Bookshelf

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 28

Bookshelf

Apart from the fact that both tests were won, the All Blacks tour of England, Scotland and Italy late last year was hardly memorable. A satisfactory playing record did not disguise the fact that the team was light on collective talent. ■ Yet even so-so tours are worthy of documentation and a Tauranga journalist, Peter Reilly, has setpped into the breach, left so gapingly wide by the noninvolvement this time of the veteran All Black watcher, and reviewer, Terry McLean. Reilly has chosen an odd title for his book, “Guesswork and Gumption.” His reasons are not entirely convincing, but if the title is a little hard to digest, the book itself is a veritable feast of fascinating information and detail.

the author goes to great lengths, extraordinary at times in detail, in his match descriptions, but it is in Reilly’s own opinions and conclusions that the publication has true worth.

His sharp eye for the comparatively minor incidents and events that go towards presenting a full tour picture sharpen the focus even further.

Reilly would make no claims to be a writer in the McLean mould, but he has a pleasant “chattm-over-the-back-fence” style and his honesty and sincerity, both in criticism and in praise, are easily discerned. As a traveller also on the 1978 grand slam tour,

Reilly makes frequent comparisons between the two teams, as is to be expected. One wonders if the 1979 side found • the burden of such constant comparisons difficult to bear. The tour games apart, Reilly, whose bent for writing on rugby at uncommon length was given full rein during his editorship of the now defunct weekly, “Rugby Review,” has some interesting things to say about the state of the sport.

A chapter on the game’s main possession points will hold appeal to those who like to get down to the nitty gritty of what winning rugby is all about.

Sadly, because of economics, the book is of the large-page, soft-cover variety (the hard cover still seems to carry a stamp of greater authority), but there is still much to mull over in the 120 pages, including a useful collection of photographs. At $7.50, “Guesswork and Gumption” should prove a popular record of a tour that, if a book had not been written, might soon have been forgotten. — K.J.M. Turn back the clock .’. . “When the Englishmen were in Australia they put more than one defeat down to inefficient or biased umpiring. The Australians have carefully

copied them in this respect. They appear to think that they cannot be got out except by unfair decisions. Every chance there is of disputing or cavilling at a decision they seize, and their language on this point was such that, to say the least of it, would not be expected from players who claim to be a team of gentlemen . . .” This comes from the “Canterbury Times” of February 2, 1878, it telates to the defeat of the Australian cricketers by a team of 15 from Canterbury, and it is included in “Demon Bowler,” the third of a series of delightful little books on cricket put out by The Nag’s Head Press, 358 Memorial Avenue. The first of them was “The Grand Match” (England against Canterbury in 1877), the second “The Great' Knock” (Victor Trumpet’s 293 against Canterbury in 1914). The format is the same as before — a beautifully printed hand - set limited edition of 225 Copies. At $8;55, it may seem a little expensive. But it is a superb reminder that times have not really changed.

The account of the game from the “Canterbury Times” recalls that there were several points in dispute during this

game, not the least of them the dismissal of the Canterbury opening batsman, A.M. Ollivier, who distinguished himself by making 36 in a total of 135. It is also a reminder that in those distant days,

a new pitch was chosen for each innings. “The Demon Bowler” takes its title from the great Australian, F. R. SpOfforth, who played in the match and took 13 wickets for 106 runs. It should command a ready market among cricket enthusiasts. It is unlikely and a pity that it may not find its way to the West Indies. — R.T.B.