Rugby.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 14

Rugby.

_The Game and its* Players*.

Few people anticipated that a very e.lose content would result from the meeting of Ponsonbv and City on No. at Eden Park on Saturday. Neither did the Rugby Union officials, and, when the crowd watching the big game on No. 1 got an inkling from the scoreboard of what was happening on the outside ground, and commenced to drift in hundreds in that direction, there was some little apprehension as to how the spectators would be controlled on the unroped side lines. As play moved up the paddock, the spectators downfield would encroach on the field to follow its progress, turning tail and running back to touch at the least sign of the play returning—which, judging by the keen nature of the play, rhey were well advised to do. Although this form of exercise was perhaps appreciated by those who had got '•old feet sitting in the stands or on the terrace, it would be advisable to have the area roped at all times in order to avoid encroachment, which at limes might influence-the course of a game, or possibly cause injuries to players or spectators. Useful Schnauer If good honest forwards are to be eulogised, as well they might be, consider Schnauer, Potter, and Brooker, three forwards from the GrammarVarsity packs, which met on Saturday. Brooker has been a University utility man for years. He has football in his blood, for his father, F. . J. Brooker, played for New Zealand in 3 897. Schnauer has always been one of Grammar’s best forwards. I-Ie is a worker from whistle to whistle. * # • Karl Ifwerson Kicks A feature of the Ponsonby-City clash on Saturday was the remarkable kicking of Karl Ifwerson, who again proved himself to be the genius of the City backs, and the idol of a large crowd. All eight points scored by City were the result of Ifwerson’s efforts. lie scored a dashing try right in the corner, converting it himself from the side-line. Later he kicked a great penalty goal from almost the same position. The crowd had to open a lane for the veteran to get room for his famous long run, with the quick change of step in the middle. Abbott (Training College) and Wilson (College Rifles)) are other players whose boots have been valuable to their teams. Stuart (Marists), who, mainly through his remarkable kicking, was at the head of the scoring table until well on in last season, is not being given so many opportunities to distinguish himself. * • ♦ Nominations Fine player though he is in club football, L. Hook is lucky to have precedence over Abbott in the nominations for the All Black trial on June 3. Similarly, A. Knight has hardly justified his preferment since the fine game he played on opening day. With ordinary luck. Palmer,. Fin lay son, and Butler should all find places in. the Northern trial team, and their prospects of a trip to aysuyua bcwu good. Hook’s would be better if he had not played so much below form when given chances in big football before. * » • Rifles Up and Down Ever up and down, Rifles ran true to form last Saturday fn following their win over Grammar with a defeat at the hands of Technical. For Technical, Couper, on the wing, continues to be an efficient scoring machine. Endowed with pace and safe hands, this lad will be worthy of the selector’s attention if he fulfils his promise. * * * Otago Surprise Dunedip Rugby followers got a shock last Saturday, when Kaikorai, who bad downed Varsity A the week before, went down to Taieri. Finlayson, a* brother of the northern players, is Taieri’s star forward. He is a long way from his native heath. Varsities All Beaten All the four Varsity teams which won the-titles in the main centres last season have now been beaten this year. Victoria University (Wellington) preserved its record the longest, but crashed narrowly on Saturday to Poneke, whom the students beat in a very hectic final last year. Various Locks When Kahu. the big Manukau lock, handles the ball, the crowd always sits up in anticipation of seeing him give it a go. but despite his weight, he is not hard to bring down, and when he

falls he falls heavily. Wanoa, the Grafton lock, who appears to have his weight more evenly apportioned, is really more effective when running with the ball, and also handles better. A lock who is at present attracting considerable attention is Webb, of Training College. Strangely enough, Webb also possesses a clean pair o t hands, and is a hard man to bring down. He can also use his feet, as was demonstrated last Saturday when he dribbled out of a ruck near his own goal to take play well downfield for a scoring movement eventually to develop. Carter at Cent e Carter played a dandy game at centre for Varsity last Saturday, while .Jenkin went well at half. Stotter’s defence is not all it should be, but fortunately there were a robust pair in McKay and Jenkin nearer th,e scrum to bear the brunt • of the Grammar thrusts. Stotter has a nice eye for an opening, a faculty that makes him useful if his side is getting plenty of the ball. Grenside Again Hawke’s Bay nominations for the trial match include Grenside, Campbell, and Steere, the last two being forwards. Steere got a place as lock in the All Black pack against New South Wales last year. Grenside has been in scoring mood for the Idas tings Club lately. The omission of South, a Tine centre, who won golden opinions right up to the selection of the team for South Africa, is noticeable among the Bay nominations. Norman McKenzie, by the way, is carrying on as the Bay selector, though he threatens to hand over the onerous task to someone else after this season. The Forward Tradition The forward tradition runs .strong in Taranaki, and the most noticeable feature of provisional selections for the representative team is the plethora of big fast forwards available. On this account. Ward, Kivell, and Walter, buttresses of Taranaki forward play in the past few years, have been omitted from trial teams to play before the selector this week. Marists’ First Win The main factor in Marists’ win over Grafton was teamwork. With every match, the Blues have improved, and when their backs settle down to better handling and more resource, this team will trouble any others in the competition. Varsity Test Team More Aucklanders would be in the University team to meet Australian Universities if players like Minns had been able to travel. Bush has earned a trial, and it is interesting to note that ho has displaced an All Black fullback, and captain of Otago University, in D. Stephenson. It is a rare honour for the young Mount Albert boy, who has great prospects ahead of him if he takes the game seriously. Linton, a forward entitled to a place in the University pack on past performances, has not yet struck form this season. * * * Lucres on the Line On the line through a minor injury suffered the previous Saturday, Fred Lucas almost shouted himself hoarse exhorting Ponsonby to put the best foot forward when things looked black against City last Saturday. A good display by Berridge showed Ponsonby that a mistake was made when »uch a useful man was allowed to slip away from the colours. Strange it is to see such a fine goal-kick as Berridge made the secondary goal-kicker through the prowess of Ifwerson. City showed on Saturday that their past form has been too bad to be true. A good hardworking City forward is Crisp. Malcolm Hurt Syd. Malcolm, the great little Waratah halfback, who skippered the New South Wales team here last year, broke his collarbone in the first club match of the season in Sydney. The injury will probably prevent him from playing against the All Blacks when they open their tour in June. Malcolm is one of the best nauuacna tue xvugby game has seen

in recent years. Of post-war All Black halves, only INI ill has been able to match him for cleverness. B GRADE NOTES Two forwards who showed up consistently for North Shore against Tramways were Souter and Strange. Souter, who was playing third open last year, is a lad of great promise. One of his runs on Saturday carried play virtually the whole length of the field. Tramways are handicapped by advancing years. Very few of the team, seemingly, are under 30. The team is handicapped in the competition by restrictions imposed through having to v&ork late shifts. Some men are thus unable to get off for the Saturday afternoon match, except at some sacrifice. Of course, the most important consideration for the tram way men is keeping moderately fit for the Kohn Shield match, to be played this year in Auckland. Auckland nre holders of the trophy. A game old stager is Charlie Warren, the pillar of the Tramways’ backs, who at first five-eighth got through a heap of, work in both attack and defence last Saturday. # Boag, at lullback, was elusive, but made tactical errors. McCoy, the first-.string fullback, was away. Trams have a fair pack, but th*e back line wants a lot of strengthening. • * * The B grade competition is at an interesting stage, with Parnell, Varsity, Shore, and Marathon prominent. Marathon been putting up big scores. / Shore backs went very crisply at times last Saturday, with Palmer, Roach, and Hume doing useful work. Lynch continues to hold the fort as rover. He is now a veteran as footballers go. Fairgray, the lock, is another veteran. "JDufty” has lost the schoolgirl figure, but his tactical knowledge is of considerable assistance.