THE RUGBY FIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 210, 5 September 1934, Page 4

THE RUGBY FIELD

By

, Next Saturday the Police (both of 1 Wanganui and Wellington), the Press, } tho Metropolitan Rugby Union, the banks, the stock firms, the Public Services, the bands, the referees, the i Rugby officials, the Wanganui Minia- ■ ture Police Force, assisted by well , known stage artists, will create a holi- , day mood on Spriggens Park, the > occasion being Rugby’s annual charity ! day. The object in view needs no introduction to the Wanganui public. . Every shilling in the art union means another shilling to swell a splendid fund which is widely distributed for the benefit of those who are in need. Wanganui’s convincing win on Spriggens Park against Rangitikei last Saturday came as a surprise. It was felt in Wanganui before the match that the home team would have an advantage because of the faster nature of the ground, but it was not thought , that the margin against the losing team would be as great as actually turned out. There is no doubt that the inclusion of three players in the Wanganui team who were not available when the side played Marton, made material difference to the form. Bullock-Douglas again proved his value as a scoring man. If the inside backs do their job, Bullock-Douglas will invariably prove of immense value to Wanganui. That he was overshadowed by Smith in Wellington and by Test teams in Australia has been a great disappointment to Wanganui, but similar disappointment is shared by the whole of New Zealand, because there was not one back, with the exception of Kilby, who rose to international standard. Hart showed promise. Lilburne did better than Collins. Those are the two comforting thoughts New Zealand has, and Smith, the Hawke’s Bay winger, is probably' lucky that he staved at home. One never knows. The greatest disappointment to the whole of New Zealand was the form of the inside backs. Page was looked to for something he was never able to give. Just think of it —ninety per cent, of the ball in the second Test and the backs could do nothing with it. New Zealand must face (he position. and it is perhaps treading on tender grpund to mention it, but chickens are coming home to roost. Continual hurdling into the five-eighth line by three spoilers has resulted in the five-eighths to-day being of the solid, defensive, flat-footed type. The fast, elusive players are seen once in a season. They are elusive until they are beaten in the heart and then they fade away' to kick. kick, kick for the line New Zealand forwards, in the first Test in Australia, failed to cope with *he opposing backs in the same way ns Australia did in the second. Times without number Page and Griffiths, sometimes Caughtey, were caught with the ball. Realisation that they could not hook forced Australia to defensive play of the right order. The breakaways were fanning on to Page and Griffiths, and the backs stood up close to their men. Once, and once only did Page frustrate those tactics. Ho kicked the ball high in the air. and the All Blacks’ forwards smothered Ross and there was a score. When an attacking back line is forced to be flat-footed by effective fanning of a sure tackling defensive team, the playmust be varied in some manner, and if the forwards are superior the variation tried should be something to utilise the back as a scoring medium. Jack Morgan imparted a solidity to the Wanganui back line which it failed to possess when the team played at Marton. Potaka was fully aware of the fact, in that he failed to penetrate at all, whereas, at Marton, he cut through time after time. Attempting to get the necessary gap cost Rangitikei several open efforts which might have earned reward. W. Thompson, the hooker, also made a difference to the Wanganui play, and, in consequence, J. Duncan was able to play a splendid game. Jack has played many poor club games, but he has always risen to the occasion in representative company. He played a great game on Saturday on both attack and defence. Jones proved himself as a sound attacking player and showed that his ability is best availed of when he has a strong defensive player in front of him. McPhee, of Rangitikei, is something the same. He needs sound opportunity to get possession of the ball, and the protection afforded by players like Petersen of Waverley and Morgan of Wanganui, is invaluable to fast, scoring men of the McPhee-Jones typeMcPhee was Rangitikei’s best back, but Follas did ?iot play up to his usual form. Potaka’s passing may have had a lot to do with it. Does Potaka watch the oncoming tackler just at the moment when he should be delivering an accurate pass? Sharpe played soundly for Wanganui on the last line of defence and the selector is justified in persevering with him. Haare, who had a good deal to do, tackled soundly, but was inclined to be caught out of position. * * • « Hutchinson played a very sound game in the Wanganui pack, and is steadily rising in form. He should concentrate on making his energy tell, as he did on Saturday. Mclntyre proved of great value in those characteristic breakaways in which speed and weight told a tale. Lockett played will, but showed that his pace is slipping a bit. He got clear away on one occasion but was easily overhauled. is to be regretted, as it was his first chance in the Wanganui A team. One of the keenest members in the local club, he is a good worker. He has been a very consistent performer all through the season, and finished third in the club championships. J. Meikle, another who was suffering the effects of influenza, was not in the fittest condition, and like a good sport, he gave his position to another man, one who was fitter, but perhaps , not such a good runner. It is good sports such as Meikle who have put the local club on a good footing.

“CROWBAR"

E Thakombau was often caught with , the ball. Hu was probably trying to j do the right thing and give his wingers : a chance, but on nearly every occasion > it looked to be poor play to get caught - in possession. Ou the other hand, a I blocked wing three-quarter has less - chance of making ground than a centre ) aiming to catch the defence on the ' i wrong foot. What pleased about ■ ; fhakombau’s plav was his defence. ;l :: == 1 i Three matches are to be played by r I tub \\ anganui Rugby representative team which leaves on Friday. It will play Wellington, at. Wellington, on l Saturday, Marlborough at Blenheim i i and Golden Bay at Motueka. It was t thought at the end of next week that i the latter two matches might be cani celled, but the executive of the Wanj ganui Union decided yesterday to carry on with the original arrangeg ments. In helping to meet the needs of football in the country districts, the Wellington Rugby Union is doing fine service, says the Evening Post. Last year a young team was sent up as far as > Poverty Bay, and much satisfaction was given to the districts visited, with 1 generous recognition coming afterguards of the benefits likely to be de- . rived from the visit. The tour was 5 also, profitable to Wellington in bringing out talent of promise, and the 1 record of results was a glowing one. This year Wellington continued the t good work—it has been going on for years—and a team was sent to the King Country, Taranaki and Wanganui. This team returned to Welling- • ton on Thursday, and the Wellington Rugby Union, as well as the Dominion controlling body, has good reason to be well satisfied with the manner in which ’ more ground has been covered. The visit to the King Country would be a big help to the game there and the calls at Taranaki and Wanganui would serve a good purpose in aiding in the development of young players. There is also the benefit to Wellington football in the experience gained by the players sent on tour, and for the Wel- , lington selector there is the gratifying result that the team had an unbeaten record, though its first match was drawn. It is evident from reports that the Wellington players set themselves out to play attractive football, and they produced the good:?. Accounts of the games are quite glowing. The team, which had Mr. H. Murphy as manager and J. R. Laniason as captain, played three matches with the following results:— v. King Country, drawn. 23 —23. Taranaki colts, won, 24—18. v. Wanganui Colts, won, 35—3. ft was revealed in performance that the team was open to improvement in parts. However, several of the players displayed really fine form. Tindill and Crisp were outstanding in the backs throughout the tour, and Abrim showed up splendidly in the pack. The following is a letter received from a New Zealand Rugby enthusiast now resident in Sydney:— “Now that the All Blacks’ visit is over, I feel that you might possibly care to have a few of my impressions. Of course, I do not pretend to be an •‘export,” but I have the advantage of having studied the methods of play, both here and in New Zealand. I feel that it is time for New Zealand to pause and “take stock.” We should have won the last Test on the run of the play, but lost it undoubtedly by the many mistakes that were made. Over and over again we would work into a scoring position only to be held up by a knock-on. forward pass or offside. These mistakes are made far too often by players who are supposed to bo of international standard. This lack of finish is almost unbelievable in an All Black team and naturally is a fatal blemish. “As to individuals, I consider that 1 Kilby is the only back up to All Biack • standard. I can’t say that Caughey played really well at any time, yet I : can’t help thinking that he has great. ■ possibilities. Hart was easily the best winger, but even he was not as good as either of the Australians. On at least tihreo occasions Caughey kicked instead of passing to Bullock-Douglas j when the latter had plenty of room to move. Such shocking tactics of Caughey’s are unexplainable. In fact, in all the matches 1 saw Bullock-Doug-las practically had no opportunity to show his scoring ability. This, in itself, will show your football mind that there was something wrong with the f 1 play. Lilburne was very much better than Collins, but not a patch on Ross as far as line-kicking is concerned. What a help Ross was to Australia. “ It is quite time that New Zealand listened to what others have to say 1 about the way to play football. We are. too “New Zealand minded.” Tn fact, we have held the supremacy so long* that we can’t be taught any- ; thing—hard words, but true. The 1932 All Blacks and the last team also 5 copied Australian methods after they got here. Why, in the name of .fortune, don’t they do it before they leave New Zealand? The most successful full-back 1 in these days must be versatile. New Zealand realised this after the side got hero. Lilburne started many passing rushes in Brisbane, and in Newcastle Collins scored a try. There is far too much kicking in New Zealand football and possession is thus lost. I make my point in this way: The All Blacks are ‘ having a shot at goal from a free kick. J Ono knows if the ball falls short Australia will immediately open up the attack with a passing rush and more f often than not gain a lot of ground. On the other hand, if an Australian kick at goal falls short the All Black J who takes it will run across and kick into touch. The Australian method is far more effective. When I mentioned ; the Australian style of play to one of your All Blacks after the match, he said it was quite all right when it came off. His reply was just exactly what I mean by being “too New Zea- : land minded.” For goodness sake . pioneer this style of play in your Metropolitan Union or you will be ; loft- in the back-wash. j “Here is a suggestion: I am not quite sure about Caughey’s tackling ability (that can be remedied). He would be a versatile full-back for .England next year. I have recollections of you suggesting Dave Lindsay, c also a centre three-quarter, as full- ; back in South Africa and what a sue- ’ cess he was. Australia was also un- ( fortunate that Herd (five-eighth) was , not available, for he is undoubtedly ; better than either of those who f played. The Australian break-aways j are a menace, similar to our old wingforwards, and are allowed too much ( latitude.” ]