FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18556, 17 May 1922, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

Bt Full Back. IhterproTinoial fixtures: —Canterbury r. Otago, Dunedin, August 9; Otago v. Hawke’s Bay, Dunedin, August 12; Auckland v. Otago, Dunedin, August 19; Taranaki v. Otago, Dunedin, August 30; Otago t. Southland, Invercargill, September 2; Wellington v. Otago, Dunedin, September 9; Otago v. Southland, Dunedin, September 18.

After watching the match between Southern and Kaikorai on Saturday, and remembering also the standard of forward play seen in the other senior matches I have witnessed this season, I am satisfied that Otago will he able to put a very solid forward pack in the field for her interprovincial fixtures. The Kaikorai-Sonthern match was mostly confined to the forwards* neither side receiving much assistance from its backs -with one exception. There was, in fact, not one outstanding back on the Southern side, and only one—Dickinson—on th© Kaikorai side. Nevertheless the play was exciting, and certainlv not lacking in incident. Kaikorai won (12 points—9 points), and deserved their win. The heavy, tall Kaikorai pack had all the best of it on the line-outs: but honours in the scrums were about even, the lighter Southern forwards putting every ounce into the heavy work. The scrum work on both sides, however, can be very much improved. In the middle of the second half the hill forwards appeared to tire, and the Southern pack changed their tactics, waiting for the Kaikorai pack to get the ball, and then coming away with some fine loose rushes. The Kaikorai forwards came again at the finish and had the game well won when the final whistle went. The play was inclined to become rough at times, and Referee R. M’Kenzie had to speak to individual players on three occasions. A “chocking’’ is distinct from a “caution,” and the referee does not require to report a “checked” player x to the Committee of Management of the Rugby Union. One incident where a Kaikorai plaver ' gave an exhibition of childish temper might, however, have been met bv a caution.

Williams, who came from the goldfields district last season, Sonntag. and M'Meeking were a trio of dashing forwards in the hill team, and Connor also shaped well in the line outs. Dickinson—the powerful straight-running five-eighth—played a very fine game. His running. kicking, and fielding receatedly changed defence into attack, and it may be said without exaggeration that his game meant the difference between victory and defeat for his side. I was pleased to notice that,he is learning to team no with his supporting backs, and he gave Crewes some good passes, one of -them ending in M’Gill (wing three-quarter) securing a good try. Crewes played safely, hut not brilliantly, at centre. His place kicking has gone off somewhat, and after he had had two shots Dickinson and Owles were given a chance to place goals._ None of the four tries scored bv Kaikorai were, however, improved on. It was _ the first time I had seen Owles plav this season, and I was rather disappointed with Ins game. Very few chances, however, came his way. ns he was jammed on the line when he got the hall. Anderson, a Second Grade plaver. nlayed scrum half but he should see that his men are there to take a pass before he sends out the ball. , , The Southern pack plsved a hard game, particularly their two light front-rankers. Mitchell and Bain. Bain is the cleverest forward in Dunedin to-day. _ and when he gets the ball in front of him he tries to control it and play with purpose. Any nlayer can nut his foot into a ball when in a dribbling rush—the clever forwards, however, tries to retain possession. Brown Carnegie, and Pearson also hard in the scrums. ■ and Boreham shone in the loose. Fox. the Southern winger, is young, and should imnrove. His opposin'* winger Sim. showed him some points in the art of blocking. The Southern backs were weak in defence. and would not go down _ to the dribbling rushes. Pink, on the wing, was good in attack, but his play was patchy. Reidy, full back, also flayed well in patches —a pick up and hick in the face of a solid Kaikohai rush was finely executed. Reidy. however, had. been working very long hours at the freezing works during the. week, and he was already a tired" man when he took the field. Harry Harley (five-eighth) played a fair game, but, as stated, the standard of play of the Southern backs could lie considerably improved. In the early stages of their match against Dunedin on Saturday University A elected to take all manner of risks in order to get their fast hacks in motion against the opposition. The instructions to Macky on this point were evidently-very clear and definite, for in season and out of season he attempted to throw the ball out to Fea, and he continued this course, going the length of scooping the leather along the ground, even when the Dunedin forwards were round on top of him. Another factor which for a long time frustrated the success of these manoeuvres was the watchful ness of the TJunedin backs, who stood close up to the opposition and nipped much of the passing in the bud. It has to be admitted, however, that in the adoption of these tactics Dunedin were accorded some leniency by the referee, but on one occasion in the second spell the infringement cost them three points. In the first spell the University style of play did not make for good football, and if similar methods were indulged.-in against a strong team they could not but prove disastrous. In the second spell University handled the ball more cleanly all round, and some very pretty pieces of passing were witnessed, Fea and Perry always being prominent, and Sinclair, who had been moved up to centre, adapting himself admirably to his new position. In fact, this player created a very favourable impression at centre, handling the ball well and showing plenty of pace. Stewart on the wing was always dangerous. but Hanna, a young player, who replaced Ward on the other wing, did nbl show quite enough dash and confidence for a successful wing three-quarter. The Dunedin forwards, notably Scott, Richards, M‘Kay, and O’Sullivan, played a, good game in the early stages, but they tired towards the end. Keyes and King were the test, bf the backs. Harty, Gray, and Dixon were prominent among the University forwards, both Dixon and Gray scoring good tries. In the first spell Dunedin got a fair share of the ball from the scrums, but in the second half the University hookers were the more successful, and with the opposing forwards tiring the Light Blue hacks had better opportunities. It was a hard-fought game, and the fact that University did not cross their opponents’ line until well on in the second spell is an indication of the creditable fight put up by the Dark Blues. With a reinforced hack division they are a team capable of giving quite a good display. The Alhambra put up a cricket score against Union at Opoho—s4 points to 3 points. Union started with 14 men, and Gantley went off at half-time, leaving the Maroons with 13 men. The Alhambra, however, did not temper the wind to the shorn lambs, so to sneak. I would seriously suggest to the Union Club that it should at once pull out of the senior grade, and build up its junior grade with the players thus available. The unusually large crowd of spectators at Tahunu. Park on Saturday afternoon were rewarded with a lively and interesting game between Pirates and University li. The students showed some pretty flashes of play, particularly in the first spell, but their backs have not yet achieved that surencss of combination that makes an attack really formidable. Pirates had the better of the play during the most of the second spell, but without Bell they would probably have Had a larger score run up against them. He was invaluable in checking attacks but on the other hand if he had succeeded in taking advantage of most of the opportunities of goal kicks that came his way the result of the game would have been reversed. At one stage of the second spell the forwards became a little heated in their eagerness, but a word from Referee Watson calmed the atmosphere. The attraction of the game from the spectators’ point of view was its rapid changes of fortune. One never knew at which end of the field play was going to be at the next moment. WING FORWARDS. Dear "Full Back ” —How long is that curse of Rugby football, the wing forward, going to be permitted to spoil the weekly sport of thousands —indeed, tens of thousands —of spectators? It is bad enough that, he should be legally permitted to spoil to a considerable extent the passing game. Which is the chief attraction of Rugby for nine-tenths of the spectators. But when it is admitted that more (him half his spoiling tactics are illegal, his operations are really intolerable. The question I want to raise is why do not the referees control this objectionable wing forward ? In a few Saturdays the referees, if they did their duty, even at the expense of, spoiling a game or two by continued Whistle, could make his life so miserable that he would be afraid to move. Watch the wing forward in any match next Saturday, and count if you can the number of his misdemeanours. Have the referees the courage to make their authority felt on this scourge of Rugby? If he persists, in spite of repeated penalising, send him to the pavilion, where he will be of more value to Rugby as a game than he is on the field. Fearlessly make an example of one, and

the others will soon sit up and take nqtice. Have the referees the courage, or do they acknowledge that they cannot put a stop to the wing forward’s intolerable lawlessness?—l am, etc, “Control the Game, or Retire.’’

NOTES. Tire weekly meeting for the discussion of rules held by the Referees’ Association on Saturday nights have so far been largely attended, hut a bigger representation from players would undoubtedly tend to produce better results, A notice concerning the place of meeting next Saturday will be posted on the Sports Depot. There are five brothers Todd in the Invercargill Club, and there was one of them playing for every team put in the field lats Saturday by Blues from firsf to fifth grade. Thirty years or so ago their father was one of the best players in the same club.

Tlie football ground at Lyttelton is close to the seashore. In a recent junior match at the port a high wind was responsible for three balls going into the sea, one after another. The game had to be abandoned 20 minutes before the ordinary closing time. Says a northern paper: Patea possesses a good set of forwards headed by Spralt, Peterson, Hunt, and M‘Kerina. M'Cleary, an ex-Otago half, played a great game, and with S. Cameron, the ex-Taranaki fiveeighths. did not give Ross a chance to get his backs going. Messrs \V. J. Wallace. “Rangi” Wilson, and Freddy Roberts have been appointed the selectors for the Wellington interprovinciui teams—two backs and a forward.

If memory serves me rightly, this is-'the biggest defeat —25 points to nil —a Petone team has, suffered since away back in 1902. when things with the suburban club were at a very low ebb (writes Touchline in the Free Lance in referring to the UniversityPetone match). The following year —1903 W.J. Hardham, New Zealand’s first Y.C., returned ’ from the South African war, and he got round him a lot of the old-timers, and after a strenuous endeavour the village lads were got in good fix once again. Since then the Petone Club has been one of the outstanding ones in Wellington football, although its senior team did not always win the senior championship. The fifteen this season is not as strong as it has been during the last few years, but, all the same, the handsome win by University was as unexpected as it was decisiveC. Badoley. the New Zealand five-eighths, was injured in the opening match at Auckland. and may have to stand down for some weeks.

Mr Alan Adams, the ex-Otago and English representative player, has been appointed selector for the West Coast Union. K. Ifwerson and a brother are playing for Oounake (Taranaki) this season.

Senior teams in the four main centres total 38. as follow: —Auckland 9. Wellington 10. Christchurch 8, Dunedin 11. - Brown, who represented Southland last vear. is now residing in Christchurch, and is playing for the Christchurch Club's senior team. Well-known Canterbury players attain in harness include W. Ford. W. and E. Cummings, Orchard. • Peterson. M‘Cleary, Mullins, and J. M'Cormack. Dicdrich. an ex-Manawatu player, is assisting Marists, and H. Harley, an ex-Otago representative, is playing for Linwood. An interesting item from a report of a recent meeting of tho Taranaki Rugby Union: —“Eltbam protested against the match played against Inglewood being swarded to the latter team, on tbe ground that, in the goal, which constituted the only 'core, the kicker was allowed by the referee ( o place the hell hims°lf. The referee (Mr Phelan) pointed o u * that ns he was n new ■cforce from Auckland, where the kicker : s allowed to place the ha]],' ho allowed both teams the same privilege and Inglewood was luckv enough to kick a goal The rule on the mnUor ''tates that the kicker and placer shall be different persona. T t was resolved to refer the matter to the N°w Zealand Referees’ Appeal Committee Two Maori teams have visited Now South Wales. The first, in 191(1. won seven a.,,) drew two of the 11 matches played. The two defeats were at the hands of New South Wales. The 1 913 team won five our of their eight mutches, being defeated bv New South Wales {twice! and Queensland “England did not deserve to win against Scotland, after the wretched game they played in the first half, but they certainly made a most marvellous recovery in the second half, inspired by that wonderful nlayor, Davies” (writes Cecil Wray. London representative of the New Zealand Rugby Union). _ “Again, the tackling was the weak spot in the English side, apart, I mean, from the fumbling in the first half, and I wonder the critics do not get on to the backs for their feeble collaring. The struggle in every scrum for the ‘loose head,’ too, gets very tiring for the spectators. The King was there, and he was very excited. He goes to all the big Rugger matches.” “The Control of the Scrum” was the title of a very interesting lecture delivered to the Referees’ Association by Mr T. A. Fletcher, one of the Wellington senior referees. “So many things happen in the scrums,” especially on the blind side.” said the lecturer. “that it is the most important phase of the game. The referee must watch wing forwards and as well as the forwards, because thev all indulge in tricks, if allowed to do so.” A spectator was often in a ‘better position to judge whether a player was offside, after a long kick. The referee must do the best he can, in the circumstances. Mr Fletcher has some interesting conclusions. , Referees were not, severe enough in dealing with “foot-up” in the scrum. They should watch wing forwards, who went round to the opposite side to put the ball in.. Ho would never give a second chance, in the case of unfair putting the ball in the scrum. Putting the ball in with a “bias” or screw was equally culpable. Nothing causes players to lose respect for the referee like his overlooking breaches.

The bouncing of a football is music to the ears of every lover of the frame. _ The unwonted sound (states a writer in the Samoa Times) was heard in Apia last weekend, and those investigators who went out to see saw something. A dozen or so of Chinese were kicking and foot-passing an Association football in good style, and with evident enjoyment. As there was a shade temperature of 90 degrees at the time, straw hats were worn ; consequently there could be no indulgence in the picturesque headpassing which is a feature of the Association game. Some excellent footwork was shown, however, and two of the players displayed intimate knowledge of the finer points of passing and kicking. One young fellow, wearing European boots, displayed the difficult, art. of “working-up” a lowmoving ball (solely with his feet) until its distance from the ground facilitated the making of a long and high kick. Another Chinaman who showed considerable kicking ability was wearing the comparatively upperless slippers of the Chinese. FOOTBALL ON SUNDAY. “Scotland and Ireland would be against it, and I am sure that New Zealand would hold up its bands with horror at the thought of a gate-money match on Sunday,” wrote Mr Wray from' London, to the French Rugby Federation, on the proposal from France that matches should be played on Sunday. “It may be old-fashioned—some say it is more hypocrisy—but it is the way we have been brought up, and I think that, though a good many of us do not observe the Sabbath as a day of rest, as our fathers did, we all have the idea that we have no desire that the Continental Sunday should become the general thing on this side of the Channel. As I write this, the thought occurred to me—what a terribly slow day the French team would have found Sunday in Now Zealand!” PROJECTED WORLD RUGBY TESTS. FEATURE .OF EMPIRE EXHIBITION. Plans for the biggest series of Rugby football tests in the history of the game have been brought to the notice of the New Zealand Rugby Union by its London representative. Mr Cecil J. W’ray. “My idea is that New Zealand should concentrate on sending a team to this country, to take part in the projected tournament at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924,” writes Mr WYay. “Curiously enough, while in the middle of this letter, I went out and got an Evening Standard, and here is a paragraph that caught my eye at once: — . “ ‘An interesting scheme is projected to organise the greatest international Rugby tournament in the history of the game, at the British Empire Stadium at Wembley in 1924. The plan is to include a fifteen from Now Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, and, of course. England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland in this competition. Leading sportsmen are seriously behind the idea, vast as it may appear now. The Stadium will accommodate 120,000 people.’ “This would be a tournament worth winning, wouldn’t it? But visiting teams would have to watch the conditions very carefully in regard to replacing players, expenses, and so forth. However, you must Keep it in mind, for New Zealand ought to he in it.” the french tour. INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. The correspondence relating to the French tour, now abandoned, has come before a meeting of the New Zealand Rngty Union. , , . , Mr Cyril F, Rutherford, secretary of

the French Rugby Federation, writing to Mr Cecil Wray,'-London representative of the New Zealand Union, said that the tour was unanimously declared off by the federation on receipt of the cablegram from Wellington, indicating that it was impossible to complete the programme of the tour to enable the French team to reach Paris before the end of October. “I am exceedingly sorry for this,” wrote Mr Rutherford, ‘‘as wo had a nice (earn together,'and the Frenchmen were looking forward to the tour. To abandon it after all the work I have had is rather disheartening. • ‘‘The French championships here take too long, and the sooner they change the mode of "their championships the better,” wrote Mr Rutherford. “They start about October 15, and do not finish the season till about April 23. It. leaves no time to arrange a tour to the colonies. 'These championships spoil our international matches. We must hope for better luck next year.” When the negotiations appeared to have broken down, Mr Wray sent to Paris what he describes as a “ginger” telegram. It was as follows: —Personally I feel that New Zealand will be greatly upset at France taking unprecedented course of insisting on cancellation of tour, when New Zealand immediately conceded your point absolutely. Surely your council would reconsider decision under such circumstances. SPRINGBOK TOUR. MR H. O. BENNETT’S VIEWS. THE FIGHT FOR AMATEURISM. . .Continuing bis report to the South African Rugby Union on the Springbok tour of New Zealand, the manager of the visiting team, Mr H. C. Bennett, some of whose observations were published recently, pays a tribute to the wonderful influence over the team of the captain (Mr Tlfeo. Pienaar) and the vice-captain (Mr Boy Morkel). He suggests that, in view of casualties during the lour, a stricter examination of men should be enforced before the tour. The hospitality the team experienced was so great that it was found difficult to regulate the social side of the visit to New Zealand and Australia, where the team was entertained most royally. The members of the team could never forget it, and he hoped South Africa would rise to the occasion in a similar way when the All Blacks or the Wallabies paid 'them a visit. Mr Bennett mentioned that he had made it clear to the New Zealand authorities that, in the event of such a visit from New Zealand, in view of the prejudice in South Africa, it would be inadvisable to include Maori plavers in the visiting team. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

Of the hotel accommodation in New Zealand, Mr Bennett says it was only fair, and the team objected to the practice of two men sharing one bed. .It would be better, he thought, if an advance agent went before the visiting team to secure satisfactory accommodation. Such an official would be engaged by the New Zealand Union to decide upon the most suitable hotel. Of dressing-rooms on the grounds. Mr Bennett does not speak favourably, and notes the absence of hot and cold baths after games. Attention should be given to this side of the player’s comfort. In view of the number of friends the Springboks made, and took to see the matches in which they were not playing, Mr Bennett’s remarks on the unsatisfactory seating accommodation for non-players are interesting. There was very little seating accommodation placed at the disposal of the team, particularly at the Tests. There should be some better control in regard to entertainments. , No differentiation was made between those who entertained for sheer hospitality and entertainments for the mere advertisement of the entertainers. AMENDED RULES UNDESIRABLE. Amateurism is not as strong in sport generally in Australia as it- is in South Africa. “I believe.", says Mr Bennett, “the Bugby Union game in Australia is run on purely amateur lines. The feeling in favour of amateurism in Rugby is very strong in New Zealand. Officials throughout the country are straining every nerve to keep the game pure. The belief in South Africa that men are allowed to play indiscriminately League and Union games is not supported by fact. I am satisfied the reinstatements are genuine. In regard to the proposed alteration of the rules, Mr Bennett says: “The contention is that the new rules made the game more spectacular in Auckland, and tneretore more popular. On the other bond, it is suggested that the change is due to the natural revival of interest in the Rugby game after the war. I followed several games played under Auckland rules, but they did not appear to make the game more spectacular from my point of view. The wing forward disappears under, these rules, and the idea is to make the game as fast and open as possible. I think wo demonstrated in Nffw Zealand that under the present rules it could be made as fast as the average human being could stand, and most of our games were as spectacular as anybody could wish for.” REFORMS NEEDED. Spealcing of representation on the International Board, Mr Bennett says it seems a small thing to give, and “in view of the strength of the game in our three countries—New South Wales, New Zealand, and South Africa—we are certainly entitled to such representation.” Of the League game Mr Bennett says it “docs appeal to the public for some reason or otner, and it is extremely fortunate it has found no foot in our country (South Alrica). The board (South Africa) should keep touch with all amateur bodies, and assist in scotching any attempt to introduce professionalism.” In conclusion, the South African manager says; “I have throughout the tour, in private conversations and public speeches, pressed for uniformity of rules and rulings, and it is clear that our visit to New Zealand came just in time to prevent the evolution of a game entirely different from that played in South Africa.” PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ RUGBY. Full use has been made of the recent spell of fine weather, and three rounds of matches have now been completed. In the B and Bantam competitions it is yet too early to name .any outstanding- teams, as most games have so far, been keenly and evenly contested. Mosgiel and Caversham (B Grade) and Macandrew Road No. 1 and North-East Valley (Bantams) seem, however, to be setting a very warm pace, although closely followed by several others already quite confident of overtaking them. In the A Grade competition, Forbury appears at present to be all-comers at bay, but. again, as in the junior grades, it is difficult to any what may happen as the season progresses. Macandrew Road, a much lighter team than last - year, is playing good football; Arthur Street is improving; North-East Valley, one of last year’s recruits, is standing the test admirably; and St. Clair and Musselburgh are teams not to be taken too lightly. , This competition will certainly be very interesting as the season advances. The inauguration of the Bantam competition this year has given Rugby football a fresh impetus. Enthusiasm runs very high among the small boys, each being certain that there is no other team but his own in the competition. There seems to be some doubt as to what boys are eligible for play in this section. It must be understood that this is not a C Grade or third-rate competition. It is purely a light-weight contest, in which any boy under sst 71b weight, may play. Last year’s C Grade contest was merely a training ground for raw recruits and B Grade rejects, and any very small boy who showed promise as a footballer was compelled to play in either A or B Grade against boys in many cases three stone hea-vier than himself. Ho had not any chance of improving. This Bantam competition affords, then, an excellent opportunity for the promising light-weight player. The popularity of this new contest is apparent by the number of entries received. No fewer than 20 teams are laying a claim for top place amongst the light-weights. Most of the teams this season are playing without the wing forward, the majority of schools playing the extra back. Improvement in the play is already apparent, and, when the new rule concerning “kicking out” is brought into force, Ibis improvement may be more marked than over.