RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE GAME IN JAPAN RETURN OF UNIVERSITY TEAM (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 16. Seventeen of the New Zealand University Rugby players, with the manager (Mr P. Martin-Smith) and Mr A. M'Phail (Canterbury), who travelled with the team, arrived by the Makura from Sydney this morning. Fifty or more pyjama-elad students from the Weir Hostel welcomed the arrivals in student fashion. In an interview Mr Martin-Smith spoke enthusiastically of the type of football played iu Japan, and also of the hospitality showered upon them. “ They play a very good type of football, and they are exceedingly well trained and disciplined. Their team work is excellent, but they lack individual initiative somewhat. They play like a machine,” he said. They are very keen to learn, as in other spheres, and the- result was that towards the end of the tour it was noticeable that improved form was being displayed by them. They played delightful iootball in the final test. They played a 3-2-2 scrum, an extra’ man being used sometimes as rover and sometimes as an extra three-quarter, called a seven-eighth, mid played usually halfway between the three-quarters and full-back. , The New Zealanders had to fall back on the 2-3-2 formation. Ho was personally satisfied that the - 3-4-1 and 3-2-2 formations vyere no good. The difficulty experienced by the New Zealand forwards in the scrum was due largely to the fact that their opponents, being small and nuggety, packed lower, and the New Zealanders’ weight was rendered ineffective. A feature of the Japanese game was their passing, which was done at a great pace. They pass and pass until a man is free and then lie goes through. There is very little real effort to beat a mao, although in the final test they were coming through quite a bit. The New Zealand team took a while to settle down. The grounds had no turf, and, in Japan, a particularly cold winter had been experienced. LETTER FROM THE MANAGER GOOD RESULTS OF TOUR. (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 16. A letter from the manager of the New Zealand University Rugby team says that the team reached Hongkong on its return from Japan on February 21, and expresses satisfaction at the result of the tour, which has been an extensive one. both from the football and the social The Japanese people (he wrote) had entertained them most hospitably, and their time had been fully engaged. Considerable difficulty was experienced at times in fielding a thoroughly fit team owing to a good deal of sickness and the large number of injuries. Against Hongkong they were forced to play seven forwards and eight backs, ns no fewer than five forwards were unavailable. However, all the injured would be fit and well in a few days, and there were now no cases of sickness in the team. The tourists feel that a great deal of good has been done by the visit, the students of the two countries getting to know one another and understand something of the problems of the two countnin Its four weeks’ stay in Japan the team saw much of interest, and ah members were delighted with their experiences’ jn Japan. One member (Hudson, from Canterbury College) stayed behind to pursue studies in structural engineering, with special reference to earthquakeresisting construction. At the farewell dinner on the eve ot the team’s departure eulogistic reference was made by Japanese officials to the football played by the New Zealanders, and especially to the way they had been thorough gentlemen on all occasions, ine members of the team had formed many deep friendships with the Japanese with whom they came in contact, and uad found the Japanese people gracious, hospitable, sjjd kindly hosts. All were keenly looking forward to getting back to their homes in New Zealand. SOUTHERN CLUB The fifty-second annual meeting of the Southern Rugby Football Club was held last night. Thera was a good attendance of members, presided over by Mr W. J. Pearson (president). . Before commencing the business the chairman referred to the deaths of two club members, Messrs R. Gibb and D. Swinton. Mr Gibb, he said, had been well known as he was an active player until recently. Mr Swinton had also been an esteemed member, and both would be greatly missed. —A motion of sympathy with the'relatives was carried in silence. Moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman said that lie had pleasure in congratulating the chib on winning the Senior Grade Competition. The past season bad been one of the most successful in the club’s history. The fact that six teams were fielded and that the First and Second Grade competitions had been won, and three other teams had been runners-up in their grades, spoke highly for the standard of performance. Ihe teams had turned out in good order; they had looked like footballers, and they had played the game. Credit was due to the club coaches for the and the performance of their teams. Some difficulty had been experienced in obtaining a practice area, but thanks to the Rugby Union and the Dunedin Club, the Caledonian Ground had been procured, and it bad answered the purpose admirably. As the Caledonian Ground was the home of the Dunedin Club, it was a fine gesture on its part to allow the Southern Club tlio use of it. One member, J. Hore, had won All Black honours and proved his worth overseas, and the chairman congratulated him, and also the players who had won other representative honours. Members would also be pleased to know, he said, that Bathgate Park was ready for training purposes, and the club should greatly benefit from the improvements carried out. Financially, the year had been quite a good one, and the year was concluded with a credit balance. The motion was seconded by Mr W (i. Kmdley, who congratulated the elub on the remarkable achievement of the past year. He bad been particularly pleased with the team work of the first fifteen. This had been an aim which the coaches had laboured long to bring about. Mr V. G. Cavanngh also congratulated the club on its success. The report and balance sheet were then adopted. • , The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—Patron, Air W. G. Kmdley; president, Mr W. J. Pearson; vicc-prcsi-dents —Messrs W. Bean, J. Brook**, J. Brk'L'S, J. Mahoney* A. Chambers, A. Forguson, J. Carnegie, R. White, L. Edwards, A. G. Monk, A. Emslie, F. Evans, W.

Heffernan, W. Henderson, J. H. Hinton, W. Inglis, J. D. Pearson, J. H. Pearson, R. Richardson, A. Tillyshort, li. Tonkins, J. B. Wootton, H. L. Jsaacs, T. Moynihan, G. Anuinie, R. Wardrop, Muir, T. Cahill, and S. Pitt; club captain, Mr 11. W. Alexander; secretary and treasurer, Mr S. R. Inglis; assistant secretary, Mr W. Inglis; General Committee—Messrs V. Cavanagh, H. Simon, R. Inglis, W. Harper, A. M'Kerrow, H. Hartley, J. Here, H. Smith, E. Prebble, J. Galbraith, H. Chooquec, R. Edwards; auditors, Messrs J. B. Wootton and W. J. Pearson. It was decided to hold the first practice on March 28. Mr V. G. Cavanagh addressed the members on the subject of the non-kick into touch rule. If this was adopted, he said, the authorities would be disloyal to the true spirit of the Rugby game in New Zealand. They would be catering for a minority of fast players, regardless of the fact that the slower men were the backbone of the game. Football was the game for the masses, and he would not like to see anything introduced that would change that. The strength of English football was in its conservatism and Us adherence to the old broad spirit of the game, and in his opinion New Zealand would be well advised not to adopt any experiments. The chairman said ho endorsed Mr Cava'nagh’s remarks. The game was fast enough as it was played at present. Years ago the non-kick into touch rule was in use, and at that time it had been the downfall of the forward game. On the motion of Mr J. B. Wootton it was decided that the incoming committee should instruct its delegates to oppose any attempt to introduce this rule. GREEN ISLAND CLUB The annual meeting of the Green Island Rugby Football Club was held on Wednesday last. The president (Mr T. G. Tomkins) presided over a good attendance of members. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, Mr Tomkins expressed his pleasure at the progressively improving financial position of the club. He congratulated the playing members on their bearing on and off the field during the season, and urged them to maintain the good conditions of the ground and buildings. He also advised the, players to pay their subscriptions at the beginning of the season, so ag to have the full cover of the O.R.F.U.’s Accident Insurance Fund. In stressing the value of this, Mr Tomkins said that the thanks of the players generally were due to the 0.R.8.U, for its handling of the fund, and for assistance to clubs in other directions. During the year electric light had been installed in the dressing sheds, and two flood-lights provided for outside training. Better goal posts had been supplied. The provision of showers would be considered by the incoming committee. The ground was in excellent condition and gave promise of a good surface for the season. He wished to express the thanks of the committee to Mr Howard, who was retiring from the committee, and to the coaches— Messrs Bennett, M'Mullan, and Diehl. The report was adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron, the Mayor of Green Island (Mr T. M'Ahan); president, Mr T; G. Tomkins: vice-presidents—Messrs W. 0. Smellie. D. Buchanan, D. Reid, J. M'Mullan, R. Umbers. T. Anderson, W. Morland, and L. Miller; secretary, Mr R. Christensen; assistant secretary, Mr M. Watson; club captain. Mr G. Watt; auditor, Mr A. L. Burk; committee — Messrs Reid. M'Mullan, Christie. Umbers, George, A. Lanauze, and W. J. Bennett; representative to annual meeting, Mr Tomkins. Five new members were elected. The official opening was arranged for April 4.