RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 22

RUGBY

BY "DROPKICK"

COMING TOURS

•VARSITY TEAM'S VISIT '

"klili BLACKS FOR AUSTRALIA

' "' Two «yeiits giving'addeil interest to ; early season activities aro the' NeW, Zealand team's, tour, to Australia and tho visit to the-Dominion'next month of .Australian University representatives, . who' are to play ' three Test matches with New-Zealand University representatives, and also meet teams from' the. four university colleges of the Dominion. In past seasons it has been Sydney University sides that have toured . the Dominion, but progress with the game is reported in the case_ of some of the other uniyersiJies, and.it is stated that the team for.New Zealand, although no 1 doubt it will be composed ''largely of Sydney-players; will include /'-representatives from other centres. The University. Tour. ' --..'- The visiting 'team will comprise .21 ; players and' a manager, and the pro- * gramme .mapped out for the tour pro- , vides. for seven matches. The team will arrive at Wellington on'2lst May, and will open the -torn- the following day with a match against Victoria University College at Athletic Park. The ': Australians' aro to leave the.same night ' for'the South'lsland, playing Otago University at Dunedin on 25th May, . and Canterbury College at; Christchurch on 29th May. On Saturday, Ist June, -. at Christchurch, the first Test will be ' '.played, after which the team Will come/ on-to Wellington: for the second Test * match at Athletic Park on Wednesday, ■ sth June. The visitors will proceed to ■ ■■ Auckland the following afternoon'for their next engagement, the third Test ' on. Saturday, Bth June. Tho final, m*tch of the tour Trill be played against Auckland' University College on 12th June, and the team will,leave Auckland s for/Sydney on 14th June. . , ,-' ■> .; No doubt the tour will, attract a i -good deal of attention, and the ; matches ■ to,be played should be productive of some really good football—the ; fast; open, sparkling type which is looked for when University sides meet. Mr. J. N. Millard.has been'appointed by the New ' Zealand University Football Council to' : select the. New Zealand teams for the f Test matches, and can be dependea .; upon to. put the best material goffering into the field against V the visitors. Eugby in the-university colleges of the - Dominion is of a high standard, ample * evidence of this having been supplied ? last season.-by,the performances of the ': university teams; in the four centres. • i Sydney University, which, as mentioned. -',before, will '.doubtless supply the bulk "■ of the players for the tour of New Zea- ' 'land, has a very fine record in club fobt- -. ball.-: .Melbourne 'is reported -. to have some promising material^' but little is, *' known so far about Queensland talent. However, it appears that 'those Rooking - after . the: selection of the. players: in i Australia should be able to- band, to- -.- gether a-strong. side.. ■ :. -.- v -.:. .Nine Matches in Australia. • '. x The New Zealand team for Australia. . is to leave Wellington on 21st June, and is to play nine matches in the Commonwealth, playing aTr Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The itinerary for the tour,is as.follows: — Leave. Wellington 21st June by the Maheno. 1 " ' ■'-„ • 29th Juno, v. New South Wales, Syd:!:ney.-' ■■''-'- -'-■'- ■ ■ '••••■' ■ -." ■'■■ -■■■■■ 3rd-July, v Newcastle, Newcastle. •i ; 6th July, v. Australia (Test), SydneyV - ,10th July, v New .South Wales, ,Syd-i-ney. -.■•'• '.".-' ' ■ , ' ' , ■'■' 13th July,, v. Victoria, 'Melbourne. ' 17th July, v. Combined North-West, " New England, -and Clarence Eiver, at South Graf ton, Armidale, or Walcha. 20th' July, v. Australia (Test), Bris- - bane.' ■'..'-" '■ ''■'■■'■ „ ■ -. .' ''• : ■;-". 24th July, v.' Queensland, Brisbane. ' 27th July, v.- Australia (Test), Sydney. -; -v "■■■ '■■■■■-' ■- ' ■: ■ ' .'-.■'': ■- ' ':",-'■'— •: ' ' Leave Sydney for Auckland on- 2nd . August by tho Ulimaroa. * The matches against the New Zealariders in Sydney will be played on the ■ Cricket Ground. Prior to the arrival of: the New Zealand team two inter-State ■ matches are to be played' in Sydney, between Queensland and. New South Wales on 18th May and between Vie- : toria and New South Wales-,on lath" June. •-•'.-■ •'-'"' . „,.;-- -• Seyeri-a-Side Tourney. A seven-a-side tournament calls for' stamina and pretty fair physical condition.' In this direction the majority of ' players who took part in tho tournament at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, which virtually opened the 1 local season^ were not lacking, the form displayed being quite dreditable and giving a further indication that teams playing in the early matches of the senior competitions should bo able to give a good account of themselves.Some bright football was seen in both the senior and fifth grade divisions,; and that: in spite of the very cold southerly wind. , The Wellington College A team put up a very fine performance in coming out at the head of sixteen teams, and having only one point, the result •^ of a force down, registered against ' thenii Although in the semi-final against Petone the College boys had a rather close call—a last-miriute converted try saving, a toss—the team left no doubt as to their superiority in the final.against the lighter Athletic team. Athletic ?wore as lucky in reaching the final as Wellington: College B were' unlucky. ■'' Athletic won their game in the first ■round against Poneke A on the toss, and'also won the right to meet Welling-- ' ton College A in the finalon the spin of the coin against Wellington College B in the second semi-final. „ ■ Old Boys, winners of tho senior tour- . iiey last year, were a fast combination, .and gave every indication at the start that they would again come through without a loss. However, Old Boys, after defeating Athletic C and Bcrhain- : pore, went down in the'semi-final to Athletic A, the ultipiato winners of the tourney. Ie their first match against Athletic C, the ex-Collegians put in k ' good deal of fast work in running up .' their total of nineteen points", and it is just questionable whether in doing this they,made a mistake. Had they been content with a smaller margin- of vie- 1 tory they would have ■' conserved their ionergy better. Kushbrook figured in j several good .dashes, and-the Dustius also showed up prominently; i The Athletic A seven, led by Porter, • playedyery solidly right through. They were not a brilliant combination, but they; made use of mistakes, made by , their opponents, and, what is more, overy member of the team was in good : shape. , Watson and Berry wore tire- , less toilers, and Heazlewood and Pelham were nippy backs. Athletic had 'a. stern tussle with University A in tlie final for the honours, and at ono stage thoir ,'chances of success did not look too bright. University had .the best of the first spell, and had three points up on their' opponents when the change over was made. Heazlewood made the scores equal soon after 4ho start of the second spell with a fine penalty goal. -. University, , however, continued to attack ;in <.foreej but failed, to improve -. their, -position, extra time having to''be allowed to settle'the, issue. -Athletic rose to the occasion, and a converted tryto them gave the team the honours, j University were unlucky in having to concede the penalty kick which opened Athletic V scoring account. The stu-

dcuts made a bright showing, displaying good pace in all their games. Bainson made his first appearance of the sea.son,..and'.demonstrated'that he has lost "none of his pace. Leys, too, was often conspicuous.. 'He. inn do somu fine openings in the final. Potone, who mot Old Boys in the final last season, rail up 20 points against Old Boys B in the first round, and in their ,match in the'second round defeated Oriental by five points to one. Mooting University Am the semi-final, however, Petono failed to score, Tlni-. vorsity putting, on thirteen points against them, ten, of. which" wore contributed by E^mson. New Zealand** Team. With.matches in JJristano v.iul'Melbourne as' well as at Sydney the tour' this year will be more comprehensive than on'previous occasions. ■ Much interest will be taken'in the selection of: tiio New .'Zealand team, and in. view of the British team's tour next year the doings of'tho All Blacks in Australia will be.'closely followed. ' Who will "bo: in the team for Australia? Already the question has been asked and the pros-' pects of 'some of the members... of the' .1928 'team which.toured South Africa; of gaining inclusion, have been, discussed, but 'until * the.' '.season is . properly; under way and. something is. known of: ■the form, of .players, nothing can be said' abbut who; are likely to make the trip. v- The ' selectors of the Now Zealand' team were appointed. by, the Manage-; menf "Committee of 'the. N.Z.B.U, this' week. They are to.see as many'matches as possible in their respective districts, and, then, prior to the selection of the team they will be in." attendance at a trial match;''tp .be played at; At.letie Park on the KingVßirthday, 3rd June." A, E. Cooke Keen. .•■.-. ' ■ . ■ Although there have been statements to the contrary, it appears .certain that A.E. Cooke will bo .playing through tho: season.' ; A Wairarapa player who was in Wellington on Wednesday said that Cooke had 'been training for about a month. -'"It's quitewrong that he is retiring," he said. "Why, Cooke is as keen as mustard this season." On Saturday Cooke ( captained the Old' Boys A team which won the seven-a-sidc tournament at Carterton, and is said to have gone really well. Others playing for Old Boys this year are Sutoliffe, the ex-Athletic Club' player, Roach, Yat'es, and C. Malfroy,/from Victoria University College.'; Sutcliffe is. reported to bo showing fine formV .Carterton, las^t year's championship winners, have practically all their old pack.back. ■' ■ ''. Greytown. are expected to show ,up well in;; the championship competition this. year. The club's A team wore .runners-iip in the ■seven-a-sidc tournament. Cundy, Stringfcllow, and Jury all showed; up-well. ■ : Pars About Players. ',-■;-' :A. Falconer,. late ; pf the .Wellington Club, has linked up. with Pirates in Invercargill. ■■"..' '; _--!. /.'. . , ".-. :. ; lit js reported that J. Mill, a"member of the 2924 All Black team that toure.d Great Birtain, has returned. ' to' .the Napier district; and will probably,- play club football, during' the season, 'Following his marriage, Mill' retired from representative'"football, but has since made some appearances in games of lesser importance .in Tokomaru Bay. He has taken a position in' Hastings", '.:and it is understood, that he intends to reside there permanently. . . .': . "S. It.' Carleton, the brilliant Cantenbury centre three-quarter, who -was .in South Africa I.with, the All Blacks, last year, has conic to'Auckland,'and,, if so, is expected to;'play for' College Bifles,'' says the Auckland "Hei'.ald." Carletori played for Old Boys in Christchurch. in. a practice-match a fortnight ago, and a Southern writer, commenting on his play, 1 said it was easy to be seen that Carleton is going to bo a -force to be reckoned with- in Canterbury football this year!. """,'■'' ' ..: 'All Black Liiburh'cf is reported to be-showing-good .form in Christchurch. ■■ . H: C- fiirigst'i! the Sydney University player, has left' for -Edinburgh .Uniyc.rj sity to pursue his medical studies. He captained'the-University team' in "Now Zealand-'a year ago. C .; It :js stated' that I. A. Hart, Waira.l rapa. representiye half-back last, season 1, has transferred to Nelson, and has join|ed:up with' Old Boys, tiierc. ''•: '■ ' 1 ;; Swain; M*Williams, and Lucas; three 1 1928 -All: Blacks,-: Were -members of' a Ppnsonby Club-team. (Auckland) which met a-combined Fraukliii-Pukckqhe fifteen at Tua'ka'tf on Saturday. The game was in the iiature'o'f a-practicefox Poaisonby,'with\tlio result, that frequent changes; were made in-the backs. The rearguard worked- with maehiiie-like precision, arid' was mainly responsible' for the'big scbre.''Ponsonby wonby 45. .points to G.--Lucas scored two triosj, and Swain and M'Williams one each; Swain.has transferred to Auckland, and. he .is hailed: as the most notable newcomer this season.,' ' ■"■ ' "■ -■; x '■ ' - A. W. Holdeh,, Otago and All Black is now' stationed at !Edendale, in the Southland province, and hopes, to bo playing with an Invercargill club this season. : A Dunediu writer states that Lindsay, the All Black full-back, will not be playing this, so'asori, owing to, the' injury he received on the African tour., , It will be strange to sec a Grammar fifteen without a Badde.ley; leading.the backs, says the Auckland "Herald.V C. Baddeleyhas now definitely retired, ending an: active football career of much distinction'; '■ -: ' ' '',-' :"■ ' . Mention is made by an Auekiahil: writer/that the knee injury received by •T.-'B. Sheen' in South Africa as probably, meant his retirement from the game. ' '■ ■■ ''■',■'■ .' ' ' V . Stevenson' is' again,in the full-back position' in the • Otago' .University' A team: Among the forwards is Dr. J. Hidenach, who,' after- a season in Aiickland,' has,returned to Dunedin. "■ The 1 Veteran C. Sonntag is agairij leading' the Kaik'orai' f.rwardsin Dunedin -this season. ' 'On Saturday Kaikorai won their-game by a margin of -49 points. ■' . ■'' •'■ ■■■■ ; ■ •'• . All Black J. Ho're :is playing for Southern in Dunedin.- ' /• . , '.";■■ ■ ■ In South Africa.- . ..' - 7- . Tho Western Province"l Bu'gby.Union has a new president, Mr. George Gib having'retired. . At the annual meetingof the union two nominations were put forward—Mr. :J.D. de Villiers and Mr.. Justice Jones. The result'of the ballot showed that there were 19 votes for each-gentleman, and it- devolved upon the president-to give his.casting vote. Mr. Gie said that ho did this with much trepidation, and after summing up the position'very briefly he gave his vote in favour of Mr. Justice Jones: ■Mr..Justice-Jones then occupied ' tho chair,'and'his first act was to'propose Mr. 0;!o as a life member of the union, a proposal which was carried unanimously. Mr. J. D. do yilliers and Mr. D. F. Bosnian- were elected vice-presi-dents. It was stated that the All Blacks' visit last year had given a great fillip both financially and as far as the game was, concerned. Although it had been the pioneer of low entrance charges for the matches, the union had made a ] handsome profit of £12,000 on the tour. . G., Liedenber.g, the. Transvaal wing-three-quarter, whp. played against ..the All Blacks last- year, had a, narrow, esxape from death -.when '.flying, an .aero-, plane in' Pretoria. Liebenberg was flyi ing solo when apparently his engine choked! The only course to adopt was to select a safe spot for landing, but being at too high an altitude ho failedto come down on tjje fairway, of .tho ■ golf links as he intended, and skimmed over the .trees, bordering .the river, finally hitting the ground ;t short 'dis: tancc beyond a bridge. The propeller, and undercarriage of'the machine were badly smashed, but Liebenberg was unhurt. "It is now quite certain thai, neither Jan Pienaar nor G. Pretorius -will play

this season," says a writer discussing rJt'ellenbosch University spoyl. They will'find some consolation ifi rofcroeing, however, and ought to do valuable work as coaches. The team will probably be skippered by G. Dance), who- is in his final year. Kogarding .the three-quar-ters. J. J. Pi'onaar is the only one who has loft..' All tho others arc still, in residence, with the exception of J. van der We"sthuizon. But as tho Springbok centre is on the staff of the local high school, he is still available. There will be some difficulty in finding a new stand-off half to fill Nolte's place, as ho has rejoined his old club, Van der Stel. Either .Stierlin may fill this responsible position (provided a new full-back is found), or perhaps H. Goniu,- a speedy inside three-quarter from'the junior 1, team! Van der Westhuizen (the 'international's, younger'brother) will quite probably be played as the last lino of defence." Last season he filled thatVolo admirably for Malmesbury. None of last year's.senior scrum halves are left, Markotter/Starke, and, Smuts all.being absent. The most likely candidate for this position seems .to bo C. Meyer,, a member of'last ;season's second fifteen. "Best Season Since War." Letters received by the New Zealand Eugby Union recently in connection with the tour have stated that Rugby interests have progressed in both Mel-, bourne and Brisbane, and the- view is held that the Test'match in Brisbane will help to further cement the solid foundation already established., Australian files to hand also indicate that the Eugby .game on the other side of the Tasman is making headway, some writers painting quite rosy pictures of the,prospects for this season. "I believe it'will be .the pest season since, the war,"; is the opinion expressed by Mr. J. Noseda,, secretary of the New South Wales Eugby, Union, in an Australian sporting journal. "Queensland will i rerappear. in .inter-State games after .niapy years; and "Victoria will probably; have a representative in the Australian team to meet, the New Zealanders, so.the. Commonwealth -will, for the first time,"be represented by more than two States.- ■- > ■ Improvement in standard in Sydney is remarkable^ '«The Waratahs made,a name at Home by their- open fast play, and the, same type of .football was shown by-the. team of. colts which greatly impressed the ; football • lovers across . the Tasman, who looked; upon it as a, "New Kugby.'', The games in Sydney should .be particularly attractive, for the harder grounds will'suit this dashing play better than the softer areas in the Dominion. . , r . . • The club season will be'curtailed a little on' account of the representative programme,"but nevertheless the premiership competition should be interesting. From every club comes glowing reports of the number who are desirous of joining the teams. The growth in" the second'; and third grades, and amongst, the juniors, is .really amazing, there being over-' fifty per cent.increaso. in', the number, of-players. ■ Country development.is very good; On the ClaTence Eiver the code is progressing,'and there are strong braucjies'in, the Northwest and New England. .Newcastle, continues to go ahead. There will probably be eight first-grade teams there, and eight iv the reserve section, with about' 17 schools. ; The Australian, Selectors. -.-;,.. ■ 'Five..-selectors'-have'.buea appointed to choose tho Australian aides, the committee comprising Messrs. A. £5. B. Walker,-.-H. W. Baker, li: -J.' Thorn, T. S.-Griffin,-and :H. Judd, each of whom has represented•' New South Wales. ■ -Judging from all reports,. a surprise was created'in the appoint-, ment of the selection committee by the dropping of •A. C.. Wallace and C. L. Fox. -..'. ■' Wallace.captained, the Waratahs on the tour; of .Europe and Canada in- 1927-28//aiid acted as-.one of the selectors Fox. was' tho vice'cap'tain' 1 of tire Waratahs. '", Commenting oil the naii-apiioiri'tment of Wallace arid Fox, a Melbourne writer says: "It is surprising '.tliat Wallace and- Fox, did hot''secure ."places on the selection committee of the Kugby Union, especially the former,'wlioj before lie-had returned^ from '.the 'British tour, was chosen as" one'-.of. three last season.- Now he. fails' to, be.'in. the' five/who comprise the. ;iiew ;committ(?.e.." '".' ... ','.>.. v '-'.| '•'Messrs.. Baker* and Thorn , will be having. ..their, first .'experience as selec--1 tors'; .'Mr. Griffin has been: a selector for, some years, .and Mr. Walker, who, as a player,' is regarded as having ranked with the ablest-.half-backs who have played for Now. South Wale 3- was appointed a selector following his retirement from the game a few years ago; Mr. Judd. had a fine career as ;i representative .player, .and has been a selector before: „:'.■_' , -, Competition ■ Entries. . ' . Excellent entries have been received for the grade, competitions, there being an 1, increase _of nine teams on the number entered .at, the beginning of, last season. There will again be ten teams playing in the senior A grade competition, but in the senior-B grade there are extra teams this year—Melrose, Upper Hutt/' and Old, Boys—making the ■total eleven. ' Increases are also shown 'in-the' entries for the 'junior, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh grades. The entries are as follow, with the number of • teams. for this year and last year shown in parentheses:— Senior A (10, last year 10).—Athletic Berhampbre, Eastbourne, Marist, Oriental, Petone, Poneke, University, Wellington, Old Boys. Senior B (11, B):—Hutt, Johnsonvilld, Melrose, '-'Oriental, "•'■ Porirua, .Selwyn, Teachers' ■'-. ::Cpllcge,. UpperHutt, University, .Wellington, Old Boys. , Junior (21,;'18):^--Atliletic:V(2), 1 Bcr-' hampoie,. Eastbourne,; Hutt, Johnson-' villej,-: Slarist,<;. ; Miramar, Melrosc,. Ori-sloV,.-Oriental/;Petphej Poneke, St.. Patrick's ■-'■ College, '■ Selwyn,: Taita, Univer-sityi'-Welli-ngt'pn/vdld Boys (2), Moera/- ---" ThirdCj;(26^gs).—Athletic, Berhamporbj- Boys'Tijstituic, Eastbourne, Hutt, Johiisonyille, vKarori,:,Marist, Melrose, Onslbwj i' Oriental,-, Petone; Poneke, ■ St. Patricias' College- (-2), Selwyn, Seatouii, Uppcr'lliitt,-Univor'sity (3),: Wellington (3),-. WplliiigtoirConege',; Old- Boys (2). . ' Intermediate';(l2,l3). —Atliletic, Kaiwairra-' (2), -Karori,- Miramar, Oriental,, Petorie," Poneke, Technical, Taita, W^el-. lirigton-(2). •..-...,.- „.,.. .' -„- ' Fpurth...(23,,. 22).-^Athletic, Berham-, pore/.' ,(2), „Boys!' , Institute, Eastbourne, Hutt/.Marist, MeiroseJ Selwyn, Onslow,: Oriental/'Petone, Poneke, vSelwyn, Seaioxya, Technical,. Upper 'Hiitt, Univers-• ity, I.•Wellington (2), Old Boys (3), Bail-' way:.; School. .'":'-■ ■'.:■■ .' ; .19).—Athletic, Borliam- ; porej-.iEastboUrnej. -Hutt, .Johnsonville, Maris,t,i:.M.elrose,.Onslow,- Oriental, Petohe,:'P.onek/e^ Selwyn, Technical, Taita, WeiUngtbn;- Old.'. Boys. .'. ..SixthiX'n.V^p),^Athletic,.Hutt, Johnsonvillej:. Eardri;: Melrose,, Onslow, Peton'y < Poneke; Selwyn, Upper Hutt, Wellington.- \< ] -':'':: ■' -'';''v- '-; :'• ■ ■ :: ; !- fecven-th (13, >9').—Athletic, Boys' Institute,;' Eastbourne, Hutt;' Karori,? Melrose;, Onslo)t," brie'ntal, Petone, Solwyii,. 1 Seat6uij,'.W-ol)i,nglpji,;Modra.., .' . ; , :,I)i,'addition'- to , ; thp-above'competitions the'r,Q;;are v:t;h(;,:.'co.iiipetitioris confined to scepn'tiii'ry '^cli'p'dls:.-.-.' ';''■'■:. ''■'' -.' .■ ,-.': ■

The South African Eugby Board has refused to approve of a tour to England by a combined University team.