RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BETTER REFEREEING SEEN REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES GAMES FOR SATURDAY NEXT The Auckland representative team won its second match of the season when it accounted for Hawke's Bay last Saturday by 21 points to 17. Curiously enough, tlio visiting team had been defeated the previous Wednesday by Wanganui by a similar score. Auckland's first victory of tho season was over North Auckland at Dargaville last month by 25 points to 11. The match last Saturday was good and poor in patches. Tho bad passing and mishandling detracted from its consistent sparkle. One of the contributory causes to mishandling, and also to inconsistent place-kicking, was the fact that the balls used were of throe different types. One had been fairly extensively used previously, the second not so much so, while tho third was a brand new one, smaller in shape and sizo. It would perhaps bo a wise move in futuro to havo either threo new balls or three that havo been used and I are as similar as possible. However, the real cause of indifI ferent back play on occasions was tho I fact that tho forwards and backs—more I particularly those of tho visitors—did ! a great deal of spoiling play, giving I tho players in possession very little i room in which to move. With another ! game or two together, tho Auckland- ! ers should bo welded into a side not I easy to defeat. As for Hawke's Bay, j its young players served to demoni strato that the province is gradually j acquiring another team which may ' reacli the great standard of the sides ! which held the Ranfurly Shield for so ' long. Advantage Rule Played One of tho most pleasing features of Saturday's game was the liberal*interpretation of the advantage rule by the referee, Mr. A. E. Austin. It was the best exhibition of the season in this respect, and tho sooner other referees learn to follow suit, the moro quickly will the standard of rcfereeing in Auckland reach that of other large centres. A decided acquisition to tho strength of the Auckland Referees' Association is Mr. S. Hollander, who arrived last week on transfer from Christchurch to take up his residence permanently hero. It will be remembered that Mr. Hollander controlled three of the four test matches played by tho British team threo seasons ago. There has been a good deal of controversy in Rugby circles of late regarding tho amended rules. No doubt many Aucklanders would like to revert to them, -but, as no dispensations will be granted by the English Rugby Tlnion, tho various unions throughout New Zealand havo no option but to play under international rules. A close study of tho position does not lay blame with the rules, however. Excellent Rugby can bo played—and has for years been played—under the present rules. True Spirit of Game Tho match at Eden Park on Saturday last between Auckland Grammar School and New Plymouth Boys' High School was a splendid example of what the standard of football can be under any rules. The main thing is to get the players to play in the true spirit of tho game. This cannot possibly be done unless tho referees are prepared —and have the ability—to also enter into that same spirit. But what frequently happens? A referee is seen to literally "blow the teams off the field." He appears to bo under the impression from the very beginning that every one of 30 players is out to beat him, which, of course, is an entirely wrong aspect. Mr. Finlayson realised the position on Saturday and accordingly permitted the Grammar and New Plymouth hoys to play football —not to stop them. With more such exhibitions of control, the standard of play would quickly roach that which was witnessed from the great pre-war provincial teams. Auckland's representative teams will be a little mixed on Saturday next. Some of tho first fifteen which is to go to New Plymouth to play Taranaki are unable to obtain leave, and they will be seen in action against Thames at, Eden Park. Tho players for New Plymouth will leave to-morrow night for To Kuiti, where they will spond the nicht, and conclude their journey tbp following day. Ranfurly Shield Challenges Canterbury's wide margin' of points in tho Ranfurly Shield challenge match against Southland last Saturday came as a surpriso in most quarters. Tho challengers' trouble appeared to be that they fielded too cumbersome a fifteen. Tho forwards averaged over 14st., whereas Canterbury's pack was just on a stone lighter ail round than this. This was the second unsuccessful challenge made this season, the first having been by Ashburton, which was defeated by .'II points to 7. Canterbury's remaining matches are as follows:—Next Saturday, against Otago; September 2, against Bnller; September 9, against West Coast; September 10, against Taranaki; September 2,'f, against South Canterbury; September .'SO, against King Country. The inter-island match is to be played in Wellington on September 23, so that Canterbury's team on that date is likely to bo considerably weakened. Rugby matches in Auckland for secondary schools finished on Saturday with the playing of the annual gamo between New Plymouth High School and Auckland Grammar School. New Plymouth has again produced a strong team and this fully extended the champion Grammar fifteen. Indeed, each team scored two tries and two penalty goals, but whereas Grammar converted both of its tries, New Plymouth converted only one try, and lost. The match, spectacular and exciting in every respect, was a perfect climax to wnafc had boon a most interesting season for schools' Pup*by. Grammar's Success The Auckland championship was won by Grammar, yet in several matches it was close to defeat. The almost, equal ability of the competing teams was noticeable, and in only two of three matches was ft high score attained. The records of the schools arc shown by the following table:— Points Ch. .I'. W. L. D. For Apr. Ptn, Grammar < .. 8 7 Mt. Albert . . 8 :t 2 3 70' 51 9 . Jakapuna ..8 2 3 3 -10 55 7 Sacred Heart 8 3 4 1 03 87 7 King's . . 8 If Grammar's" victories over Hamilton and New Plymouth High Schools are included in its record, in 10 matches it scored the splendid total of 109 points against 51. King's College had its worst season for several years. Through the depression, the number of pupils at King's has steadily decreased, and lack of matorial in forming a fifteen was no doubt the chief cause of the college's failure.