WITH THE R.A.F.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 7

WITH THE R.A.F.

AT WORK AND PLAI

M'NICOL'S RECORD

Wellington is well,represented in the! Royal Air Force, and from time to time excellent reports are - received of the progress being made by these representatives. At work in tho service flue achievements arc being recorded, and on' tho playing fields the Wellington boys; too, are making a name for themselves. : The unique distinction has been gained :by:Plying. Officer lan M'Nicol, formerly of the Oriental Football Club, Wellington, of playing for the B.A.F. in three branches of sport. He represented the Air Force at Soccer against the Navy. The match was played at Portsmouth, and was won by the Navy by five goals to. one. As he had previously represented the E.A.F. at cricket, it only remained for him to play Bugby regularly for the Air Force to become one of .the few who have ever represented a service in three sports. This he achieved by winning his ..Rugby cap as an' B.A.F. representative • during the -season just closed in England. Interesting references to Bugby football are made in letters to his mother, Mrs. M'Nicol, of Wellington. In one letter lie states:—"We played the.' Police, a team, picked frqra the Forces in Ireland, Wales, and England. Gee; and what a size they were! The pack averaged about 15-J stone, and the backs were very little smaller. Naturally, 1 expected a big man to be playing against in'e at first five-eighths. But, what a man; fifteen stone if he was a pound! . .. We drew, 9-9 (three tries each) after a very vigorous and interesting game. We. were rather unlucky, as we *•■ led 9-3 till a few minutes from the end, and then they made a draw of it. Talk, about Petone-Poneke —well, they are school children compared with some of these tough.Welsh policemen." Subsequently he played as a centre threequarter. "We drew with 'Cambridge University, 19-19, after a great game," he statesl "Each of the University Bides is considered as not far short of an international side, so., it speaks• pretty well for the E.A.F. side. . • We played Leicester. They had seven internationals playing, and just beat us. Aarvold and Novis, both English internationals and members of the -British team to New Zealand, were playing as centres for Leicester. Over here.. the most important Bugby games are, firstly, the international games,' secondly Oxford v. Cambridge, and thirdly, the inter-Service games. . . Beamish has told me all about his trip. He is ever to keen on New Zealand, and wants to go back there later on. He is our captain, and I have never played under a finer captain—simply marvellous on the field and off." In' another letter he states that the &.A.F. beat Oxford University by 8 points to 3. The match with Cambridge University, was regarded as about the best he had played in since in England. "We were ' badly beaten by the Navy by 16 points to nil," he adds. ''Actually' the game was not as one-sided'as. the score indicates. They wore the better team certainly, but our fellows had just a chapter of accidents —no finish. All played -well-individual-ly, but could not get * that, team combination which wins games. ■ We had a very; enjoyable game, though, and a wonderful' dinner to follow that night. ... I am playing in, positions from half-back to full-back, but mostly as right centre. As-you know, in English Bugby, they have four.' three-quarters and two half-backs. Bight centre plays in what we know as centre-threequar-ter when the open side of the field is on the right and as second five-eighths ■when the open side is on the left. It just means that the two centres are constantly changing positions according to the open side of the play. It is quite different from first five-eighths' play, but I am managing-to adapt myself to it. . . The great trouble with the B.A.F. team is that the players come from all over the counti-y, and do not see one another from Saturday .to Saturday. It's.' so .hard -.to , get combination under these circumstances." - Flying Officer Williams)-also'a former member; of' the Oriental, Football Club, plays '■ regularly for. the R.A'.F. Bugby team, .and he has retained his title of heavyweight champion boier of the E.A/F.' ; -•■ <' ■'- ■ \ ■■■ '■■■, \,; In M'Nicol's letters various references are made "to ;other New Zealand- , ers in the Service, and special, mention is made of Squadron-Leader .T. M. Wilkes, 'whohadidone a great deal for the- New, Zealand boys during, his stay in England. Mentioning the Airways' pilots M'Nicol states: "They are a great crowd of fellows. They are, in my opinion,, the true fliers. Do big trips in all-weathers under trying, conditions with heavy loads and full of passengers, and not a bit of publicity or pats on the back. Just sheer love of the game, and also a means of earning bread,'arid butter."