NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 18

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By

“Onlooker.”)

Season opens to-day. Pirates No. 1 arc favourites for the Galbraith Shield. , .

Star say they are not going to lose their hold on it without a scrap. Goal-kicking, (place and drop) and good punting appear to be lost arts in modern football. Indeed, football is almost a misnomer. The foot is still in football, but there’s a running shoe on it. Instead of the usual two senior games on the Park of a Saturday, Rugby Parkers will get good measure by seeing three senior fixtures played. One of the games will be played at 1.30 p.m. joe Dennis, solid Blues forward who was compelled to retire early last season owing to a hand injury, will turn out again for his old club.

There was very little football up to senior standard in the Blues—Winton practice game on Saturday. Blues will require to improve a lot to have a chance against either Star or Pirates.

McKay and Frampton went fairly well together in the five-eighths line. Both gave passes too soon however and failed to draw their opposites sufficiently. More play together should show an improvement. Both are smart off the mark and good handlers. Charlie Johnson, half-back, was short of a gallop and near the end of the game he couldn’t follow his forwards at all. He sent out good passes whenever the ball was heeled cleanly ami varied his play with solo runs and blind-side play. Properly fil, Johnson will be a big help a.s link between his forwards and backs.

Blues played a wing-forward on Saturday. I really think they would be wise to play an eight tvrum. especially against teams of the forward calibre of Pirates and Star. The Blues pack is too light to do any good for itself in (he scrums and unless they can get ball their speedy back line is going to be wasted. They will lose nothing by playing their eighth forward in the serum. Make it a 2 —3 —3 scrum. This is the usual 2 —3—2 formation with an extra lock holding in position the back row men and at the same time adding an extra dozen or so stone to the scrum.

Porter shaped very well at full-back and it is to be hoped he will be kept in that position. He did not get a great deal to do against Winton but is certain of increased employment against town sides. Henderson displayed pace and determination on Blues left wing but Manson on the right, did not shape too well at all. He was too prone to boot instead of giving it a go. Manson has plenty of pace, but he did nor use it on Saturday.

Norris was sound at centre. I would prefer to see “Biff” played on the wing. He shaped so well there last year that another trial should prove beneficial both to Norris and Blues.

The forwards or. Saturday would have done credit to a tramping club. There was plenty of straggling Southern proved to be a good leader and was always at the head of rushes. On his first outing Southern has already displayed form fit to carry him into the Southland team again this season. He was one of the Maroon’s best plodders last season. Clapp, McGill and the George brothers, worked hard also, but, at best, the pack as a whole was a very ordinary one. The Blues vanguard will need to pack better in Shield games. Clark. Kerse and Dennis were absent from the pack on Saturday but will probably be in to-day. This trio will make a big difference to the side.

Bradanovich, 'Yarsity. Otago and Nev.Zealand representative last year, will not toe the mark this season. He fractured an ankle recently. Southlanders remember him as a wizard five eighths and destroying agent in the Otago game at Dunedin last year.

Star will mw Jim Howden who captained the champions last season. Howden was a good loose forward as well as a firs!-class hooker. He was transferred to Christchurch during the summer months. The Pirates No. 1 team which travelled to Mataura last Saturday did not have matters all their own way with the homesters. “Nompey” McLeod had a good forward pack ready for Pirates and evenly fought the distance in this department. Pirates backs were too clever, though, and succeeded in winning the game for the visitors.

V. Murray, who will probably fill Pirates full-back position, and T. Metcalfe were the blacks’ wing-three-quarters. I am told that Metcalfe shaped very well and showed more than average ability as a winger. Mr A. J. Geddes was very emphatic at the Rugby Union meeting on Monday evening that the wing-forward should be done away with and also that referees should put the ball in the scrum. Veteran Arthur Watson, the Winton forward, has retained his dashing form very well. He ranked alongside Southern, of Blues, as the hardest-working forward in the Blues—Winton canter last Saturday. The visiting Winton side was a man short and Max Harrington, of Old Boys seconds, got a game in the backs. Harrington’s form was too good to allow of his playing for a second-grade team. Here is a promising five-eighth or centre if ever there was one and some senior club should not hesitate to induce him to link up with them. Frank Anderson was unlucky to miss the sub-Unions’ tour of the coast last year. And he wasn’t fit or well, yet he displayed near-rep form. Last Saturday he stood out in the Winton backs for his splendid allround work. He is a real grafter and though inclined to be a soloist, is worth keeping an eve on'for future reference.

The expense of assembling representative sides was mentioned by Mr Tom Meredith at, last Monday's Rugby Union meeting. He referred mainly to the large amount of money used up in bringing the country representatives to town, and suggested that the sub-Unions should be prevailed upon to do their part, "n footing the expenses of country players. 'Too much of the Union’s finances was being used up in this manner and in future he hoped an arrangement could be made whereby the sub-Unions would do their bit. The matter will probably. be ventilated at a later meeting. Although the Finance Committee of the Rugby Union put forward very good reasons for adhering to the ruling charges of admission for club games (subject to review’ at the conclusion of the first round), it Is to be hoped the. Union will give the “sixpenny gate, sixpenny stand” a trial at least. The suggestion is made that after the first round try out the reduced charges, say for four weeks, and see how it - pans out. There is no doubt that our charges are high compared with other centres and there is also a squeal to be heard in many quarters about the shilling gate. Numbers have conveyed to the writer that they will not patronize the park until a reduction is made.

It was amusing to learn of Eastern’s “threat” that if the R. U. gave Holden permission to play in Invercargill they (Eastern) would refer the matter to the N.Z. Union for a ruling. What a waste of good time that would be. The answer is here, supplied: The New Zealand Union would reply that the matter was one for local jurisdiction, governed.by the.laws and rul-

ings of the local (Southland) Union. Surely Eastern do not regard the Holden case as one of international character 1

It is a pity Mr Courtis did not push the point of his resolution “that Holden be permitted to play in Invercargill” and ask for a vote on the matter. It would then have been settled and Holden would probably have been seen out on the Park today. Mr Geddes stressed the courtesy (not a pun!) stunt to Eastern,, hence, his amendment which won out. Who governs football in Southland?—-the Southland Rugby Football Union or Eastern sub-Union. Mr Meredith wasn’t worrying so much about Holden’s case as that of the country player in general desirous of bettering his football in town. His notice of motion, if carried through, will be in the interests of Southland football and I am sure that before many seasons have passed, the country Unions will agree the move was a wise one. Nowhere in New Zealand do the country players get such a good spin as they do in Southland and it’s up to them to fall in line with any beneficial legislation passed by the governing body. A deserved bouquet, was handed out to the Pirates Club hy Mr Meredith on Monday evening. He complimented the club on (heir enterprize in going in for a club room, showing that the Pirates was not only a club in name, but in reality. The spirit was right and would tend to create lasting friendships and associations with and amongst players who rarely saw each other from one annual meeting to another. He hoped other clubs would see their way clear to establish club rooms and hinted at genuine support from the Sports Trust to any club desirous of following the Pirates’ clubs lead.

In all probability the Southland rep. team will tour as far north as Napier this year. The proposed itinerary includes matches with Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Manawhenua, Wellington, Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Otago. Should Wairarapa hold the Shield when Southland meet them, the game will probably be for the Ranfurlv Shield.

HOLDEN’S CASE.

WHY FORCE HIM OUT OF THE GAME?

It seems to me that the Rugby Union will be acting very unwisely if it. debars Holden from playing in town. The facts are simple enough. Holden is a teacher. His holiday is Saturday and his hobby Rugby. He resides in the Eastern • District, where Wednesday is match day. If he is to play in the Eastern District, competition he will therefore have to ask for leave each week. After all football is a sport and it is against all reason that the playing of matches should mean the neglect of work. In other words Saturday is the only day on which Holden can legitemately be expected to play football matches. If he cannot play in the town competition he will be forced out of the game. What a loss to Holden, what a loss to Southland and what a loss to the game that will mean I

I cannot see that Eastern District will have cause to feel aggrieved should the Rugby Union have the wisdom to let the ex-Otago half play in Invercargill, for as I have attempted to explain the ease is not one of entiqing a player away for eelfish ends nor is it a case of departing from principles that have been affirmed.

A much broader question is involved in Mr Meredith’s suggestion that any country player should be permitted to play in the town competition and the country one as well if he is so desired. It is regrettably true that the rule (’ebarring players resident in the districts controlled by sub-Unions from playing in town is keeping some excellent men out. of the game. I have only to cite the case of Dick Johnstone last year. This solid half-back who would I believe easily have gained a place in the rep. team was stationed at Forest Hills. He did not wish to play in country football but was keen to play in town. This was not permitted, so he took up golf and football will see him no more. If such men are being lost each year it is high time the ride was altered, even though such an alteration might on the surface seem hard on the sub-unions. JI'NIOR JOTTINGS. AROUND THE GRADES. (By the Scribe.) THIS AFTERNOON'S MATCHES. Second Grade. Old Boys v Marist, Queen’s Park No. 1, 2.30 p.m. Pirates v Waikiwi, Waikiwi, 3.0 p.m. Bluff v Rimu, Bluff, 3.0 p.m. Star v Invercargill, Biggar Street, No. 1, 2.30 p.m. Third Grade. Borstal v Invercargill. Borstal. 2.15 p.m. Old Boys V Southern, Southern, 2.30 p.m. Bluff v Marist, Biggar Street No. 2, 2.45 p.m. Star v Pirates, Queen's Park No. 2, 2.30 p.m. High School a bye. • Fourth Grade. Waikiwi v Technical, Tweed Street, 2.0 p.m. High School v Invercargill, High School No 1, 2.45 p.m. Marist. v Star, Eastern Reserve, 2.0 p.m. Old Boys a bye. Fifth Grade. High School A v Marist, High School No. 2, 2.0 p.m. High School B v Technical, High School No. 1, 1.30 p.m.

At the beginning of a new junior football season once more, the writer takes the opportunity of wishing each of the many clubs the best of luck in the competitions which will commence this afternoon and hopes that the same sporting spirit which characterized last season's play will be maintained again this year. It is understood that there is plenty of talent available in the junior teams so that well-contested games are anticipated this season. The teams will be seen in action this afternoon and by their performances some idea of the strength of the various clubs will be gained. Opportunity is taken here to advise club secretaries to send lists of teams for Saturday’s games for publication in the Southland Times, in to the Times Office not later than Thursday evening of each week. The teams will not be published on Saturday mornings. Captains of the various clubs are requested to co operate with the Press in forwarding the results of the games to the Times Office as soon as possible.

It is likely that Fidel la Barba, now on his way back from Australia to the United States of America, will go on to England to fight Teddy Baldock, former champiop of Great Britain in the bantamweight class, in what is to be billed as a world’s championship bout. How ex-champions of nations can fight for a world’s championship is a promoter’s mystery.

VALUE OF THAINING.

THE 3—2—3 FORMATION

Commenting on the opening of the Canterbury Rugby season, a writer in the Christchurch Star stresses the need for intensive training. He says:—That sound training is an essential to success is a fact that is not always appreciated by footballers. There are some players who seem to think that they can go out to the paddock without any preliminary preparation and make a success of the game. For the ordinary individual this is of course impossible. Success in football demands some sacrifice. Any man who has reached the top of the tree knows this. Some personal tastes must of necessity go by the board. At, the same time, young footballers should not make too great a sacrifice. After all, football is only a game. It is not the be all and end all of life, but at the same time the game plays an important part. In one of his novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle makes a character say that football is one of the few manly games we have left. This is a statement that will probably be doubted by the supporters of other sports, but there is little doubt that a young fellow who keeps himself fit to engage in the strenuous game of Rugby Is helping to make himself a worthy and helpful future citizen. The whole point is that he should not overdo this laudable ambition. Moderation in all things is desirable, but more so in football. Training should be earnest, but not too intense. There is many a young player who has spoiled his Rugby career by being over eager at its start. The Coming Season.

The coming Rugby season promises to be a good one. There is no doubt that the game is well on the up grade in New Zealand. There is a great deal of keenness all through the country, and recent tours of England and South Africa have done a great deal to stimulate interest in the game. Team for Australia. The coming season will probably be a rather quiet one as far as Rugby is concerned. An All Black team is to visit Australia during the coming season. This team ie one of the many frequent ones that have visited Australia since the war. These visits have been a little too frequent. The visits of All Black teams to Australia have been of almost yearly’ occurrence since the war, and for this reason alone the value of the All Black cap has been depreciated. The coming tour to Australia this season will, however, be of interest because New Zealand next year will have to find a team capable of beating the British Rugby’ side. This should be a really good team representative of the strength of the British Isles. 3—2—3 Scrum Formation. The point arises as to whether the 3—2—3 scnim formation will be played against the British team. In South Africa last season New Zealand got even in the tests, but only just so. They had to battle hard and to change their scrum in order to counter the conditions prevailing in South Africa. The New Zealand scrum was changed by putting in an extra man on the side to break away quickly. This was done to counter the work of the fast-mov-ing break-away men on the side of the South African scrum. The tactics of New Zealand were successful in the end, especially in the final test, but will they always be successful?

In 1905 when the All Blacks went Home the New Zealand scrum formation took the Englishmen by’ surprise. It was certainly a great formation, especially when connected with the fast and open style of back play. However, changes have occurred since then. The New Zealanders have taught the other parts of the Empire howto play’ real Rugby. This has been all to the benefit of the game, but it has reacted on New Zealand, especially in connection with the scrum formation. England, South Africa and Australia have evolved a good scrum and it is doubtful whether the 2-3-2 combination of New Zealand is the better formation. The New Zealand Scrum.

This 2-3-2 formation also necessitates the wing-forward. Perhaps it does not necessitate him, but this is the style of football that New Zealand has developed. There has probably been more discussion over the wing-forward position than that of any other player on the field. Yiewed from (he point of view of the English game —and this is certainly the original code—the wing-forward is a spoiler who hampers (he half-back and thus militates against bright open play. The South African four la-t season has certainly taught New Zealand Rugby certain lessons, hut whether it will result in the abandonment of the essential style of New Zealand play is very doubtful. After all this style is unique and so far it has proved fairly effective against the other Rugby-playing countries of the Empire.