RUGBY SEASON ENDING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 225, 22 September 1937, Page 4

RUGBY SEASON ENDING

LOOKING BACK OVER PERFORMANCES WANGANUI’S SUCCESSFUL RECORD Like every other Union in the Dominion Wanganui iias been affected by the tour of the Springboks, a waning of interest developing in local football in preference to seats by the fireside with the radio at hand. In compensation of’that material loss the representative team has risen to an improved standard. On performance it can be rated as good a side as there is in the Dominion.

When the season opened the representative worry was located in two places- full-back and half-back. Kno< Welsh, a proved full-back, was utilised to till a gap at second live-eighths and he proved himself in that capacity. Bob Hunter, the Wanganui and Old Boys' player who had shown great promise as a half last season, removed to Australia. A start was made to meet the position by calling on Tommy Chase (Taihape) to nokl the last line of defence. He appeared in the match against Manawatu, did reasonably well and then joined another code, taking his brother Rangi with him. We all sincerely hope that the change came up to expectations so far as they were concerned, but their sudden defection left Taihape Rugby on the stale side and robbed a spectacular player from the reps. Glen Hook came on the scene at that stage, bringing with him a great reputation from Auckland. He turned out to be a strong attacking fullback, but lacked some of the rundamentals of defence which the Wanganui selectors were keen to foster. Hook piayeu in the successful jubilee match against Taranaki alter having won his Wanganui jersey against Poverty Bay. He gave a sauna display against Poverty Bay, but was less impressive against the amber and blacks. It was then that the selectors made the lind of the season “Drake' Thompson. Whether they did it surdenly, or whether they had been nibbling al the idea for some time, only they themselves know. Thompson was played against Canterbury and performed well, thus getting Wanganui out of its worry’about a full-back. He has continued to justify confidence. The half-back position presented more dilliculty. It was a fair reasoning at the beginning of the second round of club football that Bending, the Bulls half, would be a likely bet. E. Chamberlain, the Wanganui and Old Boys’ half, was undoubtedly the best of the Metropolitan pivots and he . was played in the first match. He performed up to average standard, but the selectors made the mistake of looking to R. Johnson, of Taihape, for the second match. He did not perform up to Chamberlain’s standard. That set the selectorial minds off on another tangent. Rather than risk the playing of halves who had not risen to tne standard set by Jackie Duncan or Bob Hunter, they went back to a player of sound Rugby sense in Juck Morgan. Playing against Taranaki he won the game very decisively with his boot. Not a halfback in an accepted sense, but an undoubtedly brainy footballer, Jack, seemed to fill the bill, and did so creditably against Taranaki, Canterbury, North Otago and Hawke’s Bay. He was not available for the midweek fixture against Wellington and Bending (Bulls, came into nis own. to give the best half-bacK display seen in Wanganui this year.

With the full-back and half-back worries more or less set at rest the policy of the selectors was to keep the team together as much as possible. Hooking presented a difficulty at one period, Chris Reynolds, the Marist player, an undoubtedly goou hooker, lacking something in phys’ea* fitness and pace compared with J. McDonald (Huntervule). Reynolds was picked for the first match of the season, but was not available owing to injury. McDonald thus strengthened his claims to the position. Poverty Bay rather marred his showing, perhaps not so much because of his own play as the lack of weight he wa* getting from behind. At any rate he was stood down for Reynolds in the subsequent match against Taranaki and also against Canterbury. Latterly, because of his greater speed in the loose, McDonald came into the picture again. It can be said of these two that there was so little between them that it mattered little who was chosen, except that speed proved in the end to be a greater asset even than an outstanding ability to hook.

So with this more or less diligent search for the right talent lor the right places over, tne Wanganui selection committee (Messrs. Arthur Henwood, chairman, Rangiiikei, Charley Mullany, Taihape, ana S. T. Ambrose, Metropolitan) had a sound idea of where their representatives were. The wing three-quarters gave rise to some thought at one stage, and an experiment with a Bulls live-eighth to improve on failing form proved costly. It could be said io have been the only really big mistake the selectors made all the season. It was made in good faith, but for once the attempt to make a good outside back of a man accustomed to playing inside did no prove itseif, and there was a big sacrifice in speed on attack.

Heie are brief comments on the seasons form of the Wanganui players:—

“Drake” Thompson (Kaierau): The “lind” of the season. Played well in a solid sense as a five-eighth for his club and when shifted back to the last line of defence proved himself a player of sound anticipation, half the battle in a full-back.

L. Burgess (Kaierau): A wing three-quarter whose speed in attack was of great value a. a scoring med ium. He also possessed sound defensive qualities, an ability to tackle second to none. But mid-way through the season his enthusiasm seemed to wane and his play suffered in consequence. The change came just at a time when great things were expected oC this player.

C. Culpan (Bulls): A wing threequarter who played his first representative game for Wanganui against Manawatu. He looked a likely sort, but appeared to lack experience. Such was his form that he was worthy of encouragement, but it was obvious that until he had ripened his experience in big football he would not step into the limelight. As a club player he was most useful and was a prominent unit in securing the championship, for Bulls. D. G. Barton (Wanganui and Old | Boys): Won recognition, in the North i Island team to play the South. He played at centre for Wanganui and proved himself v. good all-round footballer. A tendency to cross-field running prompted the selectors to try him on the wing, with M. Dickie (Waverley) at centre. The move proved worth while in the match against Wellington, but was not so successful against Hawke’s Bay, Bari Lon going back to the centre position I during the game. Barton ii one of ■ the reasons for Wanganui’s marked ; improvement in play this season. D. Berryman (Pirates): A winger i whose speed at the commencement : of the season stamped him as a likely scoring man. Hesitancy at critical I moments kept him out of the higher I flights of the game for a time, and | there was a doubt or two about his • defence, but he proved worthy of en- | couragement and his form for the I Metropolitan side more or less con- . vinced the selectors, then in a worry ■ about wings, that speed was somei thing to rely on. Berryman ha* ! played well against North Otago, | Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. He ; needs to practice handling and pay I strict attention to defence. K. Welsh (Technical Old Boys: The most promising Wanganui has had I for years. Welsh has been unfortunate this season, two searchlights dividing their attention on him and causing confusion. He could have been advocated as New Zealand’s fullback on his performances in the South and had he not been moved up to second five-eighths this season it • is on the cards he would have made I a name for himself in competition with J. Taylor (Otago) and M. Gilbert (West Coast). More will be heard of Welsh in big football. On his present form he would go well in the second live-eighths berth of a New Zealand team.

Brian Thomas (Waverley): A player whose role at first live-eighth has been no bed of roses. He rather disappointed his supporters to begin with, probably because he ran the ranger of being over boosted. Mark Nicholls had something encouraging to say about his play and that set iiim at a higher level than was good for him. The average player, while he may dislike candid criticism would not be human if he failed to like commendation, but many a player ha* been wrecked on praise that has been too full to be truly encouraging. Thomas proved able to rise above the danger of such wrecking and his form in recent matches has been up to the best standard Wanganui has ever set at first live-eighths.

M. Dickie (Waverley): Brought into the picture as a three-quarter (centre or wing) towards the end of the season. He is another player whose place in his club team has had the effect of holding him out of the reps. Had he been playing with the original Waverley team, with J. Petersen and A. B. Campbell to feed him, Dickie would have been the first wing three-quarter chosen for the Wanganui team this year. Forced to play inside, usually at second liveeighths, his wing form was more or less forgotten. Had the original wings of the side not shown a slipping in form the chances are Dickie would still be playing live-eighth for his club. As matters turned out threequarters were needed and when the selectors called on Dickie for the last few matches he justified their calling.

Pat Williams (Bulls): A promising inside back. The selectors played him on the wing in one match. The experiment had something to commend it on paper but little in actual practice. Williams is the jinky, inside player, fully up to Maori standard and the way he coped with J. L. Sullivan (Taranaki) will always be remembered.

C. Ryder (Wainui-a-rua): A playei of speed and sound defensive qualities to whom the selectors should pay more attention. He played against North Otago on the wing. His real position looks to be at centre.

J. Morgan (Kaierau): Best all-round footballer in Wanganui. He is slow by comparison with many of the others, but his ability to be in ’ the right place, and know what to do when there, has stood Wanganui in good stead.

Bending (Bulls): The promising half-back in the Wanganui Union. It is to be hoped that he continues his form next year.

E. Chamberlain (Wanganui and Old Boys): A player who gave promise of being a good half, but did not quite maintain his form when lifted to the representative team. He was unjustly stood down, however, for the match against Poverty Bay.

A. Davidson (Technical Old Boys): Wanganui’s best forward, a player who was most unlucky not to be given a trial in Wellington. His form is fully up to New Zealand standard.

G. Lockett (Kaierau): Played with his same old dash and was captain of the Wanganui representatives until an injury to an eye put him on the side line in the match against W«4-

lington. He had thus to surrender his leadership to Dave Barton against Hawke’s Bay. A born Rugby player, “Gay” is probably the most popular on this coast. He is a good sport, sometimes too likeable a chap to be captain. In the old days good captains didn't mince words and were not always thought of in terms of endearment, at the time. “Gay s hard, clean play, however, has always stamped him as the right type. Had he been a bit heavier he would have made the New Zealand team.

W. Firmin (Kaierau): Another good forward, a major share of his work coming in lineout play. Firmin has developed a habit of roving to assist his backs on defence and in some quarters has been criticised. He ha* got the side out of dilliculty on so many occasions, however, that the backs have been prepared to overlook him getting in the road. One wonder* What Jack Morgan said on Saturday [when he had to push Firmin away to field a ball on defence. N. James (Bulls): One of the best forwards Wanganui has had foi years. Hard, fast and ready to bear the brunt as forwards should.

A. Blair (Bulls); Another reason why Bulls won the championship. A sound bustling type of forward who has helped the blues to outwit more formidable packs. C. Goldsbury (Technical Old Boys) 'The most improved forward in latei matches of the season. He has played hard Rugby and has not been afraid to tackle.

M. Blakeley (Technical Oid Boys). Has proved by his elevation to the representative team that his form in club football has been more or less taken for granted by representative selectors and critics generally. Another “lind” of the 1937 season. J. McDonald (Hunterville): A good, fast, bustling type of forward with ability as a hooker. One of the reasons why the Wanganui pack was J faster than Hawke’s Bay’s.

“Wally” Thompson (Taihape): As good a forward as represented Wanganui, but essentially a player for the front row and not the side of the pack as was his position against the ’Bay.

R. Potaka (Bulls): He deputised for “Wally” Thompson against Wellington and for “Gay” Lockett agains. the ’Bay. He is a forward of promise. It was just a coincidence that Lockett had to stand down because of being minus the use of one eye and the selectors had next in order a oneeyed player in Potaka. For all hi* restricted sight this red-headed Maori boy always seems to know where the ball is.