RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 August 1928, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GENERAL NEWS THE ALL SLACKS' IRfECORD HOW THE POINTS WERE SCORE!) The following table shows the scores recorded by members of the All Blacks in theii 1 matches to date, the results of the games being summarised as follows : Played 17 Won 13 Drawn 1 Lost 3 Points for ,289 Points against 109 INDIVIDUAL SCORERS

There are seven players who. have not yet scored points.

South African Scrumming

“A Spectator,” in the Johannesburg “Daily Mail” writes: A great deal has been written regarding the failures of the All Black pack to hold their own in the tight scrums. They themselves, by changing their formation, admit as much.

Now, why is it that our South African packs have been so singularly successful. It is not that they have greater weight, nor is it that their hooking is superior. Judging by what was visible from the grand stands in the match against the All Blacks, we must confess that certain aspects of our scrum work are illegal. For example, when the New Zealand players had two men in the front row, the ball was repeatedly booked before it passed the outside New Zealand hooker. This is inevitable while- South African hookers use the diagonal hook and thus meet the ball right in front of the outside New Zealand hooker, in this way preventing tlig ball from passing him. As the ball is not legally in the scrum until it has passed an outside front-row player of both teams, then clearly the Transvaal hooker on Saturday prevented the hall from entering the scrum, and should have been penalised instead of being allowed to continue hooking illegally. I realise that South African referees will find it difficult to penalise players who, by force of habit and not perhaps intentionally, break a law of hooking when playing against a 2-3-3 pack. Nevertheless, they must in fairness to the visitors insist on The ball being right in the scrum before it is hooked.

Scru.mJialS’s Play.

Again, it is a rule that the scrumhalf should put the ball into the scrum immediately a scrum is formed. What happened against the All Blacks? Repeatedly the Transvaal scrum-half waited some seconds before lie did so. At the beginning of many of the scrums the All Blacks were pushing off the Transvaal pack; but as the Transvaal scrum-half did not put the ball in at once, they got no advantage from their push. lie waited until the home side had gained from the reaction that naturally follows a push, and while Hie Trans'vnal pack were, pushing successfully he threw the hall in and, as it appeared often, into the feet of his own hookers. Now, had the refereeo penalised the scrum-half instead of assisting him to delay by himself putting the scrum straight, lie would have been fairer to the All Blacks.

These two aspects of South African scrumming are undoubtedly illegal, and it will be well if we remove what will be a just cause of complaint on the part of our visitors. Let the hall pass the outside New Zealand hooker, as it should, and then we shall be able to judge whether our scrumming is superior. This is a matter referees must seriously take in. hand. We want to heat the All Blacks w hut wo must do so hv methods that are unimpeachable. New Plymouth beat Wanganui.

The following is taken from a report on the New Plymouth High School-Wa-nganui Collegiate School match played this week at Wanganui. Victory went to New Plymouth by 16 points to 8. The visitors had a. great advantage in size and weight, hut the local players put up a stout resistance. During the early part of the game Collegiate School had hard luck in losing Pomare, their centre, who was one of the best backs on the- side. He sustained a. dislocation of the collarbone.

The opening was marked by dashing play. The college forwards, playing superbly, drove the visitors back to their 25. From a scrum Barron made a good opening, drew his man., passed to Bethell, who passed to Robertson, who then passed out to Ivemp on the wing. The last-named reached the line amid great enthusiasm. Pomare missed the .kick. Barron made another great opening, and danger threatened the visitors’ line. Play swept to. the other end, where Gibbons cut out two players and sent a pass well out to Anderson on the wing. He crossed. Gibbons did not add any extra points, and the scores were equal. Shortly after Pomare was tackled heavily and dislocated his shoulder. Luderbrook came on in his place. Throwing the ball about- freely, both sides made desperate efforts to increase their score, hut the interval came with the scores unchanged.

AlcCallum bounded over the line for School. Fookes goaled. At this stage the New Plymouth hacks- were giving a great display, while the Wanganui forwards yforc having the best of matters. Brown, Anderson, and Thomas were-as-sociated in a rousing rush, which caught (he defence all at sea. The last-named scored. Fookes found the bar and made the New Plymouth score 13. AVith speed and dash Wanganui came downfield. 'They were halted temporarily, and then advanced to within 10 yards of their opponents’ line. The ball was kicked past Haywood, the visitors’ fullback, and Rainbow scored alongside the nosts. G'iesen converted. In the last few minutes Fookes marked in a good position and goaled, leaving New Plymouth winners by 16 points to 8.

Tries. Pen. K.G. Cons. XL Lindsay 0 4 1 21 58 Rush brook 9 — — — 27 Nicholls 1. 3 — 7 26 Strang 3$ 1 1 8 22 Robilliard 6 — — 18 Lucas 5 — — — 15 Scrimshaw 5 — — — . 15 Grenside 4 — — - 12 M. Brownlie a, — — 1.2 Johnson 3 — — 9 Finlavson 3 — — 9 McWilliams 3 — — — 9 Hazlett 3 — • — 9 Swain 2 — N #’ - 6 Dailey 2 — — - 6 Stewart 2 — — — 0 Lilbnrne; 1 — — 1 5 Here J. — — — 3 .Alley 1 — — 3 Carleton 1 — — 3 Snow 1 A — 3 Ward ’ — r — — 3 GO' 9 • 2 37 . 289