CAN OLD BOYS WIN?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 4

CAN OLD BOYS WIN?

HARD TASK FACES MARIST Mighty Transvaal Poised for All Blacks’ Challenge (By “CROSSBAR”). The Marist-Old Boys’ match will hold greatest interest for Wanganui Rugby supporters to-day. With five successive wins behind them, the greens will enter the fray with spirits buoyed high to meet the sternest opposition so far fielded against them. In South Africa, Johannesburg will be the venue of another hard match of international significance when the Rugby strength of New Sealand will be measured against mighty Transvaal.

ANOTHER TEST TRANSVAAL A STRONG SIDE. PROSPECTIVE PLAYERS. A redoubtable Transvaal side will oppose the All Blacks in the fourth game of their tour oi South Africa at Johannesburg to-day, and it goes without saying that all the Rugby effort possible will be made to achieve New Zealand’s defeat. In 1919 the New Zealand Army team played a close game with Transvaal and scraped home winners by two points only, the final scores being 5 to 3. The English touring side of 1924 Urew with this solid opposition 12 points all.

South Africa looks to Transvaal for a large quota of international Rugby >iurs and n is likely th it many of these will be fielded against the New Zealanders to-day. J. Divine (scrum-half> was associated with B. Osler in the tests against the English team in 1924 and the critics credit him with being the fastest half getting the ball away from the scrum South Africa can fieki. With every likelihood of the {Springboks maintaining their scrum superiority he will doubtless prove a dangerous man. His partner at fly half is likely to be B. Sieff, a product of the Witwatersrand University. J. Prinsloo is freely mentioned as one of the Transvaal wing threequarters. He is a player who owes {Stellenbosch University much of the credit for his skill which has placed him in the front rank of Springbok scoring wings. H. Jackson will probably be entrusted with the full-back position. He is not a brilliant player, but his deadly tackling and line finding ability have brought him to the fore in provincial Rugby. His age is 27 and weight list. Jibs. Dr J. Van Drute a is consixiered to be the finest forward in the loose in. South Africa. He playtrl in all four tests against the English team in 1924 anti represented Transvaal in 1925 and 1927. Some critics hold that he is in every way the equal of Maurice Brownlie. T. L. Kruger toured with the Springbok team in New Zealand in .1921 and is still playing at the top of his form. When in New Zealand he earned just claims to rank as the best forward in the South African team. He played in all four tests with the Englishmen in 1924. Others who contribute to the backbone of Transvaal Rugby talent are Pretorius and Oliver (forwards) of the Diggers club, fouivied by the public of the diamond fields, and Dobie a last centre threequarter. It will be readily seen from the foregoing, wherein only a few of the best Transvaal players are mentioned, that the All Blacks will be opposed bv a great side in to-day’s match, which may safely be regarded as a further stern test of Rugby skill.

NOT ILL-TIMED

ALL BLACKS’ DEFEAT HONOUR TO WESTERN PROVINCE Despite ample warning that the first two matches played by the AU Blacks on the South African tour would be among the hardest of any, something akin to incredulity greeted the news of defeat at the hands of Western Province combined town clubs. The tours > of the 1905 and 1924 All Black sides had done so much to build public confidence in the Dominion’s Rugby progress that defeat was regarded in a vague sort of way only, and its actual happening, though prophesied by some, jame as a shock none the less. South African rejoicings naturally greeted the All Blacks’ downfall and while victory in an important match has given the Springboks added confidence to enter the sterner plav in the near future, it has done more for New Zealand in serving to prove conclusively. early in the tour, that if the challenge of doughty opponents to New Zealand’s Rugby supremacy is to be effectively countered, more than a mere belief in the All Blacks* invincibility will be needed.

Not Disgraced.

While not wishing to detract in any way from the Western Province win, however, one must admit that the All Blacks as a side were far from being outclassed, a potted goal only achieving their downfall. What must be regarded in more serious light than defeat is the failure in the scrums and Thursday’s cable news of altered tactics by New Zealand’s elect serves to indicate I that those on the spot, in whose keep- ; ing lies the Dominion’s Rugby prestige, . are alive to the need of effectively com- j the Springbok 3— 2— 3 forma- ! ginn South African scrum superiority i

in two consecutive matches was sufficient to convince New Zealand that the All Black formation was lacking, and a change to a 3 —4 combination has now been followed by reports that only a fair percentage of the ball came the All Blacks’ way from the scrums—presumably 50—50. and that, be it remembered, against a comparatively weak side. The question in the minds of New Zealanders following the progress of the tour away out here in the Dominion, where news has so far been of the most meagre kind, is: Was the ( hanged scrum formation a success sufficient to warrant its employment against hardier teams and, if not, is the logical argument that eight men against eight is better than eight against seven going to rule the day and change New Zealand scrums to the 3—2—3 formation? Time will t.cll. A Potted Goal! No matter what the result of changed tactics may be, however, the respective scrum formations of both South Africa amd New Zealand will never lack champions, but overshadowing all arguments, all fears of future defeat, is one clear-cut fact. Against the most redoubtable side South Africa could field outside the Tests, beaten for the ball in the scrums and only a week after landing the All Blacks lost by the mere margin of a potted goal!

GREEN AND BLUE ‘■MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN.” AN INTERESTING MATCH .. EXPECTED. The principle attraction in Wanganui football to-day will be the meeting of Oki Boys an/l Marists. To play five successive matches in the first round of the {Senior Cup and emerge victorious from each is no mean record, and Marists deserve cre- / or suc b a performance. The prediction made early in the season (after the first Cup game to be exact) that the young blood in the Marist team, once it had acquired combination, would prove a solid force has been amply confirmed in each successive game the greens have played As a Rugby side Marists are fit’and determined ano, while, perhaps lacking players of outstanding brilliance, they possess sufficient combination to form a tough proposition for any team in the competition. Like County their forwards are hard and physically fit and appreciate the value of fast following up, but, unlike the County team, they have a better knowledge of the finer points of the game and rarely make the nr stake cf giving the opposition the ball through over-hard kicki'«g. In the backs they possess players of good ub standard with a Jeanbig towards sound oefpncu. Vang; on J was their b.-t nan in this 3’ ision, but his capabilities were of most value to his side in attacking movements and were a trifle packing at times on defence. His absence will be sorely felt in to-day’s game, but the inclusion of a sound defensive player in hi.s stead would materially reduce the disadvantage his side is likely to suffer as the result of him being away. A Fast Rearguard. In Old Boys, Marists will be faced by an entirely different team to any they .have met so far. The blues can field a back line second to none in the Wanganui competition and if the ground and ba’.l be dry it is likely that the fast chain of blue backs will effectively exploit whatever possession ■ comes their way. In recent games Old Boys’ inside backs have shown a tendency to crowd too close in, however, and os a result the wings have been penalised to no small extent. The fault will need to be remedied to-day. With L. Udy on the injured list the blues could not do better than play Carlson at wing threequarter. Having Cox as rover and a back line running like this: Blythe, Ball, Shaw, Marks, Hunter and Carlson with Fulton as full-back, Old- Boys would field a side capable of giving the greens .plenty to think about. In the forwards the Old Boys Mve made rapid strides this season. The ; younger players of last year have fill- ; ed out and, with McCrae added, the light blue pack has become a solid force as was demonstrate!:! against County on Saturday last

To-day’s match pipmisee to be the best yet staged in the Metropolitan competition, the greens striving to maintain an unbroken record and the blues out to check the triumphal upward trend of the shamrock.. There will be little to pick and cho'ose between the forwards anti' to balance the advantage Old Boys are likely to hold in the backs, Marists will pit the superb physical fitness of their team. It will be either team's match at any stage of play arid may the best side win.

Other Matches. Ratana will make their first appearance on Spriggens Park this season when they meet Kaierau in the 1.30 game. This match should prove interesting largely because it will be played between two teams which arc rapidly on ‘he imjlove. Kaierau ran Marist vo*y cjosc on Saturday last and a repetition of that form to-day should give them their second win in the competition. Ratana, on the other hand, will not prove too easy an opposition and their heavy forwards are likely to be a big factor in the first stages cf play. County get another match on their home ground at Fondell when they meet Technical Old Boys. This game will doubtless resolve itself into one similar to that in which the ex-stu-dents participated last week, the County forwards using their weight to shepherd the ball away from the magpie backs.

WANGANUI FIXTURES METROPOLITAN SUB-UNION GAMES. GROUNDS FOR NEXT SATURDAY. Next Saturday will see the final games in the first round of the Wanga- 1 nui Metropolitan Rugby Sub-Union’s Senior Cup competition, and also the final in the first round of the third grade competition. The following are the .fixtures and grounds for next Saturday:— Senior. Technical Old Boys v. Old Boys, on Spriggens Park, at 1.30 p.m. Kaierau v. Pirates, on Spriggens Park, at 3 p.m. Ratana v. County, at Ratana, at 2.39 p.m. Marists have the bye. Junior. Marists v. Tech. Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 4, at 3 p.m. Queen’s Park v. County, at Fordell, at 2-30 p.m. Collegiate Firsts v. Kaierau, on Collegiate ground No. 1, at 2.30 p.m. Tech. v. Old Boys, on Tech, ground at 2.30 p.m. Aramoho v. Pirates, on Racecourse No. 4, at 1.30 p.m. Ratana have the bye. Thirds. Old Boys v. Queen’s Park, on Racecourse No- 1, at 1.30 p.m. Collegiate Seconds v. Aramoho, on Collegiate ground No. 2, at 2.30 p.m. Pirates v. Marists, on Racecourse No. 2, at 1.30 p.m. Kaierau have the bye. Fourths. Collegiate Fourths v. Tech. A, on Collegiate ground No. 4, at 2.30 p.m. Marists v. Tech. Old Boys, on Racecourse No. 3, at 1.30 p.m. Aramoho v. Tech. B on Atkinson Park, at 2 p.m. Pirates v. Collegiate Thirds, on Collegi at ground No. 3, at 2.30 p.m. Kaierau have the bye. Fifths. Tech. B v. Aramoho, on Racecourse No. 1, at 3 p.m. Collegiate Sixths v. Pirates, on Collegiate ground No. 5, at 2,30 p m. Kaierau v. Tech. A. on Racecourse No. 2 at 3 p.m. Collegiate Fifths v. Tech. D. (Collegiate win by default). Tech. C have the bye. LOOKING AHEAD.

FOR NEXT SATURDAY WEEK. On Saturday, June 23, the Wanganui Rugby competitions will be advanced a further stage, the Senior Cup competition entering the second round, while the third grade competition will also commence its second series. Following are the fixtures drawn: — Senior. —Pirates v- Marists; Kaierau v. Ratana; Old Boys v. County; Tech. 0.8. the bye. Junior. — Marists v. Tech.; Queen’s Park v. Old Boys; Collegiate Firsts v. Ratana; County v Aramoho; Tech. 0.8. v. Pirates; Kaierau the bye. Thirds—Marists v. Queen’s Park; Old Boys v. Pirates; Kaierau v. Aramoho; Collegiate Seconds v. Tech. 0.8. Fourth?. —Collegiate Fourths v. Tech. B; Kaierau v. Tech. O.B.; Aramoro' v. Tech. A; Marists v. Collegiate Thirds; Pirates the bye. Fifths.—Collegiate Fifths v. Tech. C; Collegiate Sixths v. Aramoho; Tech. A v. Pirates; Tech. B v. Tech. D; Kaierau the bye. THE LEAGUE IDEA DROP OUT FROM TOUCH-DOWN. CONSERVATIVES REJECT PROPOSAL. [ Australian Press Assn. 1 LONDON. June, 8. The Rugby League rejected by eighteen votes to twelve the Australian proposal providing that the drop out be from the goal line instead of i from twenty-five yards line as at present when the defending team touches down.