RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21980, 15 June 1933, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

By Full-back. OTAGO FIXTURES

July 20, —Otago Sub-unions v. Southland Sub-unions, at Dunedin. August 2. — v. Southland, at Invercargill. August 5. —v. Marlborough, at Dunedin. August 12.—v. Southland, at Dunedin. August 26. —v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. . August 30. —v. Wairarapa. at Wairarapa. September 2. —v. Hawke’s Bay, at

Napier. . September 6.—v. Wanganui, at Wanga 1

nui. September 9.—v. Wellington, at Welling-

September 13. —v. Taranaki, at Dunedin. September 16. —v. North Otago, at Dunedin.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENT Dear " Full-back,"—At a match, Waitahuna versus Lawrence, played last Saturday, I witnessed the following ruling:— Waitahuha were pressing Lawrence, and for an infringement Waitaluma were awarded a penaltv kick about eight yards in front of the Lawrence goal-posts. Hie kick, which' went over, was disallowed owing to the fact that it had not been kicked over the mark. The referee ordered a 25 yards' drop-out. thereby giving the defending side a distinct present of practically half the field, but before the drop-out could be taken tlie timekeeper called half time, and the referee stopped the game. Now, lullback," would you please answer the toilowing questions?—(l) Should the referee have ordered a scrum at the place where the penalty kick was taken? (2) Should the referee have sounded half time immediately after the penalty kick?—l am, etc., Rugby Rules. —-The answer to the first question is " Yes." In regard to the second question, taking the tacts as stated by my correspondent, the referee was entitled to blow his whistle for halt time. The main point in this letter, m my opinion, is the carelessness displayed in not seeing that the penalty kick was taken from the correct position. TAIERI v. SOUTHERN Southern met Taieri at Carisbrook on Saturday, and after a solid battle between the forwards the game ended in a draw—no score. "With seven matches now played Southern have the fine record of not having had their line crossed. As regards Saturday's match, the. interest was maintained to the final whistle, the game being so evenly contested. It was not marked by any outstanding individual back play, being, chiefly- confined to loose forward rushes,'the game, quickly going from one end of the field to the other. Southern had one good chance of winning the game in the last few minutes from a passing movement by the backs, but a knock on spoilt the effort. The Taieri forwards put plenty of dash into their play, but, their scrum work lacked finish, and one or two of the vanguard were more concerned in trying to peer round the back of the opposing scrum to see what was happening there than putting their weight into their own scrum. Hore proved himself a sound, hard-working forward until he got hurt, and Finlayson was noticeable in loose play. Finlayson came clean through the loose on one occasion in the second half, but then threw the ball recklessly right into the arms'of an opposing player. Slyfield did "good work on-the line outs, but was inclined to get offside, in this department of the game. The Taieri backs were very sound on defence, and once they.learn to anticipated attacking movement and move up to take part in it they will do better. For instance, on several occasions Bathgate put in well-judged punts to the open side—away from Trevathan—but neither Middlemiss nor Osborne, the wing threequarters, came through quickly enough to carry on the movement. Bathgate played his usual serviceable game, and R. M'Skimming shaped well at centre threequarter. He got back to save on more than i one occasion when Southern had broken up the passing of his inside backs. Murdoch played well at full-back, and it was only his sound collaring which prevented Nisbet and M'Kerrow from scoring He kicked with plenty of strength, but he did not always get the line and he has something to learn of positional P Trevathan. the Southern full-back, used the line well, and altogether, despite" 1 the fact that his fielding was weak on two occasions in the face of dashing forward plav by the Taieri, he gave a fine display in the last line of defence. Nisbet and M'Kerrow, on .the wings, put plenty of dash into their running, but they did not have many scoring chances, as the nlav of their inside backa lacked finish, and Geary, Bathgate, and Ball were quick to get into weak .passing from the Southern scrums. Simon, half-back, was well watched, and the attention paid him seemed to upset his play. The Southern forwards were well tested, and they lasted out the game well. Hore Roberts, and Edwards were always m the thick ot the tight play. UNION v. ALHAMBRA Union beat Alhambra at Tahuna Park bv 11 points to 8 points—the first time the Maroons have beaten the Red and Blacks for I do not know how many years. The Union forwards—generally with Garden, Grant, and Garside in the van—stayed out the game 'better than the opposing pack. The Alhambra torwards had the advantage in the scrum work, but in the line outs and the loose play, the Union forwards more than held their own. Garside was rewarded with a try as a result, of keeping well up to Sißer played a fine game at full-back for Union, and it was only his welljudged tackling which kept his.side from .defeat. M'Culloch, centre, played a useful game, and Gensik, on the wing, put plenty of dash into his running. Coughlan, at half-back, should remember thtu he is only one of 15 players, and that his team, to achieve success, must work as a combination. Coughlan tried to go too much on his own. t Binnie and Quill worked hard m the Alhambra forwards, and Sherburd was noticeable in loose play. The Alhambra pack did not, however, play with thenaccustomed dash and were lacking in combination. ' , ' Davis, half-back, was the outstanding player in the Alhambra vanguard, and more than once he held up attacks by himself with good individual play. Wilson shaped well on the wing, with the few chances which came his way, and Griffen, five-eighth, was solid on defence. Gapes had Williamson, the other Alhambra wing, well bottled up, and 9topped him practically every time he made an attacking movement. The handling of the Alhambra backs was good, but their passing lacked thrust, and seldom gained them much ground. UNIVERSITY B v. KAIKORAI In the match between University B and Kaikorai the hill team overshadowed the students from start to finish of the game, and scored a good will by 34 points to 12. Three weeks' vacation from the University always shows itself on the quality- of the football displayed when classes are resumed. In this particular match the University team was clearly out of condition, 'and paid the penalty. The Blue and Black . team, both forwards aijd backs, gave a really good,display of open football. Their forwards invariably got the ball from the scrums or line outs and Francis at half-back made good use of it. This player was very elusive, and took a lot of stopping. ' ' ' Laing'at first live-eighth played splendidly and linked up well with his halt. The'centre and wings were not so reliable, but gave a good fearless display. I.he Kaikorai forwards are a greatly improved pack, and played exceedingly well together. They were ably led by Gibson and Lucy. The former put plenty of dash into his work, and followed up well. Murphy and Allen gave good assistance in the loose work. The Light Blue forwards struggled hard to withstand the loose rushes of thenopponents, but with little .success, and were a very tired park at the end of the game. With little of the hall, the Light Blue backs were mostly on the defensive, stopping rushes and collaring the opposing backs. Weak collaring by the University backs was. however, responsible for half of the tries scored by the Blue and Black players. It pays to collar low-, and "in this game the students neglected this tradition.

Emanuel; at half-back, played well, and handed the ball out smartly to his backs, when, of course, it came his way. Roy and Frascr-Smith also did good work for the backs, while Pickard, Laney, Chin, and Smith shone in the forwards. Hawkesworth, unfortunately" for his side, had to retire at half time with a ricked muscle in his leg and M'Kcrnon went on in his place. PIRATES v. DUNEDIN At the end of the first spoil of the "match between Dunedin and Pirates, the spectator's had visions of a closely contested game, with the issue in doiibt until the final whistle. It was. however, an entirely different Pirates side which came on after half time, and with the forwards and backs linking up well the 1 Dunedin team was overwhelmed, Pirates scoring five tries in the second spell and winning by 20 points to 4 points. The Pirates forwards were disappointing in half, and after the first five minutes they were generally beaten for the ball by their opponents. In the second spell they livened up, and gave their backs plenty of opportunities, and towards the close of the game they were much the fitter pack. Saxton fed his backs well, and Ewart, at second five-eighth, played a sound game, cutting in well, but not overdoing this feature of his play. He scored one try and was responsible for two others, giving Statham an easy run in on each occasion. Greig was not favoured by the run of the play, but Allen had plenty of the ball and ran with determination. It must be admitted that the tackling of the Dunedin backs was not good, but he showed' out in a number of runs down the touch line and scored two of Pirates six tries. Allen was also in fine goal-kicking form, and. in addition to kicking a. penalty goal from well out, he converted four, tries. Taylor was sound at full-back, though he was not tested to any great extent. The Dunedin forwards played a hard game and packed a very good scrum. Tither was rather disappointing, and, by virtue of his height and weight, he should have done better in the lineouts. He gave the impression, however, that he was not by any means fit. The other forwards all played a hard game, but did not back up their rearguard so well as the Pirates forwards. The Dunedin backs were disappointing. In the first spell they received the larger share of the ball, but their passing was poor. Not infrequently a back would be obliged practically to stop in order to take a lobbed pass which threatened to go behind him, with the result that the Pirates backs were able to get across and block the movement. Dawkins, who played at centre, possesses a really remarkable punt, and he can find the line with precision at distances up to 50 yards; ' UNIVERSITY A v. ZINGARIRICHMOND University A had no difficulty in beating Zingari-Richmond at Logan Park. The Blues scored 10 tries, and Rae .sconverted four of these.' Rae was successful in each of the place kicks entrusted to him. The Blues joined up in some spectacular movements, and their score would have been larger had Fookes.and Uttlev not held the opposition too cheaply and tried to go too fat. Both Jones and Dunne staged some fine runs, and each scored two .tries. The Zingari men had a hard afternoon s work stemming the attacks launched from all quarters.. The brunt of the defence after the ball had left the scrums fell on Caradus, who was the best back on his eide, and kept well up to the play. Callaghan and Watkine were about the best of the forwards. NOTES The following remarks by " Poster," in the Wellington Dominion, are very apropos:—" Once a referee commences to overlook what might be termed minor technical breaches he will ultimately find if.difficult to decide where to draw the line, and such a practice will assuredly encourage those prone to cheating (to use a modern Rugby expression) to take advantage of what may appear. to them weakness in the man controlling the game, whereas the referee may be doing his best in pursuit of this mythical virtue of speeding up the game through a loose interpretation of Rugby laws. It is only by rigid enforcement of the rules that referees can command the respect and confidence of players, and if they all set out to follow a policy of blowing for every breach thev saw for a few weeks it might mar a few games in the process, bub "would ultimately be for the good of the game. Another step towards this happy state of affairs would be a few hours study of the rule book by the players and by those who love to exercise their lungs every time they disagree with a decision of which they probably know nothing. The Australian Universities team lost all the seven matches they played, in New Zealand. They scored 57 points against 181 points. .'''..•'•'- "Moke" Belliss, who has the unique distinction of having a eon playing with him, is not alone.as a "veteran player able to maintain surprisingly good form. Berhampore has one in J Hrckling, who was one of the best backs in the Ber-hßmpore-Oriental match. ~. George Nepia, the famous Maori fullback in the 1924 All Black team, is working hard on his farm at Wairoa. . People who have inspected properties in that locality of late declare that the Rugby champion has his fanm looking .in splendid order. Nepia intends playing again this season, and is reported to have stated his intention of keeping fit my, ew of the next tour to Great Britain three years hence, states the Napier Daily leleCI Mv Ravensbourne correspondent writes as follows:—"The Ravensbourne team journeyed to Mosgiel, and defeated the ocal team by 21 points to 3 The game was a fast one, and both sides indulged in passing. D. Stevenson was a very good full-back, and saved his side time and again. Ravensbourne were a bit too good for the opposition Mason, tor Ravensbourne, had his kicking boots on, and kicked no fewer than four-goals. Galloway was safe at full-back, while W. 'Davidson played his usual good game. Hudson played a great game in the forwards, while some of the younger players, who played Third Grade last year, also Bh JOnV V the Alhambra forward, who reccivedan injury to his knee early in the season, will not be able to play again this College Old Boys are leading in the First Division of the Wellington Championship with 12 points, and then follow Eastbourne, Hutt, and Poneke, with 8 points each, Athletic and Marist are last of the eight teams with 4 points each. St. Patricks Old Boys are in front with 12 points m the Second Division, with Johnsonville, Oriental, and University next with 10 points each. Two/teams from the Second Division are promoted to the lurst Division in the second round, and two First Division teams come into the otnor competition. ,>-,,• L ■., ~„u Sydenham, Old Boys, and Chnstchurch are'the leading teams in the Christen urcli Senior Competition with six points eacli. ' G F. Hart, the New Zealand and Canterbury representative, made bis first appearance this season when he played tor Christchitrch against Athletic on Saturday. Listed as an emergency he was called on to play when Mackay .strained a muscle in a leg within a few imnutey o the start of the game. He soon showed that he had not lost, any of his form, and -played an outstanding game on at.tacu. His defence was not tested. He scored three tries. His third try, the only one in the second half, was the best in the game, and to get it he showed remarkable speed and nimbloness. . rt . (/ui H Smith, the ex-Southern and Utago centre three-quarter, again distinguished himself at Invercargil] on Saturday, i la>; ing for his new club, the Star against Pirates, he intercepted a pass m tie second spell and went clean through Urn defence, to score. Star won by 11 points to fl points. , , A pleasing feature in the game between Southern and Taieri at Carisbrook on Saturday was the absence of collapsed scrums. INTERISLAND MATCH SELECTORS NOMINATED. The idea of sending a New Zealand team on tour through the country this season having been abandoned, there will be no need for a New Zealand selection committee. However, the choice of teams for the inter-island match is to be made, and North and South Island selectors

will be appointed. Those who acted last year were Messrs E. M'Kenzie (North) and A. M'Donald (South), and they also acted as New Zealand selectors. Mr M'Donald has since transferred to Wellington. The nominations of North and South Island selectors are:—, Mr E. M'Kenzie, by Wairarapa 1 and Hawke’s Bay. , . , Mr F. E. Sutherland, by Auckland. Mr M. F. Nicholls. by Poverty Bay. Mr E. Snow, by Nelson. Mr A. A. Adams, by West Coast. Messrs P. Harvey and J. T. Burrows, by Canterbury. ■ Messrs H. S. Strong and L. Lopdell, by Southland. Mr W. Pearson, by Otago. Wellington has not yet nominated a selector. The opinion was expressed by the Canterbury Union that three selectors should be appointed for the South Island. INTERSTAtE RUGBY VICTORIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES. It was reported that in a Rugby football match at Sydney Victoria defeated New South Wales by 17 points to 14. As a matter of fact New South Wales won the match, though the Victorians led at one stage of the second half by 14 points to 6. It was on Monday, the King’s Birthday, that Victoria turned the tables, defeating New South Wales by 14 points to 8. The Victorians were captained by E. Jeesep, the former Poneke, Wellington, and New Zealand forward. The splendid physique of the Victorian forwards, it is stated, excited admiration, and that in this respect they compared favourably’with the traditional New Zealand standard, five of them being over six feet in eight and the eight averaging a pound short of 14st. RUGBY AFFRAY MATCH AT MASTERTON. Disgraceful scenes are reported to' have marked the closing stages of the Glad-stone-Masterton junior grade Rugby match played at Rugby Park on Saturday (states a special message from Masterton to the Wellington Post).' It is said that bad temper was exhibited early in tbe game. A Masterton player retired in the first spell with his face badlv bruised, and a Gladstone player was ordered off in the Same spell. Late in the match a Masterton player. J. Morris, was badly hurt by a heavy kick in tbe groin. His team mates alleged that the kick was deliberate, and it is stated that one of them knocked out a member of the opposing team. Something in the nature of a general affray was beginning to develop when n constable, several Rugby Union officials, and spectators, summoned from Memorial Park, appeared on the scene, and succeeded in quelling the disturbance. Morris, who was injured rather seriously, received medical attention, and was taken to his home by car. Several other players were injured in the course of the game, but none of them, it is stated, seriously. Players and a number of spectators declare that at no stage did the referee, Mr P. Ryan, lose control of the game. It is stated that the kick which laid Morris out was delivered when the referee’s back was turned. No first aid was available on the ground, alid a message bad to be sent to Memorial Park for assistance. It is anticipated that a full and searching investigation of the whole affair will be made by the Wairarapa Rugby Union.