RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 31 July 1926, Page 27

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

The All Black forward, "Son" White, was not long in getting back to form, says "Hooker" in the "Southland News. ,, Visiting footballers will see little change in the "Son" White of 1024 All Black fame. It is the general opinion of the management committee of the Xew Zealand Rugby Union that next year another series of trials will have to be held prior to the inter-Island match in order that a full strength team be sent to South Africa in 1928. The team for South Africa will have to be chosen on 1927 form, as the team will have to leave at the beginning of the 192S season. Hawke's Bay have discovered a new fullback to take Nepia's place. Three guesses, and the betting is you -won't pick who it is. This is what the Napier "Daily Telegraph" says about it: "Public opinion has discovered the new fullback for the Hawke's Bay shield team, and it is none other than the popular Lvi Paewai. Reports from the south state that he ia a wonder in this position, and "the man in the street" is quite certain that Selector McKenzie has him booked as the custodian for the next match. The writer has always contended that Paewai is too good a player to be left on the bank. At his best he is probably the best defensive player in Hawke's Bay. and there is no earthly reason why he should not shine at fullback. , " Wattie Barclay, the popular Pirates and Hawke's Bay representative wingthreequarter, who has been appointed skipper of the Maori team to-tour England and France, is one of the most gentlemanly players that ever trod. Wherever he goes as captain of the dusky tourists he is sure to make an impression that can only redound with credit to the great Maori race, of which, both on the field and off it, he is such .an able representative. He has- had a long and distinguished football career, having been in the famous Hawke's Bay Ranfurly Shield team when it won the shield, and on many occasions eince. He has represented the New Zealand Maoris previously, both in New South Wales and in New Zealand. He i 9 also no stranger to the playing fields of Europe, for whilst away with the troops at the Great Adventure he was captain of the famous Maori Pioneer Battalion team that made quite a name for itself. In the great international struggle of the dark days of 1914-18 Barclay "did his bit," and to him goes the credit of enlisting for the service of his country when only IS years of age. Now thirty years of age, with many winters df that in football experience, he should be an invaluable asset to the team he is to lead to the playing areas of France and Great Britain. —Napier "Telegraph." If Cliff Porter is not careful he will be tried for high treason when, he gets back to New Zealand. After the first Test the Sydney "Telegraph" reports him as having said: 'It's up to New Zealand to realise that the three-front scrum can 'beat the two New Zealand hookers most of the time." Porter may have been quite correct in connection with the first Test, but he was a'bad prophet in respect to the other two. In the second Test in particular the All Black hookers, Irvine and Lomas, simply buried the N.S.W. trio. An ex-New Zealander, now in Sydney, says in this connection: "I can't remember the blues getting the bail properly from a set scrum more than once." Sydney writers, who were highly jubilant at New South Wales' scrummaging successes in the first game in Sydney were inclined to overlook New Zealand's overwhelming superiority in the scrum in the other two Tests. Nobody seemed to know what to do when one of the goal posts came down late in the game at the Showgrounds last Saturday between University and Ponsonby. Even the referee seemed to be in doubt at such an extraordinary position. One player suggested taking the kick from the other end if a try should be scored by Ponsonby, who were playing in the direction of the shattered posts. The score was then 14—13 in the students' favour, and a practicalminded Ponsonby player remarked: "If we get a try well be satisfied." What would have happened if a Ponsonby man had tried to pot a goal may be left to the imagination. Linwood, lowest team on the club competition ladder in Christehurch, rose up last week-end and smote the leaders hip and thigh. Linwood led by a converted try to a penalty goal till within four minutes of time, when Nixon, the Old Boys' full-back, won the game for his side wdth a beautiful potted goal. As the losers did not have their line crossed, it can be seen that the Old Boys had an extremely fortunate escape.