RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

By Fnlll-back REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES June 15 (Wednesday).—Otago v. Bay of Plenty. July 30.—Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill (shield match). August 7.—Otago v. North Otago, at Dunedin. August 10 (Wednesday).—-Otago v. Canterbury. August 20.—Payne Trophy match, at Christchurch. August 24 (Wednesday).—Otago v. South Canterbury. August 31 (Wednesday).—Otago v. Hawke’s Bay. September’3.—Qtago v. Taranaki. September 10—Otago v. Southland. September v. Wellington. „ SUB-UNION GAMES July 9 Country trial game, at Balclutha. July 13 (Wednesday).—Combined Subunions v. Metropolitan team, at Dunedin. July 16.—Otago Sub-unions’ team v. Southland Sub-unions’ team, at Dunedin. TOUR OF AUSTRALIA The All Blacks will play nine matches in Australia, including three tests. The itinerary is as follows; July 16.—v. New South Wales. July 20—v. Newcastle. July 23—v. Australia, at Sydney. July 27.—v. Western Union, at Wellington, New South Wales. July 30.—v. Queensland. August 3.—v, Queensland Country fifteen. August 6.—v. Australia, at Brisbane. August 10.—Game at Canberra. August 13.—v. Australia, at Sydney. The team will sail from Wellington by the Wanganella on July 7 and return from Sydney for the same port on August 15.

Consequent on the heavy rain which fell on Saturday, the local matches were not played. A fresh draw has been made for Saturday. The attraction at Carisbrook on Saturday will be the match between University B and Pirates, and a fast, open game should be witnessed. The South Island scored a convincing win against the North Island on Saturday by 23 points to 3 points. The score at half time, it may be added, was 20 points to nil. The main factor which brought victory to the South was the sterling wbrk of their forwards. who played as a team, whereas included in the North pack were too many solo players. As a consequence the' South pack were able to get most of the ball from the scrums. Another factor was the remarkable manner in \Vhich the South bacjcs and forwards handled, the greasy ball. Saxton, Berghan, and Taylor were the outstanding backs on the field, the 23-year-old Otago University player being particularly. impressive. Berghan was opposed by Crossman, emergency for the New Zealand team last year, and regarded as a sound first five-eighths, both on attack and defence, but_he, went past him time and time again. It was a popular victory for the South (states the Christchurch Press in its report of the South v. North Island match), for Wellingtonians expressed their dissatisfaction with the North Island selection, which included no Wellington men. and, indeed, only one from all the unions south of Taranaki ahd Hawke’s Bay. by barracking in a body for the South. The spectacular dive pass so brilliant a' feature. of the play of the Springbok scrum-half Danie Craven last season was exploited by both Saxton and Russell in the first half of the South-North match, and when Crossman, owing to Russell’s injury, was played as the North Island half in the second spell he also made use of it. The first five-eighth on each side stood deep. Berghan has had something of a varied football career. He began in North Auckland and subsequently played for Auckland University. Later he came to Dunedin, and quickly found a place in the Otago University team. ' Last year he played for the South Island University side against the North Island University fifteen, and was selected for the New Zealand University team—a team chosen for the purpose of awarding New Zealand University blues.

SOUTH ISLAND V. NORTH ISLAND COMMENT ON THE PLAYERS The following comment on the players in the South v. North match is taken from the Wellington Post:— Masters started shakily and was uneven with his kicking, but improved

with the progress of the game, though he was never impressive. Phillips received few opportunities, but occasionally looked dangerous. Made one run in the first spell, beating several opponents, including Mitchell. Used his weight and strength. Sullivan. Little was seen ot him in the first half. The ball rarely reached him. He seemed in any event to be favouring his injured leg Moved into second five-eighths in the second spell when Crossman went to half-back in place of Russell, who did not resume, due to a first-spell injury, Sullivan showed up a little better in this half, but not , up to usual form. Dick had limited chances. Made one or two runs, but did not gain much ground. Mitchell was as good as ever. Made several characteristic tricky dashes. Snapped up the ball once after a dropped pass and jazzed through to score a typical try. Berghan lived rigiu up to his reputation. He was the outstanding back on the field. He handled well and cut through brilliantly on many occasions. He caught the eye in practically all the South back movements Looks a certain All Black. Saxton was the better ot the two halves, even before the departure of Russell. He was helped to a great extent by his forwards. His passing was admirable, and his all-round game sound. Saxton and Berghan went excellently together, , Taylor as safe as ever. Kicked exceptionally well, defended solidly, and fielded the greasy ball outstandingly. Wesney prominent in first spell. Has a nice turn of speed, and appealed generally as an alert player. Crossman made one run early, but was disappointing even before going lo half. V/ynyard very prominent in the line out, and showed up occasionally in loose.

Milliken, though a big man followed up well, ana generally appealed in the second half as one of the best forwards on the field. Williams Kept up with play well, and was always looking for work. Dalton, prominent occasionally. Pearce caught the eye a few times, but not the prominent man he was in the trials last year. Quaid shone in the loose, and followed up well. Scored one try in first half. McKenzie played a rugged game, and appeared to have lost none of last year’s form. Carson was prominent in the loose in the early stages, but was not sighted much in the second spell, Parkhill played a solid game, without being especially noticeable —a good feature perhaps. Roberts paired very well with Berghan, particularly in the first half. He handled well, and had a keen eye for an opening.

Morrison showed any amount of dash, and followed up well. Played altogether a useful all-round game. Bowman was not noticeable until late in the second spell, when he showed some dash in the loose. Jackson, a hard-working forward, was noticeable once or twice at the head of North rushes. Cameron played a useful game. He impressed rather more at first fiveeighth in the second spell than he did in the first. He had a very tough opponent in Berghan. A Dunedinite who watched the South-North match informs me that, in his opinion, McKenzie and Jackson were the best of the North forwards, and that he was disappointed with the play of Bowman, Wynyard, Pearce, and Dalton. He went on to say that he had never seen Quaid, the South hooker, play a better game. He was also impressed with the display given by Williams. CYRIL TOWERS OUT The New South Wales Rugby Union selectors have called “Time” to Cyril Towers’s long representative career.

He was omitted from 40 players announced to train for the State games against Queensland and Victoria. The selectors’ decision will be con? troversial, says one critic, but they took the step only after lengthy deliberation and with a long view to the future welfare of the game. Towers is probably one .of the best club players still, but possibly because he becomes a “ marked ” man when he steps on the field in a representative game, he has not risen to greatness since 1930 He has shown flashes of old-time brilliance, but not the same consistency. He may yet force his way into the State teams, but Towers is too fine a sportsman to resent the selectors’ action. Towers is 31. He has not been omitted from a New South Wales team when available since 1926. NORTH v. SOUTH ISLAND The following are the results of the games played between the South and North Islands:— Date. Where played. Result. 1897—Wellington, North, 16 to 3. 1902 Wellington, South, 20 to 11. 1903 Auckland, South, 12 to 5. 1904 Dunedin, Drawn, *3 points each. 1905 — Wellington, North, 26 to nil. 1906 Wellington, North, 9 to 5. 1907 Christchurch, North, 11 to nil. 1908— Wellington. North. 12 to 5. 1909 Wellington. South, 19 to 11. 1910— Christchurch, South, 14 to 10. 1911— Wellington, North, 19 to 9 1912 Napier, North, 12 to 8. 1913 Christchurch. South, 25 to nil. *l9l4—Wellington. South. 13 to 8. 1914 — Wellington. South, 8 to nil. 1919 Wellington, North. 28 to 11. 1920 Wellington, North, 12 to 3. 1921 Christchurch. North, 28 to 13. 1922 Auckland. South, 9to 8, 1923 Wellington, drawn, 6 points each. 1924 Wellington, North. 39 to 8. 1925 Invercargill, North, 16 to 5. 1926 Wellington. North, 41 to 9. 1927 Wellington, South, 31 to 30. 1928 Christchurch, South. 15 to 14. 1929 Wellington. North 29 to 20. 1930 No match. 1931 Wellington, drawn. 20 points each. 1932 Christchurch. North. 28 to 10. 1933 Wellington. North, 27 to 18. 1934 Dunedin. South 27 to 20. 1935 Wellington. North. 15 to 9. 1936 Christchurch. North, 17 to 6. 1937 Wellington. South, 30 to 21 1938 Wellington. South 23 to 3. B team. Summary; North. 18 wins: South, 12 wins: drawn. 3. UNIMAGINATIVE FOOTBALL! The following comment from the Wellington Sports Special will be read with cynical amusement’ by coaches and footballers who know the principles of the game. "A Couple of years ago a southern newspaper informed a palpitant world that the trouble with New Zealand football was the encouragement given winging forwards in the North Island; and it unctuously decided that a return to the hard-rucking style common to the south would have remarkable results. Northerners, on the other hand, have inclined to a suspicion that the hard-rucking play of the South Island has been largely unimaginative football." The play of the South forwards in the match at Wellington on Saturday was evidently marked with some imagination. judging from the applause it won from the spectators.

THE GOOD OLD OAVSt During the week I met Mr “ Dick ” Stewart, the old Union and Otago forward, who has been farming at Balfour for a number of years. Mr Stewart was one of the six Otago players who were included in the team which played in the first South-North match in 1897 The other local players were J. Duncan. " Barney ” Annit and “ Duffy ” McLaren (Kaikorai), P J. Priest (Pirates), and W. (“Pat”) Harris ( Union). Mr Stewart relates with cynical humour that each of the Otago players was given their railway and steamer tickets at Dunedin and 5s to pay for their meals, etc., to Wellington and back. When the Otago players arrived in Wellington they protested against such a meagre payment for their expenses, and were generously given another 2s 6d! The first SouthNorth match was played in 1897. and Duncan, Armit, and Harris were included in the All Black team which toured Australia in that year