N.S.W. RUGBY TEAM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 300, 13 September 1921, Page 5

N.S.W. RUGBY TEAM

CHARGES OF ROUGH PLAY REPLIED TO NO DECLINE IN FOOTBALL STANDARD IN NEW ZEALAND By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. September 12, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, September 12. Tho Now South Wales Rugby. Union football team arrived by the Ulimaroa to-day. i Mr. Bosward, tho manager, referring to'the allegations of rough play by Now South Wales in tho Wellington match’, eaid the Wellington papers made a mountain out of a molehill. There was only tho slightest friction during tho game, confined to the front row of forwards of both teams, such as was likely to occur in any hard-fought match. During a stoppage of the game ho asked the players in a fatherly manner to maintain their sporting reputation, as in a fight for the loose' head there had been a couple of swings, and ho wanted to prevent serious ill-feeling. Roberts, the half-back, was never a victim of foul play. The truth was that all Wellington was worrying lest ho should be hurt and prevented from playing agajnst the Springboks in tho ensuing Test. Mr. Bosward added that there had not b'een a decline In tho standard of Rugby Union football in New Zealand. The fact that New South Wales won all its matches except on© he attributed to its wonderful team work. Th© loss of tho Wellington match was duo to some players becoming stale owing to lameness.— Press Assn.