RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19473, 7 May 1925, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

By Fttli. Back. ' _ The local football season was opened- in ideal weather, and the followers of the game showed they had lost no interest in the game by turning out in large numbers to witness the various contests. The main attraction was the match between University A and Southern at Carisbrook. The game was fast and open, with plenty of spectacular incidents. I was not impressed with the showing of the Blue forwards, and if they do not do better in their later games their backs will have their defence well tested. The scrum work of the Blues .was poor, and the Southern pack, in which are included a number of young players,' well held thoir own with their more experienced opponents. In fact, the Colours’ forwards did not suffer by comparison ns regards hooking the ball from the scrums and the loose work. In the linc>-out play the Southern forwards were also equal to the Blues, but when it came to handling the ball in passing rushes the Blue forwards easily held the advantage. The Blue backs also got plenty of the ball, and the Colours’ forwards were very tired when the final whistle went. Bryant, Hogan, Highley, and Fox all played hard for Southern, and Bain was showing out towards the end of the game. On the Blue side the All Black Munro was seldom seen, but he and his fellow-front ranker, M'Cluggage, were not getting a solid push from their back men. Moreover, the tactics adopted by Highley and Bain, the opposing hookers, may have nullified the attempts of the other side to get the ball. Dickson played well in the open, as so did Davie (wing-forward). , The Southern backs are speedy, but lack, experience. Neipier, - five-eighth, was in the game from start, to finish, and Peterson and Judge played fair garnes ; -The ;chief fault of • the Sbuthern backs' is that, they pass too quickly, and also get rid of the ball when they are in better positions than the -man they pass to. One great asset of a back is to be able to make an opponent come right to him before passing the hall. Probble should know, where his five-eighths are before he passes from the scrum, and vary his plav more. _ Pox secured a try through Prebble changing hia tactics on one occasion. Webb secured five tries for the Blues, — one awarded by the referee was open to doubt. Ho took the ball Well, and used his pace, but Scoles, the Southern full-back, might have stopped him on one occasion if he had used more judgment. Webb, however, took full advantage of all the chances which came his way and played a. fine' ’-(■game. Everyone was pleased to see Murray play a sound game at centre three-quarter. His injtfred kneevseemed to stand the strain v’.; placed on it, and he w r ill be of invaluable ‘ ‘ assistance to the Blues and Otago. Murray : -was in practically every passing movement, f and he knows the exact moment at which >’■ to get rid of the ball. Johnston, half-back, . was not well served bv his forwards. Gilherd, Aitken, and M'Clymortfc all played good games. After seeing M'dymont play I. at five-eighths at Tahuna Park last year, I have always considered his place is fiveeighth. Stevenson, full-back, fielded the' ' ball beautifully and kicked well. He was ■; T ot i * n k ,s place, however,, when Fox and Judge broke away with, good runs to score. Alhambra and Dunedin, who met at Bishooscourt, provided a poor game. Play was very dull at the start, but towards the <v end of the first half Dunedin made the | pace lively. In the second spell Alhambra ■. had the upper hand all through, but they 'were unable to score. The Alhambra , ' backs ate young and green, and their play was poor. Mishandling spoiled what move- “ ments were originated, and the bulk of the ■' play was left to the forwards. Persons, at kicked with, judgment, but he • lacks speed in getting to the ball. Davis, who played at half-back, is too small for First Grade football. Ho stood too close to the scrum, but that is a fault which can easily be remedied. Hia display.- however, ■ iWas very creditable. No one of the Bed forwards was particularly prominent. Glengarry, who played at scrum-half last years, is playing this season in the front row and is captain of the team. The Red hookers were getting the ball, but in most cases it stayed in the back row. There were few good scrums during the game. played soundly. The Dunedin pack played a loose game. Collett was in good form, but what he needs is experience. Butler played well until he was injured. The forwards were a fairly even lot. The backs had little to do. Collins was playing at second five-eighth, and ho was fairly sound. Pirates proved much too strong for University Bon Saturday. The students were in all departments of the game, and the heavier Black forwards carried the Blues off their feet in a monotonous series of rushes. The Pirates team was practically that of last year, while, with a very few exceptions, the University team were newcomers and not yet used to playing together. The beat football. was seen in the forward division throughout. Both full backs played well, and although Nicholson, the Blue full back, had not the experience of Walker, still he was invaluable to hia side and played a fine game, and he should do even better its the season progresses. Walker, at full back for Pirates was very sound, but he did not reappear in the second half. In the five-eigths lines, on both sides, there seemed to be a hitch. Erratic passing and useless cutting in spoilt a lot of good open play and passing rushes. Stewart was not up to his colleague’s form, and for the Blues Ross did not prove a workable partner for Mitchell, who was playing good football all through. Mitchell, has speed, and with a better knowledge, of when to pass and when to run he will be worth his place in the team. Sligo, for tho Blues, was very slow, and could not get the ball away the few times the forwards' got tho ball ' out to him. Hannan, Lamb, and Williams played well when given the chance, but the chance so seldom came. Williams, the new arrival from Christ’s College, shaped well, but did not do as well as he might had the ball been thrown about a bit more and tho Blue play made more open. Lamb made hia presence known on several occasions, and was responsible for one’ of the best scores of tho day. Tho Blue three-quarters were no match, however, for their more .seasoned opponents, Morgan and Wise. Wise played an excellent game, which he marred at times by taking his passes offside. Morgan, though good at times, did not come up to his usual form, and his display was indeed disappointing. Lodingham would have been sadly missed in tho scrum had he been taken to represent tho A’s. Southgate was about the only other Bine forward, who shone at all, but Hindemach, Gedcles, and Wilson should improve as the season advances. One or two other new men this year con--11 ot be judged until a little more has been seen of them. For Pirates Maulo was a tower of strength in more ways than one, and Rodgers, who has come from the High School First Fifteen, showed promise and fully justified his inclusion, in first grade football. The Milnes, Brough, and Pierce, with Malloch and Henderson at times, worked hard in the scrums. The whole pack was good to watch, and will certainly be the Blackteam’s greatest asset when Pirates meet the better teams in the competition. The backs •will peed some strengthening if tho skull and crossbones is to head tho list of senior teams this season. Kaikorai-Taieri Rovers was a hard, even game, and for the first game of the season the forwards lasted surprisingly well. Both sides possess a number of young backs who will gain jn experience as the season advances. Grieve, tho ex-Kaikorai player, played a sound game at half back for Taieri, and M’Pheaf was very prominent among the forwards. L. Williams was the best forward on the ground, and appears to have quite returned to his form of a couple of seasons ago. M'Meeking and bonntag also showed fine form. One of tho Taieri backs would De well advised to take a timely warning and drop some of his tactics!, otherwise he will be landing himself into trouble with tho authorities. I expect to see a big improvement in the play of both teams once they have properly settled down. T. Cuhitt, the Taieri coach, has some good material to work on. The Taieri players ought to , improve with efficient coaching. The match between JZingari-Richmond and Union, played at the North Ground, did not provide many outstanding incidents. One thing which requires attention at the North Ground is the crowding by the spectators over tho line. A little organisation should prevent the practice. As regards tho game itself, the hill forwards proved too strong for tho Maroons. Proctor played a good game, and was prominent in moat of the attacking movements. Brlen, Ravonswood. and Wtldgooae were a hard-working trio in tho forwards. Hie , Maroon forwards battled hard against the stronger opposing pack, and on the run of the play did very well. Mulhcm and Flown were prominent in tho fonyarda, and tie backs -were responsible

at times for good individual play. Tho Maroon backs lack combination. This may come,- however, as the season advances, . Notes. All Black Munro injured his knee again in thp University-Southern match on Saturday, ‘ and will not play for a few Saturdays. L. G. Townsend, who played at first fiveeighth for Otago last season, is again playing for the Alexandra Club. C. Diack, who played wing three-quarter for University, is filling the position of centre threequarter for the same club.. _ Feeling reference to the “passing West’ of many stalwarts of Rugby during the past twelve months was made by Mr H. Frost (president) at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby ’Union. Among the number referred to were: Dr A. K. Newman, M.L.C., pasbprpsident and a loyal supporter of the game; Dr H- E. Hiddlestone, of Christchurch, an old player and referee, and a member of last year 9 Appeal Committee: and Mr George Williams, a member of the 1888 New Zealam. team which toured Great Britain. MiFrost stated that the late Mr Williams was on interested spectator both at the depar ture and return of tho 1924 All Blacks. Sincere sympathy was extended to relatives and as a mark of fespect to the memory of the deceased gentlemen all delegates stood in silence. In the opinion of Mr H. Frost, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, a further effort should bo made to keep for Rugby’s sole use the All Black jersey and fern leaf emblem, and he thinks that if all other means fail the assistance of Pariiment should be sought to safeguard Rugby s ■ undoubted rights in-this connection. ‘This uniform.” he says, “ was first worn by our ■All Blacks in 1884, 41 yeara agq.’ This team played in Now South XV ales, and fi ve Otago players were included. It won every match of the eight played. Charlie Seeling, the great forward of tho J. 905 All Blacks, who went over to the League in 1910, and played for the Wigan team in England for years, recently had a benefit match played for him, and two other stalwarts of tne League code, Coldrick, a Welsh international,, and Walford, an old member of the club. During the discussion on questions of finance at the annual meeting of delegates, held last week, Mr Prendeville moved that tho Management Committee he directed to supply detailed statements of each match played in future, and tho motion was carried. Mr H. Harris (Otago) drew attention to the item of £740 set down in the expenditure for assembling and outfitting the New Zealand, team for' England. He pointed out that tho English Rugby Union had made a profit of £21,000 out of tho All Black tour, and he did not see that, it should cost New Zealand anything. Mr G. 11. Pownall (Wanganui) said New Zealand was not a poverty-stricken union. A bargain had been made with tho English Union, and it would • be bad form to go back on that now. Mr S. S. Dean pointed out that the English Rugby Union had made the N.Z.R.U. a concession of £SOO, and had also voted thorn £3OO for the week which was saved in England by the trip through Canada. A bargain had been made, and should be adhered to. A motion by Mr Harris that a demand should be made upon the English Rugby Union for the £7CO was defeated. Had the informs, tion given by Mr Doan boon included in the balance sheet, probably there would have been no argument over the point. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union the "Hawke’s Bay delegate moved —“The union holding the Ranfurly Shield shall have the option of accepting a challenge in connection with matches to be played by the union's team whilst on tour. After discussion the matter was hold over for a year. At present, challenges have to bo in by July 1, and approved by the New Zealand Union. , Dr Sinclair, New full-back in 1923, who is now residing in Taranaki, was nominated for a seat on the Management Committee of tho Taranaki Rurrby Union, but he did not score enough es. A long discussion took place at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union regarding the replacement of injured players during a game. ’ In England no replacements are allowed under any consideration. It is against the laws of the game and against the spirit, of tho game. The meeting failed to come to a definite conclusion. CHARGE BT SCOTTISH UNION. At a meeting of the International Rugby Board at Edinburgh a few weeks ago a grave charge was made against the Welsh Rugby Union that they had definitely and' flagrantly broken the laws of amateurism and had professionalised themselves and their players. This sensational allegation was the result of the special training indulged in at Porthcawl by tho Welsh team prior to the international game with tho all Blacks at St. Helens on November 29 It will bo remembered that tho whole Welsh team, with reserves, spent a week in training at Porthcawl, According to the Athletic News, the Scottish Union alleges. that on that occasion the Welsh Union professionalised themselves by the following acts: — 1. Paying train fares for those players amounting to nearly £2O. 2. Paying taxi fares for players amounting to £6. 3. Paying £6B for hotel expenses for players at Porthcawl; and 4. Paying £l2O to players in lieu of wages they had lost through being in training at Porthcawl instead of following their ordinary vocations. In an interview Mr Walter Bees, the secretary of the Welsh Union, was guarded in his statements. “Of course,” he said, "the. players had tbp special training at Porthcawl, and tho Welsh Union paid their hotel expenses. But to suggest that tho Welsh Union paid them wagp s for work lost is “865011116 buncombe.’ ” It is curious how the Scottish Union officials obtained the figures, as no balance, sheet has yet been certified by the responsible officials of the Welsh Union (Dr Rooyn Jones, Mr James Jarrett, and Mr Walter Rees) with regard to the New Zealand match. There the matter now rests, as apparently the Welsh reprsentatives on the International Board were able to convince their colleagues that there had been no offence.,