RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, 7 May 1924, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By

“Poster.”)

The senior competition took an interesting turn on Saturday when two of the three teams which were equal on the championship ladder drew, while the other one was defeated.

Red Star, who drew with Masterton at the Memorial Park, can be considered unlucky that they did not assume the lead, while on the other hand Masterton might be congratulated for keeping the points even with the team they were forced to take the field with. •

The game did not at .any stage develop anything brilliant owing to the heavy nature of the ground, and the greasy condition of the ball. Stars, with commendable repeatedly tried to . open up the game, but their efforts usually terminated with a player being forced out into touch. In this respect the Star backs might have seized the opportunity of keeping the ball in the air more often than they did, especially when approaching the Masterton 25. The Blue backs were seriously disorganised, and never looked too comfortable. High kicks were not accepted with the greatest of confidence, but the Star backs did not seem to appreciate this point, and had it been exploited a little more there are good reasons to suggest that they might have met with reasonable success.

Beard, the Star full-back, again played a confident game, and though the fortunes of Rugby went against him just at a critical stage, from which Masterton secured their only score, his good play outweighed any errors of judgment in the first half. A pleasing feature of his play, compared with that of the previous Saturday, was that he came up to his man better when defending.

Bishop, centre for Stars, once more took honours in the backs, and proved himself a good wet weather footballer. If, in common with other backs, he goes better on top of the ground, his play should be a bright light in the competition.

Vangioni did not show up as much as previously, but nevertheless ho was useful when it came his way. His defence is still not up to that required of a senior player. Flaws and Neighbours were associated in a lot of useful play, the latter repeatedly nipping the Blue forward rushes in the bud. He was also afforded more protection from his pack than he was the previous Saturday.

Wickcns stood out from the Star forward for aggressive play, no doubt through having a player of merit pitted against him. He also showed up to advantage in the line-out, a department higtherto foreign to him, and for a player of his height got his backs away with some handy rushes in pleasing style. Willoughby and Wyber were perhaps the best of the remainder, with Shackleton close jn attendance. Wyber was going well for a first time out, and his loss was felt in the Stars’ loose play after his removal from the field. This regrettable incident has yet to be explained and the statement by the referee is being aw’aited with interest. From the position of the players when the incident occurred, it was impossible to see from the’ stand what led up to the ordering off; in fault it was done so suddenly that no one realised what had happened until Wyber left the pack and set out for the pavilion. Interviewed by “Poster” after the match, the refree (Mr H. J. McKenzie) declined to comment on the incident, stating that he would make his report to the Association. The Masterton pack were without the services of Harvey and O’Dowd, and only those who have seen the two in play can estimate the seriousness of the loss.

Supporters of the sport generally, were glad to see Murray once again take the field, and his exhibition demonstrated that he has lost none of his old. time knowledge or ability. Murray possesses the football style, and his clearheadedness both in attack and defence is a decided help to any team possessing fast backs. Of the pack, McKenzie was always prominent and repetition of his form since the competition commenced should gain further honours for him.

Sutherland, who hooked with Nicholson, was prominent in all tight pieces of play, and is of that nuggety type that produces the best hookers. Nicholson went well at times, but might have been better employed m keeping with his forwards and leaving the backs their own work to do. Tatham, a substitute, who led the Wanganui College team last year, knows the Rugby game, and, being in good condition played conspicuously throughout. He also has that style of handling the ball that won the Springbok forwards a lot of admirers in this country, and put to profitable use should prove a power in attack to the Masterton. backs. This, of course, will depend upon the selectors thinking him worthy of a place in the team when the injured players return to the field. Watts, at half, was not equal to stemming the onslaughts of the Star forwards who repeatedly got all over him. The greasy ball was also not to his liking. Cowie, the Masterton skipper, went fairly well till a recurrence of an injury received at the soven-a-side tournament tied him up, and practically prevented him from participating in any fast play. A pronounced limp ao* companied him over the week-end, and, unless massaging is able to overcome the trouble, his place might have to be filled on Saturday. Nairn was palpably off his game, and only occasionally did he show anything of hig form at last season. How-

ever, a dry ground should make a big difference to him., and he should still have a chance to prov© that he i® a dangerous scoring man. Yates was working under a handicap, in that he was shifted from his usual place on the wing in to centre position. He played a fair all-round game, under the circu instances, and came suddenly into prominence when he bolted away from the field and had only the full-back to beat. The latter effected a spectacular flying tackle and the Star forwards packing round quickly saved the situation. Had Yates gone on instead of pausing, or had he kicked the ball over the fullback’s head and raced for it, it is reasonable to suggest that a try would have been the result, as the two were 15 yards away from tao rest of the playere, but in the excitement of the moment these moves do not always occur to a player; no doubt they did not to him. Prior to the commencement of the game, the referee, assembled the hookers and wing-forwards of both teams and spoke a few heart to heart words to them about the offside rule in the scrum, and the wing forward, and it was indeed pleasing to see that his words were heeded to and few penalties necessitated when the gam© was in progress. “The New Zealand Referees’ Association considers that the wing-forward is a spoiler of good football, and we are going to be very severe on him,” said Mr McKenzie. He continued to explain that when the ball is hooked by one side, the wingforward of that side must retire and keep behind the ball. In the event of it being hooked so fast that he cannot get back with it, he must immediately deviate from the side of the scrum to< wards his five-eighths, and allow his opposing wing to come round should ho so desire. It is certainly hoped that the referees will carry out their intentions, not with the idea of eliminating the wing forward altogether—for there is a use for him—but with the idea of brightening up the game and making it faster, a much needed reform that the people who keep the sport in existence are justly entitled to.