RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 September 1924, Page 11

RUGBY.

The difficulty over the play-off for first juniors between Hawera and Stratford was settled by making the locale Stratford and the day Saturday, and they are playing to-day. For the fourth grade final, in which Hawera Technical High School will be the south team, the match will be played at New Plymouth on September 27. This should be a good contest, and as the, school team are in fine form and have been playing well, they should be able .to put up a good performance. The Petone Club, which has won the senior Wellington competition for the past three years, lost one match out of fourteen this season and drew' one. The team scpred 152 points, and had 81 points scored against it. In the past five years, in four of which the Petone team won the competition, the record of the team was: Played 72, won 60, lost 9, drawn 3, points for 1159, against 474. It is interesting to record that Wylie, the popular and dashing forward who played for Taranaki for some time, was a member of that team during those five years. In proposing the health of the referees at a football smoke concert at Ohakune. Mr. G. Elliott, of Te Kuiti, said the only way .to keep Rugby afloat was by talking the referees up instead of talking them down. The referee could not see everything, and condemning them was not of any assistance to the game. This is stated to have happened in a Rugby game in the North Island: A free kick was awarded and a “poster” resulted, whereupon one of the defending backs—w’ithont forcing the ball—promptly kicked to one of his team in front of the line to take a drop out. As soon as the latter player handled the ball he w'as “blown up” for off-side —quite correctly too —and even then the opposition could not kick a goal. A burly Canterbury country footballer was describing a w’oolly club final in the backbloeks. “In the first spell.” he said, “that cove Blinks on the other side started going rough, and the referee warned him that he’d be ordered off. In the second spell the cow was carried off.” Blinks, evidently, started something he couldn’t finish.

RANFURLY SHIELD

MANAWATU MATCH

In some notes by “Crossbar” in the Standard, the writer says: “For the first time in the history of the trophy Manawatu opposed the holders of the Ranfurly Shield—the much-coveted honour of the Rugby w'orld of New Zealand—when, on Saturday they played Hawke’s Bay at Hastings. The challengers did not enter upon their big task with any illusions as to their prospects of wrestling possession of the shield from the formidable holders, but rather in the hope that, despite their apparent weakness, they would prove worthy opponents and if beaten would not be disgraced. Beaten they were, hut, they/ 1 saved their good name, and :showed :£hat, with greater experience, they could be ranked among the more senous opposition the. holders will next season have to withstand. The Hawke’s Bay players, who had had the benefit of better understanding as the result of participating in four earlier challenges on home grounds, proved that they were worthy holders of the trophy. Back and forward they were a, highly polished eombihation who handled the hall with freedom in every position, and their superior combination and finish proved all too much for the grefen and whites. In the frontal division the challengers' extended their opponents to the utmost, being particularly promiment in the loose, although in the set scrummages they were placed at a disadvantage as a result of the failure of their hookers to secure possession save at intervals. The loss of ball likewise seriously affected the rearguard, but collectively and individually the home division held the advantage and were undoubtedly a superior combination. The margin of points was, nevertheless, a flattering one, the contest being considered a better display in every respect than the Auckland game I the previous Saturday. Exciting movements were certainly plentiful, both rearguards swinging into action repeatedly, but the movements of the home side always carried the appearance of greater danger.” In the Ranfurly Shield match, the Hawkes’ Bay winger, Falwasser, who, was formerly a member of the Star team, New Plymouth, was the other outstanding figure, being in the opinion of a football writer in the South, more spectacular than any winger who figured in the All Black trials. The writer adds that in Falwasser they possess a scoring winger of exceptional value and it appeared their aim to feed him at every opportunity. His finesse was all too much for the opposition—whose tackling was most indifferent at times—and the winger was able ito contribute fhree tries. The art of ranging up in support, following the giving of the pass, was also very noticeable, and, whereas the visitors’ passing bouts frequently gained ./bigger stretches of territory, the final " receiver was almost invariably left the tack of completing the movement, which naturally brought little result. The aimless kicking which has marred so many representative fixtures this season was little in evidence, both sides handling in preference wherever possible, thus making for faster and brighter football.

THE ALL BLACKS’ TOUR.

STRENGTH OF DEVON

The All Blacks are now on English soil, where they will start their programme to-day with the match against Devon County. It is interesting to recall that that was the fifteen which were first pitted against the original AH Blacks when Dave Gallagher and his men had a runaway victory by 55 points to -1. Time was when Devon practically certain to be in the final of the County championship, and they have actually secured the honour five times. Last year they did not win a match ! And their record since the war made the old players blush. The failure of the County in the 1923-2-1 season was very surprising, for (here is quite a. lot of really high class football in the county and in Plymouth Albion and Devon port Services they have two clubs capable of turning out teams almost as strong as any indEri". land. In fact. Plymouth Albion were possibly the strongest side in England last year. " But still it is a poor team that the County turns out. Wisden’is Rugby Almanack has the following to say of the County: —"lt is difficult to account for it, but a great factor in bringing about this poor result is the

weakness at half. When Devon were at their best they were tremendously indebted to R. A. Jago and J. Peters, who made a wonderfully effective pair of halves. Neither individually nor in combination did last year’s pair do well. Again the three-quarters were disappointing. In F. A. Wood the County has a most promising wing—fast/ determined and resourceful — but the centres were rarely able to give him enough work to show his ability, E. G. Butcher, though erratic in his play, was a capital leader; nobody can ever have served his county better than Butcher with his skill and his infectious enthusiasm. A. G. Dobbie, Butcher’s fellow centre, is a strong player of the individualistic type, but he had some bad lapses, particularly in the Cornwall match. The Devon full-back, F. S-. Dyer, showed magnificent form and was easily the most promising new full-back in England. Had he not been injured in his club match against Newport he would have gone further still. Short, agile,; possessed of rare judgment and full of pluck, Dyer will go far if he fulfils his promise. The forwards were good on the whole, but not so good as we would have expected- them to be 5 for in the pack were four Internationals (Wright, Gardner, Sanders and Liddington), one of England’s reserves (Eyres) and some very keen and capable trial players.” In an interview with a Country Life representative Sir Henry Braddon, President of the New South Wales Rugby Union, had much to say on the All Blacks, inter alia, he said : What appealed to him, perhaps most of all, in the last two Tests was the team work of the All Blacks. To' quote his own words: “I never saw better concerted play. There was a complete sinking of the individual, and all were for the team.” Especially he noted how the All Blacks excelled in “pass-ing-in.” The forwards co-operated splendidly with the backs in both attack; and Idefence. The All Blacks played not as individuals, but as a team—and made clear to the veriest tyro the meaning of team work. “Here they come,” the big crowd would shout, as the backs got the ball, and moved like a flying machine. Sir Henry is doubtful about Porter—not as Porter, but from the viewpoint of the game. He makes it clear that he recognises Porter as a brilliant and resourceful player, but he doesn't think Porter’s tactics make for the good of the game. Those tactics hamper the other side’s attack, and so slow up the game from a spectator’s point of view. Porter’s anticipation, in Sir Henry's opinion, is “weird, uncanny.”; He .seems always to know just what is going to happen; he knows it seconds beforehand, and by the time it happens he is on the spot. You see Porter on one wing, and in a flash he is on the other w'ing; one moment- he is here and the next moment he is there ‘ Wherever, the ball is, there is Porter' We probably have not seen his like before. Yet, Sir Henry Braddon expresses the opinion, and many agree with him, that w'hile- this feature of his play was admirable and better than anything we have previously seen, Porter’s spoiling taetes, while acting as wing forward, are not for the good of Rugby. It is understood that in England the same style of player is being encouraged. But if this is so the probability is that Porter will make them wonder is it worth while in football, you have to consider the spectator, and Porter’s tactical play doesn t consider him as much as one would like.”

A point that Sir Henry stresses ” says the journal, “is that our men musU he. taught to jgrass their man. lhat was the doctrine of the New Zealand schools in his day, and the All Blacks who were here recently showed that it is still the doctrine. When you are playing football vou are not a policeman regulating the traffic, iou need to do more than hold your n< up or just put out your arm. ?nt rd t£ ay XS f^ baU P la y- Which, is as saying that we vo, cm to gh p ay - In ™ al football you go for your man and bring him ?• ie \ as passed the ball in the meantime, that is -not your lookout. Your job is to grass him, and you can apologise afterwards, if necesv, . nt _ waste time wonderingJ\ 1S Soing to do-you do you? part fust, and the sooner the safer Hesitancy or gentility in grassing your man is match-losing.”

FOILS AND FOOTBALL,

That great Rugby footballer, Lieut. . . Kei shaw, who with Commander ‘ 3a Ti 6S made the opposing forwaids of most of the country’s fifteens look exceedingly incompetent, is fighting for Great Britain in the Olympic Games fencing in Paris. Kershaw is the^oblat^ 1 ** he is with the oblate spheroid, ’ as the footExpresA * sometlmes ™!1 it.-Daily

OFF THE FOOTBALL FIELD

POWERS OF REFEREES

GISBORNE DISPUTE SETTLED

It is interesting to read that the dispute between the Rugby Union and the Referees’ Association has been amicably settled. The referees "downed whistles” as a protest against the action of the judicial committee of the' union in dismissing a referee's charge against players who allegedly used insulting language in the street. The union has now agreed to give the referees every protection off the field until the New Zealand Rugby Union Gives a decision on the dispute, and decides whether or not the Union has power to do so.

The life of a football referee cannot be altogether a. happy one. Now and then he has his fairly peaceful afternoons, when he is able to believe that he is controlling a. game which is only warfare in the mimic sense. But there are occasions when, heckled by iabid partisans and insecurely guarded by a cordon of police he must wish that the years would recede and find him back at Gallipoli or somewhere in France Why does lie take the job 01 V , IS S be assumed, actuated by that fine mixture of motives—risky adventure, ancestral .sentiment high patriotic duty—which evoked the answer to the call of King and Country” ten years a»o ! s .{ 10t a or even usually killed rhe police just- manage to see tha,,l i S t 0 the bowline horde of "sporting” hooligans hot for his blond. But he pays a price for the Jack of favouritism which keeps him from being a favourite. Person aHy 1 think there ought to be an annual Referees Day with a huge collection for a Referees’ Statue, or, sav f ? r ,, a l ouva , esc>ent borne for nerveshattered referees. If this idea be

too heroic, let us at least give a- passing thought on Anzac Day and Armistice Day-to these brave arbiters of international, interprovincial, and interclub destiny.

ENGLISH RUGBY UNION

£16,374 PROFIT FROM REPRE-

SENTATIVE GAMES

_ At the annual meeting of the Rugby Union, held at the Holborn Restaurhut, London, Mr. W. S. Donne, Somerset-, was elected president; Mr. W. Williams, Middlesex, and Mr. H. C. Fe-rens, vice-presidents; and Mr. E. Prescott treasurer, in succession to Mr. W. Ca-il, who had held that cost for 30 years. Mr. M. F. Waters,'the outgoing president, took the chair at the start of the meeting. The balance-sheet submitted speoined assets amounting to £65,647. The Twickenham ground is valued at £25,966. Investments at cost amount to £BI9O, and loans to clubs on mortgage to £20,697, and the cash balance to £9640.

The match account showed the followmg profits North v. South,' £377; Probables v, Possibles, £119; England r. The Rest, £1009; England v. France £6,028; and England v. Scot£d)o3. Season tickets yielded El6ol. The expenses of Eingland v. ales were £l3i; and England v Ireland, £l9l. The Selection Comnnttee’s expenses were £.323; and the prefit in all amounted to £16,374. The revenue account showed expenses of --Rement, £1713; and income-tax.

The recommendation of +he International Board that no player exceptat his-marriage should receive a pressed ° f a ValUe exceedill S £2 was car-

A RETROSPECT

(Free Lance.) aranaki first burst on New Zealand s Rugby horizon in 1887, when m a match played on Potter’s Paddock —afterwards Alexandra Park—in Auckiand, their representatives defeated the Aucklanders by 1 point (a try) to nil. ixior to that the men from round about Mount Egmont had not been treated seriously as aspirants for the mter-provincial championship of New Zealand. The next year—lßßß—that famous British team toured the colony and they met their first defeat from 1 aranaki s representatives—a try to nil being the margin j n the latter’s favour, that placed them right in the forefront of New Zealand’s footballers, a position they have held ever since. At one time the representative team °f Taranaki— 1895 was the year—was acknowledged to he the best of the season, and they got through a big programme of interprovincial fixtures with, out bemcr and their opponents were the representatives of the our principal Rugby Unions, namely, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and utago. One would like to linger’ over the days that were, but Taraanki’s prowess at Rugby is best remembered by quoting the names of some of the great players from the cow province who have represented New Zealand: AlLßayly, J. Hunter, S. J. Mynott, A. Humphries, A. Good, B. O’Dowda, D. Watson, R. Roberts, D. Cameron J. Lambie, L. Allen.'and A. H. West, besides a host of others whose, names are not so familiar.

Commenting on the form of the Taranaki team, the writer says: “Amongst the Taraanki hacks I liked Johnston, ye-<nghth. He was dashing and full of go all the time. Ross and Loveriage, the wing threequarters, were solid, and Priar (at full-hack) was sound m defence, although he had an inclination to stand too far away from H ie ma * n body of liis fellow players, -tryday was the type of wing-forward J like—no bustle,, hut a clean and forceful player. Robinson, Kivell. and Patterson were the oftenest in evidence in a scrummage that will'develop with experience.”

RUGBY RECORDS

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON

NORTHERNERS LEAD

Games in which the Rugby representatives of Auckland and Wellington have been the contestants have always attracted considerable interest, and with those of recent years there has been the added attraction of seeing the northerners in a style of play which accounted for the adoption throughout JNew Zealand of the rule. A point of special interest regarding the match at Athletic Park on Saturday a Was both Wellington and Auckland had an equal number of successes against each other in the long a matches dating back to 1875. Auckland-Wellington matches total 41 excluding the special match staged at Auckland in 1922, when the northerners romped home against a weak WelllnKtoli team. The first match, played iv- ii* resulted in an easy win for Wellington, and only once during the period to 1597 did Auckland - gain a victory. The northerners had a big run of success from 189.7 to 1914, winma S fourteen of the nineteen games which were played and losing only three. Since 1914 the honours have been decidedly in favour of Wellington, Y i , ave bad ten wins as against Auckland’s four. The records of the matches show that each province has secured 19 wins, the remaining three ot the forty-one matches having been drawn. It is worthy of note tnat in all games since 1917 the scoring has been high, the total points for each match ranging from 23 to 46. Another very interesting item about the contests is that in the tally of points scored Auckland are only three behind oo?! bmgton. Wellington have scored o.jo points and Auckland have 387 to their credit. Last year’s game, played m Auckland, resulted in a win for the northerners by 21 points to 15.

DON WRIGHT TRANSFERRED

be Auckland Star remarks that e\ery Rugoy enthusiast will regret to near that there is every possibility of lion Wright being transferred to the iN.apier _ b r ancb - °f the Union Insurance, with which he is connected. Wright is at present in Wellington, and a decision will be made this week. Should his transfer eventuate it will be a severe loss to Auckland football and the public, too, will miss a player who has made himself a universal favourite on and off the field. On the field ho has shown himself the gamest defensive half in the Dominion, .and his attacking powers were largely responsible for the perfection of the back play of last gear’s Auckland team. His quiet, unassuming manner off the field showed that he was unaffected by the position he won in the estimation of the crowd, ft is a rare coincidence that, he is likely to he transferred to Napier, whence came the opposition, in the form of Mill, which kept him out of the All Black team. The two districts are strong supporters of the merits of their respective halves, and Wright will have the whole of the weight of public opinion to contend against if he is to win representative honours next season for the shield holders. Aucklanders are

fairly confident that he will do so should lie reproduce liis form of the early part of the season. Apart from this aspect of the question, Wright will undoubtedly be a great asset in Hawke’s Bay. The backs there showed a decided improvement this year, and a knowledge of the reverse passing and interchanging which modern Rugby has evolved. With a pivot with the knowledge of the Grammar Old Boy player the Hawke’s Bay backs could be made an even more formidable combination. The possibility of Wright taking up his residence in Napier has already created much interest in the Bay.