RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Bt Full Back.

INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES. The following are amongst the fixtures tentatively fixed for the season; — North v. South Island.—Wellington, ' June 12. July 24.—Southland v. Marlborough, at Blenheim. July 28.—Southland v. Motueka, at Motueka. July 31.—Southland v. Nelson, at Nelson. August 4.—Southland v. Buller, at Westport. - August 7.—Southland v. W est Coast, at Greymouth. August 14.—Otago v. Southland,, at Dunedin. August 25.—Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill. August 28.—Dunedin v. Christchurch champion teams (Payne Trophy), at Dunedin. September I.—Southland v. South Canterbury, at Invercargill. September 4.—Otago v. South Canterbury, at Dunedin. * September B.—Southland v. Canterbury, at Invercargill. September 11.—Otago v. Canterbury, at Dunedin. September 15.—South Canterbury v. Canterbury, at Timaru. September 18.—Otago v. Wellington, at Dunedin. September 22.—Southland v. Wellington, at Invercargill. Hawke’s Bay v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. September 25.—Otago v. Hawke s Bay, at Dunedin. > September 29.—Southland v. Hawke s Bay, at Invercargill.

The outstanding feature of tire first aeries of Rugby Union competition matches, in New South \\ alos, was the brilliant form revealed by A. C. \\ allace. The Rhodes Scholar and former Scottish international three-quarter gave -a scintillating display for the premiers, GlebeBalmain, against Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Grammar School ground. Wallace is going to be a great draw-card for the union, and he is _ one of the hew South Wales “hopes” in the attempt to beat the “All Blacks” and the Maoris. Players of his class are few, indeed, and the game will benefit by his return to Svdney. Some English critics regarded him as one of the greatest three-quarters they had seen in recent years. Notes. One of our whistlers last week declared a kick at goal not successful because the man holding the bail kept his hand against and partly under it to prevent the wind -blowing it over (writes “Referee” in the Wanganui Chronicle). The holder’s action was quite permissible, so long as- the ball was actually, on the ground, and our referee’s decision was therefore wrong. Quite a nice point. It is now likely tljat J. Richardson, vice-captain of the 1924 New Zealand team, will be a member of t.ie Southland team this season. I was talking the other day to a wellknown referee, who expressed the opinion that Rugby football was getting less popular. He said that it had grown in popularity enormously until the All Blacks came over last season, but that their departure had caused ■ a sort of anti-climax, which this season showed in a definite falling-off in gate? (says an English writer). As far as metropolitan and northern Eugby is concerned, I believe him to be wrong. The mere fact that so many provincial players have been near the English side, if not actually in it, has given the game a great impetus in the provinces. In the 21 games contested between the North and South Island, the northerners have gained the day on 12 occasions, and the southerners seven times, while honours have been divided on two occasions. The first inter-island match was plaved in 1897, and records show that Wellington has staged 12, Christchurch four, Auckland two, and Dunedin, Napier, and Invercargill one each. ' George Nepia, described as “of Nuhaka,” and also of many Rugby battles, was married to Miss Huinga Kohere, of Rangitukia, recently. Mrs Nepia is the eldest child of Lieutenant Henare Kohere, who died from wounds in France during the Great War. The Rev. P. M. Kohere, uncle of the bride, officiated, assisted by Canon A. F. Williams. “Opai” Asher, the well-known representative player in both Upion and League games in previous years, is now on the ground staff at Carlaw Park, the League ground at Auckland. Asher made his debut in Auckland football in 1897, when he came with a Tauranga representative team under the captaincy of the late Joe Warbrick. He played for the Parnell Club in the following season, and won a place in the Auckland representative team. The following year Asher went over to the City Club, and in 1903 represented New Zealand in Australia. A member of the Auckland Eire Brigade, Asiier was injured in a big fire early in 1904, and, although he played a few games afterwards, he had to drop out. Not until the 1907 season did he return, when he was again an Auckland representative. In 1909 Asher joined the League code, and for a number of seasons was a representative player. At the top of his form Asher was one of the best attacking three-quarters New Zealand has known, and his bumping powers and trick of hurdling a low tackle gave a very spectacular touch to his play. lAsher came to Dunedin with an Auckland Rugby team, when at the height of his fame, but he could not pierce the defence of the Otago side. His hurdling tactics were of no avail that day, and he failed to score.] A REFEREE'S RULING. Deae Fullback, —I notice in your notes in to-day’s paper a question or two from ‘■Old Timer.” One is in reference to a player taking the ball off-side on a line out. I wonder if this question is asked in reference to the try scored by Dunne for ’Varsity A against Kaikorai on Saturday last. The referee ruled him off-side. If he was off-side, the ball could not have been thrown in straight, and as Kaikorai threw it in from touch the referee should have allowed the advantage rule to operate, ns the opposing side gained the advantage. He did not do so, but gave Kaikorai a force down, and allowed them to kick off at the twenty-five. This does not seem to me to be acting in the spirit of the game, leaving out the question of his ruling being wrong, according to the rules. 1 understand that the ball was touched by a Kaikorai player before Dunne secured it. This must have therefore made the difference between a win and a draw r on the day s ■play Another instance of the referee failing in his attitude towards the spirit of the game occurred when he hauled the University up in the middle of a promising passing rush, and awarded them a free kick for some infringement or other. Far better had he let the movement go on. I notice where referees are requested to penalise the last man down on sacks on the mill performances. That, is all right, but ■why not enforce the rule in reference to players lying on the hall and failing to get away from it while they are on the ground. —I am, etc.. May 20. Another Old Timer. The advantage rule on the line-out is (Ull in an obscure position. Some time ago the advantage rule could not be enforced on line-out play. Then, as I understand it, (he New Zealand Referees’ Association ruled that it could he ruled, and should be ruled, although the sanction of the English Union had not been obtained. Now, it is back again to no advantage on ]ine-ont play. The position certainly wants clearing up, as some referees are ruling one way, and some another. [Since writing the foregoing I have been informed that the Otaeo Referees’ Association has received word from the New Zealand Referees’ Association stating that the advantage rule Is “not” to ho applied to line-out play]. As regards my correspondent’s first complaint, his account of what took place is incorrect. Dunne broke away from the line-out. missed the hall, ■went on over the line, and the hall coming to him from behind he put his hand on it—cleailv offside. A? a matter of fart, one of the Kaikorai men in the heat of the moment appealed for a free kick, and the referee laughingly remarked that he could have the free kick, if ho iikcd, instead of the force-down and a kirk out from the twenty-five. In the second incident, a University man was collared who had rot the ball, ‘and the man from whom he might have received a pass was abo collared, so the ruling in this ease wn s quite in accordance with the law and the spirit

of the game. I have to congratulate my correspondent on the interest he shows m local football. SCOTLAND DEFEATS ENGLAND. By defeating England at Twickenham on March 20 by 17 points to 9, Scotland drew level with Ireland for the international championship, and the tw,o countries, therefore, are bracketed as holders of the Calcutta Cup for 1926. The following is. the position of the teams:

The match between Scotland and England was attended by 50.000 spectators, including- his Majesty the King. Summing up the match, a critic says: England's three-quarters had three chances to every,one of Scotland's line—and spoiled them by careless or selfish play. Scotland seized every opening, and drove home their attacks with fine skill and polished finish It was a great match. Scotland's score was made up of a Dotted coal by Dykes and tries by Waddell and Smith (2), Waddell converting two of the tries, while ihe scorers for England were Vovee, Tucker, and Stanbury, none of them be'TT improved. This was the first time that England had been benten at Twickenham since the new ground was opened. THE OTAGO TEAM. The Otnjro selectors —Messrs A. M'Ponnld. J. Mitchell, and J. Maguire—have made their first selection of an Otago team for the season, and it cannot he said that their effort has been entirely successful. There are some weak links in the selection Stevenson, of course, was assured of his position as full-hack, and so was Webb at wing-three-quarter. Wise, the other wins, has not been playing up to the form one would expect from an AH Black, but this fact notwithstanding it cannot be said that the selectors could have done otherwise, with the players in sight, than pick him. I like Lindsay's play. The T'niversity R play him at full-back, and he played five-eighth for the Timaru High School, of which he was captain, before coming to Dunedin. Lindsay is a fine all-round footballer, and the only thing that can be said against him is that he is not fast enongn for a three-quarter, but that is just a matter of opinion. Hanan's claims should be considered. The Universitv A wing-three-quarter, however, does not finish off his attack like one would expect—he has a weakness for running into trouble. Laing has been selected as centre, but he has yet to prove himself in this position. He made two fine solo runs against the University A team, when playing at centre for and this feat no doubt puts him in the team. As I say, however, he has -yet to prove himself, 'as a centre-three-quar-ter, and that he is able to make openings for his wings. On the run of tho play in Dunedin this season Diaek had better credentials as a centre than Laing. The selectors, no doubt, had a difficulty when they came to the five-eighths, and here thev make a remnrknble experiment The Kaikorai Club took Callnnder out of their five-eighth line, and played him at wing three-quarter. One would naturally expect that- the Kaikorai Club selectors had pood reason for making the change. The Otago selectors, however, put him back in the five-eighth line. Callender has plaved at five-eighth for Otago before, and has not proved a success. Ross, the other five-eighth, is always a trier, and if he could bring more judgment into his passing would do much better on attack. The dearth of high-class five-eighths still continues in Dunedin, and Ross no doubt will do as well as any of the other possibles in sight, and better than most. Holden has earned his place at half-back, and as he has all his football in front of him he should develop into a first-class player. The forwards could certainly be strengthened. One player _ picked is there on reputation, and it would be hard to explain how one or two others got in. M'Oermott. Lewis. Collett, Rodger, Milne, and one or two others should certainly have been considered before two, if not three of the men selected.

AN ENTHUSIAST’S COMMENTS. Dear “Full Back,”— My enthusiasm for the came prompts me to make a few comments on our prospects for the present season. In this I refer to the prospective results of representative matches, for it is from these that our calibre ie tested and compared with other unions. From my observation* I am satisfied that 'men good enough to more than hold our own, but in these days we appear to be sadly in need of leaders having the ability to extract the best of what the players are capable of. Take our club and representative captains of recent years. Can any of them be compared with strategists such as Jimmv Duncan, Tom Ellison.'Off-Side Mac. and Davy Gallagher, and others of that class? In those days there was a continual exercise of brains on the part of the cantains, stratecry bning 1 met with strategy. If tactics to meet the situation were not developed durinor the first spell there was n-enerallv a heart to heart talk at half-time frequently with results. Apparently. the old time captain has been renlaced "to a ,large extent by a coach. So far as I can see at present our back division will he composed" of a larsje proportion from University. Tn the early games both of their centres after beincr clear of their vis a vis made no attempt to draw, or beat the opposing wing, but generally passed too soon and allowed the oooosmq: wins to tackle his man. T am glad to see an imnrovement in that I am troubled about our forwards We have them—birr a «d fast—b”t it is a matter of welding Dike the 1924 All Blacks we are sadly deficient in expert hookers. Pur® v some mean* can he found to restore this lo*t art. 1 mite admit that the best of hookers are of not much use without the nroner formation and weight behind. The lock, of course, is th° kina pin. I cannot see one at present- although they are here in the making. To enable the hookers to ( ] 0 their work efficiently the lock should be capable of holding the scrurn together, and at the same time the sides and the hack row should be properlv placed. Now that our first renresentative team has been cboson. I would suggest that on nresent form Stevens n does not deserve his place. Brown. Lindsay, and Kina: have all plaved bettor games. Diack slionhl certainly be in plaee_ of Laing. The former, in addition to bis good defence. as shown against Kaikorai. lias plenty of nave, which is essential for a centre with fast wine's in the attacking line T cannot see Callander as entitled to a place. He -as a failure last season as five-eHJh. His onlv place is on the wing, and there are others left out who are "better in the wing position. T ex-, neeted to see Brown or Lindsay. VV ebb. TVaek. Wise, Dickinson, Pacey, and Holden, but unfortunately we have lost Dickinson. Ross, although good on the defence, has foiled too often in attacking movements. There is nobody worthy of the name of winVforward. and as it is only a matter of putting the ball, into (lie serum, why not experiment with a back for that position? Porter was oncinnllv a back, and, although -called a wine-forward, yon generally find mm associated with the backs in passing movements. W ith Mallocb. hi Mocking, Burt. Sonntng, and Dunne we have the makings of a good lot of forwards.—l am, etc., Enthusiast. I quite aeree with most of the opinions formed bv my correspondent. I certainly do not. however, agree with Ins comment regarding Stevenson, or with his selection of two of the forwards he-names. CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. By Ex-Dunkdinite. ■ The second round of matches was commenced last Saturday The weather was wet and miserable, and the grounds watei - lopped. Add to this a fop. which bung over the grounds, and conditions, it can be realised, were anything bi + pleasant for plavers or spectators. In tact, at times the visiblity was so poor that it was almost impossible to distinguish the plavers. As the game surged up and down the field players appeared and disappeared in the mist like will-o -the-wisps. The principal game was between Linwood and Merivale. Merivale, thanks to the superiority of their back division, eventually ran out winners by 11—3. The game calls for little comment. It was a hard forward struggle between two good packs from beginning to end. The Merivale backs were able to finish off some of the openings made by the forwards, whilst the Linwood backs, with the exception of Flvy, failed to make much use of their opportunities. It was not a day for backs, but the Merivale rearguard handled tlm greasy ball to far better advantage than their opponents. The forwards on both sides made the game very “willing”—in fact, at times there

seemed to be a good doal of temper displayed, and on one occasion actual “stouch” was openly dealt out, but it missed the referee’s notice. Davis, one of the Merivale backs, had to leave the field with a bleeding mouth, which was not received accidentally. The games so far this season have been remarkably tree from any hint o- dirty play. It is a pity that the referee on Saturday (Mr Allard) did not take a firmer stand with some of the players. Christchurch (26) easily accounted for Albion (nil). The Christchurch backs handled the wet and greasy ball rema.kably well; and scored some really fine tries. The condition of the ground was bad enough on the Oval, but this match, played on the side area, had a far worse ground. It is surprising >at the Christchurch players did so well, but their rearguard is iiow a very strong one, including the three All Blacks—M'Gregor, Robilliard, and Johnston. . The surprise of the day was University s draw vitli Old Boys (8 8). The University .earns holidays are on at present, and they were hard put to it to raise a team. In the finish only about five seniors were available. The remainder of the players were recruited from the senior B and junior teams. Christchurch and Old Boys are now running level again, with Merivale second, half a poipt away. Christchurch are now' the popular fancies for the senior championship. It is a remarkable fact that though the Christchurch team have been in existence over 60 years, being the oldest club here, they hav« won the competition only once. Wellington have owed Canterbury a “rep.” match for some considerable time. Wellington have consented to play here on June 3. As Canterbury have only a couple of “rep.”- games here, the added match will be a very useful one. A BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY. The game to-day is not nearly so hard as it used* to be. Why, I remember the time when the Kaikorai team did not have its line crossed for some years. Then the first score against it was a potted goal by Jack O’Shea, centre threequarter for University. The old song, “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” was all the rage, but the Dunedin people changed it to “The Man Who Kicked the Goal Against the Kaikorai. —E. E. Booth, in an exchange. 1 am afraid Mr Booth’s memory plays him false. The only score registered against Kaikorai after a period of years when their line had been uncrossed was a potted goal by the late Dave Munro, the full-back for Union. The game was played at the North Ground, The next year the only score registered against Kaikorai was by another Union back. “Jimmy” Wylie, who also .potted a goal, this time at Bishopscourt. The writer, who plaved in both these matches, has no recollection of any parody of the famous song as stated by Mr Booth Anyway it would have been an incorrect parody.

Points P. W. L. D. For. AgPt. Pts. Pwtland ... 4 3 10 45 23 6 Ireland ... 4 3 1 0 41 36 6 Wales 3 1 1 1 1!) 1!) 3 England ... 4 1 3 1 38 39 3 France 3 0 3 0 6 42 0