FIELD OF SPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVIII, Issue 10944, 16 June 1927, Page 3

FIELD OF SPORT.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By "Onlooker.") Weather was bitterly cold with a fair wind prevailing throughout the Malvern match. The ground was in good order. The spectators (mostly Ashburtoriites) were kept interested with a series of break-a-way movements by the Malvern vanguard who often had the visitors' backs in difficulties. Al-

though Ashburton won by a good margin of points, this did not indicate the lull merits of the teams.

'"Pie" Stephens (full-back) was not safe, and was bustled on soveral occasions. He retired about half-time with an injured knee.

Henderson, who replaced him, gave a better display and showed that he knows how to tackle and line kick.

Reillcy shaped fair in a strange position.

Bishop, on the wing, played well but will have to anticipate the speed of his inside backs when they are attacking.

Robilliard at centre was undoubtedly the best player on the field. His anticipation and speed were responsible for most of the points. Centre is the right position for him.

Day (five-eighths) was clever on attack, his try being the result of some veiy clever solo work.

McCormack at half did not impress

Dew again demonstrated how the loving game has its advantage. His tackling was a feature of the game.

Scrum was badly packed, the lock seeming to be the trouble. All the line-outs were very tame affairs.

McCormack and Gillespie hardly hooked the ball. The former played his best game to date, and is apparently paying attention to his condition.

Dalton was out of his position at lock, but played well in J,he loose.

Mnlhern was always on the ball and is the right type of a forward.

Dolan played well and justified his place.

Seyb also proved a worthy addition to tho team.

J. McCormack could have put in more work, and may do so when he gets down to solid training.

What must surely be a world's record long-distance place-kick was made at Strand Park on Saturday in the Hutt v. 'Varsity fourth grade match (says a Wellington paper). All eyes centred upon Gordon when he was called upon to take the shot at goal after Hutt's opening try. He sent the leather sailing fair and true over the Centre of the crossbar but the ball went soaring on, and did not pull up until it had travelled for a mile and a half. This is not fiction, hut fact. The simple explanation is that Gordon booted the ball into the flooded Hutt River, and it was recovered at the pipe bridge at I*ololl6. The game had to be continued with another ball.

Tt is a long-standing mystery in Sydney how Nepia became such a brilliant success in England after his poor display ia New iSouth Wales. Some of the Sydney critics are still sceptical, as witness the following comment in the Sydney "Sun": "If the selectors of the New South Wales team to tour England take two full-backs, there will lie a great struggle for the second position'—Alex Ross is, of course, a certainty for his place, and will be the first man picked for England. If England went wild over Nepia, what will it do over Ross, who is better than a teamful of Nepias, judged by the hitter's display in Sydney at all events?"

The desire of the New Zealand Rugby Union that the visit of the British team to its country should take place in 1929 instead of 1930 as now arranged is another indication of the value placed on these international tours by the Dominions (says an English exchange). The only doubt whether their request will be favourably considered by the International Board is the fact that South Africa may desire to return the viyit of the British team, two seasons ago in the same period. "At the moment there is a number of these international tours already arranged. We visit the Argentine in the summer; a few months later New South Wales will be playing over here, and at the same time New Zealand visit South Africa. If South Africa conies to England in 1929 and we go to New Zealand the next season, there will have been an uninterrupted series of games between various parts of the Empire for four years. Yet we still hesitate to give the Dominions proper representation!"