TIGHT LITTLE WALES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 6 (Supplement)

TIGHT LITTLE WALES.

(By PONTY.)

MORE ABOUT THAT 1905 VICTORY.

Twice Beat N.Z. Teams — Then Fall to Irish Losers — Classic at Belfast, 1906 — Opponent's Feeling Testimony to Bob Deans.

A Welsh sportsman and a member of the 1905 All Blacks express gratitude for the historical article last week on the classic Rugger struggle at Cardiff thirty years ago. The latter sends along a British opponent's apt tribute to R. G. Deans, and our contributor attempts to twist the Moa's tail (!) by again recalling New Zealand's defeat by Wales. Incidentally he draws attention to two famous Irish victories over Welsh teams which lowered the colours of fifteens from this Dominion.

Mr. C. A. Porter, secretary of that enthusiastic and efficient sports' organisation, the Otahuhu Amateur Athletic Club, writes to express the gratitude of himself and many other resident Welshmen of his acquaintance for the article in last Saturday's Sports Edition, "Land of My Fathers." He states, that their Cymric hearts were "thrilled by the vivid portrayal of incidents and personnel in the classic struggle between Wales and the 190.") All Blacks. Not a single line could possibly have given offence to the most patriotic native of the Principality, for even conceding that Deans scored a fair try for New Zealand, I believe that most people in this country are convinced that on the general run of play on that historic occasion Wales deserved victory and actually won well." Mr. Porter then goes on to say that he was a happy spectator at the Welsh Test 30 years ago, but could not himself swear that Deans scored, even from the favourable position the writer occupied. His cousin, C. M. Pritchard. however, a member of the winning pack but not related to Cliff 'Pritchard, the rover, who received "Dickey" Owen's reverse pass and handed on "for Rhys Oabe to give Teddy Morgan the only actual score of the game—informed Mi: Porter, on his return to Newport next morning, that he was one of those Welsh players absolutely- convinced that Deans had grounded the ball over the goal-line. N.Z. Manager's Summary. A few extracts from the "Triumphant Tour of the New Zealand Footballers," by our dear old friend George Dixon (author of the book and manager of the 1905 All Blacks) may still be of interest:—

the line. Several times the Blacks were forced down by means of long kicks, and once Bush ported for goal from half-way, the ball falling a few yards short, but there was never an apparent danger of a try being scored. On the other hand, New Zealand were several times on the verge of scoring, and twice were actually over the line. Once, from a loose scrum following a centre kick by McGregor, it appeared that any one of the half-dozen forwards who attempted to gather the ball had only to pick it up and a score was certain. Another time Mynott crossed from a short pass from Roberts (the best back on either side), but was held up before he could ground the ball. Again, Wallace, picking up in the loose on his own side of half-way, made a brilliant dodgy run, and right on the line passed to Deans, who dived over and grounded the ball well over the chalk-mark. He was at once dragged back, ball and all, into play, and when the referee, who was fully 30 yards away, came up he gave a scrum five yards out. That this was an absolutely fair try there is overwhelming evidence, and it was most unfortunate that the referee should not have been on the spot to see what actually occurred.

"Wales adopted the New Zealand formation, which was a practical admission of its superiority to their much vaunted four three-quarter system. first half-hour's play was chiefly in favour of Wales, they being much more frequently located within striking distance, a result attributable most commonly to the fine line-kicking, though not infrequently they were let through by unaccountable mulling of passes or weak following by our backs. Then, amidst the wildest enthusiasm, Wales scored from a scrum inside the New Zealand twenty-five. Owen feinted to the blind side, but quickly reversed and passed out wide to Cliff Pritehard (rover), who passed to Gabe, who passed to Morgan. The pace of the latter carried him past (iillett, and he scored a try in a fairly good position. Winfiold's kick at goal went a little to the left. At this period of the game Gallaher (winger) was frequently being penalised and the spectators showed a degree of bitterness towards him and other members of the team that did not coincide with the warmth of their welcome, and was in striking contrast to the generous spirit of many other crowds, and notably of the Irishmen. Although a lot of useless gruelling was inflicted upon the New Zealand forwards by weak kicks invariably returned out of bounds by Winfield, the New Zealanders (after the score) came with a great dash, and when the whistle blew for the interval, nearly two minutes before the proper time, no allowances having been made for two stoppages for injuries, they were hotly attacking right on the Welsh goal line. "Deans Grounded Ball Over Line." "The second spell may, I think, be fairly said to have been chiefly in favour of New Zealand. On no single occasion did Wales ever look like getting over

" To sum the game up, I am of opinion that, on the day, New Zealand did not deserve to win, but that they actually made a draw of it I am certain. Furthermore, I consider that a draw would have been a fair reflex of the play. The referee was somewhat slow, judged by a New Zealand standard—not with the whistle—but in the matter of keeping up with the play when any specially fast bit of work occurred. As is customary with many referees in the Old Country, he went out, on a greasy ground, with ordinary walking boots, no buttons or bars, and clad in ordinary clothing, including the orthodox high collar. Another extraordinary thing is the fact that when a scrum was formed he insisted upon the ball being put it on the opposite side to that upon which he was standing, so that it was thus impossible for him to see what was going on at the edge of the scrum." The Gladiators. To make this as complete a record as possible unless the subject crops up again about A.D. 2000, the respective fifteens in the titanic battle of 1905 were:— Wales.—Backs: Winfield, Llewellyn, Nicholls (captain), Gabe, Morgan, Bush (fly), Owen (scrum half), Cliff Pritchard (extra half). Forwards: Joseph, Travere, Hodges, C. M. Pritchard, Williams, Jones, Harding (captain Anglo-Welshmen in New Zealand, 1908).

New Zealand.—Backs: Gillett, Wallace, Deans, McGregor, Mynott, Hunter, Roberts. Forwards: Casey, Tyler, Newton , (lock), Glasgow, O'Sullivan, McDonald, Seeling, Gallahcr (winger). . Wales Beaten by 13 "Shamrocks". In an article published in the Sports Edition of November 16, "Ponty" drew attention to two remarkable reversals of form following Tests played by New Zealand teams abroad. In 1888-9 the New Zealand Natives team beat Ireland 13-4, but lost to Wales 0-5. Subsequently the Irishmen not only conquered Wales, but did this bold deed on the sacred soil of the Principality, Swansea, to wit. Again in 1905, in almost similar circumstances, the wearers of the green jersey avenged the All Blacks for the defeat at Cardiff. New Zealand beat Ireland at Dublin, 15—0 (three converted tries), but lost —by a try—to the scarlets. After the New Year Ireland again vanquished Wales, 11 —6—three tries, one converted, to two tries. Although this "insult" to Gwalia'was not this time perpetrated in the Principality, a worse fate still befel the Welshmen for there were only 13 Irishmen left on the Belfast field when the referee called "no-side!"

Gwyn Nicholls, who, by the way was a midget of 13st 41b in the 14st average three-quarter line of the Rev. Matthew Mullineux's 1809 team in Australia, and, of course, captain of Y/ales when his side beat New Zealand in 1905 and lost by three tries (one converted) to nil to the Springboks in 1906, thus tells the story as recently as 1921:—

"From the early days of Arthur Gould, that great centre who cultivated the priceless art of getting up top speed in two strides, up to recent years we, in Wales, were always well served behind the scrum; our ability to combine, our closer association with each other, I think, accounts, for that superiority which usually spelt success in our big club and international games. But I have a very vivid recollection of an occasion when at half and centre our combination and general ability (if any) availed us nothing. It was on the occasion when we visited Belfast in 1906.

"On paper form it was something to nothing on Wales, but evidently the Irishmen had not studied paper form,

and we were beaten to a frazzlM », game started with a duel bet en ? forwards, our idea bein<r +« „ een the their front rank and °then backs into action. But in - «,. * our ' we got worn- Theiriorwart JBg* speaking, got the bit between y teeth, and to anyone who has „' heir Irish, pack gain" to akendatfSf especially on their' own n unnecessary to say more. (w * sometimes got possession and KsS'5S? their rapid breaking away ffij" fe* scrums hustled our halves, causin?«. he to pass hurriedly and ball arrived it was simultaneity W S an Irish back. Never wrip nn , y ,"" made so ineffectual. ° Ur Cen t«s "Early in the second half Ireland w.. their stand-off half, Purdm tS' 1 *? injury but the only effect this ha d g to further inspire them. Later Kffiß? the other half, broke necessitated the withdrawal d&intfF man from the front line, This, one would think, would affect"tC, chance, but no-they continued to 0 1 run us. Our forwards complained th, they had not sufficient beam tovS against, and, like Mark Tapley %M felt (even if 'thad L a e possible) with 15 against 13, there would have been no credit in feeling jolly about * Wales, again conqueror, and Ireland ' vanquished by the Dominion, meet Tf' Cardiff on March 14, 1936. WKat a truly remarkable coincidence it would be for the "Shamrocks" to come out nn top. ' The Bush "Incident." Ponty regrets that he cannot now (and never has) agreed with Mr. Dixonclaim of a draw as a fair issue of the match. Had a try been awarded to Deans, whether converted or not the future course of the Welsh international must inevitably have gone differently And precisely the same argument applies to the Cardiff Club engagement on Box iug Day, 1905—ten days after the New Zealand defeat by Wales. Percy Bush's inexplicable lapse in practically prc . scntiiig a try (converted) to the All Blacks was fully discussed a week a»o Now, of all the critics who harped on New Zealand's infernal luck not a soli tary one referred to the Bob Deans' incident so intimately connected with Percy Bush (according to his own inimitable version), or to the fact that when George Nicholson scored Cardiff was not leading B—s! The tally was evens, and the whole course of the game would naturally have been altered, because New Zealand was at least attacking and if Bush had forced down Cardiff would have had to kick-off from, the twenty-five instead of from halfway after the goaled try. (Kicking from the centre after an unconverted try is a very modern invention.) With five points up New Zealand, of course, could afford to "sit on the splice," whereas at 5 —5, and Cardiff still penned in their own twenty-five, the five points may have been rung on just the same. But apparently Welshmen want to wipe out every bit of the play and New Zealand's territorial advantaga—and that fluke of a try, too —until Thomas scored for Cardiff close to the call of time, and reckon that Cardiff really won, B—s. Toll for the Brave. . "Ponty" has also received a message from a member of the 1905 team thaiking him for giving prominence to the tributes to old comrade Bob Deans. "Last Saturday night, while waiting for the Daventry broadcast, all my thoughts were on the great contest (which meant so much to the Rugger prestige of both Wales and New Zealand) on that same • field thirty years later and-perhaps the most fitting link with that glorious engagement of '05 was your story of the manly part the big chap played during and after the match. If you care to use the enclosed eulogy British international who played against us in various games I feel sure it would create additional interest in the 1905 Test and in the career, so tragically terminated, of the old Christ's Collegian himself:— Kr G. DEANS, NEW ZEALAND. (By An Opponent^ One fights shy of Rugger lays In these namby-pamby days, When British side's get drubbed by Maorilanders. And the tale of dreadful rout Which our visitors served out Is just enough to raise good patriot? "dander." Now in the stalwart group That put us "in the soup"— The stuff you never see. in soup-tureens— The finest man I knew Of all that All Black crew Was that rollicking six-footer, E. G. Deans. It was "Deans, Deans, Deans!' The Mnorilanders playing like machines. When the leather was heeled out. You would hear the skipper shout: "Hi! Hand the oval on to Mister Deans'. I shall ne'er forget the sight As he charged down on the right. Like a locomotive engine on the spree; I was shiv'ring in my shoes, In a dreadful fit of blues, „ For I knew that it was mine "to do or dee. I tried to get him low — By his waist, or hips, you know— And give the youth a purler by those means. But who e'er supplied the mirth As a body went to earth, - ' Via confident of this—it wasn t Beans. O Deans, Deans, Deans, -,«.„..,».• A-serving out a man's supply of Deans . As I got up from the dirt t observed: "Is someone hurt? ...<,,,. And are those fragments mine, or-aw-w" Deans'?" They took me far away To where a stretcher lay, ..'.„„. Away from such revolting, horrid scenes. With my frame a total wreck, And some fractures in my neck, . A few black-eyes—and things-suppliea by Deans. And in future I'm resolved, Ne'er to get myself involved In sanguinary battles on rough greens. But to tackle, if I must, Buffaloes upon a bust, , T>B! , n , Or traction-engines wild, instead of wan* No. friend Deans. Deans, Deans, . I've no wish . to lari£ with powoe. magazines. When next time vou do a run, HI be there to see the fun, _..„•„-1 But only as spectator, Mister Deans. Bob Deans died at Christchurch aft* an operation on September 30, JWT two months after playing -W * Zealand against the Anglo-Welshmen at Auckland.