Beaumont, Davison and Collins played well. Legge was not as safe as usual at full-back for Kowhai and he often fumbled the ball. Darragh was the best- of the yellow backs, and Wells and Petty shone in the pack. For St. Patrick’s, L. Zaloum hooked the ball in the great majority of the scrums. Ho is the best hooker in the comjretition. Lashlie, Strange, and Small all played well. The St. Patrick’s five-eighths exploit tho stab kick too much. The only time the stab kick is necessary is when the opposing back line is standing right up. Alany leading authorities on Rugby ngree that this kick is ’not a good attacking weapon. Andrews, on the wing for the grens, scored a good try by hard following up. Without Brisk, tho Pirates’ hack line was disarranged. Quigg played his best game of the season and scored a good try. Thomas, Dynes, Lucas and Robertson were the pick of the vanguard.

A very important phase in Rugby football—the position of the forwards on attack and defence—is often given tho least attention. The 34 —1 formation is undoubtedly tho best scrum for quick breaking-up, and the _ forJ wards are given more opportunities of breaking up an attack. On attack tlio back row man should double quickly behind his backs in readiness for a dropped pass. Tho side row support should veer slightly over in the direction in which the attack is going, aud be ready for a centring kick or an in-pass. Tho middle and. front row men, who will be last to get clear, will go up the middle of the field to link up with the side row men should they receive the hall. On defence, tho hack row man makes for the opposing first five-eighth. The two supports tackle the half-hack, and the blind side man will look after that side if the attack goes to the blind side. The two middle row men and the front row man run hard to the corner flag towards which' the attack is going. This is very important, and many a try lias been saved hv this manoeuvre. There are many different systems of breaking, hut the above one is sound and could be used to advantage by some Wednesday clubs.