FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

NOTES AND : COMMENTS.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, which is of special, importance, will be held at Wellington on Thursday. . Mr. H. Frost and Mr. V. R. Meredith, the two delegates of the Auckland Rugby Union,' leave this evening for Wellington. returning in time for Rugby Union matches on Saturday. -One of the important subjects which will receive the attention of delegates ■ is . the .Question of the invitation from the Rugby Union for a visit of a. New Zealand team to England" in the. season of 1924, on the occasion c-f the celebration of the centenary of Rugby. football, which is to be one of the leading sporting fixtures in connection with the ; British Empire Exhibition: The celebration of the .100 years of Rugby is', to' be on a grand scale, all the leading countries assembling with international teams to compote in the first world's Rugby championships to be decided at the famous Wembly ground and stadium. It is expected that teams from. New Zealand; South Africa, France, England. Scotland and Ireland and Wales will take part. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Union, had recommended to the annual meeting.. of delegates that the English Union's invitation be accepted, It is practically certain! that delegates will vote in favour of V,the proposal, and that a New Zealand';, team will tour Great Britain in 1924, but it is . not generally known' that; there will no some little opposition -to the recommendation on 'the score of its tedecy to ccouragig professionalism; as v.-as the result in seme do'gree-; after' 'the All Blacks' visit in 1905. .- : J The , English Rugby Union; and the International Board, the , supreme .controlling ■ council of Rugby,. football, oh which body New Zealand has. now direct representation, will. guard closely the interests of the international teams in England during the contests for the world's Rugby championships. . . . Improve! Standard of Play. .The prospects for an improved standard of .football .in New Zealand: are bright, with the possibilities of the Dominion's best players' turning out r against those of England, Scotland, Ireland and ; Wales, where the standard of Rugby is so .high. at; present, . despite . the fact ; that England. , and Scotland in particular sacrificed ■ magnificently many of their : best players in the Great War, no fewer than 35 internationals making the supreme sacrifice: New Zealand "as also made a rapid recovery since the war, the young players : showing form that promises to : r.qual the giants of the past. If there- was any incentive for . fine Rugby in New Zealand? this season, it is in .the possibilities of the New. Zealand team for' England,-; and the prospects of the most promising players of the Dominion being included in the All Elack combination of 1924.: Senior Championship Prospects. The Rugby football season in-Auckland was ushered in under. extremely favourable conditions on Saturday, when the first round of the club championships was commenced. The standard of play in the most of the senior matches was most pleasing, the form, of players being mostYmarked. There is promising material in practically all the. senior clubs . and in ■'the; majority of the juniors, the latter especially showing fine ' possibilities for .developing :into .- All Blacks of the near future. The play was of a fairly interesting character, and, while, • as ' was to be expected, it was not of a particularly high standard, -it was always attractive and provided numerous thrills, spectacular individual play, less than combined effort, was noticeable through- j out all the games. . There was, however, a tendency to over-work in some .instances, notably in the Marist Bros.-Grafton contest. the massed formation and. hammer play to the detriment of the brighter and more spectacular open play. Marist Bros., it was pleasing to note, attempted on occasions to alter their style to the open game, and judging by the movements the time is mot far distant, when, with intelligent and consistent -coaching in this direction, Marists will develop. into one of the best teams in tho competition. The material is .there, and only requires developing. A number of young players are in the vanguard, and the "back division includes a number of promising players, who will develop with expedience. Notably, Marshall, a five-eighths, who exhibited clever sprinting powers and a duo knowledge of Rugby' -requirements. Dr. O'Connor, a . big threequarter, - who 'hails from Auckland, - but has since ; played for Otago University, made his appearance on the- wing, but scarcely played up. to expectations. His principl weakness was a failure in fielding, more" than one .pass going -astray when the. player was. ' in - a position to accept it with advantage. • E. O'Connor played a sound game at fullback, and Malloy was a solid, centre. Earlly ; was as usual sprightly. > behind the scrum, but the passes were not always as well directed as they might, have been. As rover, Anderson: was prominent and did a heavy share of the work on attack and defence.;- Of a hefty, pack of forwards, Heffernan. a young player of :- giant stature, showed _ promising form until he was forced tp retire with ' a ricked knee, ■ McGrinlay, the tall North . Shore forward of last season, made his appearance in the Marist pack, excelling specially in the open play. . ■ The Grafton Team. The Grafton backs put up a good game, but much better is expected. There was a tendency , to pass'the ball about, rather extravagantly, rather.' than . with. intelligence, some of the players-showing considerable anxiety to part with the ball irrespective of whether the intended receiver was in a better position than the passer. : This is a fatal lapse, . for. the only result can be the opponents breaking in • and' crippling the attack to subsequently secure, the .ball and initiate \ a dangerous - counter-attack. : Liddle, for a mew player,, showed form at'fullback, but : was not over confident. The threequarter line was not particularly. brilliant, but • the five-eighths, with : Mark, Nicliolls and Cooke, in the respective inside and outside positions, showing, up at times very.; attractively, Nicholls stood up to the attack in great style, taking, more than his . share of the defence. Cooke was clever in getting .away and making openings, and was in the main responsible for the tries. . In the final stages of the game he had one opportunity of placing his side on that of victory, but unfortunately he lost sight of ■ his position, for instead of racing out to the open with practically the whole of the defence drawn on the blind, he elected to "take cover" under the • lee of his own players, and that of the opposing pack. ; For the rest. Cooke played well, .and he is certainly one of the most promising five-eighths playing to-day. Helander was the select of a solid pack of forward#. A Determined Try. " Ponsonby, with . its light young team, who suffered severely from the attentions of the heavy; opposing pack, did - wonderfully well against College Rifles. A win after their plucky display would have been - decidedly popular.. Ponsonby really: did . have the game in hand for a time, but could not hold the opposing forces out. It was one of . the most determined tries seen, on a home ground that secured a win for College' Rifles in ,the last thrilling stages of a desperately finishing game. Malony, who • scored the try for College, hails from Tatanaki. for which province he won representative honours, A powerful, determined • forward, he is a dangerous man to stop. . His try on Saturday was a characteristic effort marked by determined dashing play. > ; i - . «Last Season's Champions. -Last season's champions, Grammar Old ■Boys, had a good win over. Newton, but it was. the "field" day ' generally anticipated. Grammar had to fight for their tries,- Newton putting up a good defence.' Grammar has lost the services of the redoubtable McCullough, who is in the University ranks this season. - Meale, the amateur, boxing champion;, is., standing down for a time, and Cleal has retired. ; : The places ■ of these ■ players have, been filled by promoted juniors in .Gould and ; Batty, who showed up -promisingly in the last match. The majority of the Grammar boys have put on weight since last season, and the pack will take some beating, although their pace and that also of the backs must always be a sort- of saving grace. N. Ifwersen promises to outclass his brother in the season's games, and Don Wright will always be the intelligent half . if he continues to develop the oneaction pass from the ground. ■■ . j .Newton has passed through seasons of con-: sistent effort, and is fighting harder than j ever to regain its. old prestige. The material is there for the making of a good team, ! At present it. is still a trifle in the rough. ! but much good will follow, especially. as j playing behind the pack is' Ross,■ an : ex-j Auckland . representative of . some . seasons i ago, who -knows the game thoroughly and j its requirements. . i North ■ Shore won its first match of the j season. ■ defeating Eden on the home grovnd i by IS points to nil.. -Play was not of a high I [standard, and was inclined io be ragged at i times, but both teams displayed fair. first-pf- j I ihe-season football. Eden . showed superior j j form to that , of last, season, and are evi- j | dently determined to Justify their inclusion , I in the grade as a senior side. j University in Exceisis. }'- University -had- a good win over the pro-i ' moted-'Suburbs team by 35 points to nil, but] ; the . high score does not - accurately repre- j ; sent the run of the play, .University having! i to exert their best .'efforts to cross the' line ! I in the ' first SO .minutes, when Suburbs' j reserve was exercised to • the limit. . Suburbs] i have several promising players -.in its'-team j I-.and with play against, senior . sides.- should j develop into a good side. . •:{ Captain Park is not. . yet available .'for] ! University, owing : to .his temporary transfer ' ! to Wellington. '■"/■'When' ..he returns he > will i probably .play as rover, a position wbi*\h his | ! : style 1 of game should .eminently suit. . .Hainil- ; | ton and.Sinclair,:two promoted juniors, .made ; promising first- appearances in senior com- • pany, but one would like to see them against \ I & stronger attack side, than Suburbs before [ passing judgment. Wiseman was in rare ■

form, and Hopkins played his attractive will-j o'-tne-wisp game. • McCullough, late of I Grammar, Keene, and Keegan were the select of a good pack of fast-following forwards. ■ i Some important changes in the transfer of I players has been made this esascsn. Thomas, late of Harist Bros. Old Boys, has joined Grammar Old Boys, Fogarty, of Taranaki,! is reported to. be about to play for New-1 ton. . Malony, of Taranaki, has joined College : Rifles, and Grafton has also : several j new players of repute from other ;parts. ..

INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS.

ENGLAND WINS TRIPLE CROWN.

In view of the fact that the New Zealand Rugby Union has . accepted the invitation to send a team to England in 1924, it is interesting to know , that . England, by its deiEeat of Scotland at Inverleith. Scotland, on March 17, by 8 points to 6. won the Triple Crown.... having defeated •, in turn Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The following table shows the positions :of the countries in' the international Rugby matches for the season: -.'

■ Points . Ch. ' P. W. L. D. For. Agt. Pts. . England ... 3 3 — — 58 14 6 : .Scotland . . . 4 3 1 — .46 22 6 .'Ireland j. 3 1 2 — ■ 13 40 : 2 Wales .. 4 1" 3 - 31 31 2 France • .. 2 — 2 — 11 . 32 , —