Peculiar Rulings And Rough Play In Southland’s Game At Auckland

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 11

Peculiar Rulings And Rough Play In Southland’s Game At Auckland

By

ONLOOKER

“Southland beat Auckland, but . . . That remark was made by more than one Southland supporter when the game against Auckland ended. two minutes after A. W. Wesney kicked the goal which gave Southland a muchdisputed victory at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon. The many Southlanders and former Southlanders who were present at the game were delighted with the result for many reasons. Two of those reasons were that the Southland team made history by beating Auckland for the first time at Auckland, and that it was able to retain its unbeaten record in interprovincial matches this season. Yet even the most ardent supporter could not put aside the thought that Southland had gained its victory on what northerners have claimed a technicality. Actually there was no technicality about the point which enabled Southland to score the winning goal of the match. The referee should not have allowed Wesney a second kick at goal; the laws of the game state that the referee cannot alter a decision made by him and when Mr R. K. Hayhow allowed the second kick to be taken he made a mistake. That is all there was to it. There was no technicality about it. The game will not be forgotten by the players of the Southland team; it will be remembered by some of them more because of the roughness of the play and the rulings of the referee than because of the goal-kick incident. Almost from the first few minutes of play the interpretations of several points of the rules absolutely puzzled the Southland players and before the game was half completed they did not appear to know where they stood. Twice Southland was penalized for breaches which were not understood by the players, and on both occasions goals were kicked by Hare, the Auckland fullback. The first was when G. H. Graham ran back to support Stewart who had taken a good mark and the second was when the Southland scrum was on the move when it went down in the scrum. Graham was penalized for obstruction, but what obstruction there was no one but the referee appeared to know. The Southland players thought the whistle was blown for Stewart’s mark. . He certainly took a mark. A PECULIAR RULING As for the alleged scrummage breach not only the players but Auckland referees and other Rugby men have made much comment on the action of the referee. It should be explained that the Southland forwards have used their weight and strength in the scrums in all games on the tour, and they have perfected the tactics of going in on the move when packing their scrum. It is an age-old method of meeting the opposing pack in scrums. For some peculiar reason, however, Mr Hayhow would not allow the Southland pack to do this. He demanded the packs to go in quietly, and when Southland went in heads down in one particular scrum he promply blew his whistle and penalized Southland. Hare kicked a goal from this penalty. Another peculiar ruling was the one which virtually robbed Southland of a splendid try near the posts. A scrum was formed a yard or two from Auckland’s line, and as soon as the ball was put in, the Southland pack used its weight and pushed the scrum over the line. Southland had possession in the second row of the scrum and as soon as the ball was over the line two or three forwards pounced on it. Both Herron and Marshall actually touched down; there were no Auckland forwards within a yard of the ball. They had been pushed right back and the Southland pack had possession all to itself as it were. It was little wonder that C. K. Saxton asked why the referee ruled a drop-out from the 25 line. The referee’s reply was “Sacks on the mill —25 drop-out.” Several other rulings puzzled the Southland players, and although they did not produce their top form in the game it was clear that their play was affected by the rulings of the referee.

SECOND HALF RECOVERY In spite of such handicaps the Southland team made a great recovery in the second half. They smashed their way through the Auckland forwards and made many opportunities for the backs. It was their magnificent rushes which actually caused the game to develop into a fight. The vigour of the massed short breaks was not relished by the Auckland forwards and two or three of them resorted to kicking and punching. It was openly done, and after one or two glaring cases of fisticuffs in the line-outs and rucks the Southland forwards retaliated. Never before has a Southland team been associated in such a disgraceful exhibition of heat and temper. Players of both teams stood off from the scrums and rucks and punched each other; on the ground they wrestled and jostled and hacked with their elbows and kicked. For about a quarter of an hour the exchanges were hectic and several times the play was held up because of injuries to players. Graham, McEwan and Saxton were victims of brutal tactics. All were badly kicked when on the ground and all required attention.

McEwan got a kick on the back of the neck; he knew little about the second half and when spoken to after the game he said he could not remember certain incidents of the play. Saxton was kicked by two forwards when he went down to a rush and Graham got it in .the back in a ruck. He could not get to his feet without assistance. Let it not be misunderstood that the Southland forwards were from blame; they were not, but they might be excused on the score that they were not the starters of the trouble. They were provoked into retaliation. BRIGHT PATCHES Between the skirmishes of that exciting second half there were many purple patches, none brighter than when Pearman, Auckland’s first fiveeighths, cut the Southland defence in two and raced away in the movement which led up to Pepper’s try and the powerful run of Sutherland through the opposition which ended in Ward scoring between the posts. From the Southland viewpoint it could be said that the Southland team played a wonderful game in the second half. Its first half form was bad. The backs handled badly; they failed to link up at all well and they did not give the forwards the support they deserved. They played much better in the second half, and even if they were beaten for pace in open movements they consolidated much of the good work of the pack. Auckland’s great performance in holding the Southland team in check must not be overlooked. The forwards, all pacy and dashing, fought like tigers. They out-played Southland in the set scrums, but they fell down when it came to matching the Southland forwards in loose rushes. Only in this department of forward play were they inferior.

Pepper and Carson were outstanding. They were able to ruck fiercely and then get out and help the backs. Both made nagnificent breaks in open field play. Carson is looked upon as Auckland’s best forward. On his game against Southland he is one of the best in New Zealand.

T. H. Pearce and R. R. Hull, also dashing forwards, spoiled their work by indulging in tactics vzhich are absolutely no good to the game at all. Their type of play may suit certain sections of Auckland’s Rugby followers, but it would not be tolerated in the South Island. Both are of splendid physique which, if properly applied, would give any team much valuable assistance.

The Auckland backs did not link up very well early in the game, but later they settled down and threatened danger many times. Pearman is a good sort of. first five-eighths. He had a field day against Southland and on that form must have established his claims to a place in the best North Island team. He has excellent hands, he uses judgment in his attack and he has a neat cut-in. His defence was good. Brady, the half-back, was playing his .first representative game. He made a good impression after a slow start. DICK HELD BY SUTHERLAND J. Dick, the All Black winger, was well bottled by Sutherland. Once or twice he made good touchline runs but he did not give the impression that he was up to All Black standards. He failed to show any dash when in a corner.

Molloy, the centre, was prominent because of his sound marking of Wesney. He tackled hard and often and several times doubled round to help his wings. Southland’s best backs on the day were A. G. Sutherland, M. P. Grace and R. G. Mahony. Sutherland reached heights of brilliance and but for his enterprise and dash in the second half Southland would not have won. No better three-quarter than Sutherland has been seen on the tour.

Grace was solidity itself. He suffered because of lapses in handling and passing by C. K. Saxton, but he made some grand recoveries and in all of his work looked like a top-class back. Mahony found the fast ground to his liking. He swerved and side-stepped in several runs but just failed to get clear when another yard of pace must have brought good results. His centring kicking was very effective. J. W. Purdue gave an improved showing. He got the ball away smartly and worked the short side cleverly. V. L. George’s leadership when the pace was so hot in the second half was a big factor, in the team’s recovery. He did not get bustled by the jostling and fisticuffs which went on, although he had reason to show resentment at one swipe by an Auckland forward which, if it had connected, might have had dire results. It was a “haymaker” which missed by a yard. The Southland forwards played like the superlative pack they have made themselves. Some of their work was up to the standard of the best All Black forward play. They finished like champions. Wellington Comment On Southland Well, Southland has had its first success in Wellington. It deserved it, even if the score, 16-3, did not reflect the

swing of play. Wellington actually had the territorial advantage. Strange thing this with the result as it was, but a fact nevertheless, comments The Sports Post, Wellington.

As a spectacle the match was most disappointing. It never at any time rose much above the ordinary, and often it was very stodgy. Back play, except for rare thrusts, was negative, and the forward battle, though vigorous all the way, was marred by scrummage trouble.

The Southland pack was heavy and fairly mobile. Its weight was its greatest asset and it was used to its fullest extent. The Southland forwards as a “battering ram” took no end of stopping. They formed a solid phalanx and when they smashed through they were always dangerous, and naturally especially near the line. Apart, however, from this maximum use of their weight, they were not particularly impressive. Viewed purely from the angle of all-round capacity they could hardly be regarded as an outstanding division. As a matter of fact, the Wellington forwards individually were just as skilful, but they did not have the same driving force in the tight. Wellington won the major share of the ball and its possession by no means all came from set scrums.

The ball did, however, hang in’ the Wellington back row, due partly to the pushing ability of the Southlanders and to the fact that they often upset the balance of the Wellington pack by screwing.

The scrums, as a matter of fact, were very poor. Collapses were frequent and the ball very often was never in, a breach which several times was permitted to pass without penalty. The Southland forwards collectively were very even; only one man, Herron, really stood above his fellows. He was first class. Still the fact that marked individuality was absent indicated close cohesion, a not inconsiderable asset.

Saxton backed up splendidly and scored one really fine try. He used the short punt too with discretion. He steps into top gear in a flash and with good service he should be very effective at first five.

Grace was elusive and Wesney dangerous, though Fulton bottled him up pretty well at times. Wesney’s goal kicking was admirable. The wingers, Mahony and Sutherland, had no chances on attack, but were effective on defence, though Wright beat Mahony badly on one occasion. Fleming, former Wellington representative, was average, no more. The failure of the Southland backs was J. W. Purdue at half. He did nothing in keeping with the reputation he enjoys in the south. He fired out an occasional good pass, but generally he was very poor.

Actually, Southland had more of the ball than the number of their back movements indicated. Purdue couldn’t get it away. He was bustled by the Wellington flank forwards. Even when be had a comparatively free hand he fumbled badly.

“Best Provincial Side In New Zealand”

Forgetting the almost unrelieved drabness of Canterbury’s Rugby display against Otago on Wednesday, one can pitch a higher note of praise for the smart and effective work against Southland a few days previously, states The Christchurch Star-Sun in a sports editorial. What was the secret of that effectiveness? Why did Southland, with such a strong all-round side, manage to score only one try? Some details of Canterbury’s prearranged plan can be disclosed, now. In the first place, care had to be taken that Saxton, Southland’s first five-eighths, was driven outward, that he did not come inside for a mid-field break. This was Alien’s task, and he fulfilled it well, with Burgess doing his share. And because of that persisting outward pressure, Saxton was forced to move his other backs also across the paddock. They were down to halfpace, with no chance whatever of the wing men getting clear from any chain movement.

Similarly, the Canterbury flank forwards did not chase Purdue, if he ran with the ball, but waited for. him to come round, and then stayed inside, to prevent him linking up with his own flank forwards.

The excellent covering work of the forwards was another factor. Again, as planned beforehand, McPhail, Walter, and Campbell, after every scrum and line-out in which Southland secured, raced at a tangent to the home comerflag. That provided an additional screen behind the defending Canterbury backs. Southland, it will be recalled scored lo.ads of tries against all other opponents. Against Canterbury they got over once—from loose play. Class Rugby is three parts brain-work. So well did Canterbury’s tactical planning work out that only, a slice of bad luck at the finish prevented them from beating what is undoubtedly, the best provincial side in New Zealand.