RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 21425, 20 June 1931, Page 14

RUGBY

(By

“Onlooker.”)

ANSWER TO A CORRESPONDENT.

“Lumsden”: Country Day’s gate amounted to £ll7.

NEWS AND NOTES

To-day is Selectors’ Day at the Park. It is not definite whether the selectors will announce the Southland team this evening, but if it is available it will be announced by station 4ZP at 6.30 p.m. Results of the Southland Team Popular Selection Competition will be found on another page. Bush, the Otago University full-back, who so ably represented New Zealand Universities in Sydney, will probably be seen in action on Rugby Park on July 1. It was surprising' to note the absence of Mahoney from the Town team for to-day’s trial. It will not surprise, however, should he be invited to captain the Southland team against Otago. He is the logical leader of this season’s maroons. Montague was a reserve in the Town team which met Eastern on Country Day. He has been overlooked to-day. Were the selectors serious on the first occasion? The selectors have taken a big risk in playing the Blues’ inside backs behind, the Town scrum to-day. They have proved themselves to be a very in and out crowd —mostly out. Don Agnew will be seen out in a new role this afternoon—wing-forward. He might develop into a good rover. The selectors think so. Gilbert Porter is emergency in the Country team. Is he regarded as a certainty for the full-back position ? There is none to touch him for solidity. One cannot imagine Crosbie holding down the last line position in the Southland team. He is unquestionably a centre three-quarter. Waikiwi have been badly hit with the loss of the Gibson brothers, hard-working forwards, who have left the district. Should the selectors deem it advisable to'make alterations in the trial teams after half-time this afternoon, it is hoped a megaphonist will be on hand to announce to the public the alterations. Very few local patrons know the country players by sight. Alex McDonald, South Island and New Zealand selector, is the well-known 1905 All Black forward. He also captained the 1913 All Blacks in America. Mr McDonald is well-known in Southland and his appointment as sole selector for the South Island wass well received here. It is interesting to note that the threequarter line of the Southland team which so successfully battled for the Ranfurly Shield at Carterton in 1929 comprised Stubbs, Townsend and Anderson. All three are playing.in to-day’s trial. „ A New Zealander is usually prepared to make sacrifices for his sport. There was an instance of this at Whangarei the other day, when a member of a Rugby seven-a-side team worked on a metal-carrying contract until eight o'clock at night and was at it again at four .o'clock the following morning so that he ‘could complete it in time for his first match. W. McKenzie (Western) an emergencyforward in the Country team to-day, did not participate in the Country Day fixtures. The selectors have not seen him in action yet, but he has been recommended by good judges. A suggestion by- the president of the Rugby Union (Mr W. Robison) to increase the gate charges for to-day's trial game was turned down at Monday night’s meeting of the Union. Blues re-established themselves in public favour by their sparkling display against Star last Saturday, but can they be relied upon to show similar form. against Pirates next Saturday? Re-grades from senior to junior were sought for three Pirates’ seniors (Craig, Hardy and Cockerill) on Monday evening. And other clubs are screaming aloud for first grade backs! The regrading committee cannot seriously consider these applications.

Fitzgerald, ex-Pirates forward who is playing for Dunedin Pirates, is in the running for the wing-forward position in the Otago team. I had the pleasure of renewing acquaintances with Nicol Macdonald at Balfour on Saturday last. Nicol has given up playing, but is as keen as ever on the game. He is very much interested in the doings of the Northern team and puts in much good time coaching the greens. Pirates tried out practically a new back division against Old Boys on Saturday last. There was speed to burn in all divisions, but it could not be said that the blacks covered themselves with,glory in their fivepoint victory. Harrington impressed as a centre, but was a trifle selfish, Girvan Thomas showed a glimpse of his top form behind the scrum and was responsible for sending the black backs away on many rushes. Old Boys are improving with every game and as predicted earlier will yet prove that they are worthy of first grade rank. I did not have the pleasure of witnessing the Blues-Star game, but from all accounts it was a dazzler —that is from a spectacular point of view, with Blues providing all the fireworks. Probably the surprise of the game was the reversal of form shown by the Blue forwards. They out-packed, outhooked and outplayed the once-great Star pack and in the end did what they liked. Star have not had such a raking for many a day. Blues are to be congratulated upon their fine showing and it is to be hoped they will continue to delight Rugby Parkers in such bright style. It was pleasing from the selectors’ viewpoint to see the Blue inside backs going so well. Niven and McKay in particular played brilliantly and appear to have consolidated their claims for inclusion in the Southland team. The all important topic at present is the Southland team to play Otago, and as there will be no further opportunity to give players the once over before the team is announced, the following team is put forward us the one most suitable on form to represent the maroons: — Full-buck—G, Porter (Western). Threequarters—F. Townsend (Eastern), A. McKay (Blues), F. Anderson (Central). Five-eighths—L. Niven (Blues), D. Grant (Eastern). Half back —F. Ussher (Eastern). Hookers—R. Donnelly (Star), C. George (Blues). Lock—N. McLeod (Eastern). Side-row—T. Metcalfe (Pirates), B. O'Toole (Star). Back Row—G. Purdue (Star), W. Southern (Blues). Wing-Forward—B. Mahoney (Star) captain. After to-day’s trial much new blood might be discovered, but on form this season the above team appears to have the best

claims. There are plenty of good forwards about and any of the Town scrummers may be supplanted by country men without at all affecting the strehgth or balance of the pack. The backs select themselves. Porter and Campbell are the only likelies, but preference is given to Porter because of his robustness and experience in big football. He, it will be remembered, played fullback for Southland in 1928, and last year was tried out in the “All White” trials at Christchurch in the full-back position. The town wing three-quarters have to give way to the country men this time. None of the local flank men are up to standard. Anderson’s inclusion may be questioned, but he can be judged on to-day's performance. A repetition of his 1929 form will suffice. D. Grant and Niven are easily the outstanding five-eighths and promise to fill a long-felt want in Southland Rugby. They should go well together. For the half-back position I have selected Ussher chiefly on his form against Town on June 3. He is the right type, a quick thinker and not afraid of the opposition forwards. G. Thomas would be his nearest rival. Charlie Johnson would be first choice if one could gamble on him playing regularly the game he played against Star. He may have regained his best form and to-day should see him in a good light. He will get plenty of chances behind a good pack. In the absence of Mattingly (injured) I select Donnelly and C. George (the Town pair) as the best-balanced front-row pair There are plenty of good front-row men about and zXgnew, Fowle and Mcßae would probably do as well as the pair chosen. For lock, one cannot go past McLeod, who, despite the claims of some selectors that the Mataura man is not a lock, has held a Southland pack together on many occasions. He is stronger than Southern and is a good build. Mahoney selects himself as the one and only wing-forward, and because of his generalship and undisputed cleverness must captain the team. GRANT CUP MATCH. NORTHERN FORWARDS v. EASTERN BACKS. The first Grant Cup match, although contested by the two leading sub-union teams, was not productive of much good back play. Eastern tried hard to reproduce the form that made them famous overnight a couple of weeks ago, but were not permitted to go very far by the Northerners. As a result the movements often attempted were pulled up without gain, and the game for the most part was reduced to rucking and scrummaging between the twenty-fives. Nevertheless, there was plenty of incident and if the game was a disappointment from a spectator’s point of view, it served to show that there are plenty of good hard-working forwards in the country. Northern fielded the better pack and Eastern had the backs, and it was soon apparent that the game was going to be a struggle between the black rearguard and the green van. Spoiling was the chief of the tactics employed by the greens (Northern), and it must be said in this work they were very successful. In these days ol “restricted” wing-forwards a good breakaway forward is worth his weight in gold to a side whose backs are likely to be outplayed. Naylor and Tither, particularly Naylor, realized this and gave the Eastern inside men a torrid time. That they did not shirk their work in the scrums was demonstrated by the number of times Northern secured the ball. Had Naylor and Tither not put in their weight, Mcßae and McAuliffe would not have been so outstandingly successful. Despite the good work of the green forwards Ussher got,the ball away on occasions, but O’Shea and Holden could not “cog” and the men outside were invariably starved. Frank Townsend saw the ball twice in passing rushes all day, and Pickering was not given much better treatment. Why- the Eastern selectors saw fit to alter the back team which defeated Town is beyond comprehension. On the King’s Birthday we saw for the first time this season some real back play, and at the very first opportunity the selectors do their best to upset a grand combination. Holden mayhave played a good game on the Wednesday prior to the Grant Cup match, but surely his work did not entitle him to a position separating O’Shea and Grant. There is no doubting Holden’s qualifications as a half-back when on his game, but who will say that he is a five-eighth? lam sure he does not pretend to be one, and the sooner the Eastern selectors realize it the better it will be for Eastern’s chances of regaining the Sports Trust Cup a few weeks hence. The team which played Town should not have been tampered with. O’Shea and Holden tried to vary the play by using the short punt at times. This type of play is commendable when the .opposition is doing so much spoiling, but if not successfully carried out is generally con* deinned. Too much cross-kicking was indulged in instead of the short punt straight through, and Crosbie and Wellman were well alive to the move. Still Holden and O’Shea are deserving of some credit for their enterprise and, had the short punt worked, they probably would have beefl hailed as real tacticians.

Grant shaped well at centre, but there is no doubt that second five is his best position. His try was made to look very simple. Anticipation and judgment played a prominent part. There is no need to extol his good points, suffice to say that he shapes like a footballer. I understand that he is a product of New Plymouth High School. He should go very well outside Lindsay Niven. t

Pickering was not as good as his marker, Mcßride. He scored a good try, but let Mcßride through later and lost this credit balance. Townsend got little to do and perhaps it was just as well, He took the paddock with an injured hand and was not able to do himself justice. He is a solid wing and should be one of the selectors’ first considerations. The find of the afternoon was Mcßride, Northern wing threequarter. Here is a likely sort, and it is to be hoped the selectors give him another look oyer before selecting the touring team. His tackling is O.K. and he is a determined type of runner. That try near the end of the game impressed. He had a yard of sideline to work in, yet he passed both Pickering and Webb to score. Fust and jinky, he reminds one oft Barnett, the Wakatipu winger, who scored tries for Southland in 1928. Mcßride looks to have more ability than Barnett.

Crosbie played his usual solid game. The Lumsden man is showy at times. He missed several chances of giving Northern victory owing to his goal-kicking being off colour.

Behind a good pack Arthur Johnson had a birthday. He got as much ball as he wanted, but his backs did not put it to the best use. Johnson shone in defensive work and kept the Easterners from breaking through time and tjme again. On the day he was more prominent than Ussher, chiefly, however, owing to his receiving more ball than the Eastern boy.

Of the three full-backs, Sutherland, who replaced L. Soper, was easily the best. He is small, but fast and possesses good hands. Webb’s tackling was not sound.

All round, Eastern, with a disorganized division, had the bptter backs and are sure to go much better in the first Sports Trust Cup game. Wellman and Fraser, Northern fiveeighths, were solid without being brilliant. Fraser’s tackling saved Northern greatly. In the first spell it looked as if Eastern would put up a big score. The forwards, although not getting much “clean” ball from scrums, were well on top in other departments and shone in loose play. Several took part in passing rushes. There was something wrong with the scrum work, however. Northern outpacked Eastern and seemed to get the ball with ease. Had Eastern got the ball that Northern received the score must have been a big one in their favour.

Northern’s success in the scrums was due primarily to the good hooking of McRae and McAuliffe, but the front-rankers were well supported by the packmen, who saw to it that the weight was concentrated inward, downward and forward. The greens packed an ideal scrum and showed what could be done with correct packing. They did not have any great weight advantage. It will be remembered on Country Day that the Northern men got the ball any old time from the Central scrummers. Their packing on that occasion was freely com mented upon and one old campaigner in the person of the Pirates club captain, Mr Dave Robinson, declared that it was the best-packed scrum he had seen on the Park for many a day. Results that day and on Saturday bear this out. Mr Robinson, himself an expert front row man, saw in an instant what others give little attention to —the general balance of the scrum. The Northern coaches are to be congratulated upon the work of their forwards. It was a bit of a surprise to see the Eastern men so regularly out-hooked. Agnew is not a new chum to front row work, and Johnstone is reported to be a good hooker. But the blacks missed in packing. One or two were too ready to get out into the open play and left the front row without any backing. Eastern will re, quire to re-model their scrum if they are to give their backs a show. Good backs are no good without ball. ’ JUNIOR JOTTINGS AROUND THE GRADES. (By “The Scribe.”) CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Waikiwi’s first win. Pirates trounced by Blues. Star successfully struggle with Bluff. Conditions underfoot were not too good last Saturday. In fact the playing areas were in a typically wintry condition. This did not help to make for good football. Pirates, as usual, fielded a team with fewer than fifteen players. This rrfay largely have accounted for their heavy defeat at the hands of Blues, for their play scarcely deserved this fate. “Ted” Mitchell, who was transferred to Invercargill at the beginning of the. season, is generally to be seen putting in good work in the Blacks’ forward line. His bustling tactics are obviously the result of good training. Stevens scored a fine-try for Blues during the first half, while Couling also made a meritorious score.

Watson, full-back for Blues, succeeded with a magnificent pot during an attacking movement. The Star-Bluff match was a patchy contest, with Star probably holding an advantage territorially. Star went better than on some previous occasions, and in most respects it was a well-deserved victory. Their handling could have been better, however. Leith, at side-row, and D. Lorimer were the only others of note. Although Star scored four tries to Bluff's two, the game was very evenly contested. The Bluff forwards met the best pack they have so far been up against this season, and a stern tussle took place. Pasco, Crawford, Solomon and Hunter were probably the pick of the Port for-wards,--but all played well, and it was no fault of theirs that Bluff finished in second place. Of the Bluff backs Silvester was most prominent, but he did not always get his man. Te Au, while his condition lasted, played well behind the pack and paved the way for both the Bluff tries. Dixon and Smith, the five-eighths, played good games, the former in particular making no mistake in hisj tackling. The other backs in the team could copy Dixon's tackling with advantage. _ Lack of condition told against Bluff and lost them the game late in the second spell. With a little more attention to training the port players would be a tough proposition for any of the second grade teams They should buckle down to it right away, and if they would attend regularly on practice nights, coach Jimmy Forde could be confidently relied on to do the rest. The team should "give it a go.” McColl was seen to advantage on many occasions among Star’s rear division. Sievwright, on, the wing, was decidedly impressive. He has given consistent displays throughout the season, and should be seriously considered for that position in ihe backs of the junior representative team.

Donaldson, in Star’s back row, received an injury to his ankle which necessitated medical attention.

The Waikiwi-Rimu match was played at Kennington,, where the first-named scored their first win, though without once crossing Rimu’s line. Altogether they kicked four penalties. Rimu, most regretably, had some difficulty in fielding a o full team, and as it was they played the z greater part of the first spell with one man short. Baird was successful in scoring a try for Rimu during the game as a result of one of the finest pieces of back play they have given this season. The ball travelled through the hands of all the bocks in the one passing rush. The slippery nature of the ground at Queen’s Park made handling of the ball difficult in the third grade match between High School and Star, which resulted in a win for School by 6 points to 3. The game was fought out by the forwards and was characterized by loose rushes. Now and again, however, the backs of both teams were seen to advantage in passing movements, School in particular displaying good combination. Uttley and Page each notched a try for High School and Frampton was Star’s sole scorer.

The match between Old Boys (thirds) and Railway at Biggar street was of a scrambling nature, and a victory for a team which took advantage of all their opportunities. The Railway forwards played better as a pack, but Old Boys outshone them individually. The difference in the scores was due chiefly to the superior play of the Old Boys backs, whose exhibition was worthy of a crack University rear division. Howorth, at first five, gave an outstanding display. Derbie (Old Boys centre) played an excellent game. Crowe dropped a few passes, marring an otherwise good display. King, at wing-forward, was tricky, though he gave away a penalty. Henryput in three cr four good runs. Borstal A had a titanic struggle with Blues, the result being a draw, 13-all. It was a good game to watch. Congratulations to Clifton third graders who gained their first win of the season last Saturday. This was against Borstal B, Clifton winning by 6 points to 3—a narrow margin but nevertheless a win. Played on a very heavy ground at the Borstal farm, the game resolved itself into a hard forward struggle. An improvement was noticeable in the play of the Clifton backs who threw the ball about with greater vigour than on past occasions. And now a word about the players themselves. J. Flynn played a great game in the forwards and Tregillus was also a conspicuous player. Corkin, at half back, was good on both attack and defence, and moreover was responsible for one of his side’s tries. McKenzie at first five-eighth was seen at his best in defensive work. Dale, at second five-eighth, is another player who is improving with every game. R. Flynn filled with distinction the position of wing-forward. Once he gets going he takes a iot of stopping. Ross, who played on the wing, has plenty of pace but is inclined to get out of position at times. Roff is; another good forward who could do with a bit more training. Hinds is a solid worker in the interests of his team.

Borstal’s second string had a hard, even game with Clifton, the latter winning by a small margin. The ground was very heavy. Blues’ fourths carried too many guns for Old Boys, the latter team not even breaking their duck. The score was not really an indication of the game, however. Several times Old Boys besieged Blues' line, but could not finish off their movements. Smith, at first five for Old Boys, was impressive, as also were McLachlan, Challis and Cooper in the forwards. Gillan was playing a good game at fullback for Blues: up till the time when he had to retire with an injury to his foot. R. Sutton and McFarlane put in some effective work as hookers, with the result that they received more than their fair share of ball. The game was a fast but ragged one, with Blues maintaining the advantage throughout. Their backs in particular were superior. Technical over-ran Rimu at Tweed street, their backs being much too fast for the opposition. For Rimu, W. Baird succeeded with a fine pot. Altogether Maxted scored 18 points for Technical. He scored two tries, converted four and potted a goal. Milne also scored three tries. Quite a monopoly. A high standard of play was maintained in the Waikiwi-Marist game, both teams playing well. Stone and Robertson were prominent for Marist, who ran out the victors. High School A had a runaway victory against Borstal and proved superior in every department. Blick scored four of High School’s tries. Maaka, the young Maori playing in the Blues’ fifth grade team who has been the subject of favourable comment in these columns in the past, once, again proved his worth in the match against Technical at Biggar street last Saturday. The try he scored was a good one, secured as it was after a run of about 30 yards, during which he shook off a number of would-be tacklers. Other outstanding players among the Blues’ backs were Imbs and Johnstone, while among the forwards, all of whom did their bit, R. Sutherland, Currie and Withington were perhaps most prominent.. Other scorers for Blues were Fletcher, Johnstone and Bishop, A. Sutherland'with a penalty and a conversion bringing the score up to 17. Emulating the famous Bennie Osler, Heads dropped a good field goal for Technical and Rowley, after a fine effort, scored a try. Among the backs Morrison and Gourly were prominent, and in the forwards Kelly, Gaynor and McAra were most conspicuous. The other fifth grade match between High School- A and B did not eventuate on Saturday, but was played this week, It resulted in a win for High School A by 9 points to nil. EASTERN SOUTHLAND NOTES. (By “Critic.”) The standard of football in Eastern Southland has slumped strangely since the TownEastern match;.or maybe the form shown by Eastern was merely a flash in the pan. At any rate there have been some very disappointing exhibitions in Eastern Southland since Country Day, as was the Grant Cup match at Balfour. The victory over Town stimulated the game in the Eastern District. Big crowds turned out to see in action the players who had turned the tables on Town, on the latter’s ground, for the first time since 1922.

Individually there is nothing to cavil at, but the combination of the four senior teams is all at sixes and sevens.

The Mataura-Albion clash was as dull as a funeral and scarcely deserved the honour that is paid to the dead. Summed up, the play compris’d a few spectacular rushes, some accurate goal-kicking by J. Calder, a plethora of uncertain passing rushes with a surprising amount, of mishandling, and raking forward movements, with Mataura always in the ascendant. A feature that was very marked was the amount of talk bandied about among the players. This was accentuated by ,the almost uncanny

quietness of the spectators, who, with the exception perhaps of a handful of Albion supporters, remained decidedly passive. Near the finish two players came to grips and were ordered off. Judging from this it is well that ■the Southland selectors did not take more than a casual notice of suggestions in correspondence columns that they should take trips to Eastern Southland to see real football.

There is little wrong with the form of the players, although Ussher has been off colour lately, while Townsend has been suffering from injuries. Grant, Ashby, Irwin and Agnew are in great nick, while J. Calder’s accurate goal-kicking has been a feature ,of competition games. He has scored over half his team’s points to date. The Combined Club is to be congratulated on its defeat of Pioneer. Stick to it, Combined, and you will be in at the kill! The green pair of hookers were better than Eastern’s pair. This was shown by the results, but I still hold that Agnew is a good all-round man, and alongside a good man at the head of a well-balanced pack will get ball with any other front row sc rummer.

Mcßae took the honours of the day and mitst have pleased the Rugby Union men present. He is not only a good hooker, but a splendid type of rugged forward. Scaling over 13 stone, he. shows a bit of pace and can handle as well as hook. He will be wanted on the tour.

Naylor was another forward that took the eye. He is yet a youth, but possesses plenty of devil and knows his work at the side of the scrum. He reminded me on Saturday of George Purdue of three seasons ago. Small (Northern), McLeod, Todd, Herron and Ashby (Eastern) were the most prominent of the rest of the packs. Herron has plenty of dash and appears to be tireless. Todd, though a bit on the light side, more than held his own with the green wing-forward, and made several good openings from loose play. Todd played wing-forward for Waikiwi last year and then showed more than average dash.

The game as a whole was a hard one and certainly delighted the country people. As already stated, there was more bullock than brilliance, but it Was plainly seen that with a game or two together either side vJould develop combination which, put into effect, would make things merry for any of the Town sides.

Eastern won, but on the trend of play it was anybody’s game and a draw would ha’-e been a verv satisfactory result. The next meeting of these teams promises to be well worth watching.

SECOND GRADE. P. W L. D. Points For Agst Ch. .Pts Invercargill 6 G 0 0 141 15 12 Star 6 5 1 0 62 20 10 Bluff fi 3 3 0 59 72 G Rimu 6 2 4 0 44 39 4 pirates 6 1 5 0 27 134 2 Waikiwi G 1 5 0 33 86 2 THIRD GRADE. Points Ch. P. W. L. D. For Agst Pts High School 5 5 0 0 118 16 10 Borstal A 6 4 1 1 172 30 9 Invercargill 6 4 1 1 78 GO 9 Star G 4 2 0 77 3G 8 Old Boys 5 4 1 0 109 21 8 Pirates G 4 2 0 81 51 8 Railway G 2 4 0 30 77 4 Clifton 6 1 5 0 15 142 2 Borstal B 6 0 G 0 16 107 6 Bluff 6 0 6 0 17 173 0 FOURTH GRADE. Points Ch. P. W. L. D. For Agst Pts Invercargill 5 5 0 0 118 3 10 Technical 5 5 0 0 98 15 10 Marist 5 3 2 0 40 17 6 Star 5 3 2 0 31 37 6 High School A 5 3 2 0 55 18 6 Old Boys 5 2 2 1 18 49 o Borstal 4 1 3 0 17 55 2 Waikiwi 4 0 3 1 3 55 1 High School B 4 0 4 0 11 89 0 Rimu 3 0 3 0 7 60 0 FIFTH GRADE. Points Ch. P. W. L. D. For Agst Pts High School A 4 4 0 0 60 11 8 Invercargill 3 2 1 0 35 22 4 Marist 3 1 2 0 65 32 2 Technical 3 1 2 0 27 42 2 High School B 3 0 3 0 0 80 0