POSSESSION FROM SCRUMS IS VITAL IN RUGBY LEAGUE

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 7

POSSESSION FROM SCRUMS IS VITAL IN RUGBY LEAGUE

By

"XAVIER")

Before the match last Saturday, New Zealand Rugby League players had played against New South Wales at Sydney on 30 occasions for 6 wins and 24 losses. These figures show the superiority of the New South Welshmen in former years. After their successful tour of Britain and France, New Zealand showed themselves capable of holding their own in the international sphere, and hopes were high that they could defeat their Australian brethren. However, the Kiwis lost (17-23) to N.S.W. last Saturday because the forwards could not obtain the ball from the scrummages.

Jim Brough, captain of the 1936 team to Australia and New Zealand, who was attached to the 1947 Kiwis in an advisory capacity, remarked in his summing up of the players and of the tour: "The only real weakness in the team was in the scrummaging. The boys were far too often beaten for possession. I have already given my opinion that George Davidson after a good start was overlooked, and with Bob Aynsley not fit owing to numerous injuries, Pat Smith (a front row fqrward) was drafted into the middle. Pat did his honest best, but could never claim above one in three scrums.”

Smith, who is a grand captain and forward, is not a hooker, but he played in that position against N.S.W. Aynsley, when he did report fit did well at times in England but error was made in not giving him the same prop forwards. Aynsley had a slight advantage over Davidson in the recent South v. North match and this naturally would influence the selectors. In this match Smith was one of Aynsley’s props. It is surprising that only one hooker has been taken to Australia. Surely another specialist in that position should have been taken.

Here are some extracts from criticisms and summaries of the Kiwis game in Britain. “Kiwis beat St. Helen’s, but not in scrummaging. Kiwis lost to Swinton because they failed to win the scrums and had to seek then chances in the loose. The first test saw the Kiwis win 30 scrums, Britain 50. Kiwis defeated Wigan but got the ball from the scrums only live times in the second half. Kiwis won the second test, but lost the scrums five to one. Britain won the third 25-9 and won the scrums 34-13.”

The Kiwis showed brilliant form to defeat Leeds, because for the first and only time, on the tour they gained the honours in the scrummages. Aynsley hooked and Smith and Newton were props. Also for the first time the selectors had chosen a full South Island pack. The above mentioned players have gone to Australia and in an important match such as the N.S.W. game it is hard to understand why Aynsley did not play and have Smith and Newton as props. It seems as though the New Zealand selectors have not analysed why this country failed to win the ashes from Britain. They have chosen the backs and the loose forwards but seem to forget about the keymen—the hookers. The New Zealanders man for . man are equal to anybody that the other countries can produce (except hookers), but unless scrummqge weaknesses are overcome New Zealand will find it difficult to constantly win the internationals. Possession is 10 points of the law in Rugby League. Results of major games played in Australia this season:

At Sydney, City beat Country 2813; N.S.W. defeated Queensland 23-9, and a few days later 17-15. Lack of a goal-kicker resulted in Queensland losing the first game by a wide margin. E. Chatham formerly of North Shore (Auckland) has Impressed critics with his straight running and demon tackling while playing for Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) on the wing. Incidentally, Chatha \ remarked that the players in Synney seem to be faster, fitter, and tougher. English Season Now that the 1947-48 Rugby League season has ended in Britain, it will be of interest to sum up the results of international and club contests. England retained the International Trophy by winning three of the four matches played. France won two, and lost two. Wales won one and lost three. Against the New Zealanders, Great Britain won two and lost one, France won one and lost one, and Wales lost the one match played.

Challenge Cup Final:—Wigan defeated Bradford Northern 8-3. In the semi-finals, Bradford defeated Hunslet 14-7, and Wigan won over Rochdale 11-0.

League Championship—Warrington defeated Bradford Northern 15-5. In tlie semi-finals Warrington defeated Huddersfield, 17-5. For the other semi-final Bradford caused a stir by gaining a decisive and surprise win over Wigan. The final scores, 15-3, slumped Wigan’s Cup final stocks heavily, but it will he remembered that the redoubtable Lancashire side rose to the occasion the following Saturday and won the Cup.

The leading table positions at the end of the season were:—

Of the above teams, the Kiwis won over Wigan, 10-8; Bradford, 17-7; Workington, 12-7; St. Helen's, 11-5. They lost to Warrington, 5-7; Huddersfield, 7-12; Hunsiet, 10-18; and Widness, 0-7.

Points P. W. L. D. F. A. C.P. Wigan 36 21 4 1 776 258 63 Warrington 36 30 5 1 688 232 61 Huddersfie.d .... 36 26 8 2 669 240 54 Bradford N 36 26 10 2 549 310 52 Workington .. .. 36 22 10 4 426 236 48 Hunslet 36 21 11 4 449 239 46 Widr.es 36 21 14 1 331 228 43 St. Helen’s .. .. 36 20 14 2 476 305 42