FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE WING FORWARD.

“A PARASITE ON THE GAME.”

WELLINGTON, May 18

“The wing forward is a curse on our Rugby football. He is spoiling our fast, open style of play, and the sooner we do away with him, the better it will be for the game.” These, in general, were the opinions expressed by practically all the delegates at the annual meeting' of the New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington. Just as Thursday night’s meeting was about to close, Mr H. Frost. Auckland delegate, said that lie had heard more talk about the abolition of the wing forward this year than-at any previous meeting of delegates. Ho realised that the hour was very late, so he would move that the N.Z.R.U. give effect to the resolution in the minutes of 1923, that the wing forward shall not advance in front of an imaginary line drawn level with the hack rankers of his own scrum.

Mr Smith (Pnhiatun): I will second that. Auckland has always been talking about its bright ) open game bcinsr stifled by opposing wing forwards. Now they can have a fair go.

Mr S. S. Dean {minted out that much as ho would like to see Mi Frost’s motion go through, the matter could not bo brought up and discussed in the shape of Mr Frost s motion, because a dispensation would be required from the English Rugb'Union. “I can sa v that I have given the matter of the wing forward serious thought, and personally T am of opinion that lie is a narasite on the game,” continued Mr Dean. “Ho lias alwavs been unpopular t and he ha*not helped ns one hit on oversea" tours. Mr Wilson will tell you how severely the wing forward was penalised in England. We have given th" wing forward a good thrashing, and I think it is time we saw the error of our ways, and either nut him in tb° backs or else adont the international scrum formation.”

Mr S. F. Wilson (Canterbury): T agree thpt the wing forward is spoiling our game, hut how are you goin" to force clubs to take him away from *tlie side of the scrum if they don’t want to?

Mr Dean: By example. We can instruct our selectors to play all important fixtures like the North v. South and New Zealand matches under the 3-2-3 scrum formation. Mr Frost’s motion was then withdrawn.

Mr M’Lood pointed out that the chief trouble with the wing forward wa« that referees allowed too much latitude. Tf thev did their jobs strictly according to the letter of the rule, and penalised the wing forward ever* time lie was temporarily in front of the hall and whenever he made tlm slightest attempt to obstruct. thev would blow him off the paddock nl together, and it would be a good tbi-n rt for the game.

He then moved that the New Zealand Rugby Union draw the attention of the various Referees’ Associations to the fact that there was a laxity in the internretation of the rules so far as the wing forward was coneerned. and that referees be instructed to carry out the off-side rule strictly according to the handbook. The motion wns seconded and carried after further discussion, there being very few against. ’VARSITY TEST TEAM. ry TRI.KGB.APH —PRESS ABBN., COPYRIGHT WELLING iON, May 20. The New Zealand ’Varsity team elected by .T. N. Millard, to play the first test with the Australian Universities at Christchurch on June 1, will be:— Full-back: Rush (Auckland). Three-quarters: M.ackay (Wellingfnn), McClymont (Otago), Loveridge (Canterbury). Five-eighths: Houghton (Otago), Mackenzie (capt.) (Wellington). Half-hack: Leys (Wellington). Forwards: Hindcnach (Otago), Douglas (Otago), Blacker (Wellington). Anderson (Auckland), Diedrieh (Wellington), .Smith (Canterbury), Perkins (Canterbury), Jolly (Otago).