FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. THE 3-2-3 SCRUM. MERIVALE CLUB FAVOURS TRIAL. The Merivale Bugby Football Club, at its annual meeting last evening, decided to instruct its delegates to the Canterbury Bugby Union to support tho adoption of the 3-2-3 serum formation lor one season, provided that the right to revert to tlie old formation should the new one prove unsatisfactory be retained. The president, Mr A. E. AVhite, said that while he was in favour of tho elimination of the wing-forward, he did not consider that New Zfcaeland should' be dictated to regarding its scrum formation. The traditional New Zealand formation had proved more than equal to the 3-2-3. The adoption by the English Bugby Union of a rule insisting on the ball passing the first three legs of tho players on each side of the scrum, meant that the New Zealand formation did not permit of the legal hooking of the ball. Mr \V. B. Fuller said that New Zealand had never seen two 3-2-3 scrums in opposition. The South Africans had evidently found it unsatisfactory, as on the last tour at Home they packed 3-4-1. "England, South Africa, and Australia have all adopted the rules/' said Mr E. W. Hnsell, "and New Zealand <annot stand out. Wliom can New Zealand play against if the Dominion does not fall .into line?" Sir K. Kearney pointer) out that overseas visits and tours must cease as far as New Zealand was concerned if the Dominion was going to differ from tho other Bugby countries on such an important question. He moved that the delegates support the adoption of the 3-2-3 scrum for a season, with the reservation mentioned above. It was not reasonable, he suggested, to expect to givo the system a thorough trial in two matches. "The adoption of the 3-2-3 scrum will not abolish the wing-forward," declared Mr T. Bond. "There will always be two loose heads in such a scrum, and these breakaways will give just as much trouble as the wing-forwards. This was very noticeable in the play of the last English team.'? voice: "What was Ivor Jones but a wing-forward. Mr T. C. Wykes: My impression is that the 3-2-3 serum will get the ball from the 2-3-2 serum, and that is the whole object of the game. It is in our own interests to fail into line. Mr W. Maxwell was of the opinion that Canterbury should fall into line provided the other provinces did tho same. "The scrum formation cuts no ice if open platy is the object," he said. "That lies with the players themselves and the official in charge of the game." ' The motion was carried on the voices. THE SPRINGBOKS. DEFEAT OF SCOTLAND. COMPARISON WITH ALL BLACKS. tr*OU OUlt own COJUXSPOKSUIT.) * . IX>NDON, February 2. Commenting- on the Bugby match between the South Africans and Scotland, the "Morning Post," in a leading article, says: The Springboks beat Scotland by twotries to one, and so achieved the main object of their tour, which was to win all their -four International fixtures. It was a grim struggle, with no quarter given or' "expected, laM the " old cpld courage" (to.nse Alanißreck's phrase) of the Scottish pack with its nucleus of Border men could not quite hold the dreadnought scrcmmagers. opposed . to them.' There: has boon a strange similarity Jn, the four victories of L. OslerV team. In every case tho jpgantio South African forwards, spired from leg; weariness. bv long and accurate bickmg .into touch, asserted . their supremacy, in the; later stages of tli« game and so, made victory inevitable by a sifttll margin of points. The cleverness'of the strategic plan based on forward supremacy, which is attributed to the astute Springbok captain (who, •t times, had an odd look of being in, but not of, the game!) cannot be denied. Biitplayers '•■ as well aa spectators .will prefer, New. Zealand <method .ofregarding-the" l«il4in-bind;as an advantage v never to be thrown away by touch-kicking, except' when defensive tactics were necessary, and always tb be used for starting gassing movements among the backs, with the forwards joininginastheattackdeveioped. After all,' it is a root-principle of « tt is of war, .that attack is toe best. form of defence, other things being equal, or nearly so. However, the reeeait object-lessons in the vital importance of strong, sound forward piav are all for the good of the game, and » *f. sincerely to be hoped that the English Selection Committee, .will re-, member them' when revising and rein*>"*>l English XV., which failed against Wales at Swansea on Saturday' afternoon. Tho Welsh backs were more accurate and skilful than their opposite numbers, but it was the superiority of the Welsh pack that brought about a well-deserved victory that was never for a moment in doubt. England's first tusk is to build up an efficient pack, *nd perhaps it might be well. for the selectors to hark back to the victory of the Midlands over the Springboks, the only defeat in the visitors' record".

MERIYALE CLUB. (FIFTIETH ANNUAL MEETING; Th# fiftieth,, meeting of the Merirale Bofbj Football'*'Club was held in ; tb» ter * tr«e t, last even- ■ ■ 34r" A. E. White presiding over a very hrgt' attendance. of member Annul Baport. " ' club has had one of the most suednrin * iu existence as far as *M mIo performances are concerned." stated iwmal wport. The club was successful If Swns Shield;- carrying with e , cb» m Plonihlp, far the third , time. : Tlw senior A team won th« D.CA. Shield i Sg i '! b^i*yor the Bugby I OWUwre Oup, "and the Payne Trophy. * - an . ® ftll teams also j wo* re»p#«tiTa ; trades,; while most of i ¥*• teaxashad performed well. • The ft , f*, woket team . entered by the |i ***£. ** th * Owtwbury Association's com. I' *?»• successful In wlmiinzits grade. showed a deficiency on "the B-v yolrkfag of SAI 14h -3ff;-andvwith the ■V» fmpeefc « another hitdryeM' the finances H **2* Wttlia careful adminUtration. H -ft J- OUm wat Ticked for the Kew ZetI W tmm miul Australia, trat was unable

to play owing to an injury. Other representative honours sained were: South Island, 0. J. Oliver and Or. Day; Canterbury, C. J. Oliver, G. Pay, G. Langdale-Hunt, K. Kearney, ,W. Crofts, J. Kirkland, and Suckling; Canterbury B, I. Ilowatson and K. \V. FlewcUyn (emergency); senior B, J. Maxwell, G. King, A. Bourne, S. Hendry, W. Duff, and T. Rountroe; third grade, E. J. Nee, R. Vartha, and A. Oliver. The jubilee picnic surpassed in interest all previous ones, F. C. Barwell won tho senior Merivalo championship and R. A. Polkinghorne the junior championship. The attendance at the annual dance, at which Mr A. E. McPhail, president of the Canterbury Rugby Union, presented the trophies von by the club during the season, was not up to expectations, but the euchre socials were very successful. In moving tho adoption of the report tho chairman said it was particularly gratifying that the club should experience its most successful season in its jubilee yei»r. With practice and training "there was no reason why the club should riot' maintain 'its. excellent record. The finances were satisfactory considering the difficult times.. Election of Officers. Officers for the year were elected as follows: —President, Mr A. E. White; additional vice-presidents, Messrs W. Billens, G. Farquhar, J. H. Judd, W Menzies, Charles Read, R. R. Tucker, and G. S. Simpson; additional life members, Messrs F. W. Baillie, A. SI. Brosnan, E. Cochrane, W. A. Ford, A. Jones, J. F. Newman, C. R. Dickie, F. A. Price, and W. Buckley; club captain, Mr V/'. Lodge; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr A. Euggan; committee, Messrs It. Buchanan, R. Carnegie, E. Cochrane, IC. Kearney, 11. Pedler, and H. Wilson; delegates to Canterbury Rugby Union, Messrs A. Duggan, W. B. Fuller, C. Hegarty, and W. .Maxwell; hon. auditors. Messrs P. Menzies and T. F. Chambers; delegate to Sports Protection Association, Mr W. G. Duggan. Jubilee Arrangements. Mr A. Duggan outlined tho proposals tor the jubilee celebrations, which will include a church parade on Sunday, May Bth, and s jubilee dinner for old members on May 13th. It was hoped to arrange the senior competition match between Sydenham and Mferiyale to be played on May 14th, to be preceded by an old-timers 1 match. It was decided to open the season next Saturday. A prominent former Rugby footballer of Hastings and an ex-llawke's Bay senior representative, J. Hapi, is at present making a .name for himself in American football. Ilapi is studying at the Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a member of the university team, being one of its star players. He is a son of the late Mr Paul Hapi, of Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay, where his mother still resides. Hapi is expected to Teturn to New Zealand shortly.

RUGBY LEAGUE. JUNIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The Junior Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby League held its annual meeting last evening. Mr P, Kirton occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs G. Lyttle. P. Ring, A. Clarke, W. Young, and A. "SVylie, secretary. The annual report, which has yet to be presented to the executive ot the Canterbury Itugby League, was adopted. Mr A. "Wylie was Te-elected secretary, and it was decided to hold over the election of the 6ther officers until a full meeting of the Management Committee. ■ , , , It was decided that the clnbs be asked to report to tho next meeting on the advisability of running a sst 61b competition, in addition to the 6st competition. The closing date-for entries in all grades below senior was fixed for the Tuesday after Easter. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the Centre that the opening date of the junior competitions, be on April 9th. Meeting night for the committee was fixed for the same evening as the Canterbury Centre. The next meeting was agreed upon for March 21st. A motion of thanks was passed to the Press for the publicity given during tho past season. ASSOCIATION. SUMNER CLUB. ■ The annual meeting'of the- Sumner Association Football Club was held last night, Mr 11. McLachlan' presiding. The chairman congratulated the club upon its success last year in the senior arid junior competitions The annual report was adopted. The balance-sheet showed that the club was in a financial position, A large number ot subscriptions were outstanding, and when these were paid the club would be in a good position.. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mf W. H. Nicholson; vice-patron, Mr <i. Murrayvice : presideri,ts, Messrs C. Cool.. G. I l .'-Allen, S. Roberts, i\ H.'U. Nevi'lo, T. Kewbnrgh, I. Phillips, T. Undril, N. Donov:i*<,' J. I\ Menzies, and S. Smith; club captain, jnT. Cook; hon. secretary and treasurer, .Ur 1. Boll; delegates to 0.F.A., Messrs X. iJojiovan and F. Bell; Grounds Committee, Messrs T. Cook, E. G. Allen, R. McLachlan, A. Henley, H Treveane, E Williams, and It. Stoneman; Management Cimmittee, Messrs T. Cooke, A. Farmer, M. !Peaterson,. G. .Browne, and H. Treveane; , Social Committee, Mesdames N. Donovan, T. Cook,, G. Murray, A. Farmer, J. Merritt, Miss N. Lawson, Messrs H. Treveane, J. Merritt, R. Stoneman, M. Peaterson; G, Browne, T. Cook, and A. Parmer; Selection Committee .to consist of the captains and vice-captains of both the senior and junior teams. . senior subscription .was fixed' at 12"! 6d. reducible to 10s if paid by the third playing Saturday, and the juniors 7s 6d. A letter was received from the Town Clerk stating that permission had been granted fr.r the nse of St. Leonards square on March 2Gth. for.the opening game of the season. 1 It was decided that Mr-G. Murray be elected a life member. . The secretary reported that Mr N. Donovnn had given a medal to the club to be presented to the most' consistent player 'in the junior team. The points for the medal would be decided on' at a later dato. and tha referee each Saturday would state the two outstanding players of i the - game. The member who obtained the most points at tho conclusion of the season would be decided upon as the winner.