RUGBY IN ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 10

RUGBY IN ENGLAND

NEW ZEALANDERS PROMINENT In the match Oxford v. Leicester, won by Oxford by 10 points to 5, the playwas neither fast nor exciting. W. E. Henley, of New Zealand, playing in the pack, converted both the tries. Oxford University beat Richmond at Oxford, by 28 points to 3. New Zealanders playing were P. C. Minns and W. E. Henley. Both were markedly prominent. In the first half Minns secured three tries, all of which Henley converted. Score, 15 points to nil. In the second half Minns and Henley were responsible jointly for another goal, and then Minns got his fifth try, but Henley’s kick from the touch line just went wide. Guy’s Hospital were beaten by Northampton at Honor Oak Park by 17 to 5. J. E. Gicsen was at back for the Hospital, and J. S. Batchelor was in the forward pack. In the _ second half, with a greasy ball, passing became difficult, and most of the play was confined to the forwards. Giesen, by a few long kicks, placed Guy’s Hospital on the attack, but the Northampton forwards got back with a rush which ended in Longland’s scoring far out, but not too far to prevent Treen from converting. Cambridge University was beaten at Richmond by the London Scottish by 18 point to 10. According to an eyewitness the victors deserved to V}in, for they had more of the play, certainly for two-thirds of the two “ forties ” played, finishing up much sponger than their opponents, who should at this period of term be in the best of training. C. E. Malfroy was one of the three-quarter backs. ‘ Tho Times ’ no means the strongest side the University can turn out; whether as a result of tho aftermath of the game against the South Africans or on account of the desire of the captain to test further players—a .dangerous proceeding halfway through the season—or not cannot be said. Askew moved himself from full-back to centre threequarter hack, Parry, of the Old Merchant Taylors, going to back, and Meikle being put at stand-off half-hack as a partner to Pope. Thus the whole of the back division appeared to he experimental, nor can it be said_ to have been a success. As the captain’s substitute Parry did very well, catchall that was sent to-him, and on more than one occasion showing real grit. Of the three-quarter backs it is difficult to say much iu their praise, for alike in attack and defence they did not give much satisfaction to those of their supporters who were watching their play. As a centre three-quarter Askew appeared to he thoroughly out of place; in attack he seldom did the right thing, and, to the astonishment of many, nis defence was extremely moderate,, for few could have imagined that he would have let his_ opponents through in the manner lie did. Neither was his colleague, Malfroy, any better in this respect. On the right wing, though he did not have easy chances §iven him by his inside players, meddle did not have a > good day. Apart from one run in which he went across the field for Pope to score, he was continuously held up by his opposite number, Adams. _ It may be that the indifferent play in the centre was the cause of the moderate football of the wings. The best of the Cambridge hacks on the day’s play was undoubtedly the scrummage half-hack, Pope, who, in his dives through the loose scrummages, often_ successful, reminds one of that delightful player, A T. Young. Young is an old hoy of Wellington College, and was at Cambridge a few years ago. At Sandhurst, the Royal Military College beat the R.A.P. Cadet College by 25 points to 8. The play was good all through, hut Sandhurst; were the better side, especially in the second half. The Cranwell Cadets played good football, hut the tackling of the Military College was too sound for them. E. A. Collvns (Nelson) was one of the forwards playing for the R.A.P. Cadet College. _ _ , P. 0. Minns and W. E. Henley were playing for Oxford against London Scottish, at Oxford. The home side scored 26 points; the visitors scored nothing. Both New Zealanders were prominent, Minns being in excellent form on the wing. Henley three times converted. The score slightly exaggerates the superiority of Oxford, as London Scottish bad nearly as much of the play as the winners, hut, while Oxford generally finished their movements with tries, the losers threw away innumerable chances after the defence had been beaten. This in no way detracts from Oxford’s victory, as they made some excellent constructive play. The chief reason for the improvement was that W. Roberts, the captain, set his three-quarters going much better than in previous matches. On the same day Cambridge had C. E. Malfroy and H. B. L. Johnstone playing ,in the match against Leicester, at Leicester. The University gained rather a remarkable victory, when, after leading by only a couple of points at half-time, they finished so strongly that they scored in the end four goals, a penalty goal and a try (26 points) to a penalty goal and a try (6 points). * The Times ’ correspondent remarks; —“In the centre C. E. Malfroy did enough to suggest th;A he may improve a good deal.” In the second half, the University lost' Johnstone, one of their most useful forwards, hut that did not prevent tho whole side from staying wonderfully well the pace of a game that was played on a fine afternoon, hut on treacherous going after the frosts—so well, that Leicester were almost over-run in the end. Malfroy, Brook, and, once more, Watherston shared the honours of the final try scored by Watherston and converted by Smeddle. After the match against the Springboks at Cambridge, on November _4, J. G. Askew, tho_ Cambridge captain, started team building by awarding blues to two forwards, J. 6. Watherston (Sedbergh and Corpus Christi), who only just missed that distinction last year and H. B. L. Johnstone (Christ College, New Zealand, and _St. Catherine’s), who, apart from being a fine forward, is also a splendid place kick. Johnstone was unable to_ turn out for the match owing to an injury sustained a few days ago. The South Africans beat Cambridge by the decisive score of 21 points to 9. “ Twelfth Man,” of tho ‘ Evening News,’ remarks: “If C. E. Malfroy, the New Zealander, who has just been elected captain of lawn tennis at Cambridge, gets a Rugger blue this term he will ho the first athlete at lither 'varsity to bring off this double for over twenty years. _ The last man to represent his ’varsity at both games was G. D. Roberts, the Oxonian, who played for tho fifteen in 1907-08, and for the six in 1908-09, and is now a K.C. This particular little company of doubles only numbers five in all. Tho first man to achieve tho distinction was T. A. Cock, who was a triple blue in 1899; he also got his . colours for rackets. Then came J. V. Nedbitt (1906), tlm only Oxford man on tho list in addition to Roberts; E. D. Evans in 1904, and R. J. Stone in 1902. As a tennis_ player Malfroy first attracted attention by reaching tho final of the All-England Plato, the consolation Mize at Wimbledon in 1930. Last summer

he camo very near to beating Sidney Wood, the young American who holds IliG All-England title. A few weeks before Wimbledon Malfroy injured a leg in attempting “ a big climb’’ at and this undoubtedly handicapped him.