FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 19294, 12 July 1924, Page 12

FOOTBALL

(By

"On-side Mac.”)

Trial match medicine. Patient now in a bad way. Star tighten grip on Galbraith Shield. Archer again best forward on the ground. All Black forwards cut loose on Wednesday. Second Test, N.S.W. v. New Zealand today. All Black captain and deputy, both injured in first match. Jack Hazlett back in old position after a long absence. Has there been another mistake over the two Ryans? Con may be all right as lock, but as a side-row breakaway—! Burt, Archer and Lee represent the younger brigade. All three have played themselves into the team. Australians confident of a visit from French team next season. Maoriland should see to it that she is not left out. New dressing shed at Biggar street will be in us.e for the first time to-day. The juniors have a good deal to thank Mr J. T. Lilburne for in the manner he pushed this work through, and it is up to them to show their appreciation by looking after the building properly. ’ An experienced follower of the game would only have to see one or two games in Invercargill to decide that there was only one team in the senior competition aware of the elements of coaching which turn a side from a collection of fifteen into a team. It is really wonderful how Star have surmounted their difficulties this season. They started the season poorer in material, especially in respect to the forwards, than they have been for a very long time. Their pack lacked weight, involving the shifting of Lilley from full back to the back row. They still lack weight and line out reach in front, and on paper (deceptive term!) they ought to have had little chance of winning the Galbraith Shield against teams with the physical qualifications of Pirates, Blues and Marist, especially in the forwards. But it all goes to show what one team, properly coached, can do against other teams that will not put in the necessary time and trouble to make themselves a team as opposed to 15 individuals, the highest development of which is that machinelike precision in carrying out movements so difficult to attain, but once reached, productive of the champagne of footbail. Southland got it last year against New South Wales, not exactly the result of immediate coaching, but through the association (accidentally in the case of one important cog in the machinery) of some very highly coached players in that and preceeding years. The destination between “material” (the fifteen men available at the beginning of the season) and the resultant team is interesting, and possibly may help many people to solve the problem of how the famous Marist Club of Christchurch, although in its palmy days the crack club team of Canterbury, yet did not supply the percentage to big football it might be supposed was due from it, considering its exalted place amongst the first fifteens of the various Canterbury clubs. It all comes back to the same thing—and the All Blacks who played in Sydney last Saturday are no exception. The great team, and Invercargill Star as a team must always be accounted one of the greatest club combinations this country has ever seen, is moulded by coaching. If you pick the wrong man to’do the coaching, don’t blame the principle of coaching for that, or say that a team < can’t be coached. We have had these cases in Southland; it is also evident that these views prevail in high places elsewhere. Star’s game on Saturday was to hold the opposing pack sufficiently long to transfer the attack to the rearguard where the mantle of one of the greatest footballers the Dominion has seen in recent times, N. Stead to wit, has fallen on *his old Maori team-mate, Bell, thereby adding that touch of brilliancy, without which the handicap of light forwards would be too great a one for a back division which is not conspicuous for outstanding individual merit. Bell played a great game, and all the more so when it has to be remembered that he had to take some difficult passes at times. Brown was also very much at home on the run of play. He put plenty of dash into his running, and opened up the game for his ride by well placed kicking on several occasions, while his defensive marking in tight corners was first class. People who are bewailing, the absence of a rep. half could do worse than take out a few tickets on the old horse. If it is flash stuff that is wanted, then of course it is no good asking Jas. Oughton for it, but for a sound; solid player who gets the ball away accurately and quickly in match after match Oughton would be hard to beat. He has the great merit of not being a soloist—there have been too many of them in Southland football in the past—but on the other hand his short ride work is still the best that has been seen here for years, while close observers of the game have already noted the excellent manner in which the ball is got away from the Star scrum as one of the secrets of their success; not so evident at the time of passing out as when the second five and three-quarters want to do things and need a little room to work on, meantime being reasonably certain of getting their passes on the run. “An old dog for a hard road” is a well worn phrase, but it is certainly true in the Star with Oughton and Agnew. Barring one slip, Murray played an excellent gamei on the wing, while G. Oughton gave a dashing display at full back. In the forwards, it was hard to sort out anyone for special mention. Agnew had an off day. Bhck, Lilley and Smith stayed the game out well, and were always hard at it. The Pirates had some artful little dodges put across them, notably the line out throw in behind their heads, a stunt which is liable to get past the best of referees. But probably what Pirates found hardest of the lot to combat was their opponent.-’ habit of strolling back to their places after a checked attacking movement at their own gait, thereby acting the part of passive obstructionists amongst the Pirate backs. Encouraged by the fact that the referee was overlooking this delightful little pastime. Star improved on it to the extent of getting into the play again from this position, tackling and otherwise illegally preventing Pirate passing runs, with the result that the harassed Pirate rearguard was forced back into a deep, defensive position which rendered its attacking work hopelessly ineffective. Archer was the best forward on the ground. Some say he is “too green,” but he is tremendously destructive with his exceptional pace and size, and if the rough corners can’t be rubbed off before the rep. season opens, then there is something seriously wrong with Southland football. On the line out on Saturday he was Pirates’ mainstay, while in the loose he raced back time and again and assisted .bis backs on defence in a refreshing orig-

inal and effective manner. What he wants more than anything else in the meantime is dribbling practice. Batchelor tigered away in great style. It was an interesting sight to see him burst through a ruck in midfield after the ball, when all on a sudden he was jerked to a standstill by some noble fellow who under cover of the forward pack had stealthily reached out and held his back foot. This sort of thing, which has jersey-holding and blocking as near relatives, is more productive of fighting and rough play on the field than anything else, and punishment should be swift and sure when the offender is detected. Considering that he was the lightest man on the ground, Tinnock was a very good second to Roberts, who if he knew the hooking game better would be a distinct possibility for more important fixtures ahead. Potter worked in the spasmodic, unexpected style that Bell used to favour when at his best in the roving capacity, and the ex-Bluff player made a very good job of it, his exceptional pace giving him a well deserved try, Pirates only score by the way. In the backs Pay and Preston did some great tackling at times, otherwise there was little out of the way to note. McCallum had a big kick, and to counteract his lack of speed should always be manoeuvring for the position where he can get the ball on the full. Waiting for the bounce is fatal with a slow player, as the South African, Morkel, shrewdly divined in his later years when he was getting slower than he used to be. Auckland plays Hawke’s Bay for the RanfUrly Shield on August 16. This looks like being the hardest match the defenders of the Shield will have had to date. There are also whispers that Wcl lington has its eyes on “the old log of wood.” z After the visit of the Springboks in 1921, the New South Wales and New Zea--land Rugby Unions had almost completed negotiations for a visit from the French this 1924 season, when the arrangements broke down, the English invitation to the All Blacks being partly responsible (says a Sydney writer). When “Ossie” Merrett, manager of the Olympic team, reached Paris, he reopened the question, under authority from the New South Wales Union. Now it is cabled that we shall see the Frenchmen here next year. Hero-worship amongst the boy foot bailers in Moore Park, Sydney, takes the form of appropriating the names of League celebrities (writes a Bulletin correspondent). I came across a babling Parliament of youngsters between the jam-tin and twig that served for goal posts at one end of the ground. A dissatisfied urchin was fading away with the bag of wind. “The silly little cow won’t let us ’ave the ball —it’s ’is—unless ’e kin be ’Arold Order,” a forward explained. Then an inspiration came to him. “Eh, ’Orrie?” he shouted, “will you play if we let yer be ’Oward ’Allett an’ keep fullback?” As I departed I saw him take up his position, satisfied with the glory of being 'Oward 'Allett, even if he was a bit out of the fun. If an Olympic championship means a world’s championship, then the United States holds the championship at Rugby football, by virtue of its team having defeated France in the final game. True, only three countries were represented, Rumania being the third. The event apparently had no appeal to the big Rugby Union countries, and, in view of this and the expense entailed, it is questionable if it is worth retaining on the Olympic programme. The United States is not a Rugby football country, the game in the Great Republic being confined to a few clubs on the Pacific Coast, and the visit of the team and its success created no public interest whatever east of the Rockies, and little even on the other ride. As one writer remarked, “Now that we’ve got the championship, what are we going to do with it- What will it mean when the boys return? They are a scattered lot and will return to the various homes.” Waikiwi Club deserve commendation for the way they are endeavouring to carry on under difficulties. They suffered heavy losses from last season; and it was a severe blow to lose their two stalwarts, Richardson and White, but in the meantime the suburban Club is going to carry on with a second grade team. Waikiwi has a fine record, and it would be a pity to see the old Club go to the wall, especially as three members of the All Blacks are, or were, members of the Club. Gregory, one of last season’s Auckland backs, has gone over to League. An interesting practice followed by the League in Auckland is the payment of 30/- per playing Saturday to good senior players, an “honorarium” that no doubt is a fairly strong attraction for impecunious footballers, and accounts for a large measure of the quondam popularity of the game in Auckland (says the Napier Telegraph.) Our old friend “Full Back” of the Otago Daily has had another go at the wing forward, and once again conjures up a gloomy picture of what will happen if New Zealand plays the much-discussed gentleman against England. Close by “Full Back’s” notes in last week’s O.D.T. is an article by an English writer in which this illuminating sentence occurs relative to the English team to tour South Africa:—“They have three most accomplished wing forwards in Voyce and Blackeston, and the Irishman, Clinch.” No doubt, “Full Back” would declare the last-mentioned admirably named.

Last year a feature of the organisation of the Waikiwi Club were the weekly dances it used to hold in the Hall, and the popularity of this form of amusement was shown in the huge gathering that assembled for the farewell ball to the All Blacks, Richardson and White. The popular innovation inaugurated last season by the suburban Club is still being carried on regularly, and is materially assisting to keep the Club together in the lean period it is going through. Members of the 1924 All Black, team who have played as New Zealand representatives on previous occasions are as follow:—1921, v. South Africa: First Test -■-Steel, Badeley, M. Nicholls, Richardson and White; Second Test—Steel, Badeley, M. Nicholls, West and Richardson; Third Test—Steel, M. Nicholls, Richardson and West. 1921, v. New South Wales in Sydney—Steel and West (in three Tests), and Badeley (in two Tests). 1922, v. New South Wales in Sydney—Steel, Richardson, M. Brownlie and White (in three Tests), and M. Nicholls (in two Tests). 1923, v. New South Wales (in New Zealand) —First Test —Steel, Mill, Richardson (captain), and M. Brownlie; second Test—Lucas, Q. Donald, West, Richardson and M. Brownlie (replacing Peterson, who was injured); Third Test—Lucas, Paewai, Porter, Irvine, Masters, Cuppies, White and Stewart. (Notes by “Winger.”) As was expected Saturday’s game was mainly confined to the forwards, the backs seeing little of the ball. Blues obtained possession from the scrums more regularly than Greens, but their backs could not make use of it. Greens’ backs on the other hand, were literally starved for want of ball, and had they been able to get it, the result of the match would have been different as they indulged in one or two good passing rushes when they secured the leather—their try being the result of one of the best passing movements seen on the Park for some time. It is hard to differentiate between any of the forwards of either pack as all worked like Trojans, but as visual Smith headed the Blue pack, while Robe and Lee were in the van of any Green attack. The trouble with the Green scrum seems to be that the ball is hooked cleanly enough but seems to hang in the back row, thus enabling the opposing forwards to come round and get the half in possession. Blues, on the other hand, hooked the ball cleanly, enabling Davidson to get the ball away cleanly, although his outride backs were not making much use of it Lopdell was not up to his usual standard of play, seeming to be too alow in getting rid of the ball. It could be seen that Blues missed Hawke and Vial in the five-eighths positmtw, Gbejrae pfeyed his

usual safe game at full-back his long kicking with the wind in the second spell, gaining a lot of ground for Blues. In the Green backs, Walsh seemed to have an offday, his transfers often being erratic, while he was also caught in possession several times. Behind the pack, Blee played a fair game, but he is inclined to be a soloist, while he also kicks too frequently, instead of passing out to his backs. Fogarty, at full-back, played a sound game, but his line kicking is rather weak. On the day’s game Blues deserved their win, as their forwards more than held their own with Greens, and the backs although weak, made better use of their opportunities to the best of their abilities than their opponente, who seemed to be suffering from the lack of • good “general” in their rearguard. THE ALL BLACKS. THEIR STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS. (By a Selector of 1905). The selectors of the New Zealand tea® to tour Englund made one definite decision—they decided to select players oa present form. This may have been correct, but it is not always a sound policy, and the selectors’ action has caused some good footballers to miss the much-coveted trip. Of those who were unlucky, St. George, Dr Perry, Bell, Williams and Pringle may be specially mentioned. It is not argued that those mentioned were in form during the trials, in fact they were not, but good players have their bad times, and the selectors will be bold men if they assert that the players who took St. George and Co.’e places will show the form that put them in the team when they are required to do so. They are just as likely to be under a cloud when representing the Dominion as were the rejected ones during the trial games. The absence of Bell and Dr Perry will be felt before the tour is over. As soon as the team was finally selected critics immediately set to work to find its strength and weakness. The concensus of opinion summed up the selection as strong forwards, fight attacking backs with poor defence. Incidentally it was argued that the team had great possibilities, especially in the rearguard chiefly on account of ite youth. The first effort of the side resulted in defeat—which by the way will do it no harm. I was one who was not at all surprised at the result, as the forwards in my opinion will not prove the great success anticipated. It will be generally admitted that the pack will be unbeatable—in the pack—but there are other departments of forward play in which the side is sadly deficient. Mr G. H. Dixon, the manager of the 1905 team, a keen judge of the game, was never tired of stating that big heavy men unless they were active, fast, resourceful and good handlers, were no good to a side on an extended tour. Forwards dominate the game, or should do so, and they require to be capable players in all departments. I do not think New Zealand will be beaten in the pack, but away from it the forwards have much to learn. And with the flashy non-stopping backs, the forwards more than ever are required to get away from the pack and do what is commonly known as the in fighting, i.a, tackle and stop in its incipient stages formulated attack. It was in this particular that the 1905 pack were so successful. Without being beaten in the solid hard work of the actual scrimmage, Selling, McDonald, O’Sullivan and Glasgow got out into the open after the opposing backs and nipped in the bud any attempt at back play and incidentally saved their backs from much of the hard stopping work. They did more than that, as by their concerted ‘tackling they left the New Zealand rearguard fresh and willing for any attack when it was put into action. Further, the side could bring the backs into work with them and some passing rushes were well mixed by alternate forward and back being in possession. This is the real weakness of the present pack. They are large, heavy, and fairly fast, while a few more faster ones would have been preferable, but they are not polished footballers as all recognise the team. Australian critics assert faulty handling lost tries. This should not obtain amongst class forwards. Much time and thought should be given to this particular by the manager, and the forwards will require to practice other parts of their duties than just pushing and executing forward rushes. There must not be too much solidity in the pack at the expense of brilliancy. Once the pack is safely solid too many fast men cannot be included to make up the front division, especially with only light, clever backs behind. The backs have to my mind only one weakness, they are too small. If the forwards fail to stop the opponents’ attack the New Zealand defence is certain to break down, because small light backs, even allowing they are of the gamest, will be outweighted by the continuous attack. A good light tackler against a heavy opponent will get tired of tackling and commence to shirk his work. The youth of the backs is greatly in their favour. That they will improve on the tour seems certain, and if not called upon to do too much defence will probably hold up their end quite to the satisfaction of all. I am not one who thinks because of a defeat the ride is a bad one, but rather imagine the beating will be most beneficial. But there is a lot of hard work in front of the team if it wishes to reproduce its best on the playing fields of England. The last side went away with a fair lot of forwards, certainly not as good as those of the present team, but by hard work, use of brains and a working towards a common end so moulded themselves into a pack that at all departments of the game they never had superiors. What was done in 1905 can be again accomplished in 1924, but unless it is done this team is not to achieve the success of its predecessor. It is even more important that 1924 forwards should become experts in all departments by reason of the fact that this year’s side does not possess the matured backs of the 1905 team. I saw all of the 1905 backs play both before they left New Zealand and after their tour. Individually they were not much better players on their return, with the exception of F. Roberts, who went away an ordinary half-back and came back the best who has ever played in that position. Collectively the backs naturally became a strong force, but this was only to be expected after an extended tour. As already mentioned, most of them were matured players before leaving here, and good players combine quicker than others. Mast of the present backs have youth and are capable of immense improvement. If not crippled and heartbroken by too much defensive work it will not be surprising to find (he majority of them reaching the highest possible standard and becoming a combination whose work will be the admiration of all lovers of the game. It is to be regretted that in the present combination there is not one who can be classed as a leader. The late D. GaDaber possessed such splendid characteristics as a leader of men that the 1905 team was particularly fortunate that he was a member of the side. New Zealand has been without a leader for a number of years now and it seems almost hopeless to expect to find one. If there were one here he would be invaluable to the touring ride. Every loyal New Zealander will wish the side all possible success. Much of it will depend on how they realise the importance of the undertaking and by individual effort perfect themselves and be prepared to make sacrifices towards team work—chat all-winning factor in football games. When the 1905 team was beaten by Wales some of the hardest headed on the side stated to me that the vast crowd assembled singing “Land of our Fathers” had a wry depressing effect on them. Mr F. T. Evans, at the public send-off of the Canterbury contingent rightly remarked that if the 1924 aide hear the same song they will do well to remember that the whole of New Zealand are also shouting: “Ake, k Kia Kaba.”