RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

By Full-back

$ REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES *June 15 (Wednesday).—Otago v. Bay n of Plenty.

? cargill (shield match). ; ■ Cantei’bury. ■.August 20. —Payne Trophy match, at ' Christchurch. ' South Canterbury. J Hawke's Ba v . "September 17 —Otago v Wellington. J ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENT Curious.”—The advantage rule obi tains in the case of a knock on. The rule on the point reads: “ hi i; the case of a throw forward or a * knock on the ball shall be brougnt £ back to the place of infringement f and a scrummage formed there s unless the opposing team gains an t advantage.” 5 university av. kaikokai £ The University A team hooked the ‘ball oftener and cleaner from the Hscrums than the Kaikorai pack, and as »a consequence the A rearguard had aplenty of opportunities to play constructive football. University A won Jby three tries (one converted) to a ■lry and a penalty goal. J; Howden’s passing from the scrums the start of tjje game could have s

been improved, but thereafter he fed Berghan. first five-eighth, well. Some promising movements broke down through Jones, at centre, trying to go too far, and both the tries scored by the A rearguard were secured on the blind side after short passing. Berghan was again the outstanding back on his side, and Mee, second fiveeighths, showed up on defence. Berghan was always in the play, and he varied his tactics with judgment. Neither Steele noi 'Bissett, on the wings, had many chances. The one good opportunity Bissett had resulted in his scoring at the corner flag, Egan’s fielding of the ball in the air was safe, but on more than one occasion he failed to pick up the greasy ball from the ground, and thus put his side on defence. He was hurt it the second half and left the ground. Burns and Mack were always in the thick of the close play, and Borrie and C. Howden were noticeable in the loose rushes. The Kaikorai forwards lacked something in dash in the first spell, but at the opening of the second spell they staged some slashing rushes, which kept the Blues busy on defence. The hill pack came with another great rally towards the end of the game, and both Chapman and Scott just failed to go over from scrums on the line. None of the Kaikorai backs impressed, with the exception of Chapman, first five-eighth. B. Ruff, at centre was weak, and the play of his wings suffered as a consequence. Chapman was the mainstay of the Kaikorai rearguard. He passed out to Manning with accuracy, his line kicking was good, and his tackling sound. W. Ruff played a serviceable .game at full-back, but his lofty kicks did not always find the line.

'Davie, hooker, and Murray were a pair of hard workers in the hill pack, -and Reid was seen at the head of some loose rushes. Souness, wingforward, scored Kaikorai's only try. He snapped up the ball from a scrum on the Blues’ line and dived over Souness at times appeared to get in the way of his half-back, Scott. The Kaikorai pack has weight and strength, and the only conclusion to be reached, when considering the manner in which the A forwards hooked the ball in the scrums; is that all the hill men were not putting in their weight. Backs, under these circumstances, have not mjich opportunity of coming into action.

; SOUTHERN v. PIRATES ll’lie match at Carisbrook between Southern and Pirates ended in favour a better side, both forward and back, because it made fewer'mistakes thian its opponents. The Southern backs, apart from D. Trevathan. were not particularly impressive, and the ball seldom got past Inglis, centre three-quarter. Black and Nisbet, on thfe wings, however, showed plenty of dash, but they had little room in which to 1 work. Nisbet’s try early in the gafrie finished off an excellent movement started by D. Trevathan. Bolton, at full-back, had plenty to do, and he usually had sufficient time to make ftdfe clearances. Simon was absent from the Southern team, and his place at half-back was taken by Andrews, who proved a useful substitute. D. TH-ev.athan played his best game this season. All his play was marked by judgment, and he was the outstanding ijack on the ground. IS Ouaid, McDonald. Wallace and Edwards were a quartet of solid workers if. the Southern pack. 3 After the Tirst quarter of an hour dr so the Pirates forwards had a good share of the ball in the scrums, but although the bac’ threw the ball rfbout freely, their passing was faulty times, and they did not get back quickly to retrieve the mistakes thus isade. This was really the difference between the back play of the two tsams. ? Campeil. half-back, was close co the Will! all the afternoon, and he got through a great deal of work in a most creditable style, Taylor fullhack, made no mistakes, and he was ope of the few players on either side t{) show reliability in his line kicking. Ife is still the best full-back playing ih Dunedin. The other Pirates backs a3i showed pace, but they failed to pl'nelrate against the solid tackling they had to face. %Tho Pirates forwards could not be blamed for the defeat of their side, as, led by Parkhill and Mahoney, they held the opposing pack in the close and probably had the advantage in the loose. Clode and Graham wc-e a" 1 couple of forwards who also kept vsell in the picture. % DUNEDIN v. ALHAMBRA i Dunedin’s victory by 22 points to S'*over Alhambra at Tahuna Park was ctjte largely to the enterprise of the backs, who gave easily the best display of bright football turned on by the Dark Blues this season. From the outset play was fast and interesting, sjhd when Dunedin's first try came ftom a smart passing movement, the bucks seemed to gain encouragement, ajjid for the remainder of the game continued to throw the bail about ■Whenever the opportunity ofl'cred. The forwards played solidly, and both in the tight and the loose proved too

much for the opposing pack, which lacked combination. The Alhambra backs, moreover, showed little cohesion and for the most part their tackling was weak. Manion, Spillane and Wallace were the pick of the Dunedin backs. Spillane, who potted a goal, scored a try and was responsible for two other tries. He played a particularly bright game.' Collett, Brosnan and Aitken were a trio of hard workers in the winning pack. The Alhambra backs were without the services of N. A. Mitchell, who had earlier in the week ricked his knee while training. Orange and Seward showed a good deal of initiative, but it was unfortunate that several movements which they attempted to open up were rendered futile through lack of support. P. Mitchell, Skinner and Lament were the outstanding forwards. ZINGARI-RICHMOND v. UNION The match between Zingari-Rich-rnond and Union was marred by far too much muddling play. Rapson, the Zingari first five-eighth, was given particular attention by the Union breakaways early in the game, and to get out of trouble he commenced to punt to the line and apparently the other Zingari backs thought it a good plan to follow suit. The Union breakaways did not exercise much judgment, and they were repeatedly penalised liy the referge for offside play. The Zingari backs kicked to the line too much, but they did not always get it, and Silver, the Union full-back, made few mistakes in finding the line in his returns. Silver, who was playing his first game this season, gave an excellent display. The other Union backs had few opportunities and they were inclined to stand flat-footed and pass, a fault which was also noticeable in the Zingari backs. Idour, on the wing, scored two tries for Zingari. and Werner, also on the wing, scored for Union and was the best of the Maroon three-quarters. Pollock and Hennessey were the best of the Zingari forwards and Walker was outstanding in the Union pack. TAIERI v. UNIVERSITY B The spectators at the University Oval on Saturday were treated to an open game, in which no fewer than 43 points were scored. Taieri \yoh by 25 points to 18 points. Both sides threw the ball about, and while some of the movements were well executed many broke down through faulty handling. The long-striding Grant, whose wing was .favoured by the run of the play, scored three tries, two of them at theend of fine passing movements. Murray, at centre, played an outstanding game, He fed his wings well, and he himself scored a great try just before the end of the game, Johnstone and Campbell, the Taieri five-eighths, tried with some success to open up the play. Campbell in particular shaping well. The Taieri forwards secured most of the ball from the scrums, and Frew, half-back, as a consequence, was able to pass smartly to Campbell. Barron, Henderson, and Law were a trio of hard-working forwards, and Broadley and Cursey were generally in front of the loose rushes. The Taieri pack is making a study of the tactics used by Southern and University in hooking the ball smartly to the backs from a half-formed scrum, and is beginning to use it with some effect. Falvey played a sound game at fullback for the B’s, and Moore and Fyffe. the ex-Southland High School player, who fill the five-eighths positions, both played excellent games, and they each scored a well-earned try. Park, at. centre, was overshadowed by Murray. Simpson played his usual plucky game behind the scrum. He was hurt in the second spell, and was replaced by Watson. Vosailagi turned out again for the B’s, and, did fine work in the line outs. He should materially strengthen the forward play of the B team. Wall worked hard in the tight play, and Baragwanath (15.12) was also noticeable In the close work. SOUTH v. NORTH ISLAND THE OTAGO NOMINATIONS . The interisland match is now to be played at Athletic Park on June 11, instead of June 6. The three Otago selectors have simply relied on the province’s All Blacks whq played against the Springboks for their nominations for the South Island team, with the addition of Berghan, the University first five-eighth.

Only one forward in Parkhill has been nominated, the other five being backs. The nomination, therefore, would make Parkhill to be the best forward in Otago, though McDonald, the Southern forward, would, no doubt, have been nominated had he been available. There is a distinct dearth of fullbacks in the Dominion to-day, and Taylor should be assured of the position in the South Island team, and should also have an excellent chance of selection for the New Zealand team. N". A. Mitchell has only to show that he is back to form to find a place in the New Zealand team, but he should, in fairness to himself, be played at wing three-quarter. Mitchell has never shown up to any extent in the centre position, and I understand Uiat he himself prefers to play as a wing three-quarter Given a good centre three-quarter. Mitchell, in form, is the most dangerous attacking player in New Zealand to-day. The South Island selectors will have a difficulty in coming to a decision regarding the first five-eighth position, that is, so far as the two Otago nominations are concerned. They may, of course, both bo passer, over, but that is unlikely. Both Berghap and D. Trevathan play in the first five-eighth position in Dunedin, and they both, of course, cannot be included in the South Island team as first five-eighths. Berghan can also play at second fiveeighth, and he has only to bo given the opportunity of playing in the South Island team to show his worth On attack, on defence, and for allround attractive and well-judged play he is the equal of any five-eighth playing in the Dominion to-day. It is difficult to compare the play of Berghan and D. Trevathan, as their styles are entirely different. There is no doubt, however, that Berghan has the greater thrust and is quicker off the mark than Trevathan. Simon, half-back, still retains the form which gained him inclusion in the All Black team last year. He >s steady, reliable, he passes smartly from the scrums, and is close to the ball from the first whistle to the last. Simon has never been known io let his side down.

The men who may be selected from Otago should certainly uphold the football honour of the province.

NOTES C. Saxton, the ex-Pirates and Otago half-back and a New Zealand trialist, and the man the Springboks regarded as probably the best half they met in the Dominion, has been showing consistently good form in Timaru this year. He has been receiving a lot of attention from opposing breakaways, but, for all that, he has been doing his work like a tradesman. The captain of the Central Hawke’s Bay side which met Hawke’s Bay last week was C. Rae, former Otago, Otago New Zealand University, ”and Victoria College half-back. Rae is playing for Old Boys in Waipukurau. and local reports indicate that he is turning on pretty good football. The Bay of Plenty side which is to tour the South Island this month is to have the benefit of coaching from W. J. (“Billy”) Wallace during its stay in Wellington on. the way south. Arrangements have been made for instruction to be given either indoors or outdoors, as the weather permits. Best. 1935 All Black, will probably lead the side. , s L K. Heazlewood, the ex-Zingari-Richmond and Otago full-back, who enjoys the comparatively rare distinction of having played for both he North and South Islands, is again playing this year with Linwood in Christchurch. Heazlewood has been in Rugby a long time (he represented the South Island as long ago as 1927), and he retains his form remarkably well. The former Southland and 1937 All Black forward. R H. Ward, now playing in Hastings, has not been much in the spotlight since his transfer (says a northern writer). He has been receiving plenty of attention from opposing forwards, and this has curbed him to some extent, but still he has not shown anything approaching All Black form yet. Judged on his displays to date he may not gain a place in the North Island pack, WELLINGTON v. TARANAKI Mr W. J WALLACE’S VIEWS The three highlights of the Tara-naki-Wellington match last week were the drop-kick by John Meuli towards the end of the match, his penalty goal, an effort worthy of an All Black, and J. L, Griffiths’s try. said Mr W. J. Wallace. 1905 All Black, at the dinner to the teams at Hawera. He had noticed that the first six times Wellington hooked the bal) Meuli 'tackled Griffiths cleanly. Mr Wallace was not in accord with the theory that it was good defence lo run backs across field (states the Taranaki Daily News), Not only had Meuli tackled Griffiths cleanly, but the reverse took place later. Griffiths doing the same thing to Meuli. He was a firm believer that each back should tackle his opponent right along the line, if only for the sake of the forwards, If the first five-eighth made sure of his man the forwards were on the spot immediately, but not so if thev had to run across the field to •tackle the wing three-quarter. In spite of poor tackling, a lack of sting in the backs, and inferiority in the scrums, Taranaki boat Wellington by 9 points (a try, a penalty goal, and a goal from a mark) to 8 (a converted try and a penalty goal), adds the Taranaki News. Goal-kicking decided the issue, and J, Meuli, the young Okaiawa second five-eighth drafted into the Taranaki team from the Wanganui College first fifteen last year, was the hero of the day after having given a disappointing display for most of the game. When Simpson tailed to score with two penalty kicks Meuli put Taranaki ahead with the next. Wellington established a twopoint lead and held it to within five minutes of time, when Meuli took a mark in front of the posts and scored with a long and accurate dropkick.