RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 22068, 15 July 1933, Page 14

RUGBY

SEASON’S FIXTURES

July 15.—Western v. Eastern, at Otautau (Sports Trust Cup). July 15.—Stewart Cup match. Central v. Northern, at Dipton. July 22.—Town v. Sub-unions team. July 26.—Central v. holders of Sports Trust Cup. July 29.—Sub-union s match (Otago v. Southland), at Dunedin. Aug. s.—Southland v. Otago, at Invercargill. Aug. 9 (or before).—Northern v. holders of Sports Trust Cup. Aug. 9.—Southland v. Marlborough, at Invercargill. Aug. 12.—Southland v. Otago, at Dunedin. _ Aug. 16.—Southland v. South Canterbury, at Timaru. Aug. 19.—Southland v. Canterbury (Shield match) at Christchurch. Aug. 23.—Southland v. Wellington, at Wellington. Aug. 26.- Southland v. Wairarapa, at Masterton. „ , „ Aug. 31.—Southland v. Hawkes Bay, at Hastings. m . Sep. 9.—Southland v. Taranaki, at Invercargill. Sep, 15.—Pirates Jubilee celebrations. Sep. 23.—North v. South Island, at Wellington. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By

“Onlooker.”)

When Western defeated Southern at Riverton last Saturday they put up a record score 48 points—in a Sports Trust Cup game. , . , The Town team to meet the combined country team next week will probably be announced this evening. It is doubtful if Herbie Smith will be available. There was a difference of only one try in the Town—Eastern game. Town scored six and Eastern five. Tapley, McColl and Willcox are good young forwards in the making. Pawson’s dash and general forward play on Wednesday must have commended themselves to the Southland ggigcfors. Neither Bert Geddes nor Ray Picker’ng could muster a gallop on the Gore Showgrounds. It was a _ treacherous sort of surface. Both Wallis and Windle showed more pace than the Town wings. Neville Mitchell ran true to form at Gore. He is the most consistent back we have had in the south for a long long time. Although advocating his inclusion in the Southland team as a second five-eighth, “Onlooker” is prepared to agree that Mitchell would fill the centre position just as admirably. Ross Sharp’s goal kicking was welcome. He is fairly accurate on the short stuff. The Town team will have to go much better at Invercargill next Saturday than they did at Gore, otherwise the country team will have a field day. It should be an interesting game. The farmers have never been so strong. Jack Purdue’s form of late has been a vast improvement, on some of his earlier displays. The Blues’ full-back is the best tackler of the senior fullbacks. Either he or Ferguson would not be out of place behind the Town team next Saturday. Commenting on Wednesday’s game the Mataura Ensign reporter writes: Town fielded practically their full strength, with the crack back-line which has been boomed so much of late. The visitors played fine football and thoroughly deserved their win, but by their magnificent exhibition the Blacks re-established themselves in public opinion and inspired hopes that they will return the champion subunion side after the Sports Trust Cup clash on Saturday. Recent exhibitions of Rugby at Invercargill and at Gore leave no doubt in the minds of football fans that there has never been such a wealth of talent in the province. Invercargill football is of a high standard, with a classy lot of backs and good forwards, while the sub-unions can provide great forwards, Grant and Porter and other useful backs. This inspires hopes that last year’s unbeaten record of the Southland team may be repeated. Whatever may be achieved in this respect, the Maroons appear to have excellent prospects of annexing the Ranfurly Shield and making 1933 the year of years so far as football in the province is concerned. Pawson stood out as the grandest forward on the ground, closely followed by Ward, Donnelly, Mattingly, Mathieson and McGowan—a great lot. Ward is improving with every game and promises to develop into a topnotcher in a season or two. Pawson’s game should assure him of a place in the Southland team. The sub-unions should field a splendid pack against Town on July 22 at Invercargill. Provided the game has not taken too much out of the Eastern team, they should have excellent prospects of bringing home the Sports Trust Cup on Saturday. At any rate the prospects appear much better than before Wednesday, even admitting that Eastern always play well against Town. The second Sports Trust Cup match will be played at Otautau to-day. Eastern are the challengers.-

Central play Northern for the Stewart Cup at Dipton. The Southland selectors will be present. Pirates and Star meet for the third time. With a win each these teams promise to provide some interesting football in the deciding game. The Wallabies (Australia) meet Orange Free State at Bloemfontein this afternoon and play the second Test at Durban next Saturday.

When Lyall Henderson sped past Bert Geddes in the first few minutes of the Pirates—Blues game, he made the opening for one of the sweetest movements witnessed on Rugby Park for some time. Everyone, including Geddes, was surprised with the celerity of Henderson’s straightening up. Geddes anticipated that Henderson would bplt for the touch line and try to run round him. Hundreds of spectators thoughtlikewise. But the Blues winger "fooled the multitude” and left Geddes standing in his tracks. How many wing threequarters can say they have “left” Geddes as young Henderson did? “Onlooker” cannot recall ever seeing the Pirates man slipped up so completely. The potted goal has been a bit of a nightmare to Pirates ■ lately. Beadle’s four-pointer for Old Boys turned the tide against the Blacks for the time being and Nesbit’s goal enabled Blues to draw level. A second attempt by Nesbit, which missed by a narrow margin had the Pirates’ boys "struggling for fresh air.”

Nesbit’s field goal against Pirates was the fourth registered in senior games this season. Fairweather (Blues) was first on the scene with one against Star, then Watts snapped one against Blues, and then followed the goals by Beadle and Nesbit. It will be noticed that Blues and Old Boys have been associated in the scoring of all four goals. Pirates were penalized 11 times for major infringements and Blues six in last Saturday’s game. Mr J. Ewart earned the approbation of both players and supporters for his good handling of the Pirates—Blues game. He gave quick decisions, and his rulings were easily followed. He is to be complimented on his instant interpretations of some “ticklish” situations. Alex Derbie, Old Boys wing threequarter, is playing good football just now. His play against Central at Branxholme impressed country footballers.

With Watts on one wing, Derbie on the other, and Mitchell in the centre, Old Boys can field a three-quarter line comparable with any other in the competition. Young Currie, who was tried out at centre three-quarter for Pirates against Blues, runs strongly and has a good eye for an opening, but his handling needs polishing up. He cannot give nearly as good a pass as Morrison. Star took the opportunity against Waikiwi of playing two or three juniors. Those that were played in the backs did not help to solve Star’s inside back problem. .... Ray Pickering’s 13st. 71b of dash and determination won the game for Pirates against Star. He has now scored 12 tries in club games and leads the way in the matter of points scored. In only one game, against Star in the second round, has the big Pirates winger failed to cross the line. Rule 34 of the Southland Rugby Football Union reads: “That the representative uniform consist of a maroon jersey, blue knickerbockers, and a representative cap, such caps to be provided by the union.” It is hoped that the Southland team this year will be thoroughly equipped regarding uniform. In past seasons several “colours” and styles of shorts have been the vogue. The Southland Sub-Unions’ team to play the Town team next week and the Otago Sub-Unions’ team the following Saturday (July 29), will be announced this evening after the Northern—Central game at Dipton. The team which met and defeated the Otago SubUnions’ team at Invercargill last year was as follows: —

Full-back—G. Porter (Western). Three-quarters—J. Vickers (Western), U. Crosbie (Northern), D. Bruce (Northern). Five-eighths—C. Calder (Central), D. G. Grant (capt., Eastern). Half-back—A. W. Holden (Eastern). Forwards—D. Agnew (Eastern), W. Sherriff (Northern), D. Herron (Eastern), C. Pawson (Eastern), J. Murphy (Central), J. Matheson (Eastern), W. Findlay (Western), E. Fowle (Western).

Of the above team Porter, Crosbie, Bruce, Calder, Grant, Sherriff, Herron, Pawson, Murphy, Matheson and E. Fowle are again in the running. It would not be surprising if L. Graham, the ex-Otago and Northern fiveeighth, was selected. He should fit in well with Don Grant. Sutherland is another Northerner with very good prospects. He Is a splendid type of wing three-quarter. A likely sort of team which appeals is as follows:—

Full-back—Porter. . Three-quarters—Sutherland, Crosbie, Bruce. Five-eighths—Graham, or Calder, Grant. Half-back—Brosnan or Ussher. Forwards—Boyle, Penny, Sherriff, Pawson, Purdue, Southern Murphy, Fowle.

An interesting black-board lecture by Mr Ellis Kelly, was the main feature of Thursday evening’s meeting of referees. Three nominations were received for the position of selector of the Southland referees’ team to play Otago at Dunedin on August 12, and it was decided that an election would be held at next week’s meeting. One of Southland’s fast and forceful wing three-quarters of by-gone days and a representative player of high-class has for some years ceased to take an active part in connection with the Rugby pastime, but he is wellknown in connection with another outdoor sport. This is Mr J. H. (“Bant ) Hill, who has been re-elected unopposed to membership of the committee of the Invercargill Trotting Club. During his early career he ranked as a Sheffield Handicap winner and member of the Winton F.C. and subsequently joined up with the Britannia F.C. in Invercargill to gain rep. honours and rank with the late Julian Christophers, N. McDonald and several other wing-fliers who took a power of stopping.

Herbie Smith will not be out for Star to-day. A bereavement in his family took Smith to Dunedin on Thursday. All Rugby men will extend their sympathies to the Star centre in the loss of his father. A lecturette on “Touch,” by Mr W. O. Ward, will be delivered from station 4Z.P. probably during the sports session, commencing at 6.30 o'clock this evening.

George Nepia, greatest of all postwar full-backs, and the longest and most accurate kick I have ever seen, always put spin on the ball, writes Mark Nicholls in the Free Lance. To our present-day kickers I know it sounds like a fairy story to tell them that with a wet, greasy, heavy ball, for it had been raining and snowing all day, that George Nepia in the first Test match against Bim Baxter’s British team at Dunedin, kicked from behind his own goal-line to touch' on the full at the half-way line. From the line-out the Britons were penalized and Nepia put the ball into touch less than a yard from the corner flag. Quite apart from anything else Nepia could do, just imagine his kicking value to a team. With a dry ball his range was anything up to eighty yards. Of course, Nepia was an exception, but Cooke and Steel were sixty-yarders, and possibly Brown. All the rest of the 1924 backs were better than the average player and this was one of the reasons why we had such a successful tour. Prominent Southland Rugby men married recently or about to be married shortly include Bert O’Toole (exStar forward), B. A. (“Sam”) Mahoney and Frank Townsend. Mahoney is now a member of the Southland Referees’ Association and Townsend has retired from the game.

The Southland Rugby Union "struggles” on with £3O and £4O gates for club games, and considers itself very lucky if it gets over £4O. Yet in Timaru, a town with a smaller population than Invercargill, the sum of £B7 was taken’a few weeks ago for the first round final between the leading teams. The average club “gate” here is about £32 or £33.

In submitting his selection of the best Otago team a correspondent in the Dunedin Star sports edition writes: "As a very keen Rugby enthusiast, who has followed the old game for many years, may I submit my choice of an Otago representative team for the coming fixture with Southland. Before doing so, I wish to state that I have seen every team in the competition engaged in one or more games this season. Of course, I do not for one moment imagine that the selectors will choose a team anything like the following, because years of experience have taught me that our selectors suffer most seriously with a defence complex. They just can’t learn from triumphant touring teams, including the British team in 1930, that attack is invariably the best defence. Again, reputation weighs heavily with these men of wisdom, and they prove repeatedly that it is much harder to get into an Otago fifteen than to get out of it. Proof of this is strikingly evidenced by the shovelling of the very unfit and untrained All Black Dave Lindsay into the. three-quarter position against the British team.”

August 15 is going to be a big day for Wellington Rugby supporters, and indications point to a record gate for the union (telegraphs the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Star). The occasion will be the match between Wellington and Canterbury. Though Wellington will not have a Shield game this season the coming match is being looked upon as an “unofficial” Ranfurly Shield game by Wellington Rugby followers, and there is sure to be a mighty howl if Wellington win. There, is little doubt but that Wellington will field a very powerful side

both back and forward, and that side will not include every Wellington All Black of the last three years. The visiting side will find Wellington foemen worthy of their mettle, and with no shield at stake a spectacular game should prove the order of the day. ■ “Barracker” writes to the sporting editor of the Christchurch Star as follows:—I would like to submit the following back team for Canterbury in the representative fixtures: Fookes, W. Brown, McPhail, Flewellyn, Innes, Hazelhurst, O’Connor. In including O’Connor (as a humble “banker” who watches all games), I maintain that he is not only the smartest half-back playing in Canterbury to-day, but that he has the additional gift of seeing an opening and is through as fast as (or faster than) any other inside back, and is always on the spot when his side is in trouble. Has the selector seen Athletic play this season ? Hart should not be considered as he has only played a couple of games this season. The same applies to Nolan, as full-back. How can any man judge a player’s form on two games? The forwards practically pick themselves. By defeating Kaikorai last Saturday ’Varsity retain the lead in the Dunedin Rugby competition, for which three Saturdays are still available. Southern dropped a point through drawing with Pirates, but are still in second place, 2 points behind ’Varsity, who on recent performances look like again annexing the championship. Kaikorai and Taieri are level for third place. The championship points of the various teams are:—’Varsity A 20, Southern 18, Kaikorai, 14, Taieri 14, Pirates 13, Zingari 10, Union 6, ’Varsity B 6, Alhambra 6, Dunedin 3. Despite opposition from the Western Province, the rule of the English Rugby Union, to which the South African Rugby Union is affiliated, forbidding players to leave the field at half-time, received overwhelming support at the annual meeting of the South African Rugby Referees’ Society at Johannesburg. The Western Province delegates argued that it was essential in South Africa that players should be allowed to leave the field, because of the climatic conditions, and at half-time spectators swarmed over the field. HOW POINTS WERE SCORED SENIOR COMPETITION. The following table shows how the 491 points in the senior games to date have been scored and by whom they have been scored.

H hj Q H o o e o 2. S’ r p a <5

Wilcox (P), Bailey (I/, Cowie (O.B.), Giller (S), Cuff (S.), Donnelly (S) Smiley (O.B.), Thompson (W.) R. Henderson (O.B.), Morrison (O.B.), Girvan Thomas (P), Mclntyre (I), Frampton (S), I. Smith (W), I. S. Galt (S), M. Ward (S), McColl (S), and Lock (S), each scored one try, while Thompson (I), converted one try and Nesbit (I), potted a goal. SOUTHERN DISTRICT. GAME WITH WESTERN. TRAINING “METHODS” CRITICIZED. The following notes, contributed by “Dingersfontein,” were intended for publication before the Western-South-ern game (played last Saturday) eventuated. Unfortunately they did not come to hand until after Saturday’s Rugby notes went to press. Nevertheless, they contain interesting notes regarding Southern District Rugby and for that reason they are reproduced this week. —“Onlooker.” Western’s Victory Forecasted.

Despite the fact that Western have had the Baird Cup wrested from them by Central, it would seem to the writer that they are due for a comfortable win over Southern when the two subunion teams meet in the Sports Trust Cup series. The standard of Rugby in the Southern District for some time past has been woefully low and if some drastic changes of method are not soon made, it will slip still further. Several men from each team were recently advised to report for practice and the first tryout was held on Tuesday, June 27, at Gorge Road. This club has a lighted ground and a fair amount of good work of the orthodox kind was done, such as packing, passing, dribbling and lining out. The work was all right as far as it went, but was more or less haphazard and desultory. Nevertheless it was better than nothing and infinitely better than the fiasco which was staged on the following Sunday morning when the candidates for representative honours were to meet at Waimahaka for the final practice prior to selection of the team.

It is understood that the Seaward Downs party arrived on time, and after waiting half an hour, during which time no official was to be seen, returned home again. A party from the Oteramika Club arrived a little later, also two from Gorge Road, while two representatives from Otara and one from Waimahaka were then in evidence. The selector had then arrived, but coming to the conclusion that there was not a full enough attendance to hold a proper practice, he divided those present and let them play a scratch game. Shortly after he departed. This kind of “football practice” is typical of what quite a number of clubs indulge in, but it is a surprising thing to find it in a side about to be selected for a representative cup match. There is something radically wrong when no official was to be seen in a small hamlet like Waimahaka when the car-load from Seaward Downs arrived. The writer does not know who is to blame for this state of affairs, but it would seem to call for some attention from the Management Committee, as this is not the method by which representative sides are made, nor representative matches won. Incidentally one of the players motored all the way from Invercargill to be present, while another came from beyond Mokotua, The team as published in the Times on Wednesday morning of last week contained one or two surprises, though on the whole “Dingersfontein” considers the sole selector (Mr A. Mitchell) performed a difficult task fairly welldifficult because of the impossibility of seeing many of the players very often with so many teams in a very scattered district

T. Thwaites, who has been playing a sterling game as Otara’s last line of defence, is a notable absentee. F. McMillan has abundance of poundage if it is used judiciously, but he lacks the speed of his club mate, Meredith, and has not the latter’s finesse and uncanny knack of always being on the ball and handy in support. One would have thought J. Holland a more useful man than Murdoch, while another speedy Gorge Road man in Shand is left out. However, the differences are not great in any case, but every man of the fifteen will obviously have to go great guns at Riverton if the Westerners are not to register a cricket score.

JUNIOR NOTES.

(By “Onlooker Jun.”)

The multitude of spectators who thronged the vantage points at Biggar street grounds last Saturday could not complain at the fare offered by the two second grade games. A more exciting and entertaining display of open football has not been seen for a long time and the close decisions in both games reflect the run of the play. Blues continued their unbeaten record by defeating Marist and Old Boys made an unsuccessful attempt to lower the colours of Rimu who are now well in the running for the second-grade banner.

The forwards of Old Boys did not reach the standard shown against Marist the previous week when they monopolized the play. This was due to the fact that the Rimu pack was just as eager and a shade faster with the ball in the open, while in the tight they put more energy into their play than did the majority of Old Boys forThere were plenty of minor injuries to attest the vigour with which the game was contested. In the back division Old Boys outclassed their rivals. It was a treat to see the w- they opened up the play and the amount of running indulged in vzas an object lesson; had the .Whites fielded a wing-threequarter with any pretentions to class they would have given the country visitors something to ponder over for the remainder of the season. Whenever possible the White backs swung into action and, in the passing rushes, they were the most dangerous division, their handling was accurate and it required the soundest of tackling to stave them off. The outstanding figure of the day was A. Wesney, Old Boys’ second fiveeighth. On his present form he is head and shoulders above any other back in the second grade competition. His attacking work is marked by strong and straight running, sure taking and giving of passes whilst his defence is rocklike in its stubbornness and deadliness.

The Whites’ wing threequarters were having an off day and their vis-a-vis Mackie and Baird, made them look like third raters. Both the Rimu men have speed and are not afraid to use it, Mackie in particular showing on Saturday that he is a winger of possibilities should the opportunity come his way. His two tries against Old Boys were polished efforts. The Red vanguard are a hustling pack of forwards who use their superior weight to advantage. Their physical condition is a revelation. Led by Cournane brothers and Bulling they can always be relied upon for a good effort and no matter at what pace the game might be contested they are always going best over the final stages of the game. It is this good condition that allows them to triumph over more spectacular teams. Light rain early in the afternoon made the half-backs’ job more difficult than would otherwise have been the case, but the honours of the day’s play went to B. Peterson, the pivot of the attack for the Whites. It was a treat to witness the way in which he opened up play from all angles, his passing from the scrum being snappy and extremely accurate. On defence he reminds one of the former All Black hero “Bill” Dailey. An Irish journal commenting on the tourists’ half-back said “Dailey would go down to stop a train,” and the way Peterson hurled himself at the toes of the Rimu forwards on Saturday, to stop their concerted dribbling rushes brought frequent bursts of applause • from the crowd who were not slow to realize the value of courage. At full-back Strang showed greatly improved form, his kicking and fielding being a feature of his play. Of the type that is not easily bustled Strang has a bright future as a footballer if he decides to give of his best. On the day he outshone Baird as a full-back and when he learns to be not quite so greedy when kicking for the line he would prove a valuable custodian in any team.

As an attacking unit the Rimu rearguard is far from being a successful combination. They lack penetration and an inclination to run across field mars their chances on attack. Admittedly Mackie on the wing scored two tries on Saturday, but he made all his own play as his tries did come as the result of concerted back movements and without wishing to detract from Mackie’s performance the tries were the result of deplorably weak attempts at tackling by Rout who is far too amorous for a wing position. The Blues-Marist clash at Biggar street on Saturday could not by any stretch of imagination be voted a classic. It certainly roused enough enthusiasm to set the spectators’ blood tingling, but it was the ragged evenness of the game which caused excitement to run high. First one and then the other team would assume the ascendancy and with only three points in the lead, the game was always in jeopardy and the prospects of yet turning defeat into victory and vice versa provided plenty of excitement for the supporters of both sides.

The Marist fifteen always gives the writer the impression of being capable of rising to greater heights but, so far, this impression has been belied and a feeling of disappointment in their performance remains. They have all the essentials that go towards the building of a first class team. With fast, weighty forwards and backs possessing merit individually this team should have welded into a really good combination. Their backs are well served by O’Halloran and function like machinery but they lack penetration and although their snappy chain passing is spectacular to watch it often costs them much valuable ground. If they were a little less orthodox their individual speed might bring them a greater measure of success.

T. Hogan, the Greens’ winger, has heaps of pace and is not afraid to use it, but the ball is never given to him judiciously. He is usually crowded out or well covered before he gets the ball. A little variation of the play would help this winger to distinguish himself as his try on Saturday would indicate.

Early in Saturday’s game Marist forwards ’ ’ere more than holding their own. Pasco and Maher were dominating the play in the line-outs and from the set scrums the Greens got more than their share of the ball. However when the Blues decided to counter this feature of the play the Greens were not alive to the situation and this cost them the victory. Blues played their drabbest game of the season. Their forwards, while securing a fair share of the ball from scrums and rucks, appeared to be lifeless in other respects. They were shadowed in the line-outs and loose by the opposing pack and it was not until well on in the second spell that they got a hold of the game. Led by their warhorse E. Foster the Blues began to show more dash and get round to effectively nip the Greens passing movements at their Inception. It was their loose spoiling tactics that paved the way for their ultimate success.

R. Pickering (P.) 12 — — — 36 T. Riddell (S.) 2 7 4 —— 32 J. H. Geddes (P.) 10 —— — —— 30 F. Beadle (O.B.) — 6 5 1 31 A. McKay (I.) 2 4 4 — 26 B. McDonald (W.) 6 1 2 —— 26 N. Mitchell (O.B.) 8 — — 24 R. Sharp (P.) 4 1 3 —• 23 J. Mattingly (S.) .— 3 4 18 T. Metcalfe (P.) 5 1 —— —— 17 M. Pasco (S.) 4 —• — 12 L. Clode (I.) 4 —— — — —— 12 C. Watson (W.) 2 .—. 2 — 12 Glen Thomas (P.) 5 —— —— 10 H. R. Watts (O.B.) 2 — — 1 10 H. Sylvester (S.) 3 — —— — ■** 9 H. Smith (S.) 3 —— — 9 E. Tapley (I.) 3 — — — 9 R. Smith (P.) 2 1 —— —• 8 J. Fairweather (I.) 1 — .— 1 7 D. Morrison (P.) 1 2 — —— 7 E. P. Hawke (O.B.) 2 — — —— 6 W. Hislop (O.B.) 2 — — —-■ 6 N. McCorkindale (S.) 2 — —“ — 6 D. Stott (P.) 2 — —— 6 T. Richardson (P.) 2 — —• —— 6 L. Stubbs (S.) 2 — —- —• 6 J. Sievwright (S.) 2 — —• —— 6 A. Derbie (O.B.) 2 — — —— 6 A. Grant (I.) 2 —■ — —. 6 L. Henderson (I.) 2 — — — 6 R. Ferguson (W.) 1 — 1 —. 6