SPRINGBOKS' ITINERARY.

Shannon News, 19 July 1921, Page 4

SPRINGBOKS' ITINERARY.

The programme of matches arranged, is as follows: July 20, v. Wairarapa. July 23, v. Wellington July 27, v. West Coast. July 30, v. Canterbury. August 3, v. South Canterbury, August 6, v. Southland. August 10, v. Otago. August 13. v. New Zealand, at Dunedin (first* Test). August 17, v. Manawatu, August 20, v. Auckland. August 24, v.' Rotorua August 27, v. New Zealand, at Auckland (second Test)'.. August 31, v. Hawke’s Bay. September 3, v. New Zealand, at Wellington (final Test). September 6, v. Nelson) and,.Marlborough. SHANNON V. TOKOM7ARU. This match, played at. 'Shannon on Saturday, ended in a win for Toko. For some time after the kick-off it seemed as though Shannon would, have an easv win, all the play being in Toko's twenty-five, but With a good rush they brought the play into Shannon’s twenty-five, and in a space of about twenty minutes Shannon forced five times, Toko making great efforts to score. By a few good kicks to the line the Reds brought the play back to Toko’s twenty-five, and when the whistle went, fob half-time it seemed hard to pick, the winners. During the second spell, which was evenly contested, by a; good rush. Toko. got over, but failed! to convert. Toko 3, Shannon 0. Mr J. Smith refereed. SHANNON V. LEVIN JUNIORS. Keen interest was taken in this game, Levin having ttfe advantage in the pack, but Shannon, doing good open work, pressed (he visitors hard most of the time, play being confined to Levin’s twenty-five. In the first spell there was no score. In the second spell, Shannon’ scored 3 and Levin could not even matters. WANDERERS BEAT HUI MAI. As was predicted, ttae meeting of these old-time rivals -on Saturday produced a - great garme. There was no doubt about the interest that was created, in the match. The visitors were ■ accompanied by a strong following of supporters, whilst the local football public turned out in strong force, the attendance being about the largest seen in Cup fixtures pn the Domain during; 4 hc present season. The game, which ended in a win for the Wanderers by 8 points to 3, was hotly contested' throughout. Hui Mai was responsible for most of the attacking work, and in the first half were particularly prominent.. For fully half nil hour after* the kick-off, Hui Mai ’(green) made the pace and penned the >Vanderers (black) fn their twenty-five.*? Early in the play the attackers were given two chances to open the ir scoring account, bur both shots passed outside the posts. Fast play was taking place among the forwards, and the Green hookers getting the ball, several sharp passing bouts followed among their backs. Though the handling was good, the attacks did not gain much ground owing to Ihe smothering tactics, and solid collaring ’of the Blacks. Hui Mai forwards, well led by Boh George and D. Wilson, kept up the pressure, and splendidly supported by Porter, Taliiwi and Tfiiku in the b(i,ek division, kepi the Blacks defending. Martin marked in a handy position, but the attempt at goal again failed. At length Campion broke away from a line-out, and, 1 led the first, rush into the Green area, and penetrated beyond the twenty-five. Jacob took a shot at the Green goal without re-' suit. A scrum within striking distance gave Une Black backs an opportunity, and good passing work pushed Hui Mat back on their line. A tussle ensued among the forwards, and W., Winiata got across to draw first blood. The effort at goal was resultless. Wanderers 3, Hui Mai 0. The Greens, however, very soon equalled maiters. They swarmed into the Black twenty-five, and Johnson snapping up the ball, near the touchline, side-stepped the .full hack and raced over. No goal resulted, and the score was 3 all. Another sharp forward *rally. and good line kicking by Porter, had the Blacks again on the defensive. A penalty to the Greens right in front of the goal gave theni

an excellent chance; and what promised to be a successful kick was intercepted by the Wanderers’ forwards. Tommy Winiata gathered the ball from the feet of the charging Green pack, and saved well to the line. A loose rush followed the throw in, and Jacob sent out to Ford and L. McDonald. The Black forwards supported the rush to the Green line, and Campion got over and touched down. Jacob made no mistake with the kick. Wanderers 8, Hui Mai 3. That ended the spell. . The Blacks were compelled to force down early in the second half owing to the activity of the Hui Mai forwards, among whom Wilson, Ropafa., Bob George and Dimock were showing great form. The Blacks set up a counter offensive, which was stopped at the Green twenty-five by Porter. The Wanderers’ backs got very active, T. McDonald and Toha Winiata getting away ofi the blind side of a scrum, and Hannan, Ford, Tom Winiata, and L, McDonald further improved, the forwards rushing over and Hui Mai forced. From now on the play was fast and furious, with sonie brilliant dashes of individual work. Dalzell made a long pass to Johnson, who missed when the chance of a score seemed good. Hopa was doing excellent work at full back for the Blacks. Play moved from end to end of the grotind, each side attacking one minute and defending the next. Johnson made another good effort for Hui Mai and nearly got through. Porter’s work was first rate in any emergency. Jacob, Broughton and Norman led the last Black attack, which Clark checked. The Green forwards cleared in great style, and play was once more on the Wanderers’ side of half-way, when time was called.

Mr Burrows, of Shannon, controlled the game. - *

EVOLUTION OF RUGBY. “Jnv.enis,” in the Southland Times, writes as follows: The scoring in the North v. South Island game at Christchurch', 28-13, and the points tally of 30-22 in Possibles v. Probables in Wellington, will cause surprise in local football circles, and very few players or officials will stop to consider what it all means. Writing with the lessons of the former contest fresh in memory, it should be of interest to point out that these-totals are the result, of speeding up tfie game by means of the amended rules, the use of two balls on the line, swift refereeing and more than a passing acquaintance with the tactics and procedure of the Rugby League code. In fact these scores may be described as the outcome of the modern game of Rugby played according to the experience < and knowledge gained by players and officials far removed from Southland. This style of play has come to stay in Maoriland, and the province that fails to realise this fact is going to lag behind in the race for supremacy and representation in the ranks of New Zealand’s best, to which all youngfootballers aspire. The ancient play-, ers of a past generation, who in. many centres of the colony seek to keep the game at the standard of the days of their individual greatness, are going to have this brought very rudely to their doors in the near future, the up-to-date idea of- bright, sparkling play, with the scores ever mounting up and smartly-moving figures acting in perfect combinafion, is going to appeal to the budding performers of Australia and New Zealand, and Hie public will be with it all the time, and what the people who pay at the box-office' and gates say “goes.” The, fossils who fail to entertain the truth of this argument are going to be deposed from power from one end of New Zealand to the other, and. with them to the scrap-heap will go the old-time game with its defensive tactics of everlasting line-kicking, prolonged scrumming, strenuous packing on the line-out, and slow, erractic, and long-winded passing. Intense coaching and careful cultivation of speedy methods and swiftness of gait are required to enable the'modern game to be presented effectively, and the sooner this-great truth is grasped the better it will he for all concerned. In the meantime, the North Inlanders have advanced on the path of progress to an extent not yet realised in this part, of the world, and the sooner the authorities in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland are up and doing, the bet-, ter, otherwise sure and certain defeat stares them in the face, while All. Black honours will be placed beyond their reach until such time as they have slowly and painfully retrieved their respective positions. At present the young and active players of southern provinces who have travelled, abroad in war and sport have sized up the situation, and they entertain very unkind opinions of the narrow-mind-ed men who clog the wheels of progress by clutching Hhe reins of power and adhering to their ancient ideals and tactics of bygone days. Swift pltiy, speedy and accurate passing go

with the amended rules, and what’ the League 'game has disclosed and glorious youth arid the paying public demand is that “the writing on the puired to enable the modern game to ted.