RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

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OTAGO FDITURES ! August s.—v. Southland, at Invercargjlll, (Ranfurly Shield challenge). Lost, 23 points to 4 points. August 12.—v. Bush Union, at Dunedin; . „ J( August 16.—v. Manawatu, at Dunedin. August 19.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. August 23.—v. North Auckland, at Wharigarei. . - ' .-.., Augvri 26.—v. Auckland, at Auckland. August 30.—v. Wanganui, at Wanganui. September' 2.—v. Taranaki. at Taranaki. ',"■> September 6.—v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. ■ •'.., September 9—v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. OTHER FIXTURES August 29 and 31.—Kohri Shield Competition (New Zealand tramways i tournament), at Dunedin. ■ -;<v September 16 (?).—Payne Trophy •v-uanteh, at Dunedin.,-,. ■ ■..-.: -• September 23.—North Island v. South Island, at Wellington. . September 27, 30.—New Zealand trial matches (Wellington). OTAGO ». SOUTHLAND The match between Otego arid Southland »t Rugby Park on, Saturday has already been fully covered,*nd.there is very little to add to the description of the game which was published in the Otago Daily Times on Monday. It only need be added that the Gtagb forwards did not to;the- standard

•xpectiedpfthem, even admitting that Southland fielded a great forward pack. Without in any way desiring to detract from the victory of Southland. 1 1 woijld say that the Otago forwards did not show their true form, and that they will do better when on the northern tour. ~ , FINE' ATTBACTIbN •" On Saturday local followers of the game will have the opportunity of seeing two important matches; played at C&risbroolt .Union will meet Southern in,the final of the-senior, flag competition, and the Bush Union's touring team will play an; Otago 'fif teen. .■•'.-• ■ \'Z- A FINE.RECOED •;Y>, U. George, yice-captaitt of the Southland team, was the only member of the 1929 Southland team which won the Ranfurly Shield from Wairarapa playing J»5 Saturday's game. This places himetjual with T. Metcalfe and C.'George the top, of the list of Southlander*. who>: have .played in. 10. or more shield matche's. V. L. George has played in 11 games for and in defence of the- shield, and C. George and T;. Metcalfe,have, played in 12 games. ■ George "'has-' only' to maintain, his present form- to hayfe-strong claims 'for' inclusion in4he team which is to. visit Soiith Africa next y.ear v ,,,~; ; .-" Eighty-sevein games ■ have been played; 'between Southland and Qtago. Southland has won 38, Otago 43, and 6 have, been drawn. The annual games between -the two unions began in 1887, so that this the fifty-third anniversary o* the matches. ,\ ~ ■ : -\_'_.M ';■ THE OTAGO TEAM -;"■.; j :bea,r Fullback,—There' are many like myself,. who are of ,the opinion 'that Otago' was* riot .represented by its best;side against Southland.oh Saturday last..-and- that.lt is time, we had a new Selection .Committee.. I would prefer a sole 'Selector>prqviding-.the right man was,chosen'. . As regards the team selected, I. consider one of pur best backs was omitted in the person of McSkimming, and one of our best forwards m Slyfleld. McSkimming as flye-eighth; Ferriam centre,, and Mitchell on the wing instead of Black would'haye.been.a much better back line. Slyfleld; in rhy opinion, Would have been a better choice than Niven, whose foolish action was responsible for Southland's first try. The team chosen to play th> Bush Districts, is, I think, a stronger side, than the one that journeyed to Southland, but here again we have.the Selectors playing men out of their positions. Murray, a five-eighth, is being played on the wing when we have good wings like Taylor and Steele being passed over by the selectors.. Is it any wonder that there is now a feeling abroad that fresh blood is required on the Selection Committee.—l am, etc.. Old Player. FIJIAN TOUR The Fijian Rugby team which is to tour New Zealand will comprise ;22 players and two managers. The latter will be Messrs J. B. K. Taylor and J. H. Wiley. The former represented Auckland and Wellington several years ago, and Mr Wiley played for the Opotlki Sub-union from 1924 to 1927. Assisting Mr Taylor with the selection of the team is R. Diedrich, a New Zealand University and Wellington representative between 1929 and 1933. SHIELD HISTORY IN TABLOID The Ranfurly Shield was presented to'vthe.New Zealand Rugby Union in 19ff2 by Lord Ranfurly. Governor of New Zealand. Auckland-was the first holder and Wellington the first challenger. Auckland held the shield from 1905 to 1913, in which period it successfully defended 23 challenges." Hawke's Bayf won 25 games while its!teams held the shield from 1922 to 1927. ' vm. V* ■ -■■ :;'•■• Eighteen years elapsed before a South Island union won the shield. Southland was the first to win at. Wellington and Southland each have w.tyi.< the shield on four sepaiate occasions. . ,' ;; ,„ . Southland's win against- Wairarapa lit Carterton in 1929 was the centenary; challenge-game. The last game played for the shield, between Otago iarid Southland, at Dunedin. was the one hundred and'fiftieth.. Nine unions have won the shield, Hawke's Bay (28 wins). Wellington (26 wins), Auckland (26 wins), Canterbury (23 wins), Otago (15 wins), Wairarapa (11 wins), Southland (10 wins), Taranaki (seven wins), aihd Mahawhenua (three wins) Ih 1927 the win by Hawke's Hay against Wairarapa (holder) was disallowed on the grounds that W. Barclay, a member of the Hawke's Bay team,; had not complied with the residential qualifications.

The shield has been held in the South Island for the last five /ears. Canterbury won it from Auckland in 1935, and Otago won it for the first time the same season. * Since then Otago and Southland have held it between them. A 16-STONE WING? W. Weenink. Buller Rugby wing three-quarter, appears to be a player who grows in stature week by week (savs a northern exchange). Not so long ago he was round the 14-stone mark. To-dav he is described as a 16stoner. We don't know whether this is a mild tweaking of the imagination or not. but if he does actually tip the scales at that mark then he must surelv be the heaviest winger ever to point for All Black honours in this country. Thev think a lot of Weenink on the Coast: his supporters claim that if he makes the New Zealand trials (they say he should go into the South Island team) he'U just about fight 'his way into the All Black side, if he is given anv kind of service. Weenink plays a game similar to that of Jack Steel, great Coast, and New Zealand threeauarter of not so many years ago. Hes the crashing smashing tytie. Well, it's sdme time now since a New Zealand team had a winger fitting that description. Maybe Weenink will be the next. "A COLOUR BAR?" " Messrs N. A. McKenzie, J. K. Moloney, A. E. McPhail and others have denied the accusation by Mr E. Lr Cullen, M.P., that there is a colour bar in Rugby in New Zealand. The acid test will come when the Air Blacks to tour South Africa in 1940 are selected." said Mr J, Morgan, secretary of the •Christchurch Maori community, in a statement to the Christchurch Press. "What the Maoris want is a statement of the policy of the New Zealand Rugby Union—whether or not Maoris are to be considered for selection in next year's All Blacks." Mr Cullen's remarks were made at the farewell gathering to the New Zealand League team, which is on the way to Great Britain. To appreciate the full significance of the question it. was necessary to recall, events during the tour of the Springboks in 1921, when they played a. MaOri representative team in Napier and won by 9 points to 8, said Mr Morgan. "It is worth while recalling, too', the treatment of the Maori team by the New Zealand Rugby Union. While.the New Zealand team was fed' on half -raw meat, etc., at Rona Bay, Wellington, for at least two weeks, in preparation for the big match, the Maori team was given hardly sufficient time to B ain a fal l measure of combination before it was pitted against a well-balanced side playing at the top of its form. "Critics and football enthusiasts have it that the Maoris were more than a match for the Springboks on the day. and it is common knowledge that during the game nasty remarks were made and a cablegram was sent to South Africa reflecting on our national game. Selection o- 1928 Team ( "In the selection of the 1928 All Blacks for the South African tour the New Zealandßugby Union showed its hand by refusing to include Maoris m the team, notwithstanding that at that . time -they numbered Jimmy Mill, the greatest' half of the day, Lou Paewai, J. Falwasser, M. Barkly, and George Nepia—a back line that put Hawke's Bay on the first page of the provincial history of the code. "Perhaps the greatest sensation was when Tai Mitchell on behalf of his people, the Arawas, forwarded to the Management Committee of the. New Zealand Rugby Union a resolution to the effect that, because of the union s attitude from 1921.. to 1937, they found it impossible t» take an active part, in the 1937 tour of the Springboks, either as hosts or in any other activities of the-visit. To this. Mr Dean replied with all the eloquence and the emotion of one who has his back to the "This view was* supported by all, including the editorial opinion of the Press and the Dominion. The attack was not directed against the Springboks—it was a direct challenge to the method, employed;by the New Zealand Rugby Unjon, which was willing to submit f 6 outside influences rather than'stick to those whp helped;to make the .game-;what it;is to-day. "We are.now on the eve of another tour of South Afrieai'BWd it/would be interesting to know what, action those gentlemen will take when the selection •is made". I offer: the suggestion that if New Zealand wishes to regain what we once held—the Rugby supremacy of the world—the union should'select the best,'material available, irrespective of creed or colour; concluded Mr Morgan.

EXCITING FINAL Great Goal by J. M« Taylor

By beating Petone on Saturday 18— 17. in one of the most exciting club games at Aethletic Park for years. Wellington carried off the senior championship for 1939. The club's previous successes were in 1914. and 1901. Two magnificent goals by J. M. Taylor one from five yards inside his own half, and two. grand tries by Sherratf were important factors in Wellington's win. Grim and at times highly spectacular, the game thrilled a crowd estimated at 10.000.

The only All Black in the 1939 side was J. M. Taylor, who had the distinction on Saturday of bringing his total points in club games to 101. The side is coached by a former All Black in Frank Kilby, and is captained by one of the outstanding personalities an Wellington Rugby in M. McG. Cooper, the former Oxford University captain, and a Scottish international, and captain of the Wellington representatives this, season. POLICEMAN WARNS TEAMS One of the roughest games of football to be played in North Auckland was staged at Waipu So rough did the game become that at one stage Constable R. A. Rimmer had to stop the game and issue a warning to the players The game was the final in the Otamatea Rugby Competition between Waipu and Western, and was won by the Fatter by 11 points to o, thus giving it the Senior championship for this season. There was little real football. Late tackling, deliberate obstruction and unnecessarily hard tackling soon frayed even the most cool of tempers, and fists were flying in all directions. Matters became worse, and at one stage the game was practically out of control. It was then that Constable Rimmer had a word with the players. From that point on. the rough tactics were somewhat subdued, but it was by no means a first-class exhibition of sportsmanship HIGH SCORERS Adding, a further 14 points on Saturday, W/E.H. Auld (Athletic) brought his tally in club games for the season

to 136; J. M. Taylor (Wellington) brought his total in club games to 101, and in all games to 126, of which 25 were secured in two representative games. H. R. Baldwin (Old Boys) is still three short of the century, his total now being 97. The next best are: H. R. Pollock (Petone) 70, B. O'Malley (Marist Brothers Old Boys) 68. W. Crisp (Poneke) 66, J. Burns (Johnsonville) 66. NOTES The Southland team to play Manawatu in the Ranfurly Shield match at Invercargill on Saturday will be the same as that which defeated Otago. The captain of the Bush team is Athol ("Tank") Mahoney, a member of the 1935 All Blacks who toured Great Britain. He leads a young but capable side. Last year Bush played three representative matches, and won them all: v. Wairarapa 9—4 and 19— 13; and v Horowhenua. B—3 The fifty-third match between Christ's College and the Otago Boys' High School was followed with the greatest interest by Messrs E. R. Webb, the bursar of Christ's College, and F. J. Hamilton, who took Dart in the first game played between these schools. Commenting on the recent eame. Mr Hamilton said that he was very much impressed by the play of Deans, of the Christ's College team, whose speed and kicking ability reminded him of some of his contemporaries namely E R. Webb. H H. Hargreaves and C. H. Hamilton, a brother Except for scoring, the game has not changed much since the first encounter and the standard >f nlay in the came the other day was on a par with that invariably produced when these *wr old rivals met. Eight AH Blacks were included in the game between "UaEo and Southland on Saturday four on each side. Thev were A. W. Wesney. C. K. Saxton. V. L. George and R H. Ward (Southland) and N. A. Mitchell. D. Trevathan, F. H. Vorrath. and A. A. Parkhill (Otago)