Springbok Curtain-Raisers.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20802, 10 August 1937, Page 5

Springbok Curtain-Raisers.

A decision to play two curtain-rais-ers to the Springbok match on August 28 was reached at a meeting of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union last night. The games arranged were between Celtic and Zingari fourth grade at noon and South Canterbury third grade representatives and Waimate junior representatives at 1.15 p.m. A stipulation was made that in the event of wet weather the later match would not be played. An offer by the Timaru Municipal Band to parade was accepted.

Dick As a Winger Like many another footballer, J. Dick, Auckland wing three-quarter, whose All Black prospects are remarkably good, was not a football prodigy at Auckland Grammar School. He could rise no higher than fifth grade, and even after leaving school he had to play a year or so in third-grade football for the Grafton Club before rising to senior status. He has been playing senior football for four years, the last two of them In representative class.

Wiles of Half-backs: One idea on the Rugby field is, if you can get away with it well and good, but if you are caught, then it’s just too bad. Take the half-back. There are certain things which he can and cannot do under the rules. Tapping the ball back into the scrum once it is out is a favourite trick of many half-backs, but it is a definite offence against the laws, and is punishable by a penalty kick. The object of the move, of course, is to place off-side any winging forwards who might be following the ball round the scrum. There is, however nothing to prevent the halfback, if he does not want the ball, from putting his foot at the end of the tunnel of the scrum and stopping it from coming out. Some halves, too, often Invite a penalty kick against their sides by charging into their forwards as a means of protection when the opposition is bearing down on them. Occasionally they escape detection, but the offence is one of obstruction. It’s a risky practice in front of goal, a time when the urge is greatest.