CENTRAL H.B. RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 177, 13 August 1937, Page 15

CENTRAL H.B. RUGBY

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' " 1 f Intcrest Strays from Local Competition »' » a i n OLD BOYS BEAT TAKAPAU

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Tl^ fact thftt quite a number of matehcs in Central Hawke's Bay went by default last Saturday inclicates that interest is straying towards the Spring'bok tour. From tho point of view of New Zealand 's country districts it is fortunate that really strong visiting teams do not. arrive every year, for manv Ruebv enthusiasts wouid rather ' { Iis|fiTi-in •" ."o thfi Soytl) Africans timo watch or juin their own (eaius. Tn the ono senior competition game played on Saturday, Old Boys repeated

mysterious, particulurly when ground conditions liavc been Iieavy. "Magpie" has seen- them play twice, and the early good impression was subsequently conflrmed. To me it is strange that people should say that tjiey will be no match for our best. The question that perturbs me is: Shall we be a match for them % The presqnt South African side demonstrate the fundamental principlep of Rugby in a convincing mauner. Tho players run woll, kick well, pass woll, tacklo wmll and pack well. So what more is wanted? On the other hand, it has been a growing practice in New Zealand to slur tho funciamentals and as au object Jesson the present visit is ' timely. Their TaetiesGreat f eatnres . of the play of the present Springboks are their ability to obtain poBsessign of the ball and retain it. Tiieir great weight and corroct application of it in the scrums give them their flrst advantage, and then in the linc-puts, if they do not actually gain possession, they ultimately do so by tlio simple expedient of toaring tlie ball i'rom^ the opponent who has il. From the iesultiug mck the bull ia droppod to tho ground and lieeled to the half-back. The Springbpk forwards 4o muck of the rush-stopping, too— rush stppping that we think should be dong by thb backs. When oue of their byrly forwards drops on the ball, hisrcpmradcs gather rpund and from this ruck they onco more gain possession by heeling back to the waiting hglf, The rearguard, possessed of pace, attempt Btercotyped movoments, oui when they break down the bali is immediately ldckpd into toucfl. They roalise that it is of no more .use conlinning it at the inoment, and so .terminato it abruptly to begin all ovei again from the rosulting line-out. In a few words, it can be said tliat the Springboks play consfcructivo Rugby. They have shown in ihe matcliea playod sp far that our tackling is not what it should be. On tho other hand, they tackle solidly and well. First-Test Defeat? The Springboks aro big men, and the solution for their defeat appeavs to be in the ability of opponents to rau them oif their feet, but it is goiug to pi'Qve a task for any flfteen. A heavy ground may bring about thoir discomflturef but, if the ground is flrm and the ball dry, Rugby pilgrims -to Athletie Park next Saturday had better go prepared for a New Zealand defeat, It does not follow that a similar disaster will befall our chosen in the two following Tests; rather. am I hoping that thp lessons learned in next Saturday '§ game will prove profltable for the future, Following are tho results of Test® played between South Africa and New Zealand to date: — 1921, at Dunodin.-~-.New Zealand won, 13—5. 1921, at Auckland. — South Africa woa, 9—5. 1921, at Wellington — Draw, 0 — 0. 1928, at Durban. — South Africa won, 17—0. 1928, at Johanncsbui'g. — New Zealand won, 7 — 6. 1928, at Fort Eligabeth.— South Africa won, 11—6. (1928. at Capetown.— New Zealand won, 13—5.

their first-rouud surpriso by again de-> feating Takapau. On a eomparisen oi Ihe two teams' reeords this sepme an amussing feat, bhfc Takapau 's last two dlsplays have been a long way below . their usual staudard, Against Old Boys, their backs wero put out oi their stride by the presence of Colin Wilgon at first five-eighths in the Waipukurau team. Wilson,' u'sually a forward, con: tributed largely towards his team's sueeess by offeetively smotheri.ng the oppgsing flrst flve-eighth, but without their usual leader the QJd Boyg forwards did very well to hold their weighty opponents. In the senior grade tlie two leading teams, Waipukurau and Takapau, are now Iqvel, out of reaeli of all other op. position. Their match, in the last series of senior games, will decide the championship, and on present form Waipukurau should win. Apart from tbis fixiuro. jiublie interest will be hold only by Tc Auio's matclies with Palmerston Nortji B.H.S., St. Patrick's College, and Vietoria University.