RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 156, 6 May 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PLAYERS' POSITIONS Approved and issued by the N.Z. Rugby Football- Union. Fullback Requisites.—Bump of locality. Good hands, i.e., fielding and catching". Punt well with cither foot; ability to stop rushes and tackle with determination. A good back always appears to be in the right position only because he has remembered the two fundamental principles of positional play; to keep a watchful eye on the ball and his mind on the game. He must be abld to catch and field the ball surely;, and it is imperative for him. to atf tempt to take the ball on the full.; There is nothing to gain by waiting for the bounce and everything to, risk. He must be able to kick well with either foot and to tackle fearlessly, whilst lie must know the correct position to be in (experience will teach this) and be able to anticipate. Make sure of finding touch,, even at expense of great length. Nurse your forwards by returning your kick in the direction where they are. If near the touch line, he should broaden his angle when kicking for touch. He should never delay his kick so long as to have his kick charged down or be tackled. By parting with the ball before he is tackled he conserves his strength and is to withstand hard tackles wh£u the occasion arises He should charge down a dribbling rush rather than wait for an over-kick. A fullback must go and meet everything that is coming towards him; the thing to aim at.is to try and make the jman who has the ball go where he wants him. He should be able to gather the ball and kick it almost simultaneously. Three-quarter Backs. The basis of all three-quarter play must be the combination of the players; each man must play in such a way as to enable the other members to carry on effectively the good work he has done. This must be varied by the ability of the centre or the second live-eighths to go on his own where he sees a possible opening for an individual burst through. Be on the move when passing. Run almost straight forward and not diagonally across the field. If you find you are running diagonally, pass at once and back up. Three quarters should be able to kick with either foot. Back up on the open side after you have passed; always run for the open side of a tackier so that he is less able to check your pass. The main objective of the centre is to get the ball out quickly to the wing man, and, if possible, to draw the wing man's opponent, and give him a clear field. Wing Three-quarters. i Requisites.—Speed with dash, safe hands, good tackier. A wing three-quarter should combine resolution and dash with pace and quickness in his running. Going for the line is the principal object of a winger, but when really hemmed in on the line he may keep the ball in play by— 1. Kick across, but have one or two fast forwards waiting for this move. 2. Re-pass to centre if lie is Avell placed. !i. Short punt over opponent's head and follow up. -1. Drop the ball and dribble. Practice drop kicking, as occasionally a chance of a drop at goal presents itself. It is his duty to mark his vis-a-vis always. Throwing the Ball from Touch. — Always try to throw to a definite man taking a lead from your halfback. Throw sufficiently high that it drops at the place required and will not be intercepted and do ?not impart too much spin into the ball. Throw accurately —a long throw on attack—a short Lhrow in own 25.

j Centre Three-quarters. Requisites.—Strength and' solidity in defence as in attack, sense of anticipation; safe hands, good at passing, Speed is the essence of attack. A centre must have pace and be able to accelerate at the right moment. He should possess all the qualifications of a first-class fullback Avith the additional qualification of being a clever potter or trygetter and an accuratc rnd liberal passer. He should kick very sparingly in attack. He should be a straight runner, safe hands, and. in addition, he should be able to swerve. He must have the ability to receive and to give an accurate pass at the right time. Positioning, or backing-up, naturally goes with the sense of anticipation. He should be an adept at feign passing. His principal duty in attack is to make openings for the Avings. Second Five-eighths. Requisites.—Speed with dash; a straight runner, safe hands, and good at passing. A second five-eighths should possess all the attributes of a good centre. He should be an adept at the art of feign passing, cutting in and draAving the defence. To produce the best team work there must be a complete under-; standing betAveen the backs and the second five-eighths. FiA r e-eighths is the best place to co-ordinate the players. First Five-eighths. Requisites.—Quick thinking, sound at tackling and rush stopping, quick at punting, clever at taking and particularly liberal at giving passes and an efficient drop-kick. He should give his pass almost immediately and only run and try Ho beat an opponent to vary his game or draAV opponents off his second five-eighths. He should also have a thorough understanding \Aith his half-back, particularly in regard to passing. His main business in attack is to feed his backs. He Avill find feign passing very ustfuJ. Dribbling rushes by opposing forwards should be effectiA r ely checked by the first five-eighths. LOCAL FIXTURE PAENGAROA-TE PUKE MEETING WEIGHTS DECLARED The folloAving weights have been declared by the handicapper (Mr D. S. Neilson) for the Paengaroa-Te Puke Racing Club's annual meeting, to be held at Maketu Junction on Saturday, May 11th: RAILWAY HANDICAP Of £20; distance 6 fur. Gazeful 8.8; Esquire 8.6; Prince Ven, Gold Petal 8.0; Golden England 7.10; Air Commodore 7.7; N5 r ola 7.4; Calshot 7.0. PAPAMOA MAIDEN HANDICAP Of £20; distance 6 fillMaster Ace, Bronze Spear, Air Com modore, Golden England 8.8; Creole, Captain Horn, Waikiti, Orinico, King Forest, Taunu 8.4. BAY OF PLENTY CUP Of £40 and Cup valued at 10 gns. Distance one and a quarter miles King Rey 10.7; Javola 8.9: Greek. Queen 8.7; Sih r er Cloud 8.4; Raceline 8.0; Floodlight, Barascopc 7.7; Master Ace, Taunu, Nyola 7.0. PAENGAROA STEEPLECHASE Of £25. Distance 2 miles. Gentlemen riders, Air Commodore, Golden England 11.9: Nuketere, Eecetra 11.8; Imperial Prince 11.4; Piccadilly, Taunu 11.0. TE PUKE HANDICAP Of £25; distance 7 fur. Sih r er Cloud 8.11; Raceline 8.9; Gazeful 8.7; Esquire 8.5; Prince Ven Barascope, Gold Petal 7.13; Eccetra 7.11; B'onze Spear 7.10; Orinico, Calshot 7.7. The other three events on the programme are post entry.