RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 146, 17 December 1924, Page 6

RUGBY

ALL BLACKS' TOUR

HAMPSHIRE MATCH TO-DAY.

On past performances by Hampshire as a county the All Blacks should have little to disturl^them in to-day's match, but there are evidences that Hampshire are likely to be an improved side from last season. At the outset of the present season the Army and Air Force promised to arrange that their fixtures would not clash with those of the county, and it was anticipated on that account that different results would attend Hampshire's participation in the championship. Evidently anticipationsare being realised, as a recent cable-ram announced that Hampshire had braten Surrey by 18 points to 15. Civilian lUigby m the county is reported to be of mdifterent quality, but the game is spreading in that direction, and the number of schools taking up the game is growing.' Moreover, practically all the regiments and depots at ■ Portsmouth and Aldershot and in other parts of Hampshire now have their Rugby teams, so there can be no lack of material from which to make up the fifteen to meet the All Blacks to day. One of the clubs which will furnish quite a number of players for the county is United Services, while other stron- ?■ i ™? ,draw' frora are London Sco£ i'J "i hm°nd ' Tl'°ians, Blackheath, and Harlequins. It is not unlikely that the county team to-day will include a number of players who met the All lilacks as representatives of the Combined Services. Prominent Hampshire county players include T. L. Lowe a forward from the Hariequins, who had a part m a sensational goal-kickiii" performance last season. This was recorded in the Middlesex-Hampshire match, won by Middlesex by 35 points to 10 Every try of the match was converted. G. V Palmer, a Richmond, London Scottish and Army three-quarter, F E Chevalier (the United Services' halfback), W. G. B. Mackenzie (United Services three-quarter), and C D Adams (Harlequins), R. S. Benson, fi" ■L. Harry, Is A. Haines, R. B. Hunt and C E. C. Robinson (all United Ser' vices forwards) are other leading members of the county team. In the South-Eastern division of the county championship last season Hampshire, with nothing in their favour except a drawn game, became holders of the wooden spoon." Unfortunately for Hampshire their engagements clashed with fixtures of the Army and the Air Force, and as these latter contests were regarded as trial matches by those Services, the authorities would not let the Services players off for the county games. Hampshire's prospects were further handicapped by the fact that United Services, who have always furmshed a large proportion of the county fifteens, commande not such wealth of talent as m other seasons, and, with mid-week leave impossible to obtain little or no success attended the efforts" of Hampshire to build up an effective back division. _ With this combination ot adverse circumstances to battle against, the fadure of Hampshire was not at all surprising. ■ Better prospects are now before them, but tßey SfflW to be a remarkably improved team to Slacks aS StTOnS opponents for the All