RUGBY

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 53

RUGBY

THE WING FORWARD. HIS ELIMINATION DISCUSSED. CHRISTCHURCH, September 17. It is the confirmed opinion of both Mr C. E. Morgan,' manager of the tonring Waratahs. and of Mr A. J. Geddes, a New Zealand selector and manager of the New Zealand team, that the wing forward must very soon disappear from New Zealand football. “It is a strange contradiction,” said Mr Morgan to a reporter, “but both here and in New South Wales the fast, open game is the one which we are trying to develop. This is the style which affords the most exercise of the players and the most entertaining for the spectators. Yet you in New Zealand are still persisting with the wing-forward, who is a spoiler of all open play. I think with the experience which will come back from South Africa the wing-forward will soon be no more.” Mr Geddes said he thought the wingforward must go, as he was more of a hindrance than a help as football was at present being developed. Mr Geddes, however, championed the two-three-two scrum. There were plenty of places to which the wing-forward might go. He could be put in the back of the scrum to give more weight and an added balance, or he could be used as an extra threequarter, which was part of his duty already. Any of these positions would be more logical than the one he now occupied.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM. VICTORY OVER MARLBOROUGH. BLENHEIM, September 19. A strong wind greatly marred the game to-day in which New South Wales defeated Marlborough by 27 points to 15. In the first spell New South Wales, having the advantage of wind and sun, worked both backs and forwards incessantly in passing rushes and kept Marlborough steadily on the defensive, emerging with a score of 17 points to nil at half time. With a slightly stronger wind behind them in the second spell the local team took charge, the forwards dominating the play, apart from two runaway tries by the backs, which were converted. New South Wales was practically helpless in the face of the solid pack and the heavy wind. For New South Wales tries were scored by Croft (four), Towers, Abbott, and Loudon. Bartley converted three oi the tries. Devine, Hewitson, and Johnson scored tries for Marlborough, Phillips converting one, and Devine potted a goal. The New South Wales backs showed good tactics and speed, but their handling was not. always certain. The visitors were again more frequently penalised than their opponents.

WELLINGTON BEATS SOUTHLAND HARD AND INTERESTING GAME. INVERCARGILL, September 19. After a hard and interesting game to* day at Rugby Park, Wellington defeated Southland by 19 points to 15. The game was very strenuous though not rough, but a surprising number of injuries occurred, the most serious being that of R. J. Coman, one of the visiting five-eighths, who was removed to hospital with slight concussion. The packs were evenly matched, and a Titanic struggle was witnessed. The pace of the Wellington backs won the day for them, while the tackling was very sound. Porter, of Wellington, was the outstanding player on the field.

TARANAKI v. THAMES VALLEY TE AROHA, September 19. The Taranaki and Thames Valley Rugby representatives met here this afternoon in fine weather, the visitors winning by 38 points to 3. Half time came with the Score 8 points to 3, but in the second half Taranaki over-ran the home team, the visiting backs being too clever. The Thames Valley forwards played well in the loose, and individually the backs did good work. The visitors registered 10 tries, four of which were converted, to hn unconverted try by the home team. OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND. "an EASY VICTORY. Showing a surprising improvement of form compared with recent matches, Otago defeated Southland at Carisbrook on Saturday in the final representative game of the season by 32 points to 3. The day was the most boisterous and unpleasant experienced since the season started. A strong wind blew from the south-west, bringing with it occasional rain and hail showers, but in spite of the unfavourable conditions a crowd of 7000 gathered to see Otago’s final effort to improve a not very creditable record. In this it was not disappointed, for the home side, playing with dash and combination, showed its superiority early in the game, and the visitors were a wellbeaten team at .It was primarily as a result of the vigorous and clever play of the forwards that Otago was enabled to win so decisively. In the tight they easily held their own, and in the loose they were far superior to the visitors. They frequently broke away in sweeping rushes, and on bccasions indulged»successfully in passing. A feature of the play in which they showed a decided improvement was their tackling. The backs, given plenty of opportunities by their forwards, provided some sparkling play. They were quick to break into the passing of f the visiting backs, who, on the day, gave a very disappointing display. Although they refceived quite as much of the ball from the scrums as the home rearguard, they could do little with it. Their passing went mostly across the field, and, as a whole, they lacked initiative. The play of the forwards was far from impressive, fend, like that of the backs, it lacked Cleverness.

The attacking brilliance of Bradanovich was the outstanding feature of the play of the Otago backs, and Haughton, the second five-eighth, played with plenty of dash. Matheson, at centre, was a sound connecting link, and F. Donnelly fitted well into his new position as wing-three-quarter. M'Clymont, on the other wing, played a fine game, and he almost invariably gained a long stretch of ground when he was given the ball. Nicholson at times had difficult work to do, but he did all that was required of him. All of the forwards were in fine form. Dunne was at the head of many of the loose rushes, showing clever opportunism and a keen sense of anticipation. Stewart was one of the hardest workers, and Sonntag’s solid scrummaging was again a feature of the forward play. Much was expected of Bell, the Southland first five-eighth, but although Johnson gave him the ball cleanly, his play was disappointing. Murray, centre, anil Diack, wing-three-quarter, played solidly. None of the forwards stood out. The teams were as follow:— Otago (Dark Blue). —Full-back, C. Nicholson (12.2); three-quarter backs— G. M'Clymont (12.0), M. Matheson (11.4), F. Donnelly (11.12); five-eighths, H. Haughton (12.7), N. Bradanovich (10.11); half-back, J. Botting (10.8); forwards—J. Stewart "(13.4), L. More (12.6) J. Donnelly (13.6), C. Sonntag (14.0), L. Carnegie (14.2), B. Dunne (13.4), E. Marslin (13.8), H. Davis (12.7) Southland (Maroon). —Full-back, G. Porter (13.0); three-quarter-backs—B. Geddes (11.8), D. Murray (11.2), E. H. Diack (11.8); five-eighths, J. M'Auliffe (11.8) R. Bell (12.0); half-back, C. Johnson (10.4); forwards—T. Roberts (13.0), J. Howden (12.10), R. Bird (13.4), S. Batchelor (14.0), N. M'Leod (13.6), L. Cockroft (13.8), W. Southern (12.8) B. M'Ewan |11.13). REFEREES’ MATCH. As a curtain-raiser to the main fixture, the annual match between the Otago and Southland referees was played, the home side winning by 11 points to 3. For the winners tries were scored by Swete, Knox, and Aitcheson, Duff converting one. For the visitors Anderson kicked a penalty goal. y MAORIS DEFEAT N.S. WALES. VICTORY BY ONE POINT. WELLINGTON, September 22. Rain overnight and just prior to the match made the ground very slippery for the game between New South Wales and the Maoris. The teams were as follow:— New South Wales.—Westfield, Croft, : Towers, Bull, White, George, Malcolm, Cerutti, O’Donnell, Comrie-Thompson, O’Connor, Lamb, Louden, Bland, Rosenblum. Maoris.—Nepia, Falwasser, Pelham, Jury, Rata, Paewai, Shortland, S. Gemmell, Tatana, Leach, Rika, Reside, Wilson, Pine, Raroa. the final score was:— Maoris .. .« ~ 9 points New outh Wales .. 8 points

AN ERROR OF TACTICS. WELLINGTON, September 23. Against the Maoris, New South Wales lacked judgment in that they tried to handle the greasy ball on a slushy ground as though both ball and ground were dry. Had they been content to Keep the ball at their toes and rely on their superior speed they would have won. They lost the game through free kicks awarded against them. While the Maoris were inclined to kick more, both teams threw the ball about freely, and many spectacular movements ensued. New South Wales was the better team on the day. Outstanding among the Maoris was Shortland at half-back.. He fielded brilliantly and whipped round the scrum like lightning, gaining much ground with good runs and fine kicking. Nepia was safe at full-back, his mighty punts gaining from 40 yards to 60 yards each time. His fielding 'was sound, but he was inclined to run into trouble. His tackling was sure. Falwasser, Pelham, and Jury made a good three-quarter line with Falwasser outstanding. His numerous runs, however, were usually ended by brilliant tackling. Rata and Paewai were a good five-eighths line, but strangely enough both had to retire injured. S. Gemmell, at wing-forward, was always quickly round the scrum, but too often he found Malcolm faster. The Maori forwards packed well and were superior in the line outs and used their feet more. Though without Nepia’s marvellous kicking, Westfield was a rock in defence at full-back. Only for a few minutes in the second spell did he become shaky in handling the greasy ball. He quickly recovered, however, and thenceforward made no mistakes, either in taking the ball, finding the line, or tackling. Malcolm performed marvels behind the scrum in defence and attack. Croft, Towers, Bull (until injured), and White, were always a strong wall in defence and dangerous on attack. Croft and White, on the wings, were in the thick of it throughout.

TARANAKI DEFEATS AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, September 22. , In the final representative Rugby game of the season played here to-day Taranaki defeated Auckland by six points to three. The game was. played on a heavy ground, and rain fell during the greater part of the play. The visitors thoroughly deserved their victory, and would have been unlucky to lose. Their backs combined much more effectively than those of the Auckland team, and showed better judgment in placing their kicks to advantage. In the first spell especially Taranaki held the territorial advantage, and at half time led by a penalty goal to nil. Towards the end of the game Auckland scored an unconverted try. Taranaki again gained the lead just before time with a try, from which no goal resulted, leaving the final score:— Taranaki .. ~ ~ 6 points Auckland 3 points WAIKATO DEFEATS THAMES. HAMILTON, September 22. Waikato beat Thames Valley- by 25 points to uih

WELLINGTON DEFEATS CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, September 23. Wellington and Canterbury met yesterday at Lancaster Park, which was in a sodden condition. Wellington won by 14 points to 7 points, Heazlewood’s goalkicking being an important factor in the success of the visitors.