On The Rugby Field

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20445, 16 June 1936, Page 7

On The Rugby Field

(BY

WING-FORWARD”)

Best for Years: The Star-Waihi match was one'of the best games played at Winchester for some years. The Star forwards showed more polish than their opponents. Their combined dribbling rushes and quick passing kept Waihi busy. They also worked in close cooperation with the backs in the loose and from scrums and line-outs.

Playing for Wellington: K. Guy, one of the locks of the South Canterbury scrum in the 1934 season, has been selected to play for Wellington against Taranaki on the King’s Birthday. According to reports from the north, this burly forward is regarded as one of the best packmen in the capital city at the present time.

Leaving Timaru: Mr J. W. Marriott, the popular club captain of the Old Boys’ Club, is reported to be removing to Palmerston North. As a club man he has rendered fine service to football, especially where lower grade teams are concerned. In addition he has been the players’ representative on the Referees’ Appointment Board for the last two seasons.

Zingari’s Fine Pack: No club in South Canterbury at the present time has a finer pack of forwards than Zingari, and their great play in the loose against Old Boys on Saturday was the prime factor in the convincing win achieved. At no stage of the game did they let up, and it was the pace at which they kept things going which wore the Blue forwards down. Up to a point Old Boys held their heavier opponents, but the task was too great, and they tired rapidly. Too much defensive work was thrown on the backs, already weakened by the absence of Morrison, and this was one of the factors which led to the Blues’ downfall. If the Blue forwards had one weakness it was their Inability or disinclination to tackle. Half-hearted round-the-neck tackling will never stop a good pack, and the second half saw Zingari breaking through continuously. G. Gaffaney and Heasley came in for the lion’s share of the hard work, and but for their solid displays, Old Boys would have been trounced. Heasley’s display was particularly pleasing, a feature of his play being the manner in which he snapped the ball off the feet of the forwards and broke clean through the line. His tackling also was sound and solid, and his kicking showed an improvement on recent displays. On Saturday he showed up very favourably in comparison with Ford, who lacks the physique to go down to rushes in the manner in which Heasley did.

Point Worth Noting: Zingari’s vigorous forwards crashed their way to victory on Saturday. There is one point worth noting and that is that the Zingari backs failed to make full use of the opportunities created for them by their forwards. They pierced the Old Boys defence, palpably weak in places, only twice during the secqpd spell.

Strang in Form: Jack Strang is without question one of the best forwards in South Canterbury, and he gave another fine display against Zingari on Saturday. He was a tiger for work in the line-outs, and showed clever footwork on two or three occasions when he broke clear in the loose. His only blemish at the moment is that he does not appear to relish going down to opposition onslaughts. Thomson also went well on Saturday, and both these players should again be figuring in the representative pack.

What Might Have Been: On the general run of play. Zingari would have been unlucky to have lost to Old Boys on Saturday, but the points might easily have been against them. Their first penalty and their field goal came from actions, which can only be termed as stupid on the part of Blue players. These things occur, and are not being mentioned to detract from the merit of the Colours’ victory, but simply to show that while one side had 75 per cent, the better of the game, victory might not have been theirs. Then again, Old Boys enjoyed more penalties than did Zingari, and had these been turned to account, the Royal Blues would probably have been in front at the finish.

New Half-back for Celtic

It is reported that G. Wright, halfback for the Waimate Sub-Union representative team, is to take up residence in Timaru and that he will join the Celtic Club.

Club Representation

A remark was made by a member at last week’s meeting of the Waimate Sub-Union that ten Star players were included in the South Canterbury team which played the Sub-Union recently. It is admitted that Star is undoubtedly the leading team in the district at the present time but the Waimate man’s figures were hardly correct. To right the wrong impression and for no other reason, because the question of club representation should not arise in the selection of representative teams, the correct figures are given, as follows: Star 6, Old Boys 4, Zingari 3, Celtic 1, Temuka 1.

Calculations Upset

Zingari upset calculations completely on Saturday by their convincing win over Old Boys, who previously had gone down to Star only. The result has placed the Blue and Blacks in a comfortable position at the head of the Skinner Cup ladder. Their consistently good football, attention to training and fine team work have brought them success, and if their example was emulated, others might taste of the fruits that have been theirs for some seasons. From the point of view of the Union, and its finances, the defeat of Star would be a good thing, for it would lead to greater public interest, but the fault lies with the players in the other camps. Star are not unbeatable, as will be seen if Zingari reproduce Saturday’s form when next they meet the championship leaders. Good Refereeing: A meed of praise is due to Mr A. B. Rowlands on the very efficient manner in which he controlled the ZingariOld Boys match on Saturday. On some occasions in the past, Mr Rowlands has incurred the displeasure of a number of Rugby patrons, often unjustly, but there could be none who could have fired anything but bouquets on Saturday. The forwards on both sides were keyed up to concert pitch, and one Zingari back let his temper override calmness, but on the whole the game was played in a fine spirit, and employing the advantage rule perfectly, Mr Rowlands enabled the spectators to witness a fine game. Secondary School Matches: The popular secondary school matches, three of which are to be played in Timaru within three weeks starting on June 30, should find ready support from Rugby enthusiasts. Recent form would suggest that High School has a very fine team this year and it seems at this stage that the opposition will need to be exceedingly strong in order to achieve victory in any of the matches. Great Goal Kicking: R. Duncan, Zingari, has come into the limelight this season as a place kick. Duncan knew his ability, but his captain did not. However, he was given a chance against Celtic, and put over some good kicks from difficult angles . Then came the Star match, and when points were badly needed, Duncan failed. It has happened before, with world famous players, and it will happen again, but on Saturday the Zingari man was at his best, and put over a beautiful kick from well out, and with an upright ball. There are not many players capable of this feat, for great power, besides accuracy, is required to ensure success with this method. G. Gaffaney vied with Duncan for the kicking honours of the match, and put one over from five yards inside half-way, but he was straight in front of the uprights. Gaffaney’s best kick was from a mark, a clever one too, taken off the feet of the Zingari forwards, half-way between the 25 and halfway lines, and out near touch. Despite the handicap of the ball being held, and the opposing forwards rushing, he put the leather clean between the uprights. There should be no weakness in the representative team on the score of kicking. Centre Position: The problem which has been confronting the South Canterbury selectors so far a's the backs are concerned has been to find a reliable centre threequarter. Experiments have been tried, but without the success hoped for, and further players will no doubt be given a chance for the position, D. Bruce has represented Southland in the position, but since coming to Timaru, he has been played closer to the scrum. Against Old Boys on Saturday he started off at second five-eighths, but later went to centre, and once in his right place gave a good display. He engineered two pretty movements, one of which resulted in a try, and on his form has strengthened his chances of a trial in the representative side. Bruce does not appear to be fast, but he gets over the ground, and his experience in big football should stand him in good stead.