RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21986, 22 June 1933, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

By Full-back.

OTAGO FIXTURES July 29.—Otago Sub-unions v. Southland Sub-unions, at Dunedin. August s.—v. Southland, at Invercargill. August s.—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 WangaBeptember 9.—v. Wellington, at WellingSeptember 13.—v. Taranaki, at Dunedin. September 16. —v. North Otago, at Dunedin. KAIKORAI v. SOUTHERN The interest in the match between Kaikorai and Southern was well maintained from the kick-off to the final whistle. There were not many bright passing movements by the backs, the game being confined chiefly to forward play. Kaikorai’s score of 19 was made up ot two penalty goals, two potted goals, and a converted try. Of this total Francis scored 12 points—the two penalty goals, a potted goal, and two points for the tiy he converted. Southern’s score was composed of two penalty goals (both kicked by Bolton) and an unconverted Southern had one or two excellent chances to score, faulty handling at the ■ critical moment spoiling the ettort. Neither of the two tries scored during the afternoon, it may be added, came from passing movements. , . ■The Kaikorai backs could not join up to any extent, but they had the advantage over the opposing backs ot fielding the ball cleaner in the air. Southern suffered their first loss of the season, with only one more match in the round to be played, and they also had their line crossed for the first time. Ine record of the club is a very creditable one, and is the reward of the systematic carried on by the soutm end team. The Southern forwards on Saturday did not, however, show their best form. Had the whole pack worked as hard as Hore, Strachan, and M'Donald, the result might have been different, i Drew, full-back for Kaikorai, did some things well and others badly. His tackling was very sound, but his stopping in the face of rushes and his kicking were weak. Johnston, on the wing, was very solid on defence, and, he never allowed the opposing wing three-quarter (Nisbet) to go far. He played about his best game this season. With a little more speed, he would prove a dangerous attacking three-quarter, as he runs with plenty of determination. Cameron played a useful game at. centre, and his tackling, too, was very sound. Keen, the. other three-quarter, was not favoured with the run of the play. He has the distinction of being the first player to score against Southern this season. His try was obtained by smart following up and falling on the ball when, after Francis, had potted without success, the bounce beat a Southern man. Miller, second fiveeighth, was safe, and his line kicking, in the first spell particularly, was very valuable to his side. His potted goal in the second spell was the result of a smart piece of play, but it has to be remembered that he had his other backs outside him, and his side were close to the Southern line. Miller, however, had got past the opposing five-eighth line, and had really run himself out of position, and, as it turned out, he did the right thing in pqttings. Langs best work was when he punted high down the field—and he did .this a few tunes—and changed defence into attack. His passing was not very impressive. Francis, the scrum half-back, played a great part in the success of his side. He was always in the game, and varied his play well. His line kicking was generally timely and well directed. Gibson, Lucy, Allen and Lungley were a quartet of solid working forwards. The Kaikorai forwards massed, well in the tight work, and it was their solid play which really won the victory. Trevathan, full-back for the' Southern, kicked well, .but did not always field the ball cleanly on the ground. Nisbet was ■ the only member of the three-quarter line who showed out. He played a good game, and was always ready to take his pass. Wilson and Sutherland, the five-eighths, and Bimon, half-back, did not get the ball out from the scrum as smartly, as on previous occasions this season. This; was caused more than once by the Southern forwards coming back on to Simon as he stooped for the ball, and also by the fact that both Sutherland and. Wilson were a* times slow with their passes. It appeared to me, moreover, that both Sutherland and Wilson were inclined to stand too close to the scrums. ALHAMBRA ▼. PIRATES Alhambra provided something of a. surprise by defeating Pirates at Logan Park, At half time the Red and Blacks were leading by nine points to nil, and up to that time they were decidedly the superior team, but for the greater part of the second half they were penned in their own territory by Pirates, who were then playing with greater dash and were throwing the ball about freely. The result was that, with about 10 minutes to go, only one point separated the teams. Pirates were still attacking hotly, and it appeared that at any minute they would cross for the deciding try. It was with a good deal ot surprise, therefore, that the spectators saw the Alhambra forwards sweep down tne field in a great loose rush. Pirates appeared to be taken aback at the suddenness of the onslaught,, and before they could settle down their line had. been crossed, giving Alhambra a lead of tour , points. The whistle went a minute later. Alhambra really owed their victory to the dash of their forwards in the first spell. The whole pack played a solid game, Miller and Butler being particularly fast in following up an advantage. Davis played a serviceable game behind the serum, ann his goal kicking was responsible for halt of his team’s score., Gnffen, at first fiveeighth, played a very fair game, while Taylor made a sound defensive threequarter, succeeding in grassing his vis-a-vis. Griffin, on almost every occasion. I lie play of the Alhambra backs, however, was disappointing, and their attacking movements usually lacked thrust. ' The weakness of the Pirates forwards in the first spell cost their side the gam . Both in the line outs and the scrums, they were usually beaten for the ball, 'vhile they failed to hold the A hambra loose rushes. In the second spell they livened up considerably, and, as stated, theyJ lie the upper hand until about 10 minutes before 1 time. Statham played his usual fast came in the open, and was always ready to join up in attacking movements, while Glendining put in a hard days work in the tight. Allen was the best ot the backs. He ran with determination, and his tackling was sound. He obtained five of Pirates’ eight points, kicking a penalty goal and converting the try which Glendining scored. Saxton varied his game behind the scrum will, but neither of his five-eighths Manning and Martin, was impressive, while Ewart failed to produce the form of the previous Satinday. Taylor was safe at full-back, but he should cultivate greater accuracy with Ins kicking to touch.

TAIERI v, ZINGARI-RICHMOND Taieri and Zingari-Richmand met at Mosgiel, and staged an interesting game, the home side winning by f ll points to nil. The ground was heavy and the ball became greasy, handicapping the passing by the backs very considerably. The Zingari-Rkhmond backs nevertheless opened rut with some promising niovements, but lack of thrust spoilt the efforts. , , , Findlay has now got into form and he was the best forward on the ground. Slyfield also played well, but Fmlayson was inclined to fringe the scrums. Geary, half-back, got the ball out well to Bat - cate, but when Ball, second-five-eighth, secured he tried to go too far and paid the penalty. M'Skimmmg (centre) was sound on defence. The ex-country player should try to overcome a tendency to wait for the play to come to him. Osborne and Middlemiss ran strongly when they received the ball. They did not, however. have many opportunities. They, like M'Skimming, would do much better it they cultivated a sense of anticipation. Murdoch, full-back, played a fair game. His saving was generally sound, but his line-kicking at times lacked length.

Douglas and Hennessey were about the best of the Zingari forwards, who, as a matter of fact, all played a plucky game against their heavier opponents. Procter, on the wing, made some good runs after receiving passes from the scrums, but sound tackling brought him up, M'Skimming getting across after the All Black wing three-quarter had beaten his opposing wing three-quarter. One spec l tacular run by Procter failed just short of the line, M'Skimming catching him from behind. Cadarue played his usual solid game at centre, although he was inclined to speculate too much. M'Donald (half-back) sent the ball out well, but Hopewell and Ileid could not make much progress. Reid was inclined to cut m too much. Inglis shaped well at fullback. He, indeed, is looked on as a “find” by the Zingari players for this position. UNIVERSITY A v. DUNEDIN University A scored a comparatively easy win over Dunedin at Tahuna, by 26 points to 3, but had the Dark Blues maintained the form they displayed for the first 30 minutes of the game the difference in the scofes would not have been so large. Playing close up on their opponents, Dunedin, during the first half, gave nothing away, and for the greater part of tfie spell they were on the attack. With the Dark Blue forwards playing as a pack, and every back marking a Light Blue man, Dunedin held their own well, although it must be admitted that at times the University backs were hampered by offside play on the part of a couple of Dunedin forwards, with the result that their attempts to get going were killed almost in their inception. On two occasions at least Eae was tackled from behind before he could get the ball away from the scrum. After the change over the students changed their tactics, and let the ball go more to the forwards, with the result that they at once assumed the upper hand, while Dunedin, both in attack and defence, went to pieces. Cromley and Collett were a pair of hard-working forwards in the Dunedin pack. They were always up with the game, and Collett in particular was sound on defence. Dawkins, as usual, was the mainstay of the backs, but he experienced some difficulty at times in marking Uttley. Treacy’s tackling was sound, and he let very little past him, but he was inclined when tackled to pass wildly. Strang, Service, and Hamilton were always in the forefront of the students attack, and all gave their full weight in the tight play. Rae got the ball away well from the scrums, but, as waj stated previously, his play was cramped at times by the persistent attentions of a pair of Dunedin forwards. On more than one occasion Fookes and Uttley, although they otherwise played a good game, worked infield instead of to the wings, with the result that at least two possible chances of scoring were _ missed. Dunne ran with his characteristic dash, one eff his tries in which he had barely a couple of yards to work on, being a particularly good effort. Jones, on the other wing, saw little of the ball, but he did all that was required of him when he did get it. Ruff was sound at fullback, but his kicking. althmigh it had plenty of power, lacked direction at times.

UNION v. UNIVERSITY B

The Union and University B match provided a good struggle between two equally matched packs of forwards. Tne Maroon pack held the advantage during the earlier portion of the first spell, and then came the Light Blues’ turn, and so the game moved from one end of the field to the other. During the second spell the students had command lor the first half, and then condition began to tell, for the Union pack were masters after that till the end of the match. Both sides were guilty of too much ofiside play, in the matter of coming round the scrum before the ball was heeled out. If the referee had been more strict and penalised once or twice early in the game the offside play would certainly have been minimised. Then again, the game was spoiled by the number of collapsed scrums. The ground was in good order, and why -two packs of forwards should fall down so often was inexplicable. This did not happen with packs for forwards in the brave days of old. . The back play on either side was fair. The halves got the ball nicely away, but it rarely went past the second five-eighth. Ryder, for the Light Blues, certainly made some very fine openings, got up as far as the opposing centre, and passed, the taker being promptly collared, ball and all. On one occasion this player got well away, and passed to Smith, who, when about tp be collared, inpassed to Ryder, who scored. This was the only bright piece of play during the game. Gapes, for the Union, scored an easy try for bis side when he gathered up from a loose rush and ran straight through the opposition, with very little attempt being made to stop him. Silver, for the Union, played well at full-back. His fielding and (line-finding were distinctly good. Mowat, for the University, was not so reliable as in former games. Among the Light Blue forwards Laney. Chin, Sineock, and Smith did much hard work; while . Collier, Garden, and McDonald played well for Union. NOTES From what I can gather, Francis actually potted two goals against Southern. In his first shot the referee ruled “no goal,’’ but several Southern men are quite satisfied that the ball went over the bar and between the posts. If this goal be awarded to Francis, he has the rather remarkable record of two potted goals out of his first three shots, with a try being scored from his third attempt. With Miller’s potted goal we have, therefore, the outstanding feat of three potted goals in one club match in Dunedin. It was Britt who came on in place or Wilson, injured, for Southern on Satur v day, not Parker. Britt wore Parker s jersey—No. 17—and that is how the mis'Uavensbourne travelled to Outram on Saturday, and after an even game defeated the local team by five points to nil. Lowe, full-back, played well tor the country team. Cessford took the place of Galloway as full-back for Ravensbourne. and he gave a good exhibition. Rutherford played a sound game at halfback. Lovelock turned out for Kavensbourne for the first time this season. The All Blacks of 1924 still playing the game include George Nepia (29, years of age), showing good form in the east coast of the North Island; A. E. Cooke (31). taking on another season of League football; Brian M'Cleary (36), who took part in a game over Nelson way the other day; and Jock Richardson (34), who is playing for Manly in the Sydney competition. T . , ~ _ , Tile English Rugby Union and the Scottish Union have published their international fixture list for next season. In neither is a game with France included. These will, of course, be plenty of time to fix dates, if matches are agreed to. Meanwhile, it is obvious that the threat of Rugby League developments leaves the officials of the unions cold (comments an English writer).

The late Mr R. R. Leys, whose death occurred a few days ago, was in his younger days n very fine Rugby footballer, and as a Wanganui representative he had the distinction of scoring a try which enabled Wanganui to gain an “honours easy decision with the British team of 1888. Leys plnved as half-back, and a strapping half lie was. with powerful kicking ns part of his excellent equipment. In later years he resided in Wellington, and one of his sons. E. T. (“Tiny”) Leys, gained New Zealand Rugby representative honours, It is Veported that L. K. Hea/.lewood. the Athletic senior Rugby full-back, is being transferred back to Otahuhu. and that he will be placing again for Manukau in the Auckland senior competition this season.

Points in the Wellington senior competition now stand as follow;—First division: College Old Boys 18, St. Patrick’s Old Boys 12, Poneke 10, Hntt 10. Oriental 10. Eastbourne 8, Wellington 8, Petonc 7, Mnrist 6. Athletic 4. Second division: Johnsonville 12,. University 12. Poneke 12, Onslow 12, Hntt 11, Petone 10. Miramar 5, Upper Hntt 5, Melrosc-Selwyn 2, Berhampore 2.

Peterson (the ex-Southern back) put pace on to Petone’s attack every time he got the ball in the match against Old Boys, and as they were winning it from every scrum (says the Dominion) he probably would have done better in the first five-eighth position than J. Lamhourne, who, while orthodox and steady, did not make the most of his chances.

JUNIOR GRADE TABLES The' following tables show the position of teams engaged in the Junior Grade competitions; — SECOND GRADE. • Ch.

Some of the members of the Southern B and M'Glashan teams are over age, and points scored either against them or by them do not count in the competition. The matches played resulted as

WALLABIES ON TOUR GOOD FORM IN OPENING GAME. In defeating Natal 14 points to 3 the " Wallabies ” began their South African tour auspiciously, displaying brilliant open football, which earned the praises of public and critics alike (says the Sydney Sun correspondent with the team). Some of the referee’s interpretations worried the visitors, and, though their handling was at times astray, it must be remembered that they had just completed a long sea voyage. Success was achieved against a superior set of forwards. Natal failed to take advantage of the feasts from the scrums, principally because of the speed and accurate tackling of the Manly boys, Hodgson and Louden. One movement started five yards from the “ Wallabies’ ” line, and by clever scissors and crisscross work, in which practically the whole team handled the ball, it was taken to within a yard of the goal, where Louden, who was one of the five “Wallabies” waiting on the open side, received the final pass and scored. However, it was their failure to finish off movements near Natal’s goal that presented the score from being much greater than it was. MALCOLM INJURED. Sid Malcolm was affected by a kick on the head which he received during the first half. Australia won 14 of the 38 scrums, 12 of the 32 line outs, and was awarded 9 of the 28 penalties.

Southern P. . 6 W. 6 L. D. Pts. — 12 Ravensbourne .. . . 7 5 1 1 n University C .. . . 5 5 — — 10 9 Pirates A . 0 4 1 1 Alhambra . 0 3 1 2 6 Port, Chalmers .. . . .8 4 2 — 8 Kaikorai . 6 4 — 8 University D .. . . (5 3 2 1 7 6 Pirates B 2 3 2 West’Taieri .. .. . . 7 2 5 — 4 Alhambra B .. . . « 2 4 — 4 Taieri .. .. .. . . 7 2 5 — 4 Zingari' (i 1 4 1 3 Union — 7 — Dunedin . 0 — 6 — — THIRD GRADE. Port Chalmers .... 7 5 _ 2 12 Pirates A . 7 6 1 — 12 University E .. . . <3 5 — 1 11 Alhambra . 7 5 I 1 11 Southern 3 2 2 8 High School 4 — — 8 Kaikorai . 7 3 2 8 Zingari , fi 4 ,2 8 Brighton . V 2 3 2 0 University G .. . . 6 2 4 — 4 Pirates B 2 5 , r — 4 University F .. • Taieri . 5 1 3 i 3 1 5 i Dunedin 1 6 — 2 Union . 6 — 4 i i Ravensbourne .. . . V — 6 i i FOURTH Zingari A GRADE. . 6 5 1 i 10 Southern A 4 — 9 Dunedin . 6 4 1 i 9 Christian Brothers 4 3 — i i Alhambra . 5 3 1 i 7 Port Chalmers .. . . 5 3 2 — 6 Taieri 2 2 i 5 Kaikorai 2 3 i 5 Union . 6 1 5 — 2 High School 1 4 — Pirates — 5 — — Zingari B . 4 — 4 — —

follows:—; M'Glashan .. .. .. 3 2 1 _ _ Southern B .... .. 5 — 5 — — FIFTH GRADE. Southern 4 ‘ 4 8 Alhambra .. .. .. 4 3 1 — 0 Technical .. .. .. 4 3 1 — 6 Green Island .. .. 5 2 3 — 4 High School A .. .. 3 2 1 — 4 Christian Brothers 5 1 2 2 4 Zinf?arl" .. 5 1 3 1 3 High School B .. 3 1 1 1 3 Mosiriel District H.S. 3 1 2 — 2 Dunedin .. .. .. 4 . 4 — —