RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NORTH AUCKLAND MATCH OTAGO'S DECISIVE WIN ALL-ROUND SUPERIORITY (From Our Special Reporter) WHANGAREI, Aug. 23. By the display which they gave before 4000 spectators at Kensington Park this afternoon it might have been the North Auckland players rather than the Otago men who had faced 29 hours' continuous travelling before taking the field. Otago won by 25 points to 13. playing infinitely better than at Wellington. The Otago team was full of fire and vim. while the North Aucklanders. who earlier in the month had defeated Auckland's best side, appeared listless, and were outplayed in every phase except the loose forward work. Quaid recaptured his All Black form, hooking cleanly from almost every scrum and giving the backs a feast of the ball. Mitchell's Fine Display Mitchell was the guiding hand in the Otago backs, frequently bursting from his own quarter to open up attacking movements culminating in scores, four of which he secured himself. Mitchell was a veritable will-o'-the-wisp and at times it seemed that the Northlanders considered it would be sacrilege to lay hands upon the famous All Black. The manner in which he knitted the Otago team together, both in attack and defence, was admirable.

After a quarter of an hour Mitchell and Murray travelled three parts of the field in a dual passing bout, Mitchell touching down as Cunningham spreadeagled him. Perriani converted. Otago Backs in Action

Twice catching the Northlanders out of position after passing rushes had broken down, the Otagp backline swept into action, the spectacle being witnessed of three or four Dark Blues racing for the line with only the full-back to beat. Churchill gained one try and Mitchell another. Perriam converting the second. From' a' scrum, all the Otago backs handled, Murray outpacing Masters and going over at the corner. Meanwhile, Masters had kicked a penalty goal for the north, and at half time the scores were:— Otago .. .. 16 points. North Auckland 3 points. For the second spell Nathan replaced Williams in the North Auckland pack, while Joe Murray, the Maori All Black, came on in place of Lambly, who played at Christchurch last week. Neither of the two local men who left the field appeared to be injured. Forwards Hold Upper Hand The Otago forwards, who had hitherto been beaten territorially, now held the upper hand in all departments. Naylor sent, out to Churchill, who, when crowded, threw a long pass infield to McClel-

land, who' scored another breakaway try. Perriam missed with the kick. A scramble in the home quarter gave Mitchell another try, Black's kick f"om the sideline falling just wide. Then, for the only time during the game, Northland showed glimpses of form, Gibson cutting in to score when Perriam fumbled A minute later, White, picking up smartly, dived over for a brilliant try. Masters converted both of these tries. Lasting remarkably well, Otago came again and lust on time Mitchell crossed for his fourth try, which Perriam failed to convert. Black and Campbell Impress Two Otago backs who acquitted themselves well in unaccustomed positions were Black and Campbell. At full-back Black did all that was required of him. His positional play was excellent, and his strong kicking and sense of direction enabled him to gain 30 or 40 yards reneatedly. Campbell, who relieved Simpson at half-back, gave excellent service nearer the scrum, invariably throwing out good passes and varying his same nicely. Representing Otago for the first time, Kearney jpened up the game brilliantrj and showed good anticipation in marking clearing kicks. He set his backs in motion frequently, and had the Northland backs nonolussed.

The only visiting back who found the uncertain ground conditions not to his liking was Perriam, whose handling at times was below standard. Both the wingers did well when the opportunity came their way, Churchill revealing slightly the greater dash.

Forwards Pack Well The Otago forwards maintained formation much better than the opposing eight, packing . lower to marked advantage. They backed up well on attack and covered up splendidly. They gave their fleet rearguard every opportunity. Quaid recaptured his best All Black form, his clean hooking giving the backs a virtual monopoly of possession. Treacy and Hill were tireless workers, while Naylor was often prominent in the loose. With five North Island Minor Union representatives in the rearguard, North Auckland was expected to do much better, but the

Otago backs broke through repeatedly, their markers failing to be in position or to tackle. The only back to keep his position was White, who, in addition to good defence, was thrustful on attack. The pack did not live up to its reputation for robust spoiling play, Neil, Morresey, and Wordley being most often on the ball. The final score was: Otago .. .. 25 points. North Auckland .. 13, points. CANTERBURY TOURING TEAM AUCKLAND NARROWLY DEFEATED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. The Canterbury Rugby team played the second match of its northern tour against Auckland today, winning by 6 points to 3. All the points were scored in the first spell in which Canterbury, playing with the wind and sun, held a territorial advantage throughout. Auckland, in the second half, was unlucky not to score on several occasions. The ground was very heavy and the ball was greasy, causing much mishandling. It was a tribute to the solid defence of the visitors that not once did Auckland cross their line for a try. Canterbury opened its account first with a fine penalty goal from 35 yards out by Cartwright after the game had been in progress for nine minutes. Auckland equalised the scores two minutes later when Hare kicked a penalty goal. Canterbury assumed the lead again after another eight minutes' play, a good try resulting from the finest movement of the game. Cartwright made an opening in the middle of the field and Hunter crossed for the only try of the match.

Auckland went very close to scoring after half-time, but the backs made too many mistakes and the greasy ball hampered likely movements. The game ended: Canterbury .. 6 points. Auckland .. •• 3 points. FIJIANS' FIRST MATCH MAORI TEAM DEFEATED (Per United Press Association; ROTORUA, Aug. 23. Playing the first match of their New Zealand tour against a Maori team here to-day before a large attendance, the Fijian team won by 11 points to nil. Conditions were cold, and heavy rain fell during the greater part of both spells. These conditions were obviously not to the liking of the visitors, but in spite of this they gave many indications that when they become more acclimatised they will develop into a formidable combination, both back and forward. They played the 2-3-2 scrum formation, with a loose forward, and succeeded in harrying.the Maori inside backs so successfully that few, if any, of their rearguard movements came to anything. The Maori team, on the whole, did not make a very effective showing, although their forwards worked hard. The inside backs, however, even when full allowance is made for the tactics of the Fijians did not work with any cohesion The Fijian rearguard played very deep, but appeared to have ample speed to employ this formation successfully. The wing three-quarter, Ngatelevu, who scored the Fijians' first try, appeared to be a particularly dangerous scoring man, and the half-back, Koroma, also played a very useful gama, handling quickly from the base of the scrum and showing determined defence Korovulavula, the Fijian fullback, appeared uncertain in the first half, and took a number of risks, but his play improved considerably in the second spell. The forwards were a very even lot, rucking well, packing energetically, and following up very fast.

The Fijians' first try came just Defore half time, when they swung play suddenly from one end of the field to the other, and Ngatelevu went over in the corner. Cakobau missed with the kick. The second try came shortly after the interval, and revealed the possibilities of the Fijians' backs. Koroma swung the ball out smartly from a scrummage, and it travelled right along the back line to Voreqe. who raced ovei to score behind the posts. Cakobau ,had no difficulty with the kick. The Fijians added the final points from a penalty kick put over by Cakobau from the twenty-five THE ALL BLACK TRIALS WANGANUI NOMINATIONS (Per United Press Association; WANGANUI, Aug. 23. The Wansanui nominations for the All Black trials and the inter-Island match in the last week in September are as follows:—D. G. Barton (centre), G. H. Hook (five-eighth), E. J. Callaghan (hooker), A. G. Davidson and W. Firmin (lock forwards). THE SCRUMMAGE LAW SUGGESTED ALTERATIONS PROPOSALS BY ENGLISH UNION (Per United Press Association; WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night received from the English Rugby Union a number of suggestions for alterations to the laws governing the scrummage The alterations, which had been suggested by a sub-committee of the International Board, and will be considered at the March meeting of the board in 1940, were as follows:

Law 15: When a scrummage is ordered or taken—(a) The referee shall award to the team not responsible for the stoppage of play the right of putting in the balL If in doubt he shall award the right to the team in whose half of the ground the scrummage is to be formed. (b) For an infringement between the 25 yards lines and within 10 yards of the touch line a scrummage shall take place 10 yards from the touch line on a line parallel to the goal lines through the place where the infringement occurred. (c) It is illegal for more than three players to form the front row of a scrummage before the ball has been put in (Note: Referees shall not inflict a penalty for a breach of this law unless such breach is wilful or persistent, in which case it must be dean with under Law 34 (c).

(d) It is illegal after a scrummage has been formed for any player to add himself to the front row before the ball has been put in. (Note: Referees should stop the dangerous practice of players forming down some distance apart and pushing together and deal with it under law 34 (a 3). (e) The ball shall be put in without delay. (Note: Any delay caused by the player with the ball waiting for any of his team to join a scrummage, must be treated as a wilful waste of time.) (f) The player putting in the ball shall stand not less than one- yard from the scrummage and with both hands below the knee shall put the ball fairly in at moderate speed so that it first touches the ground beyond one foot of the nearest player of each front row. (g) The ball is fairly in when it nas been put in along a line midway between and parallel to the lines of the feet of the players forming each front row of the scrummage and has touched the ground. • ' ~ (h) The ball shall be put into the scrummage again if it enters and comes out at either side between the lines of the feet of the players forming each front row or between the feet of either of the outside players of each front row on the side on which the ball has been put'in. (i) It is illegal for the foot of any player in either front row to touch the ball until it is fairly in. The far foot of the second player of each front row on the side on which the ball is being put in and the feet of the player v >nd may be raised and advanced as soon as the ball has left the hands of the player putting it in. No other foot may be raised or advanced until the ball' has been touched bv one of these feet. ■ (j) It is illegal for any player to prevent the ball from, getting fairly into the scrummage. In any scrummage—(l) It is illegal for any player to return the ball into the scrummage by hand or -foot after it has come in; (2) it is illegal for any player to handle the ball pick it up by the hands or legs, or intentionally fall or kneel while the ball is in the scrummage except as provided for in law 26 (b); (3) It is illegal for any player lying on the ground to interfere with the ball in any way. In the event of an infringement a penalty kick shall be awarded at that place. Law 27, paragraph 7: The ball must be brought into play at the place where it went into touch by throwing it into the field of play so as to alight at least five yards from and at right angles to the touch line. If the ball . when thrown in from touch does not alight as above, a scrummage shall be formed 10 yards from the place where it went into touch on a line parallel to the goal lines. Law 10 (m) as to advantage does not apply. , . „ The suggestions were referred to the Rules Sub-committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union for consideration