EYES ON THE RUGBY FIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 4

EYES ON THE RUGBY FIELD

(Bp

“CROSS-BAR”).

May 6.—Cup matches. May 11.—Annual meeting N.Z.R.U. May 12. —Australian University team leaves Sydney for New Zealand. May 13. —Cup matches. May 17. —Australian Universities v. Auckland University. May 20.—Wanganui plays Taihape at Taihape. May 20. —Australian Universities v. New Zealand University (first Test), at Auckland. May 24.—Australian Universities v. Victoria College, at Wellington. May 27.—Cup matches. May 27.—Australian Universities v. New Zealand University (second Test), at Dunedin. June 3.—Wanganui plays Taranaki, at Wanganui.

Old Boys played the wrong type of game against Kaierau on Saturday. When it was obvious that the maroons’ defence would not allow one loophole to a team attacking with its backs Old Boys should have endeavoured to play Kaierau at their own old game—in the forwards.

The irony of the business was that Kaierau were playing Old Boys at their usual game—opening out the backs whenever possible. But the maroon backs were not the swift, attacking side many people gave them credit for. Despite the fact that Old Boys repeatedly stood in an attacking position, and had to come up a long way to assume a role of defence, the Kaierau inside men did not penetrate.

McGregor got the ball away nicely behind the scrum, but facilities for him tc do so were absolutely made. His pack was ample protection against a team of forwards trying (and nearly always failing) to hook the ball to expectant backs. With no winging forwards to harass him, and the opposing backs standing well off Morgan, the maroons had ample opportunity to display their attacking qualities. Twice they managed to get the ball through the five-eighth line with a certain amount of promise, and on those two occasions the wings failed. On others Old Boys tackled.

That brings the conclusion that Kaierau owed victory to thcir'forwards. They certainly did so in the main. But what helped them mostly was superb defence. It is many a long day since a team, back and forward, had been fielded with the all round defensive ability of the side the maroons turned out on Saturday. It was a revelation to other clubs to watch the rallying of the van to protect the line when the backs were drawn into tackles. Forwards did not remain stationary in the middle of the field whe-n scrums broke up. If the maroon backs were defending the maroon forwards were fanning across the field behind the full-back, travelling at top for the corner where danger threatened, and erecting a second “line of defence” to be overcome. That was the factor that prevented Old Boys from crossing the Kaierau line.

Now what of Old Boys’ defence? Inside the backs were good rush-stoppers. White, at half-back, though he failed as an attacking medium (he had to “thank?” Jock Byres for most of the cause) made up for things as a rushstopper. He “went down” to it all with commendable gameness. Chamberlain was inclined to stand off his tackles at times, but certainly stopped Morgan when it was a matter of urgency. Egan and Gibson, Gibson in particular, did four men’s work as defenders. Bullock-Douglas tackled when called upon, but never got down to rushes. Reid was game, but had a thorn in his side in that Holtz, the new full-back, started badly and carried on in that fashion until he was removed from the custodianship. He could not take a ball, and with Kaierau persistency, the opposition played to him all the time. As a wing, however, he atoned somewhat and indicated that he may have football in him.

Had the tackling in Old Boys’ ranks, man for man, been as effective as that of Kaierau the match would have ended (presumably) with a lesser margin of defeat. Had the forwards played as the Kaierau forwards did on defence the game might even have been a draw. But the fact of the matter was Old Boys did what everybody expected they would do—played their team in a position to anticipate that their backs would attack. Had the instructions been to let Kaierau have the ball and play up close, particularly on North, there would have been just a chance of holding the maroon at bay.

I must admit, right away, that the chance would have been a meagre one. Kaierau were really in a class by themselves. It is doubtful whether Old Boys would have been able to play a forward game against them. But the fact cannot bo overlooked that the maroon backs, with every facility provided for them, did not develop brilliancy. Davies was their best man on the day. Osman proved again that he is a good winger—one of the type that will “give it a go.” Morgau played a solid, rather than a bright game first five-eighths. His solidity and sense of anticipation played important parts for Kaierau and it was a pity that he was not “up on his toes’’ more and less flatfooted in movement. McGregor’s great feat was passing the ball without straightening himself up, but they were long, low passes, directed at a stationary first five-eighths. A half’s pass should be of the type that flashes out and draws the first five-eighth up to almost full-speed. Mutimer had plenty of pace on the wing and was a good tackler. A livelier note to the fiveeighths, a snappier pass from the half, and wonders will be worked with both Osman and Mutimer. Davies has ability as a centre, but North (second fiveeighths) was the weak link in the chain. Burgess, at full-back, hardly saw the ball all dav.

Jock Byres played a great game. He was the best forward at the spoiling and backing up game on the ground, were times when he appeared 'to nut a little too much vim into his play, hut that was rather inclined to show the lack of vim displayed by many of the Wanganui forwards of later years. To conquer outside teams Wanganui will want more life in her van. A. Q impson also played a useful game for Kaierau and an acquisition to the team was Pairama, the ex-Ratana forward who has represented Wanganui. Gay Lockett signalled his return to the game by very strenuous nlav. A good nack this and the backs behind it will have to do better. Look to it, Kaierau!

White is not a good attacking half. There can be no doubt of that, game and all as he is on defence. In the pack in front of him he has some good forwards who would do better than they did on Saturday. Clay has developed good form this year, Whale plays a useful game and McGregor is one of the best in the union. Agnew and Watson are also playing well. This pack is capable of better things and should take a leaf from the Kaierau pack. Old Boys, as a team, have always relied upon their backs to win matches for them. Kaierau, in recent years, have relied mainly on forwards, and on paper to-day it would appear that Kaierau, though certainly waking up to the value of good backs, has a long way to go before reaching brilliant form, while Old Boys are slowly waking to the knowledge that a good forward game takes some playing and understanding.

In the Kaicrau-Old Boys match there were one or two bad examples of line umpiring. Line umpires, to be of use to referees in keeping the spirit of the game intact, must be on the job all the time and remember that a player touching the line with a foot when in possession of the ball must be ruled as out. Bullock-Douglas put a foot on the line on Saturday, yet was not stopped. Osman did likewise and ran along the line two feet. Neither incident had any great bearing on the result of the game, but a future lapse of the kind might decide the fate of the championship.

Pirates have never played a good game at 1.30 p.m. One might go further and say that they have never played a good game against Ratana. A great deal more was expected of the black pack on Saturday than was displayed. It is probable that the team went out believing that the natives would be easy to account for and did not “get going” as they would certainly have had to do if either Kaierau or Old Boys had been in the field.

Ratana played quite an interesting game until half-time, but faded badly in the second spell. The forwards got the ball for the backs fairly often in the opening stages, but each back had a tendency to do too much on his own, with the result that lie was dumped with the ball. Pirates always retaliated after breaks of that nature with footwork that brought the natives trouble. Another point about Ratana’s play was their ineffective backing up. Much of that might have been contributed to by the players with the ball going too far, but certainly the major share of the blame fell on those who were inclined to stand and watch him goJones played a good game in the pick for Ratana and was supported by two others whose names are not known on account of the team not wearing distinguishing numbers. It would be well for this side to complete their new set of jerseys with a set of numbers. Selectors are always on the watch at club games and it is very hard to pick up players’ names in the pack. If a Ratana supporter who knows them is called upon it is hard to make him sec the particular player the enquiry is made about, and mistakes often occur as a result. Lack of numbers is not such a bad fault in the European teams as most of the players are known, but with the natives some assistance of a reliable nature is needed. That is best supplied by having players numbered according to programme, or so that the name of a particular number may be asked.

Duncan, behind the Pirate pack, seems to have lost, some of his life. He was inclined to be slow on Saturday. Probably he was suffering from the same feeling as the whole team —a feeling that it was hard to muster up enthusiasm. Gibbons was the mainstay of the blacks, but was also off his best. This line badly wants a good second five-eighths, however. Lowe is of more use to the team at full-back. Cunningham, who appeared at second on Saturday, had very little knowledge of the requirements of a player in that position, and it was not surprising when he was put up into the forwards. He was game in every respect and no doubt has Rugby in him. McNeil, who had been playing usefully with the van, was brought back to the second five-eighth position, and although that improved the power of the line it was not a good line even then. McGonaglc has plenty of speed, and can tackle well, but his inability to handle the ball is a handicap to his play at centre. For wings this team is very well equipped. Jimmy Williams was back again in that position on Saturday and was a dangerous man every time he handled the ball. His twisty runs nonplussed the Ratana defence and those centering kicks of his always brought trouble to the natives. Provided it is not overdone, good centering to a team that follows up well, is effective nine times out of ten. A wing that indulges in it, however, must time his kick with nice judgment and try and catch his opposing wing and the opposing fullback converging on him at once. He would then be able to find a gap behind the full-back’s head. The requirement necessary then is to keep running and to have two or three faster members of the pack up far enough to score. Bob Wakeling is also a good winger. A livelier note to Duncan’s play and an improved second five-eighths would make a great difference to the black rearguard. Plackie, a newcomer to the Pirate van, proved himself a good forward on Saturday, particularly in line-out work. Baird, Maitland, W. Thompson and Tonks were all battlers, but the pack as a whole was a bit inilk and watery through three-parts of Saturday’s match.

Technical Old Boys had the best of the first spell in their match against Marist, their forwards showing surprising form in holding tho greens. It was not a spectacular match, by any means, but one of those hard, virile efforts in which the forwards seem to dominate everything. The Marist team was expected to put up a much better showing in a tussle of this sort, but the fact that Technical Old Boys held them proved that this team will give a much better account of themselves in the competition than was indicated in their first match against Pirates.

In the winning pack Fowler, Durie and Lind proved best. Burrell played a fair game on the day, but appeared to be off colour. Hutchinson, as usual, was out a lot in the open and accomplished a good deal of spoiling, some of which he spoiled by “going in with his

eyes shut.” Of the winning backs ; Brisco was the best. It was pleasing to see him back at his old position on 'the wing, and the fact that he played : splendidly on defence and made a good ! deal of his own play in attack proved him. Rogers, at full-back, also acquitted himself well, but did not have as much to do as his vis-a-vis. Inglis made a reappearance at wing iireequarter and seemed to do too much on his own. F. Thomson played a fair game at half. Brown’s presence on the field was justified in boot only—he scored 10 of the side’s 16 points with kicks and now loads the competition for Mr. H. J. Crysell’s trophy.

Marist fielded a team that had a very evident note of disorganisation about it. Matthews, in the forwards, had a day off. Buckley and Kenny were always in the thick of it, though BuckIcy was not playing as he usually does. Fromont was invariably out in the open, but did not accomplish much in the way of reward. In fact, two tries were lost because of wild passes he gave. Upston, at full-back, got through a lot of tackling, but was inclined to overdo the running-up tactics and hanging on too long. His play of this year is an improvement on last. Hodson, at half, was the best of the other backs. This team, as a whole, requires a lot of shaking together. There is material there for achievement, particularly in the forwards, and team work seems to bo the requirement of the moment.

It is a pity that the steps which have been taken by the Wellington management committee to improve the competitions have found no counterpart among higher authorities in the game, and in each of the three major countries in which Rugby is commenced in the ►Southern Hemisphere the new season will be commenced with mingled feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and unccr'taintly in regard to one or more of the rules of the game, says “Drop-kick” in the Evening Post. Apart from the contentious matters of replacements, leaving the field at the interval, and kicking into touch, last season’s experience of the new rule in regard to the heeling of the ball from the scrummage was very unsatisfactory. Whatever its value theoretically—it was commonly regarded as having the abolition of the wing-for-ward as its primary object—on the field of play it cast on to the shoulders of the referee a responsibility which few officials could even attempt to discharge by interpreting the law literally. Infringements increased while the standard of hooking, if anything, deteriorated.

Whatever may be said in regard to specialisation among the forwards, another point on which Britain and the Dominions are at variance—and there rac many who could point to evidence to show that New Zealand packmen are more versatile than many of those encountered overseas—the fact remains that no school, club, or provincial coach in the Dominion is going to risk having his team outplayed because the unit‘d of his scrum have not been coached to the requirements of their respective positions. The ideal combination comprises fifteen specialists welded into a properly co-ordinated team.

All tho points of difference between the controllers of the game in the Old Country and those in the colonies point to the often-asserted fact that the sooner all countries playing Rugby are given a share in its government commensurate with their age and standing in the game, the better it will be for all concerned. Even the Marylebone Cricket -Club does not exercise the control over the summer game in the colonies that is retained by the Rugby Union (England). Members of the latter body appear to fail to realise that there may be circumstances justifying variations in the rules to meet local conditions and control of tho game should therefore be entrusted to a board with a wider representation.

“I think it Is a very great honour indeed that you have done us by coming hero to hold ycur conference,” said the Mayor of Blenheim (Mr. M. McKenzie) at a civic reception accorded the delegation to tho annual conference of the Ncw r Zealand. Rugby Referees’ Association. “This is not a very big town, but in proportion to population 1 think 1 am perfectly safe in saying that we have as big a number of keen Rugby followers and. enthusiasts as any other place in New Zealand. (Hear, bear!) As you know, the Good Book says ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth.' Now 1 look on referees as peacemakers — (laughter) —and when I say I hope you shall inherit the earth 1 am not claim ing anything greater than the good that I wish you gentlemen.

“As president of the Marlborough Rugby Union of very recent appointment, I don’t claim that my knowledge of the game is very great, and I have one idea I would like your association to adopt, for I believe I have learned more about the game from Mr. O’Grady, one of our local referees, than anyone else because in giving his decisions he always tells us why. And if the referees all adopted that principle ignoramuses like myself would benefit to a great extent. If that tip were carried out I for one shall bo very grateful indeed.”

Particularly in times like the present when the rules of Rugby arc so much under discussion the part played by referees is a very important one, and upon their interpretations of the law a great deal of the success of the game depends from the point of view of both players and spectators. In order that touring teams may take the field with confidence under strange referees, it is advisable that there should be uniformity of rulings throughout the country. In New eZaland this uniformity is generally to be found largely owing to the connections maintained between the referees’ associations and to the interchange of ideas which takes place at the annual conference of f;he Nw Zealand Rugby Referees’ Associations. Held this year at Blenheim, the conference again proved of value and during the two days’ sittings the rules of the game were freely discussed and some of the interpretations wero revised.

The position in regard to decisions given by the Referees’ Association on questions regarding rules was made clear in tho association’s report, which stated that all replies to questions submitt" d by affiliated associations had, as usual, been placed before a sub-com-mittee of the N.Z.R.F.U. and was given the union’s approval before being circu-

latod. It was agreed that the N.Z.R.F.U. should control the playing of the game in the Dominion and the relations between the two bodies had always been rhe most cordial, whilst, there was every prospect of that ideal relationship continuing for years to eome. The question of when “no-side” ‘houhl he called was raised by Mr H. J. McKenzie (Wairarana), and nrovod a fruitful topic, of discussion. The main point at issue was whether a referee, on blowing his whistle for an infringement after time had elapsed should call time. Among tho arguments used it was contended that as the laws provide for two snclls of equal length, time should bo called as soon as the specified npriod had olansed. It was decided that as tho kick at goal must be taken after a try, a kick must he awarded if there is a penalty or a fair catch, tho «nfost course was to allow the hall to fro nut of play before calling time. The conference approved an addition to the penalty kick rule providing that in the event of the hall not reaching the line of the.mark after a penalty

kick and being played by the kicker’s side, a scrummage must be ordered, but if the ball is played by an opponent the game should continue. A note wa.-i added that if the infringement is ingoal a pv l ma y be scored whether the ball rcachccT the line through the mark parallel to the goal-line or not. A point cleared up was that the penalty kick is taken when the kicker’s boot makes contact with the ball, and that while players on the opposing side at or near the mark must remain passive, opponents on the line of the mark parallel to the goal line, need not remain passive and ca ncharge the moment the kicker’s boo* ”>akeß contact, with the ball.