PUNTS, PASSES, PUSHES AND PRODS

NZ Truth, Issue 1286, 31 July 1930, Page 13

PUNTS, PASSES, PUSHES AND PRODS

.•* 'HLI'ME," said the man from Mariiapoto, as the English team ran on to the field for the, third Test, "I reckon the English Nobs made a bloomer when they gave 'em those pants." # w * pRED EARLE came to Dunedin with a * reputation of being able, to do big things m Rugby, but so. far the Alhambra forward has riot lived up to it. He is a "shiner" of the first water, but is able to play up when he likes. • . # •■ * . # [TOE HAPI, the Bay winger, of much J promise, who was educated at the Maori Agricultural .College cpnducted by Mormon elders, is leaving very shortly lor Utah, m the Salt Lake City, U.S.A. # i ■ * . * fTTIE astonishing feature of the third I* Test at Eden Park was the number of people who managed to cram into the ground,. and the next astonishing thing was the. fact that none of them spent the day yelling, "Orfside Porter." •y# „.-*.- * FOR a boy of 19, young Ken. Gibbons, Wanganui's second five-eighths, played a remarkably fine game m the South Can-terbury-Wanganui match. He was always dangerous on attack, and his judicious line-kicking was an object lesson to the South Canterbury men. ■•• * # . * RUGBY m Otago this season has brought to light no good three-quarters, and the selectors were m a quandary as to who to play m this position. Wilson is all right, but the other man chosen, Giles, is very doubtful. He plays m the five-eighths position for his club (Pirates) and people are asking what he has done m that position to lead the selectors to the belief that he will make a winger. # - .# # THE exhibition of refereeing given by Joe Moffitt In the Auckland -British match was an eye-opener to the 'whistlers" up north. Joe speaks glowingly of the treatment he received, notwithstanding the fact that he had to adopt drastic measures with a prominent Auckland forward. # * • - M.A.C. were "stiff" m not defeating the Hawkes Bay Celts as they had the better .of the game and at the conclusion when they scored behind the posts it appeared they, would pull the game out of the fire, but their attempt to convert was charged down. # «= * • SELECTOR Millard cannot, or wiil not, go past Wellington Varsity when he Is selecting his reps. Why even the three **Btare" Mackenzie, Ramson and Mackay are this season on their play well out of Representative running.

'THOMPSON, who has proved a success * both m the pack and at fiveeighths, was tried on the wing and was again impressivo. There is not the slightest doubt that if this player was properly tutored he would be a crack-a--jack. ■'■■.*' #" # READING of season's high-scoring tallies: All Black Archie Strang has been a prolific scorer for his ciub team, Temuka, m South Canterbury, this season. In ten competition games, his contribution out of a total of 163, stands at 64, secured per medium of tries, conversious, goals from penalties and marks, and goals from the field. Then, m the Combined Unions v. Britain match at Timaru, he* scored six points; m the Kings Birth - flay seven-a-side tourney he had a real field day, putting on 25 points; md m the representative trial ?ame, five points was his quota. This brought Strang's tally to 100— not out— for on Saturday last he a further couple of points, with a conversion against Britain m the third Test! This must constitute a record which will be hard to beat. *.* . * CHOULD a selector act m the capacity y of a line-umpire? Hardly. George Nicholson, one of the New Zealand selectors took on this job m the third Test and left himself open to no end of criticism. His task should . have ended with the selection of the team. Did he seek the position or was he invited? * * # WE REI and Ormsby for Hawkes Bay College deserve special mention for their play, the latter several times opening up the game, and the mariner m which he did m the last few minutes of the game was the means of his team scoring as brilliant a try as has been scored m club football this season. * * * ALTHOUGH Jimmy Mill lias been reported m different papers on various occasions to be returning to the Bay he ' has no immediate intention of doing so. He informed "Truth" last week that he would finish out the season m Wairarapa and possibly would alsQ be here for the cricket season. .

THE chairman of the New Zealand *■ selectors is Ted McKenzie. Talk of 'All Blacks" and you must drag m Ted. This genial selector is playing a bigger part m the progress of Rugby than any other man m New Zealand. He has his critics, certainly, but what prominent sport has not? Ted is m the limelight now that he has attacked the British "shepherding obstruction taictics." Even his confreres on the Union are inclined to let him down. * # * MESBIT, for Hawkes Bay Celtic, played x ' a great game, his anticipation being as uncanny as Bert Cooke at his best. At his weight, "Ginger" is one of the best forwards m the Dominion. , * * . * THE very live committee of the Gerald--1 me Football Club has arranged with the Mackenzie (Fairlie) sub-Union, for the latter's representative team to visit Geraldine and play a match against a local side on August 21. The boys from the tussocks may expect a good game, and incidentally a good time. ' . * * * TN the first minute of the game he anti--1 cipated correctly what M.A.C.'s winger was about to do, and running into position intercepted; and bolted iri to score under the posts. Again m the second spell his try would have brought an All Black applause. * * # r\ENBY went particularly well against ■ L/ Manawhenua, and though lie has earned a reputation for inconsistency, a fair, trial m representative football might just put him right. At time of writing the team to meet North Auckland had not been selected, and local followers of Rugby will be. disappointed if some change is not made m the selection of what has become known as our "protected" fifteen. *. * * pHEEVERS, the Hawera full-back, had a lot to do for his club team against Opunake on Saturday, and did it well. He got his side out of tight corners. . * #■ t _ * VTAPIER Old Boys^ who have gone 1' through the competition without a defeat are now m an unassailable position, being well out on their own. Nevertheless, the fans still roll up to sec the games and are following the advice that the game is the thing. *# # . rVUNEDIN has one full-back who does *-' not get all the recognition he deserves. W. Walker, of Pirates, has been playing good football of late, and there are some who say that he can nut it. nil over Stephenson. He. may get his chance later on m the season.

IT was the general opinion m Nelson that the Seddon Shield would go over thc ranges, but the Bay boys proved ] that Nelsonians don't know everything. AVith their best team m the field. J. H. Parker's team will keep the other provinces moving when they go m quest of the coveted trophy. >*# * . JUST what possessed the Wellington Rugby Union to decide on University and Berhampore-, meeting three times is hard to tell. There is a strong feeling over this matter amongst most of the clubs. The general summing up is that the union is doing .its utmost to prevent Varsity going back to senior B next season. It is well-known that Varsity is the "white-haired darling" of the union. * # * GINGER STEWART, ex-Nelson junior, was. voted the best back for Golden Bay-Motueka m the Shield game against Coast last Saturday. It comes as no surprise to "Truth," as Stewart played brilliant football while m Nelson. His potted goal last Saturday was a heady piece of work, and all through the game he took a lot of watching. * * * THE_ ways of selectors arc passing strange. South Canterbury's officials included m the representative team which met and went down to Wanganui at Timaru lagt week, K. Blyth (a halfback), and A. Gaffaney (a centre threequarter), both of Temuka club, as first and second five-eighths respectively. The result was an unsatisfactory display by both, and, m due course, the "order of the boot" — they were dropped from the team for the next representative fixture. ' *. . * ■ • w BERHAMPORE justly complains that they have not had a chance on the main ground for some considerable time. Chairman Prendiville gives as'the reason, "only draw cards must play on Athletic Park." It is a weak answer to the protest, ' the more so m view of Varsity's position and the fact that they have appeared on Athletic Park two or three times this season. * * * E. WILSON, of Alhambra, Dunedin, believes m the adage that everything comes to him who waits. Wilson waits for the play to come to him, and when it does he is seldom found wanting, but Otago people would like to see him make a bit of play for himself. * * # LUSK BROS, are a great pair of forwards playing for the Opunake Club. One at least should reach the reps. " On Saturday they both went well m the loose.