CHANCES IN RUGBY GAME

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1932, Page 9

CHANCES IN RUGBY GAME

THE NEW FORMATION TARANAKI SEASON PROSTEGTS KEEN INTEREST DISPLAY ED The Rugby season in Taranaki will commence on Thursday, when a start will be made with the Central Division junior competitions, and on Saturday '. it. will start in earnest with the opening of the senior competitions throughout Taranaki, as well as the South Taranaki junior competitions. The following Saturday, May 7, will see all the competitions under way with the. commencement of the North Taranaki junior competitions. At the opening of the season there is manifest a much keener interest in the game than has been the case for some seasons. Undoubtedly the controversy that has taken place over the scrum formation and the abolition of the wing-forward has tended to create interest. New Zealand football lias so long thrived on the 2 —3 —2 formation that there is a strong disinclination on t he part of many to break away from it. €hi the other hand, numbers of clubs recognising the success that Australian and English teams have had in securing the ball are anxious to give the new formation a, trial at least for a year. With a view to securing uniformity delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union approved of the recommendation of the management Committee for the adoption of three in the front row of the scrummage, and the abolition of the wing-forward position. It decided to recommend acceptance to all affiliated unions. It was made clear th affiliated unions could not be forced to play three men in the front row unless they wished. However, if the 3 —-2—3 proves to have such a great advantage over the 2 —3—2 formation there is no doubt that all clubs will in a- short time fall into lire, unless, of course, the scrummage ■ is again altered. International "to certainly be played under the - -—3 formation. THE WING-FORWARD. The adoption of the rules will have the effect of eliminating the much-dis-cussed and much maligned wing-for-ward. During the years that Rugby has been played it is doubtful if any change in formation has evoked so much con-troversy—-and' there have been numerous changes, particularly in the backs. Old players can remember when there were six backs and nine forwards, two being wing-forwards, but with the evolution of the two five-eighth game one of the wing-forwards was eliminated. In New Zealand the formation of the backs has from time to ti e undergone considerable changes, consisting among other formations of two halves ami three three-quarters, then one half, a five-eighth and three three-quarters, and later the half, two five-eighths and three three-quarters as we have at present. From time to time clubs have also tried the four three-quarter and two halves formation as p’ayed at present in Australia and England, the aim being all the time to speed up the game and make it more attractive. While some of the Taranaki clubs are pinning their faith to the om scrum formation, others are taking readily to the new 3—3—2. Okaiawa, winners of the Southern Division competition last year, played that formation with success throughout last season. On Saturday, however, in a friendly game with Opunake, they tried out the South African 3 —4—1 formation in the first spell but in the second reverted to the 3—-2 —3 and, strangely enough, in the second spell overwhelmed their opponents, who had a three-point lead in the first spell and had played 3—2—3 throughout. ■Possibly condition had something to do with the result. Until clubs settle down to the new formation various scrum arrangements will probably be in evidence. It was noticed in the opening games of the Wellington competition on Saturday that while a few of the teams _ still adhered to the old formation the majority had adopted the three men down in front, but thereafter the scrums * varied, being 3 —-2 —3, 3 —3 2 and 3_4 j, A remarkable feature was . that in the opening matches at Christchurch the four winning teams—-Christ-church, Merivale, Albion and'Sydenham —all packed the South African formation of 3—I —1, as did also one of the defeated teams, the others all packing 3—2—3. The prospects for the coming season in Taranaki look very .bright, though many of the players, particularly m 1 junior teams unattached to senior teams, are going to find the expense of travelling a difficult item. It is unfortunate that the geographical position is such that clubs have to travel very consid- • erable distances to fulfil their engagements, the limit being reached in South Taranaki, where Rahotu is separated ' from Patea by 60 miles of road. ■ FOURTEEN SENIOR TEAMS PLAY. ' STAR-TUKAPA SHIELD MATCHES. All the Northern Division teams will ■ be seen in action in trial games to-day, , but perhaps in New Plymouth the . Greatest interest will be taken in the annual Tukapa-Star shield games. Time was when these games were the classic event of the year in New Plymouth, there being very keen rivalry winch permeated not only the players but also the spectators, who took respeo- - tive sides on the terraces, and it was - indeed an unfortunate who finding himl self or herself in the rival camp had e the temerity to barrack for his own ’ team. The annual shield matches still - retain their popularity and the rivalry 1 for supremacy' between the teams is very keen. Both clubs arc represented / by strong fifteens this year, including s some new men, and very close straggles are expected to-day. Star ou Sati urday against Clifton at Waitara made r a very pleasing showing, their backs in--5 cludiim- new material in Broughton and , Manawhenua, wing three-quarter, and also Erickson of Celtic, as well as last year’s useful quintette. Billing, Aubrey, Kinsella, Clegg and Rothery. The forwards comprise last year's indomitables t as well as some new blood, and proD mising material from the juniors. ! Tukapa have not been seen in action, 1 -but from the ample material available 3 that astute coach and selector C. Brown 1 has selected a team that will worthily 5 uphold the honour of the blue and whites. Lynch, McNeill and O'Dowda are all'there in the pack with a year’s experience added, while a welcome addition is Dr. Wilson, the ex-Otago lock. I Dickey and Knott will be the front

row men. Guy, the representative rover, will fill his old position, whilst the backs are a fast and clever lot, being strengthened by the inclusion of Loveridge, an ex-Canterbury player, at centre, while L. Petty will again be the last line of defence. G. Sullivan is on one wing and Moorhead on the other, Brown, Papps and ’Boswell being the inside men. Last year the senior match resulted in a draw. The junior game to be played as a curtain-raiser for the Carbine Shield will see in action two good teams who should provide men for the seniors before the season closes. Old Boys and Clifton will meet at Waitara. The Waitara ground is now in perfect order with a beautiful turf conducive to fast football. At Inglewood, Stratford and the local team will again try conclusions, while at Stratford Celtic will meet Kaponga. In the Southern Division Athletic, who ran Old Boys to a point at New Plymouth last Saturday, will meet Patea at Hawera. Both teams are expected to be well in the running for southern division honours this year. Okaiawa, who showed some brilliant football last week to defeat -Opunake comfortably, will be at home to Hawera. The wearers of the amber and black have improved as the result of their match against Waimate last week. Waimate, who made a satisfactory debut by defeating Hawera, will be at home to Opunake. At Okato the annual match for the Meredith Cup will take place between Okato and Rahotu. RUGBY HAPPENINGS. Congratulations to Mr. G. H. Pownall, of Wanganui, on his elevation to the presidential chair of the New Zealand Rugby Union. His long association with the game renders him worthy of the honour. The Wanganui Rugby Union should also feel proud that it has been accorded the unique distinction of having two of its members elected president of the New Zealand Union in succession when it was the North Eland's turn. In 1930 Dr. G. Adams, Wanganui's president, filled the position with distinction. , . Julitin, th© ex - Star an<l laranHki half, i has struck form early this year. Playing for Poneke in the opening of the Wellington competition he had a big say iiHiis team’s victory over University by 39 points to 3, scoring four tries and taking a prominent part iu several others. Critics regarded him as the outstanding individual player on the ground. A. H. Andrews, Okato, and J. W. Ewart, ex-New Plymouth High School boys, are again playing for Canterbury. University. Andrews was last year’s South Island rover but is now playing in the back row of the 3—2—3 scrum. Referring to his play in the opening match the Press critic stated that he was easily the best forward on the field, having the ability to make the best advantage of every opportunity without being an opportunist. J. W. Ewart, at five-eighth, also gave his backs plenty of openings.