Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 13

Rugby

O v .The Game and its Players.

All Black Dropped Although the New Zealand selectors considered 33. J. Olliver good enough l'or All Black honours, the Wellington selector preferred two other wingthreecjuaiders when selecting his team to meet Auckland on Saturday. Ollivor was picked only as an emergency. This, however, is not the first occasion when All Blacks have failed to get into representative teams.

Indistinct Numbers frequently it has been pointed out in these columns that the figures used on the score-board at Eden Park are too small to be distinct. From the public stand it is practically impossible to read some of the numbers, particularly the eights, threes, and fives. The board itself is not a very imposing affair, and a new one is badly needed. Hawke’s Bay Offsides • After the exhibition of offside play given by the Hawke’s Bay team in .Dunedin recently, it was no surprise to learn that Southland’s winning score was composed of penalty goals, (comments our Otago Itugby correspondent). At the same time, the way the big Bay forwards were held by the lighter Otago pack, and in the later stages of the match beaten for possession, made Southland’s desperate struggle to win rather puzzling. Alhambra Champions By defeating Kaikorai the Alhambra -onlor fifteen will have its name inOiago Rugby fur ISI3O (says the Dunedin “Star”!. One of the oldest clubs in Dunedin. Alhambra has an excellent record, and its win this year is the tenth occasion on which the “Bamas” team has won the premiership. Of the fifteen games which Alhambra played this year twelve were won and three lost. Kaikorai, which came next in the competition, won ten games, lost three, and drew two.

Two Rep. Games Aur-klam] will bu engaged in two n-prose-ntativo tixturos on Saturday. At home a representative team will meet \Vaikatc: and at Napier the Auckland touring: tL-am will play Hawke's Bay. 11. Knight, McVVilliams, Batty and Lur-as who juinvd the touring team to Litrnngtlnrn it in its thatch against \Vollington, have roturnorl and will be playingr against \Vaikatn. ’l‘hix will somewhat weaken the touring side who will find a strong Bay side pitted against. it at Napier. The W’aikz’lto tram ymssessns a solid pack and airainst the Auckland team on Saturday should go well. n- xu t Mascots In the touring liawkc's Bay Rugby team which passed through Christ—church during the week on the way home from its match with Southland for the Ranfurly Shield. was one of those Rugby rarities. a. player travelling with his wife. Sun] Gemmell, the tigerlslx native forwzgnl. was accom—panied by his better hair, who was very popular with all the Hie-mlmrs of the tvam. and was the mascot for the trip.‘ Gonnnell‘s action in taking his wife} for a footballing holiday is unusual,‘ but a. more notmvorthy instance is pro— 1 vidod in the case of A. Kivell, the Tara- l naki forward, who toured Australia with tho All Blacks last your accompanied by hi: wire and the twins! ‘1 t l Wanoa Incident The ordering off of the Rev. N. \Vanoa in the Southland—Hawke‘s Bay Hanfurly Shield match was a most regrettable occurrence. writes the M. . I-cA—Jh'r ‘ “ "

“Southland Daily News," although it was undoubtedly a right decision by the refs-rec An t‘ven more doploruble occurrence, though, was the honing und homing indulged in by a portion of the crowd. as the M'nori walked off the field, with his head hold high and looking , “ML“... 4. H i. ,

up into the rrnwd insh-zld of at the ground. If those who talked so )nurh against the rough play going on were responsible for this Llisg‘rnr'eful attitude. thvn thoy are hnrM'zlm-d hypm‘rites. And “Alarnnn‘s” candid opinion will he ondorsed by all true sportsmen. * )5! 1k The next match for the llunfurly Shield will be when ”\Velllngton invets Suuthlund (holders) at Invvrcurgill on \Vcdnosdny, selnomlmr 3.»! ’K :3 The Wrong Line \Vhen :L Rugby nuftch is played on u ,iz'l‘ound that has just been used for :L hockey match the, ground i‘nurkings‘uro apt to hecmne somewhat confusing for the players. This happened last Sut—urtluy, when the Pollard Cup game between Technical and College Rifles, followed the. Aucklund'WVuiku‘to hockey match. Couper had burst through the opposition with a nice run and with no one else to pass, forced the ball over tho line and trotted on out of the way of u. pursuing buck. Imagine his sur—prise when two or three opponents appeared and continued with the gumr. 11. was then that Conner realised that the real line was two or three yards ahead and what he had nlistuken for it was the hockey line. A similar in—cident occurred lost your when the hockey test between New Zealand and Australia was played before the Auck—land—Thames Rugby match. It was a Thames player on that occasion who flung himself on the leather after it had rolled over the hockey line, and he registered considerable annoyance and amazement when he was ruthlessly dragged off the leather and the good work was continued. From the Rugby point of view it would perhaps be moreconvenient; when the ground is being“ used for this dual purpose if the hockey players could be persuaded to agree to using the Rugby line, which would make a. difference of only another ten‘ yards. 11: would save much confusion in the following Rugby games.

It was a happy thought which prorhpted the Wellington Rugby Union to invite, the veterans of the past to be its guests at Athletic Park at the Wellington v'. Auckland match on Saturday. After the game, the veterans, who numbered some hundreds, gathered in the tearoom in the stand, and were entertained to afternoon tea by the union. Many reminiscences were exchanged by the veterans of the past, who ranked from E. Davy, who first played for Wellington in 1877, down to men of the 1928 team. Brief addresses were delivered by the president of the Wellington Union (Mr. A. F. Wiren), the vice-president (Colonel G. F. C. Campbell), A. Ronaldson, and M. Sheahan (Auckland), all of whom recalled deeds in the days far back. Hopes were expressed that the Wellington Union would invite the veterans to foregather again on future occasions.

HAMILTON’S ESCAPE

From our 011')» ('m‘rcspmzdrut HAMILTON. Today. Hamilton had the closest shave this season when it succcessfully defended the Peace Cup against Morrinsville by 11 points to 6 on Saturday. As “as cx]:(—~('-Iml. Ihr» Murrinsville forwards nmrm than lmld lhr-ir own. vxm-HL in Iln- St‘t SOFUIUF, \thn the Imm! lmukm's \u-rc nut found wanting. \‘il-lxu‘y Lu lhl- lmmo {mun ('uxnu chiefly through tlw :Igmugx' or fast Inn-ks. while on 1111-, urlu-r lmud the Visiting rear (HV'iHinll )mssvssud nu combination. its chit-1‘ mm'iL lying in sound tackling. Morrinsvillo hurl :L Ono—point lead at lmlf—tin'w. when it Inight easily have been adjudged the winner. In the svcoml spun, however. the Morrins—villo puck, uvvrworked and tired from its grout struggle. was hustled by the local bucks and van.

Under the Peace Cup rules, there can bo no replacements, and the visitors were unlucky to lose their fullback with a broken collarbone early in the first half. Frequent changes in their backs in the second spell failed to improve matters for them. There was nothing startling about the standard of play, though a soft ground from the morning rain militated against the best game. The interest of local Rugby sup-

porters is now centred on the appearance of the Waikato representative team at Auckland against Auckland B on Saturday. For a time it was doubtful whether the fixture would be possible, as the Waikato Union officials were somewhat ruffled at the assumption of the Auckland Union that the B team would be suitable. Although the Auckland representatives won by only a point against Waikato on the King’s Birthday, many Waikato followers of the game are pessimistic of Saturday’s result. Prediction is certainly difficult, but it is definite that the home team could not be bettered.

Some weeks ago I said that B. Alills was the only halfback in the district worth, a trial, and B. Alills has been selected in place of the veteran Mitchell, who is still a great player, but passe. It was also stated that A. H. Griffiths' was the logical successor to Allen on the wing; A. H. Griffiths will show the Aucklanders what fleetness of foot means if he gets anything like a chance on Saturday.

Another change for the better in thc team is the omission of J. Tuck and tho inclusion of the fast \VaiDa firstiivv. \Vilkos. All \Vaikato will rejoice in tho rcappc-arancc of S. Thmnas. the fullback, who has been out all the season with a fracture. It is safe to say [that his presence. if his form is char-fJicu-ristic, will rasc the chances of the isido 25 per cent. The pack. held by lPut (‘aurtnem will be as strong as any [Kl't llt‘lfled for ‘Vaikato, and can bc kexpoctod to.huld its end up against the city forwards. l Hamilton has still to meet four challenges for the, Peace Cup. attains: To. ‘Arohu. Cambridge. Thames. and Mata—muta. in that order. DEATH OF MR. McELWAiN TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY AL :1 meeting of the Newton Rugby Union Football Club last wuck, a re—solution was passed, expressing The club's deep sympathy with the family of the late Mr. P. (“Sandy’W BlcElwain. who. for many years, had been a great stalwart of the Newton Club. It was decided to place on record the loyal and untiring service given to the club by Mr. )IcElwain over a long period of years. Afr. S. )larten. the club coach. was unanimously elected to the position of secretary of the club, in place of the late l\lr. llcElwziin. Tho captain of the team, Mr. C. Campbell. reminded members that it‘ was the grout wish of the late secretai‘y that his "boys" should win thc‘ grudo championship this season. andl asked that every member should do} his utmost to realise that wish. as Mr. Melilwain had left the team leader of the grade. Mr. A. Clarke. an mg, member of the Club, was 0100th club captain. ROLLER MILLS SHIELD FIRST MATCHES PLAYED From Our Own (I.o7'rcspomlcnr I’UKEKOHE, Tuesday. Tho first matches for the Northern Roller Mill's Shield were played today. Results are:— At Pukekohe.—South Auckland. 12: iAuckland A. 0; V’Vaipa. 6; Thames Valc)’. 0. At Tuakau.—Auckland B, 32; Auckland (7. 5. At \Vaiuku.—l—lamllton. 11; King Country, 5. EAST RODNEY COMPETITION From. Our 011% Corrcspomlcnt \VA'RKVVORTH, Today. The East Rodney Rugby Club was inaugurated in 1911, when the Gavan ‘Vil—son Cup was presented for competition among the Rodney Counties. It was won in that year by ‘Varkworth. but lost the following season and not until .this year (Zia \Varkworth hold it. in a space of 19 years. The match last Saturday was held at Matakanzt, \Varkworth v. Matakana, before several hundred spectators. After a hard, fast game, \Varkworth 10 (potted goal by VVilson, tries by Speedy and Stanley) beat Matakana. 3 (penalty goal by Harper). Warkworth School, 3. beat luatakana, 0. , MANGONUI V. DARGAVILLE From Our Own. Correspondent DARGAVILLE, Tuesday. 011 Saturday next the Mangonui senior representatives Ml] visit Dargavillo to meet the Northern \Vairoa reps. in a. match for the Harding Shield. Northern \Vairoa won the Itrophy from Hokianga on Saturday ast. . .