Football.

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 9

Football.

(By ''Onlooker.''; interpro. j>m;n:sir-. Six matches on Ro:;hy i’nn;. Union head Saiuntay cmnpep.iiorn Service played a great gane- on Thursday. Blue forwards made a good showing against 'Kiwi. Athletic and Star fought a keen game; both extended. Banks and Law did no: get going against Public Service. Waikiwi team unfortunate with casualties and olaverl short. The "speculated'* goal by Wtukiv/i caused a great deal of controversy. Let your skipper do the appealing Fortune and save your wind for efiorts when Called U|-on! illegal tackling and pn.-hing from behind is becoming too common in club matches. Referees please note. Bine barks too slow off the mark, their passing m-h io : ng tiding transfers that did not gain imt'di ground. Davidson 1 -hh. i to - Bl’.te pack knows how to feci his in---’;.-, lair his openings were often spoil by s!-.,v movements. He i sound tut defence. Bunks and Law forwards were up against it with Pr.:.!’- Service and failed to stature the ball for th ir hacks, tire scrum being badly packed.

Public Service forwards made use of every’ opportunhy that came thir way on Phursday end the victory of the Blacks was iue to their u; ci'iority in forward play. The Dalgleish brothers combine nicely, but Jack is at time- inclined to run too wide and cramp his wingers and attendant backs. This was nrticeable many times against Banks and Law and !o a t some good openings.

I The solid defence of J. Lilley and Odghton (half) was mainly responsible for the j result of the score against Star on Thursday. Lilley in the closing stages, when i Oughton he.d left through an injury, doing I a great amount of effective work. The reconstructed Athletic team played | with more heart and was perhaps unfor- | tunate in having a ruling going against ! them. The addition of Leith, a Woodlands ; junior, greatly strengthened the Green van- ■ guard as fie played a great game and his kicking created a sensation. The kick at ’;o;;l that was disallowed being a great cf- ; fort.

The Public Service v Banks and Law match provided a fast and interesting contest and tlie followers of Wetlnesday football. who saw the game were greatly impressed by the manner in which both the teams threw the ball about. Several spectacular incident? also added to the game and kept the spectators interested from start to finish.

In thrir match against Banks and Law the Public Service forwards put up a great game and held control for the greater part giving their backs every opportunity to open play. The hookers. Cameron and Hunter, secured the ball from the majority of the scrums, hut on a few neons’% is it hung in the back row, spoiling the work accomplished by the front row men. In the loose Cameron was prominent and his following was rewarded by a good try when he and Gilmour had a great race for the ball, Cameron winning. He handled to advantage and is always ready to take part in a passing rush when opportunity offers. Anderson at lock held his scrum together well and in the tight work was always willing to get into it and add his weight to thy pack. Langbein and ciproat were the best of the Service forwards and the latter had a day out playing a great game throughout. lie handled the ball well and his try was a fine one, he having to run half the length of the lield to reach the line. His ability to handle enable'l him on many occasions to clear when Banks were looking dangerous. Langbein played his usual solid game and when in the open was always in the vicinity of the ball giving the Banks' backs no opportunity to get away unmolested. lie would do well, however, to curb his tongue a? excessive talking makes a player unpopular. Stoho as winger played a good spoiling game and gave the opposing half little chance to get the bail away- cleanly.

The Service backs handled weJI at times, nut many of their passing movements were spoilt by their centre, O'C'allaghan, failing to connect or send on hi> pass to his winger. L. Dafgletsh at half combined well with his brother and they brought off many pretty moves. He was sound on defence and gathered the ball well when danger threatened his line, .1. Dalgleish at first five gave a good exhibition and saved hia forwards on every possible occasion. His defence was good, but at times he was too fond of running across the field and cramping his attendant backs. Macdonald at second five eighths was out of position but his transfers showed an improvement on many of his previous games. He was prominent in many loose rushes, joining in with the forwards to advantage. The Service wingers. Fortune ami Saunders, played well and the iormer showed plenty of flash, while hia kicking, although he landed no goals, was flood. O'Connell at full bock rook no risks and was content to find the line whenever pressed. lie stopped many dangerous forward rushes.

Ihe Banks’ forwards were up against it and could not give their I tacks any assistance. Ihe serum was badly packed and the lock appeared to have little idea of holding a scrum together with the result that Service obtained the larger share of the hall. On the however, the Banks put u;. a better fight, but could not hold Cameron, Sproat and Stobo. The winger, Wilcox, was out "f position and knew little of the posit,un he was playing in. On many occasions instead of helping his backs to tho Rail he hindered them by kicking it back m'.o tin- scrum. Irving ptlayed a good game in the loose and his centre that led up to Hankd try was a well timed kick. Prvde. Broughton ami Kirkland also added their quota to the work of the Banks’ pack and were most prominent in the open, A few nights spent in packing scrums would repay the Banks team, and perhaps stop another repetition of game. in:* first win of the f nve re argil! side was popular, and the team I, serve every credit for the manner in which they* have stuck to training. The forwards again-d Waikiwi played right up to the whistle, and never let up, giving the Waikiwi backs plenty of defensive work !o do. Garrett and Whitaker led ih<- Blue pack with great dash, and the Iry with which the latter finished a good forward movement was well deserved. Garrett shone in loose work and broke many attempted passing lushes of the Waik;wi backs. On the line Whitaker user! his reach to advantage and gathered the bull in good style, both players when opportunity offered swiftly transferred the ball from the line out to the waiting 1 alf. U’Byrm* was also prop, nt-pt in the loose, and his tackling was hard and clean. The pick of trie rest of the pack was, perhaps, .Miliar, who played a hard game, while the Rice brothers obtained a fair share of the ball in the scrums. The stylo used by the Blues for packing the back row will bring them trouble when they meet, a big pack that pets well into the scrums. On Thursday Waikiwi were short of forwards, and the loose back row of the Blue pack was nor. called upon to exert itself much, but when called upon to put its whole weight into a .-erum the loose i nek row fails, as the players are not in a position to push to the be.-t advantage. The Invercargill rearguard contains nippy players, but at present they are individualists failing to combine with any preeisinn. Their passing rushes gained little ground, ail the players standing while they received and delivered their passes If the Blue rearguard is going to be an attacking machine the members will have to move while they are throwing the ball about. Standing passes are spectacular, but they do not make any headway. The rearyard as individuals played well, and its defence was sound. I.opdell shouldered the greater part of tho defence, but was ably backed by Vial _nd Davidson. The two latter worked well together in passing nmvtments, Davidson’s serum passes being well duected and would have yielded better results had Vial taken

them when moving. Waikiwi was a disorganised team and played short throughout. At half-time Kourchier was compelled to retire, further weakening the team. Whyte, Pay (2) and Acton played big games in the forwards, but their efforts, although goon, failed to make er. impression on the opposing defence. Floane until he was injured played well, but the injury over his eye made a marked difference m his play. The Waikiwi hacks lac Led cohesion, and the Invercargill forwards gave them little opportunity to do an. - attacking work., horde at centre discomfited the Blue rearguard on many occasions by his anticipatory powers, and cut off many passes. Knight was strong on defence and his running straight and strong. Half-back Wills showed much better on defence and always appeared where trouble was thickest. His short line kicks saved his team on many occasions, and when he hams how to get a ball away will be a dangerous half. Fullback Darragh played better football and' his line finding was good. He still persists in waiting for the bounce and got into trouble more than once by doing so. The ruling of the referee in allowing Waikiwi the goal kicked from a “specu-

lator” has caused much argument among Rugby follower*, and is the first one on record in Invercargill f'v many years. The only other recorded being in a match Town v. Georgetown many years ago. The rule governing goals states hit a goal may be kicked from any place kick other than the kick-off, and the whole question hinges upon the definition of the word “place.’’ In the incident under consideration the ball was dropped by a player, and as it was lying upon the ground a forward put his boot into it, sending it over the bar. There are similar incidents on record where a goal has been allowed, but the rule covering how a goal can be scored, con.dined with that which defines a place kick, makes it quite clear that a goal cannot Le obtained unless the ball has been placed for the definite purpose of being kicked. The incident opens up a wide field for argument, and many interesting proposifons can be advanced from it.

On No. 2 ground Union beat Bluff. Both sides were fit and the game was hard and fast to the end. Both teams gave a fine exhibition of open forward play, with flashes of good back play. The back? got few chances I '*t away, but this was not to be wondered , for the two wing forwards, Stewart ‘ .don) and Donovan (Bluffl, were above the average, and as soon as the ball was sent out of the scrum they were on it like lightning. The Bluff pack met their match in the fast Union forwards, and although they had more weight in the scrum they were slower in open play. Cockroft led his pack well, although at times he would not go into forward scrambles when ids weight was needed. He got away often on his own from line outs, and had a big share in both of Union’s tries. Mills anil Murray hooked well in the scrum, while in the open they were quick to seize opportunities. Stewart had an opponent worthy of his steel in Donovan, and there was a great contest between the two —honours about even. Union’s backs were very slow in the few passing rushes they attempted. It is a pity they cannot, get a little more combination t,n get the ball out to their three-quarters, for in Roberts and Stapley they have two good scoring men. They will never be a winning team until they do. I.ack of practice seems to be the matter. Midcliemiss at full back had a lot of work to do and he played fairly well. Like the Bluff man he was inclined to wait for the bounce of the ball.

The Bluff forwards were only a little behind their opponents, but were with one exception too slow in the loose. The exception was Donovan, who played a great game. Time and again in following a kick he was down on the Union bticks the instant they hail taken the ball, and he often took play half the length of the field in a single sprint. His try was obtained byfollowing a drop kick at goal. Following up seems to have become a lost art in these days, and it was refreshing to watch the play of the Bluff wing forward. Budd would do well to get another two fast men to support him in his runs. Trernbath anil Winter were prominent in loose work, while the Bluff skipner held his pack together well in scrum work.

The Bluu backs were an improved side, and they got off one or two good passing rushes, rather slowly though. Brown broke away well and was often instrumental in getting the rearguard moving. Long, on the wing, was starved. On the one occasion that he got away he drop-kicked for goal. This is a habit of Long and one that he should cheek. On Thursday he was close to the line, going at full speed, when he kicked, his chance of getting the ball over being about 1 in 5, while his chance of scoring a try was good. Swale at full back was patchy. At times he kicked splendidly; hut he often waited too long and got his side into tight corners, fie watched the man following up when fielding a difficult ball, and was usually caught, in possession. His habit of waiting for the ball to bounce nearly cost Bluff a try in the second spell. When a Union back kicked up in front of the posts —an easy kick to take—Swale wailed for the bounce, missed it, and the ball rolled across the line.

The Banks’ backs did not pet. going, and when they did the hustling Service forwards gave them little chance to make use of ‘heir chances. The full-back, Gibbs, put up a feeble opposition and mast, of his clearing kirks were charged down, : llowing the Service park to make things hot for the rest of the Banks' backs. Dykes, at half, played a solid game but was starved behind the scrums by his forwards, while a little more support might have been given him by the first five-eighths. St. George at second-live made many good saves, tu d many of his cut-ins wore well timer!. Gilmour at centre was inclined at times to overrun his companion and would do better if lie played a trifle deeper. He used little judgment with the free kicks he took, making his forwards cover a lot of unnecessary ground. A line kick now and again five.- the forwards a chance to pet together and clear. Prain and I.opdell on the wings did not have much to do, hut the la'R'r is, however, too keen upon speculating and trying to get the maximum result with a minimum of effort. Train is a sound defensive player and never risks a speculator, a good point, and should when he heeon.es more experienced play well. Of the Wellington Rugby representatives who played in the famous match against Harding's Fnglish team, twelve years ago, it is interesting to record that A. ("Hanji t Wilson is the only player now donning the jersey, and is still among the best ol V, ellington's forwards. On the occasion of the Knglish match two medal- were awarded hy the Post proprietors for the best forward and best bark of the loci’, team, and enthusiastic voting hy the pubhc placed Wilson tin easy first in his department, and U. Green (the half-back) was voted the best, of the backs. Wilson is now cap'.ain of the Athletic senior fifteen. Among other Wellington men who played in the big match were George Spencer, H. D. Thomson, A. Lvens.on, W. Wallace, F. Roberts, and W. Ilardham, all of whom are still resident in Wellington, C. Green am! W. Ready are at Petone, F. Mitchinson is Liming id Raetihi, .1, Hamilton is in the Waikato and is a member of the Hamilton Rugby Union, and D. Rush is on the West Coast. The deaths are recorded of the otb?*. members of the team, A. C. ("Ham’.i W.ison, 11. Dewax, and W, Alexander, <he two first-mentioned being killed at the front. The result of the 1908 match was a win for Wellington hy ]fl points to Id points, and ihe attendance was estimated at 20.000. Following shows the position of the different clubs in Ihe Banner contest. Ofautau bring easily in the lead; Otautau 6 Riverton 3 Orepuki 2 Waiau Rovers 1 Nightcaps 0 The [>opularity of the Rugby game of foo..ball with those who like to indulge in field sports was evidenced at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, when a return was presented, showing that ,here are twenty unions, sixtyeight sub-ufiions and 20 OG4 players under the jurisdiction of the iimon. These totals are comprised as follow.Auckland, 22 sub-unions, 258 clubs or teams, 5160 players; South Auckland, 9, 54, 1020; Bay of Plenty, 5, 24, 600; Poverty Bay 2, 19, 456 ; Taranaki, i 24, 959; Vv’anganui, 6, 54, 1204 ; Mat, iwatu, 1, 27, 425; Hawke’s Bay, 5, 31, 1120; Bush District, 1, 20, 360; Wtdrnrapa, 1, 11. 320; Horowhenu'a 0, 3, 162; Wellington. 0, 79, 1500; Marlborough, 0, 5, 190; Nelson. 2, 14, 510; Buller, 0, 7, 396; West Coast. 1, 10, 300; Canterbury - . 4. 20, 1780; South Canterbury, 0, 11. 515; Otago, 6, 117, 2420; Southland, 3, 39, 630, Totals, 20 unions, 68 sub-unions, 20,064 players. The return excludes prunary schools.

Some amusing sidelights were thrown on club football at Porinia at the last meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union. One correspondent wrote to the effect that he would not referee in a game at the village under any circumstances, as recently he was “frightened off the ground by two Maori women” and had to “go for his life.” A member of the union recalled that in a certain mutch at Porirua one of the players took advantage of a fight that was in progress on the ground, and stealing away unobserved scored a try. Another letter received by the union complained of the state

of the Porirua playing ground, which was likened by the correspondent to a “slaughter yard.” The union decided to instruct the Porirua Club to put its field in decent order.

WEDNESDAY COMPETITION. Plvd. Won. Lost. Drn. For.Agst.Pts. Star .. .. 5 4 0 1 37 24 9 W:iikiwi .. 5 2 3 0 51 32 4 Athletic .. 4 1 2 1 24 42 3 In’gill .. 4 1 3 0 15 29 2 SATURDAY COMPETITION. Plvd. Won. Drn. Lost. For. Agst.Pts. Union .. 4 3 0 1 31 21 6 Banks & Law 4 2 0 2 43 41 4 P. Service . 4 2 0 2 35 27 4 Bluff .. 4 1 0 3 23 43 o