Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 7

Rugby

—The Gecme and. its 4 Placers*. *%,

j£lvy in Form •VV. Elvv, former Canterbury and yeiv Zealand Rugby threeqimrter*, and Z.ter a Wellington representative, is sported to have shown, when playfor Petonc against Athletic on 'uturdfiy week, that he is as dangerous a scoring man as ever he was. On form Elvv is still a senior contender for AH Black honours. An Ex-Soccer Player Manukau’s stocky little fullback, ‘•puka” Turei, who played sue h a good game against Marist on Saturday, was at one time a devotee of the round-ball code. A few seasons ago Turei turned out regularly for the North Shore Club, of which he was a very useful member. Good Effort Ono of the players in the Marist Old Boys team on Saturday who attracted attention was Cornthwaite, the centreihreequarter. His play was always good and his penalty kick against the sun at a moment when it was at its brightest earned the plaudits of the crowd both Marist and Manukau supporters cheering the effort. Wrong Numbers Although most of the teams are now paying attention to the correct numbering of their players in accordance with that given in the official programme there were still some players on Saturday incorrectly numbered. The fact that the principal offenders were wearing new jersies recently adopted by their club is probably the explanation. It is to be hoped, however, that this matter will soon be put right. Lindsay Comes Back All Black X). F. Lindsay, who on his return to New’ Zealand after playing brilliantly against the South Africans

had to nurse an injury, and so did not show his proper form last season, started well last Saturday week. Playing fullback for Varsity A against Alhambra, he was the despair of the eager ‘Bama pack, his fine, long kicks into touch sending the Alhambra

forwards plodding back repeatedly. Several times, kicking from his ow : n 25. he sent the ball out in his opponents’ 25, in spite of a heavy crosswind that made line-kicking difficult to judge. It was not Lindsay s fault that his side was beaten. Annoying Tactics Prevention is better than cure, and this applies equally as well to /the Bugby field as elsewhere. Although at first it appears to be only a minor matter referees would be Well advised to declare a close season against players, and their are many of them, who adopt irritation tactics such as tripping, and holding a man after he has got rid of the ball. Probably the most annoying of all is the man who grabs your jersey just as you see an opportunity coming your way. It is very easy to sympathise with the player who in- such circumstances strikes his opponents and gets bis walking ticket. Most of the regrettable incidents on the field are attributable to these causes and if referees made a point of watching for them it would probably result in much fewer players finding their way on to the Rugby Union- mat. On Saturday there were too many of these minor, but very irritating, infringements. On Injured List Sympathy is extended to Guy McXeod, the Ponsonby winger, on having found his way on to the injured list so early in the season. Toward the

end of last season this player began to s h o w greatly improved form and on opening day, and also for the time he was on the field on Saturday, he demonstrated that he has lost none of his speed. A dislocated shoulder received in tackling an opponent

confine him to the bank for several Saturdays. Bert Fletcher, who injured his leg while working on his Jarm, and Angus Fin Jayson, who has fractured a rib, were notable absentees from City and Grafton ranks respectively. I). Keane, who injured his Jaw on the opening Saturday was not xu II y recovered to occupy the last fine of defence for Technical Old Boys Saturday. Vice-Regal Patronage T arr^va l of their Excellencies, J'Ord and Lady Bledisloe at Eden Park °n Saturday afternoon coincided with a attack by the Ponsonby for'nrti'? upon the Training College line. Put despite the fact that it was probil * niost interesting development that had yet occurred the game was promptly forgotten as the audience in members stand spontaneously rose fa ♦, ir fe *t in a gesture of respect ♦h King’s representative. During lH? • interval their Excelncies, piloted by Mr. J. Arniel, presii ,s**- Auckland Rugby Union. . n<^ , , r - K. Earl, K.C., president of the uckland Cricket Association, went for ? - uoross the field where, no doubt. T V S Excellency gave the cricket and bugby executives the benefit of his x tensive experience on the sowing of -hgli.sh grasses. Incidentally it also norderl patrons on the embankment ''>th an opportunity of seeing the Viceparty ; ,t close quarters, a tact- . “ttle act that was promptly rccoghised by enthusiastic handclapping and 'heering. Undoubtedly the nearest 'u>* to a New Zealander’s heart is to take an interest in his sports and Pustinies.

No Returns Now that Varsity has closed its ranks to all but undergraduates and graduates of the Auckland University College, it is understood that a further tightening up -of the club rules lias taken place. Although D. Kaa, the Grafton player, recently transferred to the University Club, it is generallv understood among the students that m future Varsity players who seel; places m other clubs will find it difficult to find their way back again. Useful Forward A X arsity forward whose performances commanded admiration on Saturday was Stacey, the former Training College man. Breaking away in the loose from scrums and line-outs he c ? nsid ®rable ability in opening JJJ* Play; ill fact, he was instrumental m developing more back movethan were opened up by the and these rushes were more effective because Stacey penetrated the *,? hereas the five-eighths tailed in this respect. Handy Closer In The sturdily-built Technical Old beys wing-threequarter, R. Couper, looks like a good five-eighths going to waste. He has both the build and

speed for a good “second.” His performances on the wing show he has plenty of dash and determination, and knows the value of the reverse pass. On Saturday he delighted the spectators with his sparkling runs, and gave a timely reverse pass which assured one try, and clev-

erlv worked the short throw-in-reverse P3.ss dodge for another. In the Blood Blood will out, and this appears to bo the case with Gallaher, the rangy young Ponsonby forward, who created such a fine impression on Saturday. He is a nephew of Dave Gallaher, whose name has gone down in New Zealand history as captain and wingforward of the famous 1905 All Black side and who, with many Rugby men of a latter period, heard the last whistle blow on the battlefields of France. The second Gallaher has everything in his favour. I-Ie is well over the six-foot mark, tips the beam somewhere about 14 stone, handles well and has fair pace. His line-out work on Saturday was particularly good and what is of greater importance, he was on the ball in loose and tight all the afternoon. If he continues to play as well as he did on Saturday he is bound to catch the rep. selector’s eye.

Harvey An Unlucky Footballer Tan Harvey, Wairarapa’s big Rugby lock, generally considered to be a likely choice for the New Zealand team to meet the British team in the tests this year, has had the misfortune to sprain an ankle, and it may be some weeks before he cam play. Harvey has been cne of the unluckiest footballers New Zealand has had of recent years. On the tour of Great Britain in 1924 he was indisposed for the greater part of tiie time, throwing great responsibility on the shoulders of Reade Masters, the Canterbury man. Again, in South Africa in 1928 Harvey had a bad spin with injuries and sickness and G. T. Alley had to lock the scrum in a disproportionately large percentage of games. Tonsilitis, influenza, bloodpoisoning, and leg. arm and shoulder Injuries, and even damage to his skull, are among the mishaps experienced by Harvey on important tours oversells.

ROTORUA UNION MEETS

SEVERAL PLAYERS IN TROUBLE j From Our Own Correspondent ROTORUA, Tuesday. Mr. tV. J. Meredith presided at last evening’s Rugby Union meeting, when it was resolved that the secretary of the Referees’ Association keep a record of the expenses of travelling referees, which shall be submitted to the union for payment. Several players appeared before the union, having been ordered off the field on Saturday. One was warned, evidence showing that his obstruction was occasioned more by eagerness than rough intent. Two others were cautioned, their misdemeanours being only of a minor nature, but a third man was ordered to stand down for four playing Saturdays. Mr. R. G. Webb, referee in the Wai-ariki-P.W.D. match wrote complaining that a spectator had interfered with the game and the secretary was instructed to write informing the spectator (a Maori) that if lie so behaved again lie would be prevented from entering the gates. A registered player is to be summoned before the union to explain his attitude to a referee during the course of a match. Saturday’s draw is as follows: Seniors, P.W.D. v. Mamaku (at Mamaku); City v. Waikite; Waiariki v. Kaliuklira. Juniors: High School v. Mamaku; Ngongotaha v. Waikite; Kahukura a bye. A charge was submitted that Waikite had replaced an injured man after half-time. That club’s delegate, Mr. R. G. Ewing, admitted the fact and moved that the match be awarded to Kahukura. In view of the fact that this union was playing under International Rules, Mr. Mason (Waikite) moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the Bay of Plenty Union. lie was not supported, and the match was awarded to Kahukura, who last week lost a match by protest that it had played juniors of other clubs. Mr. Hailwood was elected to the management committee to fill the vacancy caused by the departure of Mr. J. Archer. Mr. F. T. Steele gave notice that he would move at the next meeting as follows:—“That the International Rules be discontinued and that we play the amended rules as last season.” Mr. Meredith will move:—“That a judicial committee of three be set up to inquire into the conduct of players and report to the management committee.”