FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 20207, 18 June 1927, Page 18 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL

(By "Onlooker.”) HONOURS BOARD The following table shows the points, and how scored, obtained by individual members of first grade teams competing in the Galbraith Shield series:— Goals. Total.

More Pirate plunder. Light Blues get a heavy blow. Pirate passing improving. Too much ’flu among the Light Blue. Both Pirates and Southern need to pay more attention to their appearance before they come on, even if it is No. 2 ground. They were dressed any old how on Saturday. There was an agreeable absence of "yap” on No. 2 ground, but No. 1 made up for it. Philpott was off for the first time this season in his kicking. Hamilton, the big man in the Southern forwards commenced splendidly but he was only filling a gap, and lack of condition made him retire at the interval. His namesake on the wing, a third grade player who was at school last year, showed plenty of pluck. I would like to see young Faulkiner playing senior football. He’s got it in him if ever a youngster had. There is the making of a rep. five-eighths if he is not spoilt by coaches. “Have you ever seen him miss?” said someone on the line last Saturday. Cavanagh was the player he referred to, and strangely enough the Southern full-back made his first mull of the day and one of the few this season. Hazlett must be the fittest man in Southland. The way he comes in with the backs in passing bouts and the way he follows up entail a great deal of extra sprinting; but Bill’s long stride never flags. Diack’s pace, particularly his quickness in gathering speed, gave him at least two tries against Southern. Roberts played another fine game and started nice passing from the line-out. If he doesn’t look out though he’ll break someone’s neck with his upending tackle. Burtenshaw did not come on till half time and then looked as if he was only half fit owing to a cold. The Rat put it over the Rooster at wingforward, but McEwan did a lot of hard slogging that Johnston did not need to with his winning pack. Pay’s game was very sound and he did some great defensive work. Thomas showed improvement in his halfback play and made a worthy substitute for Joe Johnson. Why does Cockroft lock the Black scrum ? Is he better for that position than Batcheler ? R. McKay was conspicuous for opening up the game on many occasions. Pirates seemed to take matters rather easily in the first spell. Southern worked hard but there were too many players with coughs and ’flu in the Blue ranks and they could not keep up the pace. The difference in the teams was most noticeable in the backs. Whereas the Southern forwards almost held their own in everything save the scrums, the Pirate backs absolutely ran rings round their opponents. The deadly tackling one is so accustomed to see among Southern was absent. An encouraging feature of the game was the short snappy passing indulged in by the Black forwards. That’s the stuff we want to see more of in Southland. The big Black forwards showed no little skill in handling on Saturday. Moreover they are by no means slow, as Southern found to their cost on several occasions.

Then dribbling left much to be desired. Little control of the ball was shown and when the ball was overrun the forward concerned nearly always hung offside waiting for the ball to come to him instead of getting back and spreading out. The Southern pack spoilt, much good work by kicking far too hard when they got near the Black line. On four occasions at least it looked as if the Blues were going to score in a fine loose rush. Then some forward with more boot than brains would kick the ball ten or twenty yards and Pirates would clear. In the scrums the overwhelming weight of the Blacks gave them the ball. The hookers really did not need to worry much for time and again Southern would be pushed right off the ball. The Pirates backs showed very fair handling in their passing bouts and in the second spell did their best to make play bright. They were prone to run across the ground at times, the threequarters being thereby hemmed in. Stars shine again. Blue and Blacks badly beaten. Too many guns in Star rearguard forces. Depleted and light Invercargill garrison could not hold the fort after half-time. Star’s battery of chain passing, at times brilliantly executed, rammed home many shots. The marksmanship of the "shooters” in both teams was shockingly weak. Bell, McAuliffe and Connolly played their best games to date; Campbell played his worsk

Cockroft and Shaw r were the pick of Star’s vanguard, with heeler Howden not far behind. Adams, as a front row man, went well with Howden. Perhaps this is his real possie. Diack has now scored 70 points for his side. He collected the bare score against Southern. The century’s a cinch. Jack Lilley was down with ’flu during the week, but was able to enjoy Star’s win from the stand. Wonder if he groaned when McAuliffe, R. Oughton and Campbell missed the easy ones. McAuliffe broke the ice in two places on Saturday. He scored his first try for the season and also goaled his first conversion. Guy Oughton opened his scoring account for the season with two tries. Geddes is still the champion try-getter as far as the Honours Board is concerned. Diack is only one behind him, so the speed king will have to put some hurry-up on. Bobby Oughton continues to get tries in approved wing-three fashion. Nothing impressed more on Saturday in the matter of three-quarter displays than Wills’s. Blues have got a good man in the ex-Marist winger and, properly fed, he is going to give opposing wings and fullbacks a headache looking after him. Charlie Johnson supplied his backs with heaps of ball in the first spell. Where he got it from he himself only knows, as the Blue hookers couldn’t live with Howden and Adams. Connolly's half-back work impressed. Granted, he got plenty of ball and was constantly in the picture, but he did it all in a tradesmanlike manner. The Star scrum was the best they’ve had all the season. Cockroft’s locking was largely responsible. Brian Mahoney appeared to be unfit. His movements were slow. Despite this, he held his own at the fringe of the scrum, his long arms enabling him to spoil a lot of Charlie Johnson’s opening up work, and he initiated many rushes. 111-informed contemporary criticism to the contrary, notwithstanding George Nepia will not play for Hawke’s Bay this year, says a Hawke’s Bay writer. The great full-back is now farming at Ruatoria, about 10 miles from the East Cape, and for personal reasons cannot get down to Napier. He is playing in the Waiapu Sub-union this year, and is selector of the local representative team and coach of his club side. The rumour that Jimmy Mill will turn out again is also mostly inspired piffle, and it will mean a radical change in his present business arrangements before he will be free to play in Napier again. Jimmy Walker has also given his personal bond that he will not be donning the jersey again, but it is understood that not much persuasion would be needed to induce the capable winger to be into the fray again. In the meantime there is a distinct possibility that Wattie Barclay may return to Napier from Auckland. When Wellington Club seniors last Saturday delighted their supporters by drawing with Poneke, they probably did not realise the two ex-Southlanders were responsible for the thirteen points. But they were. Frank Kilby kicked a penalty from 40 yards out, converted two tries and gave a man a clear run in for one of the two tries. Donnelly, who is playing a fine game in the Wellington pack, scored the other try. Kilby was carried off shoulder high, for in converting the last try from the touchline just at the end he brought his side’s total up to that of Poneke. “Wattie” Barclay, the ex-Maori captain, was lunching in the hotel at Pahiatua last week when he heard a thud. The barman was murdered in the next room. By defeating the B team on Wednesday by 33—8, University A drew level with Kaikorai in the senior championship.

Hawke’s Bay defeat has provided city sporting writers with more copy than any other similar event of recent years, says “Scrum,” a Napier scribe. Papers in the centres have devoted columns to the game, some of the comments being worthy of notice. Accurately summing up his play on the day, an Auckland scribe roundly suggests that because of his failure, Jackie Blake should never again be considered for international honours. To this writer it is a new creed of sporting ethics to condemn a man for ever for one bad display. Few footballers would be left playing the game if such drastic judgments were to i be the accepted basis of measuring ability. Auckland writers should be told that Freddie Lucas, R. Sheen and F. Cammick will stand just as much chance of selection for next year’s All Blacks without their sponsoring boosters spilling unnecessary venom at the expense of other candidates for places in the Silver Fern back line in an obvious attempt to prejudice their chances. Just as discretion is the better part of valour, so is tolerance the better part of criticism, and virulent critics whose unction carries them away should consider first the interests of the sport, and should leave far behind the one-eyed views that arise through an obvious provincial parochialism. As a matter of fact, that particular writer’s thinly-concealed zeal as an Auckland booster is likely to be largely misplaced, as we have it on the authority of Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, that there is a great probability of no natives being included in next year’s All Blacks. “Scrum” responds to the Auckland critic concerned by stating that he has it on the best of authority that F. Cammick is the nearest approach to A. E. Cooke this country has seen, and that F. W. Lucas is a certainty for next year’s national side.

STAR v. PIRATES SECOND TEST TO-DAY. "Can Star beat Pirates to-day?” This question has been discussed during the past week by many Rugby enthusiasts, and, judging by the growing interest taken in the Galbraith Shield competition, a large crowd (wet or dry) is expected to witness the "big” game on Park No. 1 this afternoon. The Pirates team, after its sequence of wins, should take the field fully tuned up, and with Star as keen as ever, a great game should result. The Blue and White backs, with Connolly, Bell, G. Oughton and McAuliffe now linking up almost perfectly, are sure to extend Pay, Pickering, Diack and Co. The forwards are very evenly matched, Pirates, perhaps, having a shade the advantage in weight and pace. Last week’s exhibition by Star showed that they are far from being a back number, and with their team also at full strength to-day, they should give Pirates the "go” of the season. In their last game, Pirates won by 13 points to 6 points, crossing Star’s line thrice to Star’s nil. There was much obstruction by both sides in that game and it is to be hoped Referee Kelly will penalise it to-day. Any unnecessary talking should also be put down. There has been far too

much “magging” by players of late and referees seem to have forgotten that they can order a man off the field for questioning their decisions. With obstructionists and talking machines in operation a game may be well spoiled, so let’s hope there will be none of it to-day. The playing area is certain to be in a greasy condition, but, nevertheless, a bright and open game is anticipated and whichever side wins, the victory will be well-earned. ON FORM A “LINE’’ ON THE REPS. THIS WEEK’S TEAM. Full Back CAVANAGH Threequarters R. OUGHTON DIACK WILLS Five-eighths G. OUGHTON BELL Half Back CONNOLLY Front Row ROBERTS HOWDEN Lock BATCHELER Side Supports HAZLETT SHAW COCKROFT (Star) R ° W R. McKAY Wing Forward W. JOHNSTON. “BIASSED CRITICISM.” OLD READER’S GROUCH. “Football Fan” writes: — "I have read the football notes in your Saturday’s paper for many years, have even had the paper sent to me while living outside Southland but I have always felt that your various writers of the football notes during the last, say twelve years, have been biassed in their criticism of various players and that one club in particular, Star, has had a very unfair deal in your football columns. I shall endeavour to show how your writers’ criticism has dealt unfairly with particular Star ‘stars’ from time to time. “During 1912-1913 and early in 1914 there were no more unpopular players in Invercargill with the football public than Dave and Steve Baird, the late James Ridland and Jack Lilley, simply because your paper in particular singled them out and dealt unmercifully with any football misdeed they might have done. Ridland and Steve Baird were hauled over the coals for their rough, unscrupulous methods, while players on the opposing side could use all kinds of dirty methods and get away with it. I have seen Fraser and Gardiner, of Waikiwi, put it onto Ridland repeatedly, and the only time he retaliated he was caught and given a two years’ suspension—your reporter saw Ridland’s error—the other men’s faults were glossed over. Again Jack Lilley’s methods of playing safe when Star were winning called down the wrath of your football reporter—to-day ‘Onlooker’ would pat Ronny Mills on the back for using those same safe methods when Pirates were ahead.

“Then came your football authority ‘Diegersfontein’ who was continually finding fault with Checker Oughton, Scotty Baird and company. They, in his eyes, could do nothing right. Mistakes made by the opposing teams didn’t matter. Star forwards worked dirty points and the public and referees must be told about them. Next came ‘On-side McKenzie,’ another football authority, who once in 1923 called the Hawke’s Bay forwards slow-moving, ponderous mammoths and would have none of them. He, too, would write up Star players. Agnew, Jack Oughton, Shand and Herb. Brown were made the butt of his criticisms at various times. Agnew was continually being rapped for his dirty play. His opposing wing forwards were gentle lambs and were held up as models fit for a Sunday School class. “Since ‘Onlooker’ has had charge of the Saturday football columns he appears to have donned black glasses as he can certainly see only Pirates players. He has sorted out Bell for special criticism that has at times even become abusive; even after the Star—Pirates game he slated Bell and said W. Johnston outplayed him in all departments of the game. Did he? From a keen footballer’s viewpoint Bell fed his backs much better than Johnston and had the Star backs had as much speed as their opponents, I’m sure they would have scored more points than Pirates did. His criticism of Campbell, too, has been unkind to say the least of it. Young players make mistakes; even Nepia has speculated at times. A little kindly criticism would assist this young player. I know Campbell wished to be relieved of his job after ‘Onlooker’s’ unkind remarks regarding his tackling ability, etc. Why, Mills, on last week’s display, was deserving of very harsh criticism. Yet ‘Onlooker’ made a joke of his shortcomings. “ ‘Onlooker’ questions Stars’ abd.ity to tackle. He says Diack squeezed between two Star backs to score. They hadn’t the speed to get near him, so I can’t see how he squeezed through—futile to attempt to tackle a man many yards away from you and who is going further away with his extra pace. No, ‘Onlooker’ might well devote a little space to mentioning the names of those players who indulge in talking, rough play or unfair tactics. L. Cockroft, Roberts and Hazlett would do to start with. This has been tried by Wellington papers with great success. It assists the referee, opposing players and brightens the game from a spectator’s viewpoint. Here’s hoping your football notes will not show such a partisan spirit in the future and that ‘Onlooker’ will give credit where credit is due even if it is to the wearers of the Blue and White.”

As the above letter was perused by members and officials of the Star Club before it reached the Times Office and they did not give any support to "Football Fan’s” contentions, there is no need for comment by "Onlooker.” JUNIOR JOTTINGS ROUND THE GRADES. In the Blues—Star second grade game, Calder commenced at full back, but shortly after the commencement of the game he changed places with the first five-eighths owing to that player receiving a severe knock that necessitated his taking up a position not so close to the centre of activities. Calder in his new position was a trifle disappointing, not showing up so well as in his other position. Smith, at half-back, was a hard worker for Blues, executing some neat work behind the scrums. Todd was the team passenger, the only redeeming feature of his play being a neat interception of a pass and a smart run up field—a movement that paved the way for a good try. The rest of his play consisted of hovering round the outskirts of play and getting rid of the ball as rapidly as possible whenever it did happen to fall into his hands. Salisbury was a willing worker in the pack and used hjs weight well*

Star’s hardest worker was the full back. His good stopping tactics spoilt many dangerous Blue sallies, and he undoubtedly saved Star from a heavier defeat. Donaldson played his usual smart game for Star, executing some movements that resulted in quite a lot of ground gained for his side. In the Marist-Bluff game at Biggar Street, Bluff took the field two men short and lost another man just before half-time owing to his sustaining a leg injury. Apart from their disadvantage in numbers. Bluff, in the first spell were not up to Marist’s standard, there being very little concerted play in their ranks, while standing passing was freely indulged in. In the second half of the game, more especially during the last quarter of an hour, Bluff woke up and displayed some of their old dash, finally getting to within three points of Marists score. Miller for Marist, was one of their outstanding forwards. He made some good breakaways and threw his weight about to some purpose. Maher played a slashing game for Marist his performance being easily the most outstanding on the field. Wiig was prominent in Bluff’s forward division, and did the work of two men in keeping the pack together. Harris was the hardest worked player on the Bluff side, but the big winger was equal to the occasion and gained two tries, besides working like a giant to keep the back division's end up. Dixon, full back, was inclined to stand a trifle close in, and a high kick by Marist with fast following up, frequently caught him out of position. Hamilton played his usual good game and made the most of what opportunities came his way, frequently getting his team out of a nasty position. Blue thirds must have been having a rest when they allowed Bluff to secure their try. There can be hardly any other explanation of the fact that Bluff scored, when sixty points were registered against them. The game was too much in the nature of a walk over to be interesting, Bluff being unable to withstand Blues speedy incursions into their territory. High School fourths went under to Marist to the tune of 20 points to 8. High School never looked dangerous although they scored one good try and a penalty goal. Marist threw the ball about and as a result scored six tries. They need a goal kicker because they lost ten points, only one try being converted. In the latter stages High School appeared lost and the Greens threw the ball all round them. Star defeated Marist thirds by eight points. In the latter stages they had only twelve men. They started short and one member was ordered off. Perhaps the ordering off of a player will have an influence on the talkative members of junior teams in the future. Rough play and lurid language gains nothing. Wybrow, Marist’s full back, was as safe as a church. He has a sure pair of hands and a hefty boot. Fulton shone on occasions. He is a trifle "windy” but still helps his side well at times. Don Agnew was the best of the Star players. Nothing ruffled him. The way he paused to sight for his pot at goal was the acme of coolness.

"Shorty” Lee played a fair game and came out with three tries to his credit. B. Agnew, Smith, Henderson and McCall were prominent at times for Star. Waikiwi fourths have another win to their credit. Technical went under by ten points after a very ragged game. Luck was against High School in their match against Technical. A potted goal was the deciding factor in Technical’s favour. Hamilton played his usual good game for the School team. EASTERN DISTRICT NOTES (From Our Correspondent.) Mataura has returned to business. After leading in the first round, Wyndham has been beaten by the biggest margin registered in the senior grade this season. The score, however, was not a fair indication of the game. Wyndham put up a good fight, and were trying all the way. The Pioneer-Albion match contained some very crude play, and laughter was heard from the grandstand almost as often as applause. The game was a duel between the Albion forwards and the Pioneer backs, and on the day’s play a draw would probably have been a fair result. No reflections arc cast on the Pioneer vanguard, but the Albion eight were too good for them. Innumerable kicks at goal were taken. Not one succeeded. Weak kicking by the Albion backs was noticeable. Coombe is improving, but is rather prone to try fancy stuff. Davidson still continues to try to do too much himself. Otherwise his play was good. Shanks was a little nearer his old form, but is still below par. Lyttle gave a fine display. Pioneer backs field and pass well. Albion need coaching in this respect. Forwards seem to be in trouble with the new scrummage rules. Results to date:— FIRST GRADE.

. THE NEW RULES ALTERATIONS SUMMARISED. Last year the Rugby Football Union, England, set up a sub-committee to revise the Rules of the Game and bring them out in simpler form. These have now been received by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, and in the new rules certain alterations have been made, which can be summarised as follows: Knock-On.—Any knock-on, however slight, must be ruled a knock-on, even if the player catches it again before it touches the ground. Tackle.—So long as there is a moment when the player in possession of the ball is held in such a way that he cannot pass or play it, that player is tackled. Then the ball must be put down at once, and any player wishing to play it must play ■it with the foot first before it can be hand-

led. The penalty for not so doing in both cases is a free kick. Scrummage.—The ball must now be hooked. If it is tapped out by the side where it was put in or kicked straight out the other side, the player doing so must be penalised. The ball is not in the scrummage if it goes right through. Before it can be hooked it must be past both feet of a front-ranker of both teams, be on the ground, and be mid-way between both sets of hookers. The referee has the power to order the ball to be put in from whatever side he chooses. No player must, after the scrummage has been formed, wilfully add himself to the front rank so as to form more than three in that row until the ball has been put in. No player must, by speech or otherwise, indicate as to how or when the ball is being put in. Time.—Time or half-time may now be called:—(a) When the ball goes into touch or touch-in-goal. (b) After a tackle, (c) After a touch down, or after a kick at goal after a try. (d) After the whistle has been blown for an infringement of the rules. The Refere has power to stop the game before time has expired if, in his opinion, the full time cannot be played. Touch-Judges.—Touch-judges must signal with their flags when a goal is kicked. The Referee, however, has the power to overrule any of their decisions. Advantage Rule.—The Advantage Rule does not apply:—(a) At a kick-off or dropout. (b) When the ball is not thrown in straight at a line-out. (c) When free-kicks or penalty-kicks are being taken, and the rules are broken. Kicking a Goal.—When a player is kicking at goal from a mark or try, he must not handle the ball when it is on the ground. If he does so, the kick is forfeited. In the case of penalty-kicks, “passive” is now defined as standing with his hands by his side and not attempting to put the kicker off his kick. Touch-Line Flags.—The touch-line flags are no longer part of the post, and the player is not put into touch by touching the flag only.

Tries. Con. Pen. Pot. Pts. Diack (Pi . . 8 20 2 0 70 Geddes (P) . . . 9 3 0 0 33 Philpott (Sn.) . . 1 6 3 0 24 McAuliffe (M. and Sr.) 2 1 4 0 20 Lilley (Sr.) . . 1 1 5 0 20 R. Oughton (Sr.) 5 0 0 0 15 C. Mills (B) . . 1 1 3 0 14 A. McKay (B) . 2 4 0 0 14 Clark (B) . . 3 0 0 1 13 R. McKay (P) . 4 0 (i 0 12 Pay (P) . . 3 0 0 0 9 Manson (B) . 3 0 0 0 9 Pickering (P) . 3 0 0 0 9 Bird (Pi . • . 3 0 0 0 9 Campbell (Sr.) . 0 2 0 1 8 Cockroft (P) . . 2 0 0 0 6 Maher (Sn.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 McNeil (Sn.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 B. McEwan (Sn.) 2 0 0 0 6 Cleland (B) . 2 0 0 0 6 Howden (Sr.) . 2 0 0 0 6 Hughes (Sn.l . 2 0 0 0 6 J. Johnson (P> 2 0 0 0 6 W. Johnston (P) 2 0 0 0 6 Cockroft (Sr.) . 2 0 0 0 6 D. Murray (Sr.) 2 0 0 0 6 Hazlett (P.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 Thomas (P.) . 2 0 0 0 6 Norris (B.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 Bell (Sr.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 C. Todd (B.) . . 2 0 0 0 6 G. Oughton (Sr.) 2 0 0 0 6 Cavanagh (Sn.) . 0 0 0 1 4 Fletcher (Sn.) . 0 0 0 1 4 Thompson (Bi . 1 0 0 0 3 Batcheler (P) . 1 0 0 0 3 Shaw (Sr.) . . 1 0 0 0 3 Padget (Sr.) . 1 0 0 0 3 Calder (P) . . 1 0 0 0 3 Brown (Sn.) . . 1 0 0 0 3 Burtenshaw (Sn.) 1 0 0 0 3 O’Driscoll (MS . 1 0 0 0 3 Archer (P) . . 1 0 0 0 3 White (Mi . . 1 0 0 0 3 Hdnt (Sr.) . . 1 0 0 0 3 Connolly (Sr.) . 1 0 0 0 3 Scully (Mi . . 1 0 0 0 3 Wills (Ml . . 1 0 0 0 3 Kerse (B) . . 1 0 0 0 3 M. Sheehan (M) 1 0 0 0 3 Cosgrove (M) . 1 0 0 0 3 Totals . . 99 38 17 4 440

Pioneer .. P. .. .. 6 w. 4 L. 1 D. 1 Pts. 9 Wyndham .. .. 6 4 2 — 8 Mataura .. 3 1 1 7 Edendale .. 1 4 — 2 Albion .. .. .. 6 1 5 — 2 SECOND GRADE. p. W. L. D. Pts. Mataura .. .. .. 6 5 — 1 11 Pukerau .. .. .. 6 3 1 2 8 Albion .. .. .. 6 1 4 1 3 Pioneer .. .. .. 6 1 5 — 2 THIRD GRADE. P. w. L. D. Pts. High Schoo] .... 6 6 — — 12 Pioneer .. .. .. 6 4 2 — 8 Edendale .. .... 5 2 3 — 4 Wyndham .. .. 6 1 4 1 3 Albion .. .. .. 5 — 4 1 1 FOURTH GRADE. P. W. L. D. Pts. High School A .. 2 2 — — 4 2 .— 4 High School B .. 2 1 1 — 2 High School D .. 2 — 1 1 1 1 1 High School C .. 2 — — 2 DUNEDIN COMPETITION ’VARSITY “A” DETHRONED. Following is the position of teams in the Dunedin senior competition — Team Pld W L. D P.F. P.A. F.P. Kaikorai . . 8 6 1 1 109 61 13 Pirates .. ..8 6 2 0 168 78 12 'Varsity A ..7 5 1 1 182 22 11 Zingari .. ..8 5 3 0 83 85 10 Alhambra ..8 4 3 1 87 93 9 'Varsity B ..7 4 2 1 74 86 9 Southern,.. ..8 2 3 3 71 71 7 Union .. ..8 1 6 1 61 133 3 Taieri .. ..8 1 7 0 63 135 2 Dunedin .. .. 8 1 7 0 34 168 2