SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24697, 28 August 1941, Page 4

SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

OTAGO FORWARDS ARE NOT MAINTAINING TRADITIONS

TN view of the unfavourable omens jof the early part of last week, the return Otago-Ssouthland match at Carisbrook on Saturday must be rated a great success. Thfere is no doubt of the enthusiasm of the Southland supporters. It has been demonstrated freely enough in the past few years, but perhaps never more eloquently than in the fact that so many came up to see this game in spite of the bad weather reports for most of the week and the absence on military service of many of those who normally comprise the “ invasion ” force. Their reward'Was in a gloriously sunny dav and a game which came well lip to expectations.

The Southland selectors had made extensive changes in their side in an effort to remedy- the weaknesses evident in the first game. The Otago back line, too, was very different from that which gavq a sound display at Invercargill; but the main impression left by ' this game was that Southland has not a sufficient reserve of backs good enough to compensate for the province’s heavy loss to the war services. Along with this was further proof that the Maroons’ reputation for producing strong, rangy forwards is as justified as ever it was. The, pack which represented then, on Saturday was not responsible in •ny way for its side’s defeat. The team

“ butchers’ ” match, between Otago and Wellington, at Carisbrook in 1897. He farms at Balfour nowadays. With J. Folster outstanding for dasn and determination, the Maroon forwards outplayed the Otago scrum. They were a tall, keen, young set, and they packed effectively and burst away in the loose with great vim The same could not be said of the Otago forwards. Some of them were in no hurry to put. their weight into the scrums, and their work generally did not have the snap of the Maroons W. H. Jolly. P. Fox, J. McLennan ano K. Thomson serjummaged with determination; but too many of the others worked in spasms. M Lanauze was quick to break from set scrums, and his pace and anticipation in the loose were valuable. But the Otago scrum this season has not maintained the Dark Blues' reputation for evenness and solidity

Smce Perriam and Werner were playing this game while on leave from military training, it was inevitable that .their places would have to be filled for the , return match with Canterbury at Christchurch on Saturday. Instead of persevering with the University centre, R. L. Jones, the selectors have brought the South Otago player E. Currie into the side Currie created a good impression in the Country v. Metropolitan match and again in the South Otagq -'Eastern Districts game, playfed as a curtain-raiser to the Canterbury match, he was outstanding. Perhaps he has not sufficient pace for a top-class player, but he is a glutton for work, runs strongly, and tackles

well. Jones’s high tackling was a pronounced weakness in the Canterbury match, and in this respect at ■any rate Currie will, be an improvement. Jones has shown out brilliantly against weak opposition in club games this season but he was not able to overcome the handicap of slow service in his two representative games. A. E. Churchill and J. W. Green both come back into the team. It will be hoped that at last the three-quarters get a chanct in this game to show their full capabilities on attack. It is unfortunate that Paewai is not available, but L. Woodhouse showed in the first Canterbury match that he, can give a good pass and stand up to hard work. An obvious lesson from _ Otago’s thhee representative games this season is that there has not been sufficient mobility among the forwards. Their work has been too sluggish. This was an outstanding feature of the Canter-

was more solid and' made a better showing than that which .played at Invercargill and the' fact that Otago won by 15 points to 6 could be attributed more to the luck of the day than to anything else. The Otago back line had an advantage in experience that was valuable in copipg with the Maroons’ strenuous attempts to batter their way through, particularly for most of the second half; but it canriot be said that it was any more impressive on attack than the opposing line! . .. ■Neither set of backs could get anywhere with. passing. Time after time the ball came out from the scrum and traveUedvto the centre or wing with each man put on the ground in turn without any material advance made. The tackling was sound, and the, coyerihg up was fully equal to the occasional attempts to open up play for the three - quarters by kicking for the gap. In view of the fact that neither of these methods was proving successful, it might have been expected that there would have been more experimenting with centering kicks by the threequarters. The three-quarters; did their work soundly .enough, but the only one who looked to , make dangerous thrusts-, was t-J. Elkis, the former Canterbury v representative.... , Elkis played good football In the match at lnvercargiU, and »*»*“ Saturday bis all-round work Just about entitled him to the honour of being clawed as the best back on the md. Against; a;Bl»yer blocking was leas reliable than that of W. I. Perriam. he might easily have been a match-winnlng factor. Among the Otago backs, J. C Kearney was worth his weight in gold on defence. His covering work was first class, and his tackling and handling were always reliable. The field ! goal that he kicked to swing the game in Otago’s favour was' an extraordinary effort, scarcely in the Trcvathan tradition. but nevertheless responsible for four points. D. Murdoch, at, first fiveeighth,playing his first important game for Otago, did everything that could have been expected 'of him. He linked up well with M. N. Paewai. sent the ball on cleanly, and tried occasionally to go through on his own. He did nothing brilliant, but his display was a promising one. He made Paewai’s passing from the scrum .look rather better than it looked in the two previous representative matches, but no first five-eighth can penetrate when he has to wait flat-footed for his passes. The only back whose defence did not measure up to representative standard was N. P, Lino. the University winger. Neither he nor L. Werner had much chance on attack. Lino did not use. his. pace when he was required to get back quickly on defence. T Webster’s fielding and kicking- were in his best form, although he was not as strong and dashing as* the Southland full-back, J; Robertson; in getting out of trouble. Another Southland back whose display was pleasing was the half-back, G.TBulman. A nuggety type of playeF, he sent good passes away and made some strong bursts on his own.

bury match, and probably , the Red-and-Black forwards will be even more dashing on their own ground. R Barnes the energetic Taieri forward should improve the Otago scrum in this respect; but otherwise no attempt has been, made to put some more “ginger” into it. M. J. L. Phelan the young University forward, is a solid scrummager and an intelligent player The presence of * A. Parkhill in the back row may mean less raggedness at the back of the scrum, but generally it will not be surprising if this game is another story of the Otago forwards being found wanting in dash Thev will need to sparkle up.

The fact that W. Murphy and P. B, Fox cannot go to Christchurch has caused a rearrangement of the scrum announced early in the week. Phelan §oes into the front row, and A. Hennessy will ’ e the middle man. The Pirates player will have to concentrate on the job in hand and not waste energy aimlessly in the loose. McLennan stays in the side. As a matter of fact, it was a surprise that he was dropped. The alterations do not add to the attractiveness of the scrum.

The Maroon five-eighths tackled and stopped rushes well, but they lacked enterprise on .attack. W. Stewart, at second five-eighths, shaped better than he did at full-back in the Iqvercargill game. This solid player, incidentally, is a son of the old Union and Otago forward, Dick Stewart, whose representative record included the famous

“The Southland Rugby team is still Otago’s best bet,” remarked Mr A. H. Courtis, treasurer of the Southland Rugby Union, at a recent meeting of the union,. when an, announcement about the attendance and the gate takings at the Southland-Otago match was made by a member. The “ gate ” totalled £740.

SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPION In his last appearance before going into territorial camn to undergo different training from that to which he has been used ct the Caledonian Ground, H. Nelson won the South Island Junior Cross-country Championshin at Timaru last Saturday, and thus added to a list of successes that is outstanding for a vouth of 18. He led throughout and won by 100 yards from his . brother. G. C. Nelson, who also shows considerable promise. C. Greaney and M. Bradshaw of Civil Service, and A C. Wilson (Anglican) also ran right un to form and gave their dub 12 points, which easily won for it the teams’ race. Nelson .will be in camp for three months, but is looking forward 'o a full summer season of athletics on his return. F.A. Trophy Challenge Otago’s challenge against Canterbury for the Football Association Trophy, postponed last week, will not be played now until September 20. This is mainly due to the strong counter-at-tractions in Christchurch for the next three Saturdays. In expectation of the challenge being played as originally arranged, the Wellington Football Association had already entered a second challenge to meet Canterbury if it won. the match to be played on September 13. The Wellington representatives are keen to show that the form displayed against Canterbury, when they ■ lost (6 —3) on the first game of the season, was not their proper form. In the event of a win to Otago it is questionable whether the Wellington Association would consider a challenge. A trip to Dunedin presents more difficulties than one to Christchurch. A Strong Side The Canterbury basketball side which recently visited Dunedin was a formidable combination with strength in each third. The team played a good type of basketball and opened up its combination excellently. E. Turner was outstanding in the centre, her speed and anticipation being of incalculable value to Canterbury in that she was able to break up many of Otago’s movements that promised to sweep the field. A slight tip is all that is necessary to deflect a pass Her co-centre players, T. Laurenson and O Jarden, also olayed strongly. The defence play was controlled by A. Bennett, who proved a tower of strength for her side, while G. English’s accuracy in the goal mouth was a decided asset. The captain. R. McKendry. played a splendid field game and was also responsible for some of the goals scored. , Busy Hockey Week There will be considerable activity in women’s hockey this week-end, when two Otago representative teams will play South Otago sides at Milton, and one representative match between Otago and Tuapeka will be played at Dunedin. The Women’s Association has arranged to send the Otago A team to Milton and to match the Otago B team, which played Southland here last Saturday, with the Tuapeka eleven. South Otago always puts up a gpod showing, and the match will give the principal provincial side a good tryout before the game with the Wellington touring team, which is set down for September 6 at Dunedin. The strength of the Tuapeka team is not known, but, on the showing of the Otago ,B team against Southland, it is reasonable to predict that it should be able to hold the average sub-associa-tion team. The Otago B Grade team which is to play at Milton on Saturday, Is a strong side, and should have a keen game with the South' Otago second elpven ' , ,r \ Otago Marathon v Although such men as C. G. Gibbons, R. G. Colston, R. Wilson, and A. L, Fagg are either living elsewhere in New Zealand or are overseas, the annual Otago Marathon Championship will be held ’as usual this summer. At present it appears that there will be at least three starters. G. L. Austin, the Marathon “king" of New Zealand, will, of course, be a starter, and he is well up to schedule in his training. R. Hughes (Leith) is also in steady training, and fully inteflds to compete It is probable, too. that his club-mate. D. Fincham. will set out on the long journey of just over 26 miles. Another possible starter is F. Sanders (Mornington), who is keen to attempt the full Marathon course. It is pleasing to see that this race is not being allowed to lapse during the war. for it was inaugurated after a fair amount of difficulty. Junior Men’s Hockey The chances are that Saturday’s matches will bring the junior men’s hockey' competition more or less to a conclusion. At the present time, High School has a lead of three points over Albany A. and if when these teams meet this week. High School wins it will be in a virtually, unassailable position. If Albany wins, however, there will be only one point difference and the remaining matches may alter the position. There will not be time to complete the round this season Good Wishes from the Past It was pleasing to members of the Otago Rugby Union and to members of the Otago team which played against Southland last Saturday to receive a cablegram of good wishes from a member of the Otago team which played the first game against Southland in 1887, Charlie Diamond, the old Pirates player, scored the first try of that game, which Otago won by 6 points to nil. He lives in Perth nowadays, and his cablegram proved that he maintains a keen interest in the game in his old province. Otago Men Prominent Except for the fact that the Christchurch Club won the teams’ event, Dunedin athletes gained practically all the major honours in the annual Te-muka-Timaru Road Race last Saturday. Following on his recent success in his club’s five-mile handicap. A. Caddie (Civil Service), off 6min was the winner of the event after runnin" a well-judged race. G. L, Austin (Caversham) was second and recorded fastest time unlv 43sec above his record time of 57min 8 l-ssec established last year. This is the third successive year in which Austin has returned fastest time in this event. A. R. Geddes (Civil Service) was third and returned second fastest time, and then came the two Hebbards. of Caversham. with C. McGregor (Caversham) seventh. Christchurch inflicted the first reverse Civil Service has suffered for a considerable period in teams’ events, but it was by only 14 l-ssec. Caversham was third only 24 2-ssec slower than Civil Service. ’ Interstate Cricket A modified form of interstate cricket is certain to be held in Australia during the coming season. All States arc corresponding in an endeavour to find the best type of competition for representative cricket, “New South Wales has suggested two-day matches w’ith a division of time,” said Mr Harold Heydon, secretary of the New South Wales Cricket Association. “Several other schemes have been submitted and we expect more within a few weeks. If a satisfactory conclusion cannot be reached by correspondence a meeting will be held in one of. the capitals. Only one representative from each State would need to travel. Expenses (about £3O) would be divided.” All States are willing to admit that last season’s interstate matches for patriotic funds were fail ■ ures. Without a competitive spirit, the games were more in the nature of picnic games.

SOUTHLAND WOMEN WIN Women’s hockey in Southland has been at a low ebb for the past few years, but Otago was given summary proof that there has been a marked improvement when Southland beat the Otago second eleven at the Oval on Saturday. From the outset it was apparent that the Southland team had been greatly strengthened by the inclusion of several Mataura players who had previously been members of the strong Eastern ranks. The visitors’ forward line was obviously superior to Otago's, and the home side had a weak ness in the half line. It’s best performance was that of the full-backs, particularly R. Quaid. The ground, which was soft and easily cut up. was against bright hockey and the ball had to be hit hard to send it any distance. Otago’s passing was not good, and compared unfavourably with Southland’s. The visitors deserved their win, and Otago was fortunate that the margin was not greater than one goal. Good Half-backs In Association football the team with a good attacking half line holds a decided advantage over its opponents, a fact borne out in last week’s match between Northern and High School Old Boys, which the former won by 7—2 Both Meehan and Walsh, the young wing halves, display a good knowledge of the half-back game, and their timely parting with the ball enabled their forwards to move off with advantage. Old Boys were not at full _ strength, however, and seldom has their passing been so badly directed as it was in this game. A feature of the play was the fine work of W. M. Smith, who came out of his retirement to fill Nixon’s position in goal. He showed that he has lost none of the ability which brought him representative honours in the past, and his full length saves were an example to many younger goalkeepers. Basketball Laws The method of playing the ball after an unsuccessful shot at goal is still fraught with difficulties if the complaints received from basketball players are to be taken into account. It is to be hoped that at the current meeting of the New Zealand Council this will be revised and. one ruling decided upon. If no goal is scored at the first attempt, the ball shall be thrown in by an opponent at the spot where the ball crossed the line, but the ball must ground outside the court before being touched by a player. Otherwise if .a defender takes possession before the ball has touched the ground an unguarded pass will be given to the opposing team just inside the, line. Of course, if a forward takes possession in the same way, the play just carries on as usual, If the ball stays within the court,' however., it shall be thown in by an opponent from any spot along the goal line within the radius of the shooting circle and on either side of the goal post, except that if it is caught by a defender, the throw-in- shall be taken at the spotyto be indicated bv the referee (at rigntangles from where the ball was caught). It appears that somd of the referees do not vet understand this last regulation and are giving an unguarded pass inside the line to the forwards —a serious matter to the opposing side, whose opportunities to clear are thus marred and whose opponents are in an excellent position to convert. Full Day of Hockey Saturday week will be a big hockey day in Dunedin/ There will be two interprovincial matches, and arrangements have been made between the men’s and women's associations so that the fixtures will not clash. The Otago men’s team will meet the Canterbury representative team, and the Otago women will play the Wellington touring side. Both games will be played on the Oval, and the women’s match will begin half an hour before the men’s, Otago has no) met Wellington for many years, but there is reason to believe that the teams will be well matched. In the case of the Otago-Canterbury game, the visitors will be seeking revenge for the defeat inflicted on them at Christchurch last year, and Otago will have to give its best to gain another decision.

UNIVERSITY HARRIERS Almost since the inception of the sport in New Zealand, Otago has been to the forefront in winter athletics, and- on Saturday at Timaru and Wellington it was shown '/ that it' still retains its proud position. While Dunedin clubs were carrying off the honours in South Canterbury, Otago University harriers gained a notable success in the annual interuniversity cross-country championship 'at Wellington. They won the teams’ race by one point from a strong team from Victoria College. The individual honours went to J. A. O’Flynn, of Victoria College, who finished 40sec ahead of A. C. A. Coombs, the solid Otago harrier, who ran a good race on the heavy course. The performance of the Otago team on a strange and tricky course was most commendable. Now a Bowler “Charlie" Skinner, many-times an Otago representative Association football player, and until this season, when he retired from active participation, a prominent member of the Mosgiel Football Club, has found a new role—that of a bowler. As sec-, retary of the Mosgiel Bowling Club, which is a recent honour bestowed upon him, “ Charlie ” is an enthusiastic worker, and his only expressed regret is that “he wished he had taken up bowls years ago.” Although still a novice in terms of experience, he promises to achieve equal fame at bowls as he has at Association football. Aided by a good handicap, he was a finalist at a recent club tournament. Women's C Grade Hockey The Otago Women’s Hockey Association’s C Grade competition will be concluded on Saturday. As was the case in the B Grade competition, the finish is a close one, involving a playoff between two unbeaten teams, Fern and Otago I. In the first round these teams drew, and it is expected that the final match will be another closelycontested one. Southlanders in Egypt Sergeant C. A. Kerse, former Southland Rugby representative, .mentions in a recent letter that there are now so many Southland players in the Middle East that a side 'could be selected to “lick anything that any other province could produce.” “Tiny" Kerse will be remembered by many Otago players and supporters as one of the burliest and , most vigorous of

Southland forwards in the seasons about 1929, in which year he was a member of the team that lifted the Ranfurly Shield from Wairarapa. Apparently he has met many of his teammates and their successors in Egypt. “ Pat Grace and Jim Ballantyne are camped close to me, and both are looking very fit," he writes. “ Gordon Herron is in the cavalry. I also saw Tom Metcalfe, and I understand he is to shift into this depot any time now.” Grace was one of New Zealand’s most promising five-eighths a season or two ago. Ballantyne played several games against Otago, and Metcalfe, an All Black,, was one of the outstanding Maroon forwards for a number of years. ‘