FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1930, Page 6

FOOTBALL

SOUTHLAND DEFEATED

AN EVEN GAME

(By Telegraph— Presa Association)

INVERCARGILL, June 25. The British Rugby team defeated Southland Ibis afternoon by nine points (two tries and a penalty goal) to throe (a penalty goal), after a closely contested game which was principally of a forward .nature. The attendance w-. s estimated at about 8000'. GROUND’S BAD STATE. The ground was in such a state after rain for several days, that an exhibition of spectacular Rugby was out of the question, as tiie ball soon became very heavy and greasy, and difficult to handle, with any degree of accuracy. Despite the unfavourable conditions the British backs gave fleeting glimpses of what they are capable, in in the way of snappy passing bouts, but these were not frequent, and the game resolved itself into a battle between two fine packs of forwards. There was little to choose between the two vanguards but the Britishers held a slight, advantage in the scrums. The visiting backs were given .more of the ball than, the Southland rearguard, but frequently the ball did not get past .S’pohg, ‘who often preferred to kick or attempt .to'cut through, rather than link'up with his supports. Altlipugh the two full-backs did not have a. great deal of solid tackTTug .to do, they were called on repeatedly to stop vigorous "fon? aid rallies and in their work both came - ■through with uying colours. '" EVEN AT HALF-TIME. . In the first spell, Southland had the sun at their backs and bad the advantage of wind and did the .bulk -of attacking, their efforts being rewarded with a penalty goal. Britain gained a try in this spell, after a series of rapid attacking movements. With the scores 1 even at half-time, it was thought, that Britain, with the wind behind them, would score comfortably but the South]andens contested every inch of the ground with the result that Britain were; able to add only one. more try,, and, a penalty goal.

- The game was marked , by numerous penalties, most of which were given against the Britishers. Early in the first half Diack kicked a penalty goal for Southland, and near the end of the spell, Reeve scored for Britain.

Rain and sleet were still pelting down when the second spell opened, handling being difficult. From a penalty Parker landed a line goal, and soon after Kendrew. scored a try in a handy position that Parker failed to convert. • v The game ended with play in Southland’s ground, with Britain 9, Southland 3. Mr G. Marston, Dunedin was referee. ' , THE GATE. INVERCARGILL, June 25. ■ The gate takings at to-day’s match Southland v. Britain, amounted, to £1500.", ■ •• . The attendance at ...the match was about 11,000. X.Z.R.U. MEETING.

WELLINGTON, .Tune 25

No trial match is to be played prior vo the second test match at Christchurch on July 6—i. This was decided upon by the New Zealand Rugby Union last evening, when three letters trom the Ashburton Rugby Union concerning the trial match, to be played by the All Blacks before the second tost were received.

The New Zealand Rugby Union at last evening’s meeting appointed A. J. Geddes (Southland) as manager of the All Black team for the second test. C. G. Porter was again appointed captain. . .

Mr Kingi Tahiwi, representative of the Maori Advisory Board oil the New Zealand Rugby Union, lias been appointed manager of the Maori team to play Britain in Wellington, on July 9th. ‘ - 7 1

“Wc are called on to make far too many definitions, and the game is becoming over-governed,” said- Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union at this evening’s meeting. when two requests for ruling were received from the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association. The rulings requested were: (1) “In all cases of kicks being taken in penalty awards can tlie opposing players .lined up passive on the mark charge immediately the ball is kicked, or must they remain passive, until the ball has passed them?” An answer to this was suggested that if the kick was finished, if the ball was on its downward flight, the players could charge. II not they must remain passive until the ball had passed them. The Union are considering that this was a question calling more for common sense than definite ruling, and declined to grvo definition. (2) “A defending player kicks the ball over bis own goal line and an attacking player' in attempting to pick up the ball with a view to touching down behind the posts, kicks the ball over the dead ball line. What decision should be given ?” The Union decided that a drop out at the 25 should bo awarded.

INTERNATIONAL RULES, j

N.Z. ADOPTION URGED

INYERCARG ILL. June 25

Speaking at tiic dinner to Die British team here this evening, Mr A. J. Decides said that he. was strongly in wivonr of New Zealand adopting the international Rules. Dr Adams, President of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said that he doped that before he relinquished office, New Zealand would fall into line with the res, ol the Empire in adopting International Rules. NELSON UNION’S GRIEVANCE. W ELLINGTON, June 2d. The New Zealand Rugby Union decided this evening to refer the results of the combined inquiries and activities of the Nelson Rugby Union and Nelson Progress .League concerning the cancellation ol the British team’s match at Nelson and the decision to play at Blenheim instead, to Mr Jas Baxter, manager of the British team. SATURDAY’S MATCH. IIMARL, June 25. Owing to injuries, two changes’have had to be made in the Columned Ash-burton-South Canterimry-N’orth Otago Lcain to meet the British team on Saturday. T. Trevalliam (North Utago/ will bo replaced in the live-eighths line by R. Hollow (North Otago), aim G. Sumpter (North Otago) will reI place L. Ross (North Otago) on the j wing. • WEST COAST RUGBY UNION. The usual meeting of the West Coast Rugby 'Union was held last evening at Greymoutb. L. Dewo, referee in the Kumara United junior match last Saturday, reported that. two players were ordered dn lor constant talking, it was decided to issue a caution in both instances. Referee Cutbusli in tlie ExcclsiorBlakecown match reported the ordering off of a Blaxetowu player. It being a first offence it was decided to issue a caution.

Tire .'vVestiand Sub-Union notified that the Kiwi senior team were unable to fulfil tlieir second round fixtures, owing to a number of injured players preventing the club from fielding a full fifteen. It was pointed out that if the Kiwi Club liaci ’ became defunct as a senior club, its players would be able to join any club they choose in elm Hokitika district.

Tiie Canterbury Rugby. Union notified that owing to the present state of tlieir competition it would be impossible to accede to the request to play a junior representative match, W est Coast v Canterbury, oil the date or the second test match on July sth. Jt was decided that owing to the Dittmau Shield fixture taking place between Hokitika and inangahua on Saturday, the Rival-Excelsior match set down. for decision be played at a mter date. ■■ ■ * ■■■■ FIXTURES. Senior (se.ond round); Cobden v. Stars at 3 p.m. B. ground Victoria Parle (Mr Yv inclioster); Brunner v. Blaketown at 3 p.m. A. grouiid Victoria Park (L. Dewe); United a bye. The remainder of the senior fixtures for the second round are as follows: Second draw: Rivals v. Brunner, United v. Stars, Cobden v. Excelsiors. Blake (own a bye. Third draw: Rivals v. Cobden, Stars v. Blaketown, United v. Excelsiors, Brunner a bye. Fourth draw: Blake Town v. Excelsiors, Stars v. Brunner, United v. Cobden, Rivals a bye. . ■' Fifth draw: Rivals v. United, Excelsior v. Brunner, Blaketown v. Cobclen, Stars a bye. Sixth draw: Rivals v. Stars, Bruu~ner v. Cobden, Blaketown v.* United, Excelsior a bye. Seventh draw: Rivals v. Blaketown, Brunner v. United, Excelsior v. Stars, Cobden a bye. EXCELSIOR CLUB’S APPEAL. N.Z. UNION REQUESTS INFORMATION. At ,last night s meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union the matter of the Excelsior Club’s appeal came up when a. letter was read from the Secretary of the New. Zealand Rugby Union, Mr SE. Neilson,, as follows: —“With reference to t-he appeal of the Excelsioi Club, Hokitika,, against your Union’s decision in the Brunner-Excelsioi match, I ain directed to draw your attention to the Excelsior Club s statement that in 1925 when there was a merger between the Union’s competi-

on and tbe Sub-Union’s competition, the boundary rules automatically »> came ineffecfve as far as senior players were concerned, and that for five years, with the knowledge of /vour Union, numerous players had crossed the old boundary to play in the competition, and their doing so lias not been questioned. Please advise for the information of my committee whether Rule 9 has been suspended since the merger, either actually permissibly, or tacitly. You make no reference to this in your letter, and T am directed to ask for vour report on the subject as soon as possible. Mr A. A. Adams (President): —The whole thing is whether Rule 9 has been suspended. As far as we know it lias never been done.

Mr O’Donnell: We should reply stating that no players had played otherwise than within' their correct. disVrts, and that previously to this all players had complied with the resklent ial qualifications. Mr O’Donnell moved that the matter be referred back to the New Zealand Union, stating that Rule 9 has never been suspended. Mr Mclntosh seconded the motion which was carried.