RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23599, 8 September 1938, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

, v By Full-back REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES June 15 (Wednesday).—Oiago v Bay of Plenty. Lost 9 to 6. July 30.—Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill (shield match) Won 7to 6.. August 10 (Wednesday —Otago v Canterbury at Carisbrook. Won 16 t 0 7 - August 24 (Wednesday.—Otago * South Canterbury. Won 27 to 16. August 27.—Otago v North Otago at Dunedin. Won by 12 points to nil. August 31—Hawke’s Bay. Won by 4 points to nil. September 3.—Otago v. Taranaki. Won by 24 points to 3. September 10.—Otago v. Southland. September 17.—Otago v Wellington The list of interprovincial matches which Otago is being called bn to play this season is now nearly completed. Otago has played six shield games and has yet to meet Southland (the return game) and Wellington. In the matches played Otago has scored 90 points and her opponents 32 and it is worthy of mention that the points scored against Otago have all been from field, and penalty goals. Not once has the Dari:: Blues’ line been crossed. In the matches against Southland : tmd Hawke’s Bay the deciding factor, was a potted goal, D. Trevathaii kicking a field goal in each match.

In the first match, when Otago won the shield from'Southland, four country forwards were included in the Otago team in W. McLelland, D Hamilton. F. Garty and J. Morrison. Hamilton was injured in that game, and had to leave the field, and McLelland is the only country forward who has been able, to hold his place in. the Otago team. On their return from their tour in Australia Parkhill and Quaid were included in the Otago forwards and Berghan and Taylor came into the rearguard. Mitchell would also have been in the Otago team had he not been Suffering from an injured leg. The Otago team has now been moulded into a very combination ' with the rearguard: having strength on defence and ‘thrust on attack. There are nine All Blacks in the team selected to Rtay . ag f l3 f: Southland on Saturday. -On the form at present being displayed by Otago, it will take a good team to beat the shield holders. LOCAL OR OUTSIDE REFEREES The discussion at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union on Tuesday night regarding whether the union should or should not ask for an outside referee for the Wellington-Otagp match raises a rather important question. The Otago Union, when its team has been on tour, has always been prepared to accept a referee from the province in which the game was being played, and has, in turn, expected visiting teams to Dunedin to agree to a local referee. .That is. so far as ordinary interprqyincial games are concerned. The position is hardly the same, however, where shield games have to be decided. There was a desire on-the part of some, members of the committee of the Wellington Union that an outside referee should be appointed for the game with Otago, but it was finally agreed to accept a Dunedin referee. At the meeting of the Wellington Union, Mr J. Moffltt stated that “ Otago was the only union that has held the shield to want a local referee.” That is not a fair comment on the attitude of the Otago Union. The local union is prepared to accept an outside referee if a visiting team wants one— Hawke’s Bay had an outside referee—but it holds that as it has always been prepared to play under a, local referee when the Otago team \vas on tour, the same principle should be followed when a touring team came to Dunedin. There is no doubt, however, that there is a great difference between ordinary interprovincial games and shield games.In the circumstances,, and with not the slightest desire to make any/ref ections on the local refereeing, it appears to me that the appointment, of outside referees in shield games would be a wise move. It is interesting to note that this view is also held by one leading Dunedin referee at any rate.

“ OPEN THE OTHER EYE ” A well-known supporter of the Otago team, who. unfortunately, cannot see any good play by the opposing side,. received a well-merited rebuke at the Taranaki match on Saturday. Adopting his usual procedure, hj commenced to barrack for the Blues in a manner which caused considerable irritation to the other spectators in the grand stand. As it turned out, he occupied a seat behind Mr R. Masters, the manager of the Taranaki team, who, in desperation,', at last turned round and raid: “For heaven’s sake, open the'ether eye.” PHILLIP NEL’S OPINION This is what Phillip Nel. captain of the 1937 Springboks who toured Australia and New Zealand, thought of the first test match against the British side, played 1 at Johannesburg; ;M think the South Africans were unlucky not to be -leading by a bigger margin by half time.” he said to a Sunday times (Johannesburg) reporter. “ They lost two seemingly certain tries. The most pleasing feature of the game was that our fellows did not hesitate to open up the game, and they lived up to the reputation that we had in New Zealand.” It will do much to establish the open type of game for which there has been a great cry in this country. “It was rather surprising the manner in which the Britisher,: dominated the play in the line out. and not taking the scrum seemed like an admission that the Britishers were .tronger in that department of the game. “On the whole, I think the passing of th 6 South Africans was much cleaner and drisper than that of our opponents. I think in this department we held a definite advantage It was a match that will always be remembered for the remarkable kicking.” ; Commenting on the first test. R. Bali, a former Wellington representative player, states that Gerry Brand’s bool was as reliable as ever, and hi.; drop kick from the left side in his own half was a master kick; in fact, the spectators had to move back to allow him space for his run. and this alone would have rattled a player of less experience. Brand missed but two kicks at goal during the match. One of these hit the post. Apart from his ■ general play, which wa? excellent, the' accuracy of his boot must have had ~, psychological effect on the British team, and it certainly inspired the Springboks. Vivian Jenkins had been anything i-but reliable until this match, but on this occasion he did not make a mistake all day. He kicked three penalties—one from well inside his own half and one which was a complete surprise to the South African supporters, as only the inimitable does things like ■ that.

BEST EVER When V. G. J. Jenkins, the British full-back, got his'second penalty in the first Rugby test against South Africa at Ellis Park, Johannesburg,-he .landed the longest penalty kick ever goaled in a match on the ground. Jenkins looked a super optimist as he placed the ball in his own territory—eight yards inside halfway. He took his run, bang, and the ball cleared the crossbar with a little to spare. It was a personal record for ' Jsnkihs in an actual game, but two days before the match he had managed 'to get the ball over twice from 65 .yards’ range. The buoyant atmosphere of Johannesburg favours lengthy kicking; but ■ Jenkins’s effort for all that was remarkable.

BRITISH TEAM’S RECORD The British Rugby team, whose tour of South Africa is now drawing to a close, has a very creditable record in South Africa in spite of the way the team has been affected by injuries. In the 21 matches played, _ the tourists have won 15, lost 6; points for. 354; points against, 234. Details are. as follows:

The remaining fixtures of the tour are as follows: September 10. —Third test, at Capetown. September 14.—Capetown and Stellenbosch Universities-, at Capetown. NOTES When the British Rugby team went under 9 —16 in the first game against Transvaal the side finished the match with only 12 men. Transvaal ..took ■scrums for line outs against the opposing team’s five forwards in the closing stages. The visiting forwards, while they remained intact, beat their opponents in all departments ol forward play. Following the match there was severe criticism of the Transvaal captain’s tactics. Australia’s Rirby Union Test half C. Ramalli, has had a nose operation. It needed it. The bone was broken in two places, the cartilege split, and the nose flattened out. Ramalli’s nose was broken in the second Test in Brisbane on August 6. but he played in the third Test in Sydney the following week In tackling Dick his nose was hurt further and he later collapsed on the field. The unbeaten Auckland team will play Wellington on Saturday at Athletic Park. Commenting on the prospects ol th~ Wellington team when it meets Otago at Dunedin on September 17.-a writer in the Wellington Post has this to say: “Otago scraped home by four points to nil in a hard match -in which Hawke’s Bay appeared to have the better of the game.” It is quite apparent that the writer did not see the match The Otago forwards stayed on wrll. and were more than holding the opposing pack at the finish of the game. EXITS AT CAKISBROOK Dear Full-back—ln many respects the Carisbrodk Ground, so far as the convenience of patrons is concerned leaves little to be desired, but there is one major drawback—the matter of the exits. In these hectic shield days with, soaring att'ndances. additional exits ? r e an urgent necessity Anyone who hrs experienced -the crush conditions at the totally inadequate gates at the Workshops end cannot arouse much enthusiasm for the official foresight—or lack of it—which permits such an undesirable stale of affairs to continue. It should not involve ahv great engineering problem to.-provide ad f auaito exits, and a little consideration for those patrons who are not “trained to the minutt ” and thus., able to withstand the “ rough stuff,” of a jam. would ~be much appreciated. Will you kindly lend your aid to this plea?—l am. etc.. Stay Put. The question of making provision for admittance to Carisbrook and also arrangements for enabling the spectators to have a speedy departure from the ground was discussed at the meeting cl the Management Committee of the Otago Union on Monday night. The committee is making every endeavour to meet the convenience of patrons.

Opponents. Border .... Result won Points F. A. 11 8 Griqualand West .. ,, won 22 9 W.P. (Town-Country) , , lost 8 11 W.P. (South-West) won 6 4 Western Province .. lost 11 21 Western Transvaal ■ # . won 26 9 Orange Free State .. won 21 6 Orange Free State .. • • won 18 3 Johannesburg Reef lost 9 16 North Transvaal .. won 20 12 Cape Province # , won 10 3 Rhodesia. .. .. .. won 25 11 Rhodesia won 45 11 Transvaal won 17 9 First Test .... lost 12’ 26 Northern Provinces lost 8 26 Natal won 15 11 Border .. .. .. won 19 11 North-eastern Cape won 42 3 Eastern Province of Cape won 6 5 Second Test lost 3 19