FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL

(By “Onlooker.”) ALL BLACKS’ TOUR THE OFFICIAL ITINERARY. FIRST GAME ON WEDNESDAY. The following is the official list of matches to be played by the All Blacks in South Africa:— May 30.—v. Combined Western Province country clubs at Capetown. June 2. —v. Combined Capetown clubs, at Capetown. June 6.—Griqualand West, at Kimberley. June 9.—v. Transvaal, at Johannesburg. June 13. —v. Orange Free State (country), at Kroonstad. June 16.—v. Transvaal, at Johannesburg. June 20.—v. Western Transvaal, at Pot chefstroom. June 23.—v. Natal, at Maritzburg. June 30.—v. South Africa (first test), at Durban. July 7. —v. Northern Districts (Transvaal Free State, etc.), at Kimberley. July 14. —v. Rhodesian Fifteen, at Bulawayo. July 21.—v. South Africa (second test), at Johannesburg. July 25.—v. Pretoria Districts, at Pre- ■ toria. : July 28.—v. Orange Free State, at Bloemfontein. August I.—v. North-eastern Districts, at Burghersdorp. August 4.—v. Border, at East London. August B.—v. Border at King Williams- ; town. August 11.—v. Eastern Province, at Port Elizabeth. August 18.—v. South Africa (third test), at Port Elizabeth. ! August 22.—v. South-western Districts, i at Oudfshoorn. August 25. —v. Western Province, at i Capetown. September I.—v. South Africa (fourth test), at Capetown. GALBRAITH SHIELD HOW THE TEAMS STAND. The following table shows the position of teams in the Senior Competition:— Points. Ch.

Last Saturday’s postponed games will be played this afternoon. There has been a rumour current during the week that Southern seniors have “pulled out” of the competition. I have been asked to state that the rumour is wrong in its entirety, and furthermore that the Light Blues have not even considered the idea. They are too keen. To-day’s senior games—Star v. Southern No. 1 area, commencing at 2.15 p.m. (later on No. 2) ; Pirates v. Blues on No. 1 area, commencing at 2.45 p.m. The announcment in Thursday morning’s Times that the all Blacks had arrived safely in South Africa was better than a man’s -size order of lamb and mint sauce. The news was literally devoured and Southland Rugby fans are eagerly awaiting a return order. It will come. Times readers are going to be specially catered for in the way of “tour” news. Apart from bulletins from our correspondents with the team, we have arranged for a full service of the games in detail, and there will be a wealth of New Zealand and South African football data as well. The tour opens at Cape Town on Wednes. day, with a match against the combined country clubs of the Western Provinces. This game will serve as a good pipe-opener, and from all accounts should not be beyond the All Blacks. It was at first thought that the tourists would have to meet a representative Western Provinces’ side. That is not the case. The team to comprise the opposition in the first game may be likened to a combined sub-Union’s team. The All Blacks should win handsomely. Will it be the first of a long string, (22) of victories? The All Blacks put on weight on the journey over, but not so markedly as the 1924’5.” When the team left New Zealand, the average weight of the team was 12st. 121 b; the average weight of the forwards, 14st. 21b., and that of the backs list, i 811 b. According to the cables, the respective weights now are 13st., 14st. 31b. and list. 101 b. The 1924 team showed an increase of from five to eight pounds all 1 round. From the cabled report, the New Zealandj ers received a wonderful reception at Dur- ' ban. The whole countryside is in waiting I for the team. Accommodation at Hotels 1 during the tour promises to be fully taxed. : In fact, at Bulawayo (Rhodesia) it will I take two hotels to accommodate the tourI ists. The arrangements in this direction 1 provide for the All Blacks, on their second ■ visit to Cape Town for the final matches of i the tour, being accommodated at Sea Point, | some little distance out of town. A few details have been obtained regarding the i charges for matches. The cost of seeing | the tests will evidently be heavy if the prices (for the Transvaal test (the second) are to Ibe taken as a guide. Covered stand seats i for this test will cost £2 2s and £1 Is, while : uncovered seats will be obtainable at 15s.

i The Rugby Union at Monday’s meeting, ' took up an agreeable attitude with regard to the country player who comes into town j for the week-ends, but is barred from taking i part in other than sub-Union games. The president, (Mr. Torrance), informally introduced the matter at the conclusion of , the meeting and suggested to members that ! the rule in specific instances might be 1 waived. They could not, Mr. Torrance said, afford to players standing on the bank, barred from playing through no fault of their own. He thought the time had come Io look into the matter, ahd if necessary, grant permission to certain players to join up with town clubs. Each case, of course, would be taken on its merits. Messrs. Donnelly and Courtis agreed with the president, the latter remarking that the Union should i encourage, not debar, men to play in the town competition. It could be worked so that sub-Union’s could have the services of any player so affected in the inter-sub-Union games. “We should encourage these men to play—not stand on the bank,” reiterated Mr. Courtis. “It would certainly help to brighten our football, and goodness only knows it is necessary.” Mr Davis said it i would open up a big question and they would probably have the country Unions down about their ears. T take it each case would be decided upon its merits,” added Mr. Davis. He was assured that this would be done. In the discussion members were agreed that they could not afford to have players, who worked in the country and came into town for the weekend, standing aside on Saturdays.

From the foregoing we can expect to see Dick Johnston for one out on the Park jin future. His is a case which should stand i the “merit” test. Anyway, what has the IS. R. F. U. to be afraid of?. As govern- , ing body, the members should make or

break rules if it is going to benefit the game in general, and Southland football in particular. Cheyne has at last caught the eye in Dunedin. He is mentioned in dispatches thus:— “Cheyne, the ex-Southland rep., played a useful game.” What is a tackle? Some senior players and some referees do not seem to know. At least they give that impression on Saturdays. 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 handled. The penalty for not so doing in both cases is a free kick. Country Day, Monday June 4. Practically all of the sub-Unions are coming in. Remember last year’s West-East contest ? “Scotty” Campbell, Star’s youthful fullback, departed for Nelson earlier in the week. The date of this year’s North v. South Island match is August 18. The venue is Christchurch. The New South Wales team plays in Invercargill on September 12. The visitors open their tour at Auckland on August 25. In two months’ time Southland will commence its series of representative fixtures. The first game is against Wairarapa on July 21. Dick Webb, the Otago ’Varsity flyer, has scored 54 points in five matches in Dunedin this season —eighteen tries all told. At the annual meeting of the South African Rugby Board a cablegram was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union asking for every facility to be given their official kinematographer who would accompany the touring team. These pictures were to be exhibited in Australia and New Zealand. They would deal with all the scenes on the football field, scenic pictures of South Africa would be taken, and views of social functions and gatherings. No exclusive rights could be granted, it was stated by Mr J. Dunn (Transvaal), and a communication was to be sent to the various unions asking them not to sell exclusive film rights. Judged by form shown by both sides in the Waratahs match, the New South Wales Rugby Union should be able to get together a very solid team to meet New Zealand this winter (says a Sydney writer). Rugby Union in Melbourne commenced this month under brighter prospects than have existed for some time. Players are keen, and three extra teams have been formed, making the total eleven. Some of the clubs are strong enough to put two teams in A grade. What a wonderful thing it would be for the game in Australia if Rugby in the Southern State develops into a force to be reckoned with (remarks a Sydney writer). Although 29 of New Zealand’s leading Rugby footballers are now on the way to South Africa, there is still plenty of material for strong dominion teams. This opinion is held by Mr E. McKenzie, chairman of the New Zealand Selection Committee, and it w’as voiced at the New Zealand Rugby Union’s Management Committee last week when an extract from a report of a discussion at the Otago Rugby Union was under notice. A member of the Otago Union was reported to have said that the New Zealand Union considered that it should not send a team to New South Wales this year because it would be a weak side. “It shows that they have a very poor idea of what New Zealand football is when they say that by sending 29 players away from the country New Zealand football is weak,” remarked Mr. McKenzie.

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY “WEAKEST IN 20 YEARS.” A JOHANNESBURG PREDICTION. A resident of Johannesburg who has played a prominent part in the administration of the game in South Africa, writes as follows, under date March 8, to a friend in Dunedin: —“I have been trying to stir up the South African Rugby Board to introduce some sort of preparation in the building up of our test match side, but lam afraid it is absolutely hopeless. The board consists almost entirely of Western Province men, and they are as conservative and behind the times as it is possible for any sleepy individuals to be. Because they have succeeded against test British teams without preparation they propose to adopt the same thing again, and nothing whatever is to be done about getting the side together and acquiring combination until a week before the first test in Durban. You know what this means, and they will find themselves as they have* done in the past—experimenting in test matches, and we will be two test matches down before they wake up to the fact that we are unprepared. It is really sickening, but we are quite hopeless. I will certainly do what I can to rouse the Transvaal. I see that the sports editor of the Cape Times has come to the rescue, but I fear that even he will not succeed in breaking through their conservatism. . • • I think I told you before that, in my opinion, South African Rugby is to-day weaker than it has ever been since 1903, and my prediction is that your side will go through the whole tour unbeaten.” REFEREES’ CORNER (By “Whistle.”) All matches postponed last week on account of weather conditions. “Certainly an ill-wind that blows no one any good,” as referees were able to have a holiday. One thing noticeable about the players is the apparent lack of knowledge of the offside rule, particularly the ten yards rule. The ten yards rule is comparatively simple when viewed in a simplefied form. A back (A) has kicked the ball over the heads of his own players, and an opponent takes it, all players of A’s side who are over ten yards from the opposing man who takes can be put onside either by the back who kicked the ball running in front of them or by the opposing man with the ball playing it. That’s quite clear as regards those who are beyond the ten yards limit.—Those who are within ten yards of the opposing man taking the ball cannot be put on side by anyone or in any way unless they retire outside the ten yards limit. That is to say that any player of a side finding himself within ten yards of an opponent taking a ball from a kick in this manner should immediately grasp their position and retire. It is not sufficient to stand and wait for things to happen, as this is classified as passive and obstruction and may be penalized as such. I think referees should be very severe on this ruling and possibly players would get into the habit of realising that they must get outside the ten yards. Penalize any player standing or loitering within ten yards and in a short time we would soon see players getting back as if they meant it. If the player taking the ball immediately charged straight into one of his opponents who was standing within ten yards claimed and was given a free kick for obstruction we would quickly see an alteration. This rule is quite definite. It says of players within the ten yards limit: No action of his own side

or his opponents can put him onside unless he retires outside the ten yards. It will readily be seen that this immediate retirement is necessary in another way. It is illegal for the kicker who runs up to put his men on side to call “all on,’’when his side are not all on side. Reverting to the rule, no one can put those players who are within the ten yards, onside unless they retire, and so whilst they remain within ten yards the kicker could run a mile past them and not put them on side. This aspect is important as both players and spectators not conversant with this aspect, of the “halo,” or ten yards rule *see the kicker with a great burst of speed flash into line with, and past his own side and with a roar “frequently reechoed frbm the stand,” call “all on!” But alas, one of his own players makes no attempt to retire so that his run and possibly the movement is rendered useless through a penalty. The referee is treated to a storm of disapproval or asked to get a different jersey. Get the “halo rule,” off pat and see that these offside players retire. THE ALL BLACKS SPRINGBOKS IN PREPARATION. “TEST” SEATS £2 2/- EACH. WHERE OUR BOYS WILL STAY. Tom Heeney said of Gene Tunney, when interviewed with regard to his prospects of the coming world title bout in July: “'. . . Tunnej' will know he has been in a fight.” I repeat these words in • regard to the All Blacks, writes C. T. White to the Otago Daily Times from Capetown, under date April 13. I am optimistic so far as the success of the All Blacks are concerned —I believe theirs will be a wonderful and successful sojourn in the land of the Springbok in every sense. With their four matches with the pick of South Africa, the All Blacks will know, as Tunney will, that they “have been in a fight.” This surely sums up the chances of the New Zealanders. Knowing the Springboks during iheir tour of New Zealand in 1921, when I saw them in Wellington, and knowing what I do of their play during the last two seasons here, when I saw them in the pick of the Currie Cup matches, I am a little pessimistic of their chances. Personally, I fail to see how they can possibly choose a side to equal the 1921 combination. Last season I hardly saw a player worthy of a place in that wonderful side. Kruger, still considered a good player, has slowed down considerably, ■ while Phil Mostert is not the same Phil Mostert. Yet both these players of the very few still remaining in the game are considered certainties against the All Blacks in the tests. Bennie Osler, the local fly-half, seems to be worth his place in any team, and one journal has just said that if he is dropped “the game’s all up.” That may be or not be. In their first two games the All Blacks will meet some of the best players in the country, and it will be a good guide to their future games. The Western Province match, the last but one match of the tour, will be the stiff one. Western Province went through the Currie Cup last year undefeated, and is by a lot the best team in this country. This may be the All Blacks’ hardest match. LIST OF HOTELS. The arranging of hotel accommodation; especially in the small dorps, has been a matter of trial, because accommodation is very limited in some parts where tourists and visitors never touch. With the All Black party their New Zealand followers, local selectors, managers, referee, etc., one hotel has practically had to be bought by Cook’s Agency, which are handling the tour, to provide the necessary accommodation. This “only hotel” will be “packed to the doors.” For those who may be wishing to cable New Zealanders on “the spot” I append the list of hotels where the New Zealanders will be staying—which list I was able to obtain from Cook’s to-day (the day on which the All Blacks are leaving New ZeaI land) : { Capetown: Hotel Edward, Gardens. Kimberley: Queen’s Hotel. Johannesburg: Long’s Hotel. Kroonstad: Selborne Hotel. Johannesburg: Long’s Hotel. Potchefstroom: Queen’s Hotel. Johannesburg: Long’s Hotel. Maritzburg: Imperial Hotel. Durban: Federal Hotel. Bloemfontein: Polley’s Hotel. Kimberley: Queen’s Hotel. Bulawayo: Grand and Carlton Hotels. (Here there was not sufficient accommodation in one hotel.) Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls Hotel. Bulawayo: Grand and Carlton Hotels. Johannesburg: Long’s Hotel. Pretoria: Grand Hotel. Bloemfontein: Polley’s Hotel. Burghersdorp: Jubilee Hotel. East London: Marine Hotel. Kingwilliamstown: Central Hotel. Port Elizabeth: Humewood Hotel. Oudtshoorn: Queen's Hotel. Capetown: Arthur’s Seat Hotel, Sea Point. HIGH CHARGES FOR TESTS. Johannesburg is charging as much as £2 2/- a reserved seat for its test match, while seats may be obtained for £1 1/- and uncovered seats for 15/-. For the other tests the admission charges have not yet been made known. Nevertheless so great is the keenness to see the All Blacks, that the prices will be no hindrance to packed grounds, but they must seem exorbitant in face of the prices charged to see the Springboks in New Zealand. Enthusiasts have told the writer they would willingly pay two guineas to stand. I know of no tour which has had the “boosting” this tour of the All Blacks has had —and, let me whisper, I have met many people who still believe they are all black! What a shock they will get! Every journal every issue has something in connection with the tour and tourists and it is the sole topic of conversation. Soon we shall see these giants of Rugby football. And what a welcome they will get! ITALY ADOPTS RUGBY HARD GROUNDS A DRAWBACK. Another game just now being introduced in Italy is Rugby football. For many years this game was considered highly’- unsuitable to the Italian temperament, because of fear that it would prove so exciting that an untoward incident might occur, not only between the opposing teams, but also among the spectators. The first few games played this year proved this fear to be unjustified. As the sporting traditions of Italy become more firmly established, this danger will probably become even more remote. Though Rugby football is very far removed from any game yet introduced into Italy the Italians have proved apt pupils, writes Arnaldo Cortesi in the New York Times. I myself, who some years ago considered myself no mean performer, participated in one of the first games ever staged here, thinking I would show the Italian neophytes how to play*

I came near being carried home on a stretcher. They tackled with a wholeheartedness which soon left me lying flat on my back in the middle of the field. HARD GROUND BAD FOR FALLS. One of the greatest difficulties encountered in introducing Rugby into Italy is the dry climate, which renders the ground excessively hard. Whereas in England the game is almost always played on soft, moist turf, which makes falls harmless, in Italy the ground is usually hard as a brick. While this renders running easy, it also makes the game extfremely painful, as almost all tackles are accompanied by hard falls, producing bad cuts even when no bones are broken. The possibility of playing the game on sand instead of turf is being investigated. EASTERN DISTRICT NOTES (From Our Correspondent.) Mataura are still undefeated, but their margin is coming down. Albion seconds seem to be hopeless. The Pioneer v. Edendale senior game provided the brightest display seen at Gore this season. The superiority of the Pioneer backs carried the day. The Edendale backs were frequently out of position, and there was a deplorable lack of understanding among them. Their fielding also was uncertain, but their tackling was better. The Pioneer rearguard gave a good display generally, but the forwards were beat,en in the scrums. F. Fitzgerald is the best scoring forward in the district, but he and Brown infringe too often. Standing passing still has its devotees. Goal kicking is still far from satisfactory. Jim Dempster did a lot of useful work for Edendale. He appeared to be nippier than formerly. Fraser gave a good display as wing forward for Edendale. Martin’s line-finding was good. The position in the senior grade is now as follows:

THROUGH OTHER EYES DOMINION’S OBSESSION. RUGBY AS A RELIGION. A South African, Mr. F. J. Elmes, who recently returned to his country after a stay of six months in New Zealand, writes in the “Outspan” about Rugby and Rugby players. “It did not take me long to ascertain that the New Zealander’s pride of country was overwhelming,” he remarks. “And when they begin on the subject of Rugby football . . . ! Well, one would really imagine that the definition of Rugby was the game played by the All Blacks. “I would like every South African to understand that Rugby is more than an obsession with our friends overseas; it is a pleasure, a business, and a religion all rolled into one. “Morning, noon, and night—in season and out of season —you hear Rugby being discussed, and ever since the forthcoming tour was first decided upon it has been the principal topic of conversation in the Dominion. The trend of the remarks is always the same and boils down to ‘How we shall (not can) beat the South Africans.’ “It has been suggested here that the glowing paragraphs appearing in the New Zealand press from time to time really amount to journalistic propaganda or newspaper boost. Oh, dear, no. The general opinion in New Zealand is not that the All Blacks will defeat the South Africans, but that they will literally pulverise and annihilate them. I am not, as many people think, repeating street-corner gossip but passing on to you opinions expressed to me by business men and brainy men. “One evening I sat for nearly two hours listening to three middle-aged gentlemen discussing the utter rout of the last Springbok team which toured New Zealand. Finally, I causally mentioned that if my memory served me correctly the Springboks only lost two matches, whereupon my companions skilfully turned the conversation into a description of numerous other matches the Springboks ‘should have lost.’ “If you walk into a bank to cash a cheque and a prominent player or enthusiast happens to get into a discussion with the teller on Rugby topics, the latter will keep a queue of people waiting for twenty minutes while the discourse continues. And the customers in the queue don’t mind, bless you, they all chip in!”

DUNEDIN COMPETITION POSITION OF TEAMS. The following table shows the relative positions of the teams engaged in the Dunedin senior grade competition:—

Third of his family to hold the living, Canon Annitstead, a grandson of the first vicar, has celebrated the family’s 100 years’ connection with the parish of Sandbach, Cheshire. The living is the gift of the present vicar<

Plvd. Won. Lost. For. Agst. Pts. Star . . . 3 3 — 52 19 6 Pirates . .32 1 51 29 4 Invercargill 3 1 2 38 40 2 Southern . 3 — 3 22 75 —

P. W. L. Pts. Mataura 4 4 — 8 Pioneer 3 2 1 4 Albion . . 3 1 2 2 Wyndham . 3 1 2 2 Edendale . 3 — 3 — The second grade competition stands as under:— P. w. L. D. Pts. Mat aura . . . 3 3 — — 6 Pukerau . . . 3 2 1 — 4 Pioneer . . . 3 — 2 1 1 Albion . . . . 3 — 2 1 1 THIRD GRADE. p. w. L. D. Pts. Edendale . . 4 3 1 — 6 High School ' 3 2 — 1 5 Mataura . . . 3 1 9 — 9 Wyndham . . 3 1 2 — 2 Pioneer . . . 3 — 2 1 1

Points. Flag Plyd.Won.Lost.Drn. For. Agst. Pts. University A 5 5 0 0 53 11 10 Kaikorai . . 5 5 0 0 85 33 10 Pirates . . 5 4 1 0 62 20 8 Alhambra . 5 3 2 0 64 54 6 University B 5 2 3 0 55 31 4 Union ... 5 2 3 0 49 84 4 Southern . . 5 2 3 9 36 56 4 Taieri ... 5 1 4 0 26 86 2 Zingari ... 5 1 4 0 34 79 2 Dunedin ... 5 0 5 0 12 122 0 THE POINTS GETTERS Appended is a list of the points scorers, and how the points have been scored, in the senior games. Goals Tries. From From Tries. Pen. or Mark. Pts. McKay (In.) ..... 3 3 2 21 Diack (P.) 3 3 1 18 D. Murray (Sr. ...... 5 — — 15 Lilley (Sr.) — 4 2 14 Geddes (P.) <8 — — 9 Shaw (Sr.) 9 — — 6 Southern (In.) 9 — — 6 W. Johnstone (1 2 — — 6 Sherlock (P.) ...... 2 — — 6 B. McEwan (Sn. ...... 1 1 — 5 Murray (P.) ...... 1 — — 3 Thomas (P.) . ...... 1 — — 3 Hughes (Sn.) ...... 1 — — 3 G. Oughton (Sr. ...» 1 — — 3 Manson (Sr.) 1 — — 3 Stubbs (Sr.) .. ...... 1 — — 3 McAuliffe (Sr.) 1 — — 3 Batcheler (P.) ...» ..... 1 — — 3 O’Driscoll (P.) ..... 1 — 3 Leith (Sn.) ..... 1 — — 3 Meffin (Sn.) .... ..... 1 — — 3 Connolly (Sr.) _. — — 1 3 Matheson (In.) ..... 1 — — 3 Blick (Sn.) ..._ ...... 1 — — 3 Burns (Sn.) ...... 1 — — 3 Wills (In.) ..... 1 — — 3 Norris (In.) ..... 1 — — 3 Clark (In.) — 1 — 2 Philpott (Sn.) ... — 1 — 2 Melvin (Sr.) — 1 — 2 Totals ..... 39 14 6 163