ENGLISH RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 129, 28 November 1923, Page 14

ENGLISH RUGBY

THE •VARSITY TRIALS

NEW ZEALANBERS' DOINGS

AIXKEN NOT AT HIS BUST.

■the doings of New Zealand footballers <m the Kugby fields in England .are engaging the attention of critics, and interesting items regarding their performances in the early games of the present season are supplied by "The Post's" London correspondent, who stales that several New Zealand freßhmen have been making their debut as footballers in University trial games. Among those at Cambridge there are some of decided promise. •— '-. ~ - .--... ■ At Oxford/the'last trial game was an extremely interesting one to watch. Here the Colours won by 10 points to 6. An analysis of the two- teams showed that the 'Whites were made np of six Bines, six seniors, and three freshmen; and the Colours of three Blues, sevea seniors, and five freshmen. G. G. Aitken (St. John's), and T. T. C. Birch (Christ's College and Magdalen) were on the winning side, the former a, three-quarter back and the latter at full back. "The Times" representative- comments : "The Colours' pack well led' by C. R. Wordsworth, packed low and hard, and gave their backs enough chances to have won the game in the first half-hour. It was not Strong's fault that they did not do so, for his passing out from the heels of his forwards was often quite good, and very rarely weak. Hor was Lawton. in the stand-off position, really to blame, although if one traced back several fail--Tires to score to their source,.one found the obvious pass and the pass given a stride too soon had something to do with the utter futility of H. P. Jacob and G. G. Aitken. Almost needless to say, the two new 'men on the wings played down to their partners, and, last but not least, another new man, T. T. C. Birch, at full back, made one disastrous experiment in trying to turn defence into attack, and so helped to. give away a try. It was, perhaps, hard lines on Birch, whose run up field was excellent enough, but who tried just too: much and lost himself. Abell was the lucky man on the spot, but he showed good football feense in passing inwards at the right moment to his captain, G. P. S. Macpherson, who duly returned the ball to Abell for that player to gallop over the goal-line with a try. Macpherson had few chances in attack, but he was often in the way of Titken and Jacob, and, generally speaking, showed sound if not anything like his best international form. It is hard to believe that Aitken is a natural centre—thinking and running at the same time seems to cramp his style—but his dash and kicking might again be of service on the wing." From Clifton College V. B. Powell has gone up to Saius, and he was on the winning side (White)' that beat the Colours by the. narrow margin of 25 points to 24 points at Cambridge on Wednesday. Of him "The Times" critic writes : "Powell came up from Clifton with a tremendous reputation as a left wing three-quarter back; he seems to be already in the first class, provided that he can keep sound. Yesterday, he showed real force, great determination, and good hands. In one try that he scored he had to judge the length and direction of one stride on to the leftfoot literally to an inch and a half to avoid being bored into touch. Powell judged that stride to absolute perfection, just got past, clear of the defence, on his pace and strength, and scored a try to be remembered. Soon after half time Powell was let in for an easy try wide on the left. Good football by Bailey. Bordass, and Powell ended in Powell scoring another •try.." The "Daily Telegraph" reports that "Powell, of Clifton, was watched with special interest. He has undoubted pace, but does not swerve much!" One of the reserves yesterday was I. R. Wilford (Canterbury College and Christ's). LOWRY AND GILMER. The seniors' match at Cambridge last month seems to have been more interesting than is often the case. Whites beat Colours by 23 points to' 17. The interest is held to have been largely due to the'excellent example which was £et by the'two captains, one of whom was It, H. Lowry (Christ's College and Jesus). _ "They, led the two packs with great vim and set a pace which was infectious," according to "The Daily Mail" correspondent. "As it happened, they were in a class by; themselves, and some of the other better-known forwards hardly lived up to their reputation. K. P. Turnbull (Downside and Trinity) was possibly one exception. The play of the backs iwas more closely watched, and here there was one great surprise in T. G. Devitt (Sherbome and Corpus- Christi). He did passably well as a freshman last year, but seemed a' little too light. This ,season he lie stronger and is faster than ever. He was easily the fastest man on the field, but did not rely only on his pace : he handed- off and;, swerved well, while lie also displayed excellent knowledge of the right way to collar. Devitt, who has ;-.- already; gained a Blue for the 'lung jump, is a promising winger. Of the centres, two New Zealanders, H. S. H. Gilmer and C. C. Bishop, did fairly well without particularly distinguishing themselves."; Lowry's side (Colours) lost, and the New Zealander got rather a heavy kick on the head before the end. The "Morning Post" refers to Gilmer as having been "quite useful" on the s:wing. "SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES." # Of the conclusion of Oxford's preliminary trials the London "Sportsman" says : "Everyone waß glad to see Lawton backat outside half, but candidly he did not do .a great deal better than i KiUermaster. . The centre play had its | limitations. . Some thought it • poor. Both .Wallace and Aitken looked like «quare;pegs. in round holes, and Jacob did not-enhance'his. reputation. - The caDtaiivhowever. showed class in all he did. ;The. lour wing players, with the exception ;of F. W. Layman, were not particularly fast, and Smith and Makn have probably spoilt their chances by their hesitancy and bad fielding. In fact, if one did not know differently, Oxford's back play would cause some alarm, as with all the chances the threea Quarters had they did practically noth- \ jng with .them: Still, there is hope so j Jong as the' forwards heel as they did in t the final trial.