RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 27 July 1929, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE WING FORWARD

‘A PEST, A BLOT, AND A HYBRID”

..The following article appeared in U*P ‘‘Dominion'’ on the evolution of the wing forward:— "The original wing-forward was probably what is iio\v caned in England a winging forward—i.e., a player who is not fond of the legitimate work of the scrum but bangs off as much as lie can, and makes the raiding of the opposing backs 1 1 is main, purpose. A player hi the New Zealand team of 1004 is described as a fast wing-forward, but it is not recorded that that combination made the playing of wing-forwards part, of its system. In the mid-'eigfities, wing-forwards were played by some districts. In 1005 Otago played them against Canterbury, in whoso team wingers were not included. From that time forth wing-forwards were not played by Otago, but L believe that in 1006 J. E. Smith and J. M. King, were played in that capacity by Wellington. About this time the game appears to have developed on different lines in the two Islands. In the South it became the general practice to play six backs and nine forwards, while in the North (although Wellington played two halves and nine forwards against the Englishmen in 1080) the fashion, grew in the direction of a pack of eight with seven backs, three of which were hallhacks. This latter formation was played by Auckland in 1087, and by the Native team in 1888 when setting out on its tour of the Old Land and Australia. The two islands stuck to their respective formations for some years. » "Ellison's Idea” t The late T. It. Ellison, in his book, tells ns that in 1091, when playing halfback for his dub, there was borne in upon him the necessity for the provision of protection for the half-hack —i.e., the footer at the base of the scrum. Ho seems to have made some effort during the southern tour that year to put his idea-to the test, because in the Otago match, though nominally playing as one of three half-hacks, it is written that ho and an opposing forward butted and humped one another throughout I lie game. In 1092 Ellison put his. idea into full execution, and his club (I’uneke) became, in this island at least, the pioneer of the seven-scrum and wingforward’s part (and an illegitimate part it has to be admitted), whose mission was to "protect the scrum half-back, a position -which was filled by J. Pudney, his protecting wing men being 11. Lee and It. 01 ipliant. These three players filled the same positions in the Wellington representative team, which in that year, tike the Poneke Club, had the distinction of having an unbeaten record.”

Referee Alters Decision. In a Club match at Blenheim last Saturday the referee had cause to reverse his decision. He awarded a try, and then noticed that the touch judge’s flag was up. He ordered a line out, thus reversing his decision to award the try. His ruling was a correct one. A note on Law 26 is fully explanatory and reads as follows: —‘‘It the referee award a try not having noticed that the flag was up for touch the law regarding altering Ji is decision does not apply as the ball, having previously gone into touch, was out of play, and nothing which happened afterwards had any bearing on the game. This does not affect the right of the referee to over-rule the touch judge’s decision if, in his opinion, the ball or the player carrying it had not been in touch.”

Games for Marlborough. In order to give tlie Marlborough representatives some representative football before their challenge for the Seddon Shield, the Marlborough Union has asked the Golden Bay-Motueka Union if an exchange of matches could bo arranged, Bays to play at Blenheim on 17th August and Marlborough to play at Motueka. on Wednesday, 21st August, thence proceeding to Nelson (if the Shield remains) play for the trophy on Saturday. The gates are lo be shared on n 50-50 basis. Helping the Schools. ' Grants are made annually by the New Zealand Rugby Union to its affiliated unions for the encouragement of the game in the schools. It was decided by the Management Committee this week that this year’s grants bo as follows: North Auckland £2O, Bay of Plenty £25, Taranaki £2O, Manawhenua £3O, Golden Bay-Motueka £2O, West Coast £25, North Otago £lO, Canterbury £lO, Nelson £2O, Bush Districts £ls, East Coast*£ls, Auckland £2O, ITawkes Bay £lO, Thames Valley £ls, Poverty Bay £2O, Wanganui £2O, Wairarapa £2O, Marlborough £2O, Otago £lO, South Canterbury £2O, Southland £ls, Buller £2O. Wellington £lO, King Country £2O, Waikato £2O, and Ashburton £lO. All Blacks’ Record 1 . The following table shows the results of tlie matches so far played by (lie All Blacks in Australia.

Summary: Matches played, 0; won, 5; lost, 2; drawn, 1.

Teams played. New South Wales ... 1’esult. Points F. A. Drawn 0 0 Newcastle ‘ Won 35 8 Australia (1st Test) Lost 8 9 New South Whales ... Won 22 9 Australia Won 25 d Com. Country Team Won 27 8 Australia (2nd Test) Lost 9 17 Queensland Won 27 0 Points for, 153; against, 55.