Famous win recalled

Press, 5 November 1983, Page 8

Famous win recalled

A linK with two of the most dramatic passages in Canterbury’s rugby story was broken yesterday with the death of Mr Henry Francis Mullins, at the age of 90. The events were Canterbury’s defeat of the 1921 Springboks and the mass walk-out by members of the champion Marist team to rugby league in 1923. Mr Mullins was a member of both sides. He was the last survivor of the celebrated Canterbury team which outdribbled and out-ran the Springboks on a greasy pitch at Lancaster Park 62 years ago. Harry Mullins was Canterbury’s half-back, and his defiant tackling and smart clearances helped greatly in the toppling of the powerful tourists. He was fast enough to

play on the wing for the Marist seniors, a side which won the Christchurch championship five years in succession from 1919 to 1923. But then a row developed over the eligibilty of a Marist player for the Payne Trophy match against Otago’s leading team, University. Fanned by emotion, the controversy developed into open resentment between the union and the Marist players, most of whom forcibly demonstrated their disapproval by embracing league. Mr Mullins was a member of this splinter group, and was such an adaptable footballer that he won selection for New Zealand in a test against Great Britain in Wellington in 1924. He scored a try in the Kiwis’ 13-11 victory. National selection in

rugby league was partial compensation for Mr Mullins, who had had an All Black jersey snatched from his grasp three years earlier. Chosen to play for New Zealand in an inter-colonial test against New South Wales in Christchurch in 1921, Harry Mullins learned on the eve of the match that he had been replaced by Teddy Roberts, the man who captained the All Blacks in the third test against the Springboks in the same season. Mr Mullins was never told the reason for this

appallingly indifferent treatment. He even cycled from Yaldhurst to the city on test day to see if he was required as a reserve, but Mr George Nicholson and his fellow selectors were nowhere to be found. Anyway, it was a good match to miss. The visiting side won, 17-0. As well as making a major contribution to Marist’s sweeping success in Christchurch club rugby, Mr Mullins also appeared 10 times for Canterbury in 1921-22. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.