WANGANUI RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 103, 2 May 1936, Page 6

WANGANUI RUGBY

TO-DAY’S THREE MATCHES WAVERLEY’S PROSPECTS GAME WITH OLD BOYS’ BEST RATANA AND KAIERAU TO MEET (By * 1 Cross-bar.”) Three interesting matches are to be played under the jurisdiction of the Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union to-day—Waverley against Old Boys, Marist aganist Technical Old Boys and Kaierau against Ratana. It is early, as yet, to assess the true form of any of the teams, but there is this much to be certain of —Waverley and Old Boys are shaped to play one of the most interesting matches of the season. For that reason that issue has been given pride of Iplaoe. Old Boys, in contest with Kaierau in the opening match of the season, surprised many followers, who, having heard that such stalwarts as Stcere and Cave, perhaps Mclntyre, were likely to be missing, were not hopeful of anything great. Kaierau, fielding a comparatively light pack for once, found itself up against a fairly stiff proposition and lost possession from nearly every scrum. But Old Boys, unfortunately for them, were unable to exploit their scrum advantage. Today, they are looking for better shape from the backs, and, all things being equal, are likely to get it. But Waverley will not be so easily countered in the van as was Kaierau. The team from “over the border” will field a very hard-working pa:k, one liable to outdo the reds in set scrums, line-outs and loose, and the probability is that the Waverley backs, pivoting on Petersen, with Campbell’s ex ceptional speed to aid them, will present something stern for Old Boys to meet. Knowing this, Old Boys recollect with some satisfaction that, against Kaierau, except for the latter part of the match, the backs, no matter what their shortcomings in attack, did tackle well. The side’s defensive ability was sound until midway through the sound spell, and then it wilted sadly twice or three times and Kaierau won to success. Another aspect of play which Kaierau exploited was loose foot-rushes by the forwards. That type, of play always presents a stiff hurdle to Old Boys, and, in all probability, Waverley will try it today. Looked at from all angles the match promises to be interesting. Marist Against Technical Old Boys

This match, which is to be playe 1 as the early fixture on Bpriggens Park, looks like resolving itself into an issue between the hard Marist van and the lighter, more elusive nature of play indulged in by Technical Old Boys. Marist, judged on their first performance this year, need good backs to support the capabilities of the van. Technical Old Boys, so reports state, fielded a very sound back line against Waverley and a pack of forwards which refused to know 'when it was beaten. So to-day’s match, despite the fact that Technical Old Boys have lost two of their star backs—Thomson i.nd Falconer —will not be as easy to capture as some followers imagine. On paper, however, the tune suggests that it will be called by the Marist pack. Ratana and Kaierau Ratana is to have the privilege cf playing its first match of the season on its own ground and Kaierau, last year's champions, are to be the challengers. Not a great deal is known of the Ratana side as yet, but, in conformity with what has happened in past years, the team will be a hard proposition in “its own back yard.” Kaierau, fielding a lighter van than usual, is likely to be fully aware of that before the match is over. On paper the Kaierau backs look as though they wil: be the deciding force. Effect of Moye Scheme The Moye scheme is to be tried for a year, to test its practicability to raise the -standard of club football in the city and Rangitikei. The present matches, those reviewed above, and those about to be played in Rangitikei, will classify the teams into A and B grades. In the second round all t:ic A's will meet each other once; likewise all the B’s. The Cup will then be decided between the winner of the A section and the winner of the B, the scheme thus aiming at encouraging a side which does not begin the season well but is able to build up a team to standard strength towards the last. Jack Moye, who is responsible for this scheme, has put a lot of time into its construction. His sole, aim has been to benefit football, and, theoretically at least, he is aiming in the right direction. The practical nature of the scheme is to be tested, and, it is hoped, will live up to the promise it gives on paper. It is true that travelling is a problem, but the administrators of this country*will have to ask themselves very soon, if not now, just how far lack of travelling is really handicapping the game. Facilities for travel have improved, yet, strangely enough, there is a tendency to quibble at having to travel, whereas, in days when travel was less congenial players never whimpered at having to undertake it. Some enthusiasts argue against that, that because the population has in-* creased the need for travel should diminish. That has a bearing, of course, but not such a great bearing as one would think, simply because that while populations have grown so too have other sports. In other words, the field from which Rugby players were drawn in the past, despite tremendous growth, is now contributing players to golf and other forms of winter recreation. Consequently, Rugby administration must apply itself to the question, “has our field, both in the active playing sense and the non-active spectator sense, narrowed so much within recent years that less clubs are warranted and, in their place, the fewer clubs left to carry on the game must travel further afield to meet teams of sufficient calibre to retain interest?’’