EYES ON THE RUGBY FIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 151, 29 June 1932, Page 4

EYES ON THE RUGBY FIELD

(By

“CROSS-BAR").

Taranaki and Wellington play at Hawera to-day. The amber aud black selectors, evidently appreciating the weaknesses that showed in their fiveeighth line against Wanganui on June 3, have brought ID. Johnston back and have placed Hunter (a wing threequarter) to pair with him.

Kaierau succeeded against Technical Old Boys through defeating tfieir forwards. That summed the position up bftefly and accurately.

Possession from the scrums enabled the maroons to display better form in the backs than they have done, for several seasons. It appeared as though, at last, the side has its best players in the right positions.

Rayner made a big difference to the play at the base of the scrum. He is an adept kick, being able to use cither foot to good effect. His boot saved the Kaierau forwards time and again. His passes were fast and well directed and he is of the rugged type, able to stand up to the hard play. It is true that, he had the benefit of the best pack ou the day, but, even so had to stand up to plenty of *gruelling.

Jack Morgan’s correct place is first five-eighths. lu the last two games he has played he has proved that substantially. The combination between Rayner and himself on Saturday made a big difference to the attacking power of the maroons. His ability to kick accurately is a big advantage to the side. Four points from a field goal takes a great deal of heading, but it is a type of play which should be handled carefully.

George Glenn, removed from the pack, adequately filled the position of centre, presenting a tough proposition to the defence. With a little more pace he would make a strong back. In the forwards he shows outstanding form also and taking that into account might be correctly termed the. most useful player from a club point of view in the union.

Nearly all the play in the backs was made for Osman’s wing ou Saturday. Wing three-quarter is really his correct position but he needs to cultivate taking the ball cleanly. Burgess did not have sufficient work to do to .bring him prominence on the day. His try was the result of a well placed kick which his speed was able to reap reward from.

Simpson, well protected by the team in front of him, came through a fairly easy day with his reputation well maintained. He let nobody past him. North, at second five-eighths, maintained the penetration so well begun by his inside men on attack, and came through fairly well on defence.

The Kaierau pack played with more cohesion than in recent matches and hooked the ball from a great majority of the set scrums. Tasker played his part as hooker very well and Raynor made the most of every opportunity given him.

Byres and Tasker were prominent in every loose action and followed the ball closely. Byres acted as a thorn in the side of the blue and white backs. In the tight Clark, Pleasants and Thorbum responded well, aud the two rirmins and Wilson were always prominent in the line-outs.

Judged on their form of the last two Saturdays Technical Old Boys would appear to be on the down grade. There has been a very marked absence of fire in their play in the van, and the position has resolved itself into fair backs struggling to make good without proper protection.

It was anticipated in some quarters that the youth in the Technical Old Boys’ van would respond with greater enthusiasm when it tasted the sting of defeat at the hands of Marist. Instead of that, however, Kaierau appeared to make it fade still more. There are still high hopes that it will stage a come-back next Saturday against Old Boys in what promises to be the outstanding club match of the season.

Delves was effectively bottled up in the Marist match the Saturday previous and Kaierau launched their smothers at him with even greater success. It is doubtful if any first fiveeighth has had to stand up to the gruelling he received in these two matches. Such is fame! It draws upon one individual the ceaseless attention of the other team. “If we can bottle Cooke, we can win.” That opinSon has been expressed fairly often before some matches that have been played in New Zealand. In Wanganui when Technical Old Boys have been playing, it has invariably been a case of the opposition being at pains to watch Delves. To counteract obvious tactics of that sort it would pay the blue and whites to vary matters a little. Put a rover out and let the half-back give him the ball once or twice and so distract the attention of the opposition from their planned line of action. If Delves is not fit to resume, his place in the team again there will be very widespread regret. Apart from his ability as a player he typifies sportsmanship It was obvious on Saturday. however, that Kaierau were far too strong in the 'forwards to allow the blue and white backs latitude, Delves or no Delves. Throughout the match Technical Old Boys never looked like a championship side. Once their forwards were beaten their backs could not function, and there was never one passing rush that brought the wings into action in the same manner as Kaierau did. Vast improvement will be necessary if this team is to regkm the form it displayed in the first round and much of that will have to be revealed in the forwards. On Saturday, O Keeffe, going back to his role of half-back, had to Stand up to the brunt of the Kai erau forwards. He got the ball from not more than two scrums. It was impossible to show good form under such circumstances. Neither Dennis nor Brisco show the necessary ruggedness on defence m they should. Bennis displayed great promise as a defender last year. He certainly tackles well, but is not rigid enough. Crichton is not the winger his form gave promise of earlier in the season. Hutchinson made several attempt’ to dive up into the maroon backs. He got there all right, but always too late to be effective. In the second spell, vffipn g’ pater vim was looked tor froni

the blue and whites, it materialised in some degree. The van tried valiantly but met a very solid opposition. Lloyd Stewart was out a’rovtng at this stage but the improvement was small. Every impartial critic had to admit that the blue and white team was well and truly beaten. Will they come again? Marist got a, surprise at the Form Pirates displayed. It has been notice able in the blacks of late that, there has been a steady building up of team work. It has taken this team half the ■season to settle down properly. There is still room for improvement, particularly .in the backs. McGonagle is not. happy at centre. Would he do better as a winger? Wakeling played a good game on the wing on Sautrday and is worthy of retention there. Marist were really defeated by ©uncan’s quickness in giving the ball to Lowe to punt up-field. The green van set out with the intention of playing the same type of game as they put over against Technical Old Boys. Two things stopped them—greater opposition in the forwards and a quicker half and first five-eighths. When Technical Old Boys got the ball in the match against the greens, Peek was too slow in his delivery to Delves. That played into the hands of the Marist breakaways.

Just contrast the position as it was revealed in the game against Pirates. Duncan, fed well by his forwards, played. Lowe int 6 position too quickly for the opposition and Lowe, playing to instructions, kept the spoilers back with long kicks up-field. Marist had to thank Upston, their full-back, for the fact that these •moves did not actually end in scores. Though the ball was well placed Upston always got there first. Fast following up handicapped his kicking, and he was not able to find the line with as much length as usual. He must be credited with playing a good game, however, and he was sternly tested in a tackle in front of the stand. He got his man.

It is not often that continuous punting by inside backs is justified, but this match presented an exception. It was a case of making spoilers stand off, and the tactics succeeded. Outside Lowe, the Pirate back line was as ineffective as it was against Old Boys the Saturday previous, and had Lowe passed the ball more often to his backs the very object the blacks were seeking would not have been gained—frustration of spoilers. As it was the greens had their hopes raised on the one or two occasions when the ball got into the centre of the black chain of backs.

Looking back on Saturday’s form the writer would sugest the following team to the blacks —McMinn (fullback); Wakeling and McGonagle (wings); Williams (centre), McNeil (2nd.) and Lowe (Ist.) (five-eighths) and J. Duncan (half. This placing would liven up the penetration close in and bring the requisite speed in the centre of the field. If Gibbons was available he could replace McNeil at 2nd. five-eighths.

Lowe played a good game on Saturday—quite his best as a five-eighth this season. Duncan, while not up to his best, certainly gave the next man to him plenty to do. Matters would have gone harder against the greens had the blacks possessed more lively rearguard outside these two.

Frustrated from accomplishing their planned attacks, Marist were called upon to defend most of the time. Their pack was really run off its legs in the first spell, and when the second session arrived they did not have the requisite vim to keep the virile play going. Instead of breaking into the Pirate back line they played the loose forward rush tactics and certainly inspired the public with their ability to come clear at critical moments. There was no finish in the Marist backs. Seeing that the rearguard rarely handled the ball, however, that did not make much difference. Naybey is not a first five-eighth and it is a pity to spoil a good outside back in a position he is not accustomed to, Bourke showed again that he is the best back the greens have except Upston. Both wings were weak.

There was a good deal of interest taken in McMinn, the Pirate custodian. He was a trifle slow and invariably dallied until the challenging forwards wete on him. Upston was quicker and more reliable.

In the Marist forwards Matthews was the outstanding figure the whole game through. He was well supported by Kenny, In the black pack Francis gave a glimpse of his best and Tonks was a big factor in the tight. Against the Marist forwards the black backs stood up remarkably well, particularly Lowe. He repeatedly took the ball from their toes and drove them back with long, powerful kicks. On the day Pirates were the better team. They fully deserved to win by the nine points gained, though Marist certainly deserved one try for the Herculean efforts of their forwards m the second spell. The annual match between Wanganui and Taihape is to be played at Wanganui this year and the proposed Maori v. Pakeha match has been postponed to enable the fixture to take place on July 23 next. Very happy relationships have always existed between Taihape and the Metropolitan Union, and it is pleasing to know that, special provision has been made to allow the, match to proceed according to the wishes of the two Management Committees. A wise stand has Deen taken by the Wanganui Rugby Union’s executive in opposing the cry to forbid replacement of players. Rule 12 very dis tinctly states that the game must be played by 15 men aside —not 16, or 14, or less. Until the wording of that law is amended every New Zealand I nion is perfectly justified in making replacements. The remark made by Mr J. Moye at the executive meeting, relating to the power resting in the hands of the respective captains, is worthy of closer consideration, how ever. If the law distinctly says that the game shall be played with 15 mon (no more and no less), how do the cap tains come into it? What, right have they to waive the law ami say yea or nay? It would seem that the whole question is covered by a definite law which permits no other interpretation than that the teams shall consist of 15 men. The unwritten law of asking a captain’s permission may have panreded to the courteous, hut it was nni within the si riel letiei <>f I ho rule.

Fuller, the auburn-haired ex-Waira-rapa man, is putting up some remarkable goal-kielring performances for the Eastbourne Club this season. In the nine matches so far played he has scored no less than SI points, and on several occasions his accurate boot has pulled matches out of the fire for his chib. Holder, one of the surprise select ions in the touring New Zealand side, ic a product of Nelson College,.and comes of a very athletic family. While at school Holder was a bit too small and light to make a name at Rugby, but distinguished himself as a boxer. He is, indeed, looked on as the best and fastest boxer, ever turned out at that great school. Holder is a nephe of one of the greatest athletes who ever pulled a shoe on in this country. Arthur Holder, an all-round athlete of outstanding ability, who as a professional, aud later as an amateur, did remarkable things in the ’nineties, both on the flat aud over hurdles. He held the quarter-mile hurdles world s record tor a long period, and in these days would have been the first choice for an Olympic team over any distance from 100 to 440 yards. Young Holder has done remarkable things for Buller, but it was probably his place-kicking that put him in the new Zealand team. He did nothing very much in the interIsland match, but may easily develop into a very great player in good company.

Darkness was falling when a Rugby football match was in progress at the Auckland Domain last week and a fire was lighted on the sideline in an endeavour to improve the visibility in that quarter of the field. The match was the final of the junior division of a seven-a-side tournament, conducted by the Auckland district Presbyterian Bible classes at their annual rally. The game did not end until nearly six o’clock. By that time semi-darkness existed, street lights had appeared and tho Auckland Hospital, near by, was fully lighted. The match was continued, however, but it was unduly prolonged because the closeness of the play was such that additional time had to be allowed by the referee to permit deciding points to be scored. The

spectators entered into the spirit of the unusual situation. Tho atmosphere probably prompted several spectators to light the fire. Good visibility was provided for a limited space at, the half-way line, but, outside the circle of the light, the darkness was even more complete than previously. (What about Spriggens Park?)

A select little band of seven has represented New Zealand and New South Wales at Rugby Union: F. Surman, N.S.W., 1894 and N.Z., 1896; W. Hardcastle, N.Z., 1897 and N.S.W., 1898; T. Pauling, N.Z., 1986 and N.S.W., 1898; H. Y. (now Sir Henry) Braddon, N.Z., 1884 and N.S.W., 1888; J. O’Donnell, N.Z., 1884 and N.S.W., 1884; C. Purdue, N.S.W., 1899, and N-Z., 1901 and 1905 ; E. E. Booth, N.Z., 1905 and 1907 and N.S.W., 1908. The late T. Pauling, who was N.S.W.’s most prominent referee from 1902 to 1908, controlled mure representative fixtures in Australia than any other official. Sir Henry Braddon rose to the presidency of the N-S.W. Rugby Union.

There will be a good deal of interest from Wanganui centred iu the match between Wellington and Taranaki at Hawera to-day, as on August 20 Taranaki play a return match with Wanganui on Spriggens Park. Taranaki will turn out a strong forward team. There arc three newcomers to tho pack that was fielded against Wanganui—B. Murphy (Hawera), K. Wetere (Tainui S.U.), and J. Young (Stratford). Those who have been dropped are: R. Young (Stratford), O’Dowda (Tukapa), and F. Gargan (Kaponga). O’Dowda and Young are reserves. In the backs, Priar (at full) has been replaced by Hunt (Inglewood), a custodian very little below the standard of Collins. Fookes retains his place on the wing and Petty at centre. Watson, the Maori winger, takes the opposite side of the field to Fookes, and N. Hunter, the other winger, who appeared against Wanganui, becomes first five-eigths. D. Johnston (Okaiwa) is to play second. He is ono of the best provincial flve-cigths in New Zealand. He Zealand in 1925, and is playing at the top of his form this year. “They’re holding this thing out to, us as a toy to play with,” said Dr. Warren, discussing the Rugby Football Union’s proposal to establish a Rugby Football Commission, with Dominion representation', at a recent meeting of tho New South Wales Union. Delegates were in accord with the Management Committee’s recommendation that New South Wales cannot see its way clear to accept the proposed Commission in its present form, but a further report is to be submitted. On the suggestion of Mr J. R. Henderson it was decided to defer consideration until the manager of the New Zealand team is consulted iu conference. The Rugby Football Cominision was offered to tho Dominion Unions as an alternative to direct representation on Ihe International Board, but as the proposed body would possess only advisory powers in connection with the laws of the game it is not strong in its appeal to the Dominions or local unions, at least. The N.B.W. Management Committee’s recommendation indicated that the New South Wales Union would prefer continue its affiliation with the R.F.U. than subscribe to the commission, under its proposed constitution. Management Committee chairman O. Martin outlined the case. “At this singe in our development,” he said, “we arc entitled to some more definite say iu the control of the game.” A correspondent (“Amused”) writes to the Evening Post: “I have always heard Rugby football referred to as a game, but it seomH to mo that this is not tho correct method of describing what appears to be a very complex organisation; a huge trust, in fact. For instance, the" various contests between thirty athletes, assisted by two line umpires, a referee (not to mention hordes of howling spectators), and the St. John Ambulance attend- ! ants is business, pure and simple. The game in reality is played by the Management Committee and takes various forms, ono of the most popular being called ‘Shall the players leave tho ground at half time?’ Another varia lion is ‘Shall touring teams play games before leaving, leert, the gates for the tour be affected.’ Both these forms ■ •f. lhe game are righly ©vertina. ’'