SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 22 (Supplement)

SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN

ALL BLACKS’ SCRUM TACTICS

Opinions of English Critics : Football Fees : Indian Cricket Visit : M.C.C. at Matamata : Piako’s Fine Ground : Britain’s Soccer Forwards : Canterbury’s Swimming Find : Bradman’s Paramount Influence

English opinions on new Zealand’s scrum formation employed during the recent british tour furnish interesting reading. One'! of the best known London critics, J. P. Jordan, observes that the All Blacks owed their successes mainly to their brilliant readiness to profit by the mistakes of opponents and their intensive team work. These attributes, he considers, are common to all Dominion teams, and the English team showed how easily it may be acquired. So far as tactics are concerned nothing fresh has been evolved, and neither the fiveeighths formation of the backs nor the New Zealand 3-4-1 formation of the pack is likely to be widely copied in Britain. It is significant that- with the orthodox 'British alignment of forwards and backs Wales have beaten New Zealand teams twice in three matches, and England have inflicted on them their heaviest defeat in 91 matches. It has certainly been a triumph for the old school of thought, hard scrummaging in front, hard tackling in the middle, and speed on the flanks. So much so, In fact, that as a result of what was seen at Twickenham the chances are that some of those who had been in favour of a change to make the game more open will have altered their opinions. On the strength of one game this is a dangerous decision. All footballers cannot be internationals, and every team does not go on to the field with the idea of winning by bright, methods. Legislation is not enacted for the few, but for the many, and too often a game is ruined in the dressing-room, before the kick-off.

Spoiling: methods are often decided upon, and wing forwards instructed accordingly, and the game ceases to interest. It is all very well to say that this is against the spirit of the game. The point is that it does obtain, and not in isolated instances. The. remedy is obvious. If legislation is introduced that will have the effect of preventing as far as possible, or at least restricting, continual and baneful spoiling, the game as a whole will benefit. That is why the proposed alteration, which would forbid a player advancing beyond an imaginary line drawn through the middle of the scrum before the ball is out, lias aroused such keen interest and met with such approval. * * * * Whether or not it will become law is another matter. But it would be bound to make Rugby as a whole a better game to play in and to watch. With regard to the value of a dropped goal, Mr Jordan admits that he holds an open mind. Tradition has it that to score a goal is the real object of Hie game, a try at goal being a preliminary. Yet in nine cases out of ten a try involves team-work, and in the same proportion a dropped goal does not. In any event, it is not a matter that vitally affects the game, though it would affect the result of some matches. Indian Cricketers’ Visit. In view of the popularity enjoyed by the All-India hockey team which visited the Dominion last winter, not only cricket enthusiasts, but also every section of the New Zealand sporting public will welcome the generous offer of the Maharaja of Navvanagar to bring an Indian eleven to the country at his own expense. In view of the hazards of finding guarantees, associations have viewed international tours with some trepidation but, with the risk of finance removed through the generosity of the Maharajah, it was not surprising that the New Zealand Council should readily accede to his proposal. The tour may also prove a windfall for unfinancial associations as, according to one prominent cricket executive interviewed by the writer during the week, the match receipts will not be sought by the tourists. With the redoubtable English Test batsman, Duleepsinghji to lead the team, its tour of New Zealand should prove a considerable attraction. A letter received from Bombay during the week suggested that the personnel of the team might include several of the Indians who were in New Zealand last winter with the Indian hockey representatives.

South Australia Takes Shield. South Australia wins the Sheffield Shield, the fifth time in thirty-three In was in 1892-3 that Lord bhemeld sent out his handsome gift of one hundred and fifty pounds to provide a trophy for competition by the Australian colonies (now States within the Commonwealth). Victoria won it first and South Australia in the second season. It was in the fourth season that New South Wales first won. The number of times each State has won is: N.S. Wales 20, Victoria 15, and South Australia 5. Don Bradman has been the South Australian colossus as leader and player, assisted by absence of stars from some opposing forces. His shield innings are: 117, 223, 257, 31 and o. Sydney Referee.

Canterbury Giant in Water Polo. Astonishing progress in water polo has been made by G. Mcllroy, of the East Christchurch Swimming Club, who has been selected as goalkeeper for the Canterbury water polo team. Mcllroy taught himself to swim last winter, and the present season is his first in water polo. He is a magnificent physical specimen, standing 6ft. and a half and built in proportion-. Mcllroy is able at the full stretch of his arms to reach right across the goal-mouth. Without any difficulty at all he can stand on the bottom of the deep end of the Christchurch Tepid Baths and still be head and shoulders out of the water. In addition to his still-water activities he is' a keen surfing enthusiast, being a member of the North Beach Surf Club, Christchurch. * * * * Altogether, Mcllroy is the “find” of the season in Canterbury swimming. His grand play in the goalkeeping position for Canterbury is likely to provoke the greatest interest when tlje interprovincial water polo is being decided at Dunedin. Pearces in Sport. The Pearces in sculling have always been to the fore in Australia. Generation after generation they have produced champions. The latest scion of the family to distinguish himself lis Cecil Pearce, who has won the, amateur championship on the Nepean! and conquered H. Turner, many times j winner. The new champion is a first cousin of Bobby Pearce, the world’s j champion. He is a younger brother' of Joe Pearce, the famous Rugby 1 League forward and all are sons of 1 the great lock forward of other days, I the late Syd. Pearce. The new j amateur champion is only 22 years j of age, and weighs about 12st 41b. I He has been sculling seriously about j three years and has been coached by i 1 his uncle, ex-champion Harry Pearce.'

, Marylebone Bowlers. It was not the tricky wrist action of Parks nor the lightning deliveries of Read, the Essex express bowler, that the Piako batsmen found most difficult to cope with at Matamata on Tuesday. Their main troubles centred around the spin bowling of J. H. Sims, the Middlesex representative. They were hardly to be appreciated from the stands, but although looking ridiculously easy to the spectators, his deliveries never inspired the batsmen with confidence. He has a remarkable ability to spin the ball and. when the batsmen were anticipating a leg break, it was not uncommon to find the ball breaking sharply to the off. The manner in which the Hamiltonian, R. Clough, turned Sims to leg prettily on one or two occasions was—as he confessed —due to his luck and speed in playing back and changing tactics, rather than to the excellence of his judgment.

Matamata’s Sports Ground. Few of the Waikato townships have the benefit of such an Ideal sports ground as Matamata possesses in Bedford Park. Although the outfield is rough, it is ideally situated as a cricket ground, long, even boundaries being located all around the central wicket. It is only in recent months that the Piako Cricket Association has put the main pitch in hand and, as was pointed out by the M.C.C. tourists when they arrived at Matamata this week, it could scarcely be expected to stand up to the rigours of a two-day match. Accordingly, matting was laid. Huge Football Fees. Aston Villa -have now broken every record in the book. During November, 1935, they paid out roughly £40,000 for new players, and in the five years preceding, their payments must have amounted to £50,000. Altogether, a grand total of £90,000 in five years! Soundly Managed. Only incessant rain spoilt the Piako Cricket Association’s hopes for a substantial profit on the game which they arranged between a provincial colts’ team and the MjC.'C. tourists this week. The complete arrangements that were made represented a triumph of organisation and not the smallest detail was overlooked in the accommodation of the spectators, the care of the players and the preparation of theg round. Not only did the association show foresight in securing a visit from the Maryleboners, but also remarkable wisdom in applying its plans. The facility of the methods which they employed furnished an object lesson which might well be emulated by much larger and more influential sports bodies.

England’s Selfish Forwards. How many of the men who played for England against Germany at Soccer .recently would be selected again if another England side had to be chosen to-morrow. Judging by the things the selectors said, on the

“Billy” Mitchell’s Reputation. When it comes to a debate on Waikato Rugby prowess, the name of “Billy” Mitchell is bound to crop up. With the possible exception of the diminutive Russell, of Morrinsville, it is doubtful if the Waikato has produced a more efficient half-back than Mitchell. A tiger for work and a brilliant man on defence, he was the inspiration of the back line and his ability to get the ball away from both loose and set scrums made him an outstanding member of the representative fifteen. Short but nuggety in build, he stood up to the bulkiest of opposing forwards, never giving an inch until, on the gong, he looked as though he were about to drop from sheer exhaustion. Many of the openings he made for brilliant tries and the happy knack he possessed of being in the right place at the right time even at the most critical junctures, remain bright in the memory of football enthusiasts. An electrician by trade, Mitchell is now stationed in the Huntly district. His active days in the football game have long since passed.

A Northern Cricketer. Like father like son is an adage not infrequently applied to sport, but if Ted Dunning, the Rodney cricket colt, inherits the keenness of his father for the game he should develop into a real stalwart of the game. Only 22 years of age, Dunning junior has shown great batting form, particularly on his visits to Auckland and must rank with the Hamiltonian, Owen McKenzie, as being one of the province’s ablest youngsters. Those who expected a good score from him in the colts’ game against M.C.C. at Matamata this week were bitterly disappointed when, facing his first bowl, he stepped across the wicket and went out leg before. One of the memorable of his performances occurred during a match in Auckland this season when, partnered at the wicket by his father, William Dunning, he piled up a double century in a remarkably short span of minutes Dunning, senr., also wasted no time in getting going and it was only on the last ball of the day that his son ran him out with a good three figure score to his credit. THE CURBE OF BOGEY. O he who takes a divot with care, Ant! after his stroke just leaves it there, Nor stamps It down with determined tread; The Curse of Bogey be on his head! O he who a hunker rashly mars, With marks of his hoots, nor smooths the scars; And climbs up the bunker’s face shall know, The Curse or Bogey to work him woe! O he who scratches with spikes, the green, Or drops his clubs, the marks being seen, Or, the pin replacing, tears the hole— The Curse or Bogey he on his soul! But he who takes these lessons to heart, And cares for the course and plays his part, With divots replaced, and sand smoothed clean, And clubs laid gently upon' the green, Laying the pins with care on the ground 'Not once or twice, but all the way round!) The Bogey’s blessing shall bring him fame. And a whining score—ror he’s played the game. —A. R. Lovelock In New Zealand Golf Illustrated.