FAMOUS ALL BLACK DIES

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 11

FAMOUS ALL BLACK DIES

MR. W. CUNNINGHAM.

GXEAT B.UGBT "LOOL"

TAKEN OFF BY MENINGITIS.

Followers of the Rugby gtma who

knew tlie days when the of Auckland forwards was great in the will learn with regret that the famous "lock" of the great Anrlri»nH pack of 1906, W. Cunningham, died at the Auckland Hospital this morning after three days' illnpg« from acute meningitis. It was in 1906 that the Auckland pack against Wellington consisted of G. GiUett (wing), G. Tyler, Dunning, Seeling, Nicholson, Cunningham, Hayward and Francis. Last- year when Hawke's Bay claimed to have a forwari combination such as had. never before, been seen in New 7^*aiar>A L local enthusiasts recalled this A *r ,h ~tnml pack; of 20 years previously with regret, that it could not be again put jit the field at the top of its form to test the Hawke'a Bay claim. So far as Auckland Rugby is concerned, "Cunningham, for about 14 years,, was an institution as centre-forward, and "Cunny" will always be remembered as a wonderful lode and master of scrum tactics. Up to 1899 Auckland had another great centre-forward i n Joe Otway, and Cunningham waa his (accessor, and possibly a greater scrum tactician. He came into the Auckland team as one of the Thames brigade Mr. Cnuiba. ™ 1899* in eompany with George GiUett and Dick McGregor, to take part in the southern tour that year when Otago, Wellington and Taranaki were beaten, and a draw was played with Canterbury. It is interesting to note that.in the Canterbury match, in which the home serum was locked By the South Island notable, Bernie Fanning, one of the Canterbury hookers was Harry Frost, who to-day is chairman of the Auckland Union Executive; and further that in the Wellington game of the same tour the Wellington half-back was Yin Meredith, who is now sole selector for Auckland. On that same trip George GiUett, as fullback for Auckland, established: a name as the prince of goalkickers. Against. Otago he kicked a goal from a mark, against Wellington he converted two tries and placed a goal from a mark, and against Taranaki he converted three of the four tries scored. Cunningham continued to be Auckland's centre-forward. and: when the 1905 tour to England was- mooted *n Endeavour was made to - get Bernie Fanning, then at the aid of his career, to come back. Fanning, however, was fonft past his prime, and his understudy, Newton, of Canterbury, was ; selected. But in the team's preliminary j toUr to AustraUa Newton did not malr«» • a success, and before .the team sailed fcr England the selectors yielded to a strong call from the team for another lock, and W. Cunningham was chosen. It proved a ha-my choice, for with the /mjonal "All Blacks" ia StiUit' the burljr forward made a name for himself ;*sa : master of scrum tactics that win pSinS New - Zealand football history. ; r : After that tour ae remained the Auckland centre-forward tai 1914. and played rwith the'. Maori team in Australia in 1910. Always a- burly figure, "Cnnny" was a landmark on the field, and though getting burlier towards the end of his playing days he' had the saving grace qj "head" when it came to open play, while to the end he was a tower of strength in the scrum. "

"Conny" was always popular with his i football colleagues, and, fcr the matter of that, with all who meet him, as he has a most likeable nature, always ready to advise a young player or to help a [friend. He is possessed of a fund of ! humour that showed itself in practical jokes of. the unobjectionable kind and in good stories. After his : active career on the field was finished he kept his mterest in the game, frequently acting as coach and ever being on the alert to see a match. In late years he did a deal of coaching in the Bay of | Plenty district. Mr. Cunningham was a member of the [ committee of the Auckland Anglican j : City Mission, and was 52 years of age. ITje funeral will leave his late Tesi- j deuce at No. 21, Albany Road, Herne i **Tr at half-past two to-morrow after- j noon. The flags at Eden Park this afternoon were flown at half-mast as a tribute to the late Mr. Cunningham.