RUGBY UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 14

RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

SUBSIDIARY COMPETITION. The management committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union met last evening. Mr J. A. Colquhoun presiding. Others present were Messrs It. W. Eglinton, L. J. Plank, H. J. Hickey, W. Gleeson. A. Gordon, L. G. Berry, J. R. Hardie and G. Peters. Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of Messrs A. MOngley (president), H. R. Crawford, P. 0, Skoglund and J. W. Smith. Advice was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union that it had been noticed that insufficient attention had been given by referees to the tackle rule, and this would probably lead teams into trouble when they came to play the South African matches. Referee should he instructed that after the player is tackled, the ball must be brought into play with the foot, or he should be penalised. Attention was also drawn to the fact that injured plhyers should be taken to the side-line instead of being attended to on the field, which led to the games being held up for considerable periods.—Received. * Notification was received from tlie Southland Rugby Union confirming the alteration of the date for the fixture with Manawatu from Saturday, August 14, to Monday. August 16, at 3.30 p.m. The Southland team would arrive in Palmerston North on the evening of August 14, it was stated, and the union expressed appreciation of _ the action of the Manawatu Union in altering the date to permit the visitors to the Test match at Wellington. —Received. The Taranaki Rugby Union advised tlia't the venue for tlie match against Manawatu bad not yet been fixed, but would be decided at an early date. ~ “RccoivGd . The North Otago Rugby Union wrote stating' that its team would arrive in Palmerston North on the evening of August 27 for the match against Manawatu on the following day, and would leave on August 30 for New Plymouth.-—Received. Arrangements were made for the subsidiary competition, consisting of one round of four matches, to commence this coming Saturday, except the (Jld Boys-Kia Toa fixture, which was a deferred game in the second round of the competition. . , „ , . Nominations received for tne subsidiary competition are as follow: Senior.—Old Boys, Kia Toa St. Patrick’s, Feilding Old Boys Feilding. Juniors. —Old Boys, Jackeytown, Kia Toa, United.' St, Patricks, Feilding Old Boys. Mr W- Gleeson, ot Feilding. was appointed manager of the Manawatu team to meet the Springboks at lalmerston North on "August 4, and to play Wairarapa at Feilding on August 7. Mr E. Clevely was appointed manager of the Manawatu junior team to play at Awahuri next Saturday. The' use of the Showgrounds was granted for the primary school Rugby trials, and it was decided to grant their controlling committee £25 for tho season’s expenses, as well as donate the caps for the representative team. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES.

Fixtures, grounds and referees for Saturday next have been arranged as Old Boys v. Kia Toa, Showgrounds oval, 2.46 p.m., Mr A. Ward ; Feilding v. St. Patrick s (subsiding competition) Joh net on Park, Feilding 2.45 p.m., Mr A. Gordon. Juniors. —Manawatu v. Te Kawau, at Awahuri, 2 p.m. , Thirds.—P.N. High School v. Feilding, No. 2 Showgrounds, 2,40 p.m., Mr J Burgess; Feilding High School v. Kia Toa, at Feilding High School ground, 2.45 p.m., Mr E T h S?' aS j Feilding Old Boys v. United No. 2 Johnston Park, 2.45 p.m., Mr M. Bailey; Old Boys v. St. Patrick s. Show grounds oval, 1.15 p.m., Mr A. N< Foii.rth grade.—High School default to United f Kia Toa v. Technical No. 2 Showgrounds, 1.15 p.m., Mi 1. TU Fifth grade.—Kia Toa v. High School B, No. 3 Showgrounds, 1.15 p.m., Mr A. Weston; Feilding High School v. High School A High School grounds, 2 p.m.. Mr C. M au o h.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Arrangements have been made for the quadrangular primary schools Rugbv competition to be held at Wanganui this year. Boys to qualify for selection in the Manawatu team must belong to a primary school in t!»e Manawatu district, and must not .exceed 15 years of age or 9st /lb in weight on August 21 next. , ... , ~ The first of the trials will be held at Johnston Park, Feilding, at 10.30 a.m. on July 31. when a team from Palmerston North will play a taam from Feilding and Qroua. Any of the Oroua boys not notified can report at the ground on Saturday morning. ' A further trial game will be played against Te Kawau at tho Palmerston North Showgrounds at 10.30 a.m on Saturday, August 7. Following this, the final twenty boys to represent Manawatu will be notified. On August 14 the Manawatu team will play Ilorowhenua at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, and on August 20 the Manawatu team will leave by train for Wanganui, returning on August 26. A , , The Palmerston North team of play at Feilding on July 31 will be: Dyer, Laird, Jones, Robbie, Charles, Liicas, Davidson, Christian, Campbell, Weston, Wilson, James, Pringle, Ryan, and the Bunnytliprpe boys notified by Ml* Jackson. The bus will leave the Post Office at 9.45 a.m. and pick up the Bunny■thorpe boys en route.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. MANAWATU’S THIRD MATCH. FEATURES OF THE GAME. (By “Front Row.”) Regret has been expressed at Hawke’s Bay’s insistence on the exclusion of C. Le Quesne, the former Hastings and Hawke's Bay captain, from the position of centre three-quar-ter in the Manawatu team at Napier last Saturday. He was not allowed to appear on the field owing to the fact that he had not fulfilled the necessary residential qualifications at Palmerston North, but he will greatly strengthen the Manawatu back line for the match against the Springboks, much difficulty having been found this season in filling the centre three-quarter position. Le Quesne at the beginning of the present season played in Wellington and gained a place in the Wellington representative fifteen. On Monday, July 12, ho took up his residence in Palmerston North and was selected for the Manawatu team for the match with Hawke’s Bay. He was to have played at centre, but the rules of the New Zealand Rugby Union require that a member of a provincial side must have resided in the province concerned for a period of at least three weeks. Although the Manawatu Union desired to play Le Quesne, the Hawke’s Bay Union objected, and accordingly Le Quesne filled the role of an onlooker. Surprise at the Hawke’s Bay Union’s .attitude was voiced at Napier by Mr W. Gleeson, manager of the Manawatu team (says an exchange). “We thought tha.t the Hawke’s Bay public would welcome the appearance of an old favourite such as Le Quesne,” lie said, “but the Hawke’s B.ay Union has ruled him out and that is all there is to it. It was fully anticipated by my union that in a friendly interprovincial game between two neighbouring unions such an objection would not have been forthcoming, particularly as Le Quesne is so wellknown here.”

Collapse Under Pressure. Though Hawke’s Bay beat Manawatu by 26 points to nil, the winners did not have matters all their own way, and it was chiefly because they exerted .a relentless pressure whenever the Manawatu defence showed signs of flagging that they won by such a handsome margin. The defeat of Manawatu to a certain extent revenged the reverses which Hawke’s Bay suffered at the hands of Manawatu in 1935 and 1936. It has been a noticeable feature of the Manawatu team’s play that it is capable of reaching the best standard and then slumping back rapidly to mediocrity, the defence cracking up at critical stages when, to all appearances, Manawatu should have been on top of the opposition. If it permits its defence to be riddled again as it was by the fast running Barton at Wanganui, Manawatu may have a bad time at the hands of the Springboks. However, Le Quesne’s inclusion should make a marked difference. i

Wavering Defensive Work. While there were times when Manawatu’s defensive work against Hawke’s Bay rose to magnificent heights, at others it wavered distinctly, and it was then that Hawke’s Bay jumped in to score the points which contributed to their score. In between these lapses the visitors held their own against a Hawke’s Bay team which on the day was a mere shadow of its real self.

There were flashes of brilliance, however, to brighten the exhibition. One may point to Herbert’s determined run from outside half-way to score and Jackson’s burst through a bewildered Manawatu back-line to touch down after lie should have been tackled at least four times. Waldin’s work at full-back was rarely at fault, but tlie same must be said of Dyer, the Bay custodian, who gave an excellent allround display. Much was seen of McKenzie (Manawatu) and Dalton, Jackson and Reid (Hawke’s Bay), four candidates for All Black honours against the Springboks, but two other Hawke s Bay packmen, Wilson and Hannigan, were the equal of any forward on the ground. Disconcerting For Bay. It was disconcerting for tho Hawke’s Bay crowd to find Manawatu enjoying the advantage early in the "ame in both scrums and line-outs. The Manawatu pack, as bulky man-for-man as the Hawke’s Bay vanguard, were proving a force tp be reckoned with, but the Bay backs gradually got the upper hand, Manawatu’s tackling being aptly deecrib’Gd as tlie curate 6 egg- It is in this department that Manawatu lias shown a great weakness this season, and it is hoped that this will be remedied before the Springbok match by rigid adherence to “go low instructions.

Waldin Plays Well. Hawke’s Bay were nine points up after half an hour’s play, including a nenaltv coal. Waldin« the Mjina-watu full-back, was repeatedly feeding bis side -with accurate centring lacks, Hawke’s Bay were kept strictly on the defensive for the remainder of tho first spell. Tlie exhibition in the opening stanza had not aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators and bad rarely approached representative standard. Hawke’s Bay liad been kept in check largely through their failure to obtain an adequate share of the ball from the scrums, a surprising feature in favour of Manawatu, whose three front row men, E. Fell, Ewart and Sullivan, were opposed to Hannigan, Dalton and Jackson, tlie latter two being hookers of All Black calibre. Gillespie and Nicol worked hard with Waldin on tho defence. Gillespie's Solo Runs. There were times when Manawatu called the tune and had Hawke’s Bay hemmed in on their own lino. Gillespio twiced figured in spectacular solo runs, and Terry broke through from a ruck in promising fashion, but a “speculator” which might have proved dangerous failed to bear fruit, Dyer running into touch. Mauawatu’s luck was completely out when Finlay essayed a penalty goal from 40 yards out and the ball struck tlie upright to bounce back into play. Reid Bursts Through. Manawatu appeared to have Hawke’s Bay completely demoralised as a green and white avalanche descended on tlieir goal-line, and then, like a flash lleid appeared from the melee with the ball locked in his arms. The All Black brushed two tacklers aside and bulloclted his way through to the fullback, Waldin, before tossing a-' welltimed pass to Herbert, who had come up on the inside. With a clear field ahead, Herbert liad nearly 60 yards to go 'when he received from Reid, but ha accomplished the feat successfully to plant the ball just as Nicol, who had chased him all the way, brought ln'm down with a diya tackle.

Jackson’s Spectacular Try, The most spectacular try of the match was scored by Jackson. Play had been in midfield for a period when ho emerged from a forward melee and set sail for the line. With two players in support, Jackson sold dummies right and left in a 45-yard run which saw him score well out. It was a splendid effort.

Superiority In Scrums. Manawatu are stated to have hooked the hall in 80 per cent, of the scrums, a factor which had the Hawke’s Bay selector wonted; in fact, it is stated that the Bay won only three of the scrums. Manawatu, holding possibly the greater territorial advantage over the whole game, had really a superior pack, but lost through bad tactics in throwing wild, loose passes and allowing the Bay forwards to outflank them. The Hawke’s Bay players described the match as their hardest this season, and their points margin was flattering. Hawke’s Bay’s Record.

Five wins in a row and 175 points in its favour—or an average of 35 per match —is the record of the Hawke’s Bay representative Rugby team for the present season. Only 24 points have been scored against Hawke’s Bay by opposing teams. The Bay team, with its powerful forwards, appears to be one of tho most formidable sides in the Dominion at present, and to have regained tho traditions of the days of the mighty Brownlies. It should give the Springboks a great battle.

CAUGHEY’S RETURN.

WAS NOT ASKED TO PLAY

SELECTORS’ STATEMENT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 27. The report circulated in Auckland that T. H. C. Oaughey had been requested by four members of the New Zealand selection committee to turn out in a club match next Saturday on account of their anxiety that he should go into training with the All Blacks for a week prior to the first Test match against the Springboks is without foundation .

In the early part of la4t week before the New Zealand selectors arrived in Auckland Caughey informed a Herald representative that ho intended playing for University on Saturday next. Caughey, who returned on July 9 from a business trip to America, received a request by telephone from Wellington two nights later from Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the'management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, to proceed to Wellington to participate in the two final All Black trials.

Five of the New Zealand selection committee witnessed the match between South Africa and Auckland on Saturday last and Mr W. Pearson, of Otago, went to Hamilton on Sunday evening, while Mr A. E. McKenzie, of Wairarapa, Mr A. Adams, of West Coast, Mr M. F. Nicholls, of Wellington, and Mr G. Nicholson, of Auckland, remained here and will proceed to Hamilton in the morning. Mr McKenzie said that in company with Mr Adams he had made a friendly call upon Caughey to-day and merely expressed a wish that the Aucklander’s services would not be lost to tho game. He had been pleased to hear that Caughey was going to turn out once more.

Mr Adams agreed with what Mr McKenzie stated and said no mention had been made of Caughey’s attending the All Black camp. Mr Nicholls stated that he had made a personal call alone on Monday to see both Caughey and H. F. McLean. “I told Caughey I was very pleased to learn he would be playing again,” said Mr Nicholls. “There is no suggestion of pitchforking Caughey into the New Zealand team, and until he plays and his form has been witnessed by the New Zealand selectors he could not possibly be considered. “My personal view is that it is a question of placing the best New Zealand team in the field, and if sooner or later Caughey reveals form sufficient to warrant his inclusion I think he should receive every consideration.”

So far as Mr Nicholson ivas concerned he said he was aware that Caughey had been in solid training since he arrived back from America and that he had been aware all along that Caughey was going to play club football next Saturday. Whether he eventually gained a place in the New Zealand team rested entirely upon the form he displayed. Regarding the selection of the New Zealand team, Mr McKenzie said the names of the players to go into the training camp at Otaki for the week prior to the first Test match in Wellington on August 14 would be announced in Wellington on Saturday week. He was not certain how many there would he in camp, but he did not think the number would be fewer than 25.

RANFURLY SHIELD. RUSH TO BOOK AT DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 27. Prepared for a 20-liour wait before he could purchase tickets for the OtagoSouthland Ranfurly Shield match to be played on Saturday, the first enthusiast took up his position outside the booking office shortly before 1 p.m., to-day Shortly afterward he was joined by half-a-dozen others, and by 7 p.m. over 100 were lined up. By midnight the queue extended for about 100 yards along the street and comprised about 200 peoide, mostly young men but including several middle-aged men and about a dozen women. The night was calm and clear, but the atmostphere was inclined to be frosty. Last year each purchaser was permitted to buy six tickets but, as there was considerable trafficking in these later in the week, the Otago Rugby Football Union this year limited the number to three. Despite this, more than a few in the queue were buoyed up during the long wait by the prospect of reselling their tickets at a profit. ALL NIGHT WAIT. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, July 27. An all-night wait in cheerless weather to book seats for the Ranfurly Shield match at Dunedin on Saturday was being faced as cheerfully as possible by a number of Rugby enthusiasts at 9 o’clock to-night. Booking does not open till 9 o'clock in the morning, but by nine tomiglit eight persons, including three women, had taken up their position in the doorway of Charles Begg and Co.’s premises. The women had brought a mattress, with them and were about as comfortable as it was possible to be out of doors on a winter’s night. The men were beguiling the time playing cards. Only 150 seats are available for the general public, and, as 50 persons were in the queue by 11.30, it was expected that they would take the lot. Those arriving after that will therefore be disappointed. Arrangements have been made to give those waiting shelter in an adjoining building.

CANTERBURY TOUR. HOOPER NOT GOING. Per Press Associatidn. CHRISTCHURCH, July 27. J. A. Hooper, who is still suffering from the ankle injury received in the inter-island match, at .Wellington,iiaa