NORTHERN TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 73, 23 September 1939, Page 22

NORTHERN TOUR

WELLINGTON TEAM

On their northern tour the Wellington team did not meet with success in the two matches they played, the first against North Auckland at Whangarei and the other against Auckland at Auckland last Saturday. Difficulty, was experienced in getting a team away for the first match. Reinforcements were sent north for the game with Auckland, but even so the side which was fielded was not Wellington's best. In this match Wellington had a wonderful supply of the ball, but in spite of that Auckland, with their fewer opportunities, were successful. Lambourn's hooking forj Wellington was very impressive; in-j deed, it was an outstanding feature | of the game. Wellington were not favoured by the best of luck against Auckland, but according to comment written in Auckland specially for "The Post," Auckland were the better team. The match was played under ideal ground and weather conditions and before an attendance estimated at 12,000. Although there were some spectacular movements, especially by the Auckland backs, the game on the whole was a little disappointing. Reinforced ;by E. W. Tindill, A. Wright, M. McG. Cooper and A. Lambourn, Wellington was expected to, make a brave showing, writes "The Post's" correspondent. This they ac-j complished to a certain degree but fell away at the critical stages. The backs had numerous opportunities due to the magnificent hooking of Lambourn. It is safe to say that there has never been a more brilliant exhibition of hooking seen at Eden Park in any game. He repeatedly sent the ball flying back to Tindill with such speed that many of the crowd began to call out that the ball was being put in unfairly. This, however, was poor sportsmanship as there was no doubt whatever as to Lambourn's superiority and Auckland changed its hooker in an endeavour to counter this superiority but with little effect. TINDILL'S POLISH. With a feast of the ball served to the Wellington rearguard there should have been no doubt as to the final result. Tindill served his outside men with swift and accurate passes from the scrum and varied his play

nicely with the stamp of a polished player. Thompson, the first fiveeighth, proved a good connecting link and his powerful kicks were a thorn in the side of the opposition. In this department, however, he erred in the second spell by much, over-doing it. Perhaps, however, he became tired of seeing his and Tindill's 4 work being

itoo often frustrated by Thomas, second five-eighth, and Vile, centre. These players frequently spoiled attacking movements by poor handling and positional play. It is a long time since a Wellington back division has committed so many errors at Eden Park. With two reliable players in these positions, Wellington would have "walked in." Wellington, playing with the sun in the second spell, had some plorious opportunities when the Auckland backs stood deep but some of the visiting line, especially Thompson, preferred to kick. The two wings, Wright and Knowles, proved dangerous with very limited opportunities, and the score would have been different had they had the chances which should have come their way when Wellington held a monopoly of the b"'l from the scrums. A good deal of interest centred in Wellington's young full-back, Dance. He appeared to be upset a little by the occasions, and made a few mistakes, but there is no doubt he is a promising player. His fielding was very neat and his kicking with either foot generally good. He should develop with more experience into a fine custodian, but there is yet a suspicion as to his tackling and he should not have allowed Schubert to come inside him when the Auckland wing scored a fine try. THE FORWARDS. The Wellington forwards proved a stronger set than was generally anticipated. They scrummaged well and held their opponents in the line-outs. Todd stood out for fine all-round work and was ably supported by Cooper and Cassidy. During several stages of the match Wellington went very close to scoring e>' r> held superiority in the second spell after being eight points down at half-time. The team appeared very unlucky not to be awarded a try when Knowles went over at the corner, the referee ruling that he had knocked the corner flag. Knowles appeared to have touched down before the flag was hit in a flying tackle. ! The Auckland backs had their taskj made easier by Wellington's mistakes, j They were the superior set, however, and were quick to turn these errors to advantage. The outstanding player was D. Brady, at second five-eighth, whose speed, thrust, and judgment in kicking stamped him as a footballer well above the average. It is sur-

prising that he did not find a place in the North Island team. He frequently handled twice in passing movements, and on two occasions this led to tries. The Auckland forwards again showed improvement all round with Carson always in the van.

merit of the side, whose record is all the more notable when it is remem- j bered that the Fijians have not been playing Rugby more than 10 years. In the development of the game in Fiji Mr. J. B. K. Taylor, a former Welling-1 ton representative player and official, has had a part, and it was pleasing that he should be one of the managers of the first team from Fiji to come to the Dominion. The visit and the success that was achieved should do a. power of good in the further promotion of the game among the Fijians. The tour culminated with a splendid exhibition against the New Zealand Maoris at Hamilton last Saturday. Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the N.Z.R.U. executive committee, was one of those who saw the match, and he was very warm in his praise of the display given by the Fijians. He was particularly struck by their fitness. I So fit were the visitors, he said, that they were yards faster than the Maoris. Another who has paid a glowing tribute to the Fijians as gentlemen and as players is Mr. Harry Frost, president of the Auckland Union, who accompanied them on part of their tour. The experience, he said, had been a real joy to him. Commenting on the match against the New Zealand Maoris, a Hamilton correspondent had the following to say:—Speed and combination were the determining factdrs in the Fijians' victory. Seldom have Rugby supporters been treated to such a brilliant exhibition of open football as that provided by the visitors. The backs threw the ball about with abandon, yet the passing was clean and attacks rarely broke down through fumbling. Both backs and forwards made full use of their superior speed and showed penetrative qualities which few teams could equal. Another outstanding feature of their play was their deadly tackling, which completely overcame any of their opponents' attacking movements. Jack Lovelock's British record for two miles was broken recently, when J. Emery, star English long-distance runner, covered the distance in Smin 3.4 sec. The existing record was made prior to the Olympic Games in 1936 by Lovelock when he covered the distance in 9min 3.Bsec, says an exchange. P. D. Ward, well known to members of the New Zealand Empire Games team in Sydney, was second to Emery, four yards away. ? ]