RUGBY LEAGUE Big Margin Of Merit Among The Kiwis

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1947, Page 4

RUGBY LEAGUE Big Margin Of Merit Among The Kiwis

“It seems that there is a big margin of merit between the first and second string players of the New Zealand Kjwis,” wrote Harry Sunderland in the Daily Mail, London, in comparing the performance of the tourists in beating York by 29 points to nil, only a few days after going down to Swinton.

Sunderland did not elaborate on this statement but he wrote in similar vein after the Swinton match when he stated that the spectators there did not see the Kiwis who pleased so many critics at St. Helens. “Only two of that triumphant 13 (the captain, P. Smith and a centre threequarter L. Jordan) played at Swin-. ton,” ’sta,ted| Sunderland. “The remaining’ eleven were entirely different men in every way. These men (at Swinton) might have been winners if one of their several sorties for a try had seen the ball held.” Another English critic, stated that the New Zealand defence took a real’ pummelling in the five minutes before the interval, in the Swinton match, and they were soon in the throes again. Scrummaging Deficiency

“Clearly the Kiwis had. paid considerable attention to their early match scrummaging deficiency,” said another critic commenting on the match against York, which the visitors won- by 29 points to nil,” and whilst there was an improvement which enabled the backs, by fast running and intensive backing-up, to show their appreciation of a fair share of the ball, their work in this department still leaves room for further improvement. “What the New Zealand forwards lacked in .the close they compensated for in the open, and nothing was more menacing than the strong running of Mcßride, who scored two tries, Hardwick, Davidson, and Newton. Cunningham, who inflated many of the visitors’ movements and played attractive football, also secured a try. He was well supported by Graham whilst on their respective wings Forrest and Mclnarney, who each scored tries, showed resolute running with commendable speed.” Further Praisa Further praise was bestowed on West Coaster C Mcßride by critics after the York victory. He was described as a splendid second row forward, very stockily built and a fast, strong runner. The Auckland full-back, Warwick Clarke, also impressed the critics at York, where he gave what was described as a flawless display, comparable with that of any Dominion full-back to visit England. He never missed a ball and his line-kicking was extremely accurate. ONLY 13 PLAYERS COMPLETELY FREE FROM INJURIES

(Rec. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 14

Reuters says the New Zealand Rugby League team has only 13 players completely uninjured. The team to meet Leigh tomorrow will be Clarke, Forrest, Robertson, Anderson, Mclnarney, Jordan, Barchard, Pye, Davidson, Johnson, Gilman, Newton, Hardwick.

Reuters says the New Zealand team to moderate the effect of injuries has called in the Dewsbury Club’s ti'ainer, J. Milnes, to act as masseur for the rest of the tour. Milnes is at the team’s Ilkley headquarters and is already attending to a half-dozen injured players. The hooker, Davidson, has recovered and will play in the New Zealand side tomorrow against Leigh.

BALMAIN STAR’S SUCCESS STORY

IS LIKE FICTION

[SPECIAL TO STAR] AUCKLAND, This Day.

To many of our young footballers comes the dream at some time or another that they are-stars thrilling the crowds with great *'Exploits on the football fields but when Balmain, the champion Sydney Rugby League team arrived in Auckland, the representative of the Evening Star was given the true life story of a lad who is destined to become one of the greatest names in any football sphere. This 20 year-old star is Bobby Lulham, the outstanding footballer in Australia today. Unheralded And Unsung

Lulham was working in Newcastle as an apprentice boiler maker when the idea came to him to try his football prowess amongst the great, so he journeyed to Sydney, 100 miles away and quietly made his way to the Balmain club’s ground where the club was conducting its annual talent trials. These-trials are held at the beginning of every season when it is possible for any lad who considers" that he “has what it takes” can go along and have a run. These runs last for 29 minutes and the club officials watch’ every participant. Where a candidate shows promise he is requested to take part in a further trial. Young Lulham, unheralded and unsung, approached a club official with a polite request for a chance. He was given his chance and although in the 29 minutes opportunities did not come his way, the astute Balmain officials realised that here was a lad who had something. He was asked to come along the next week for a further chance. He returned to Newcastle and thefle counted the days until he would again be in the big city playing the game on which he had set his heart. Sure enough right on time the next week he was ready for his next trial.

Went Back Home

After the game he went back home and as nothing was said to him he thought that his bid for the top flights had been in vain, so he decided to embark upon his annual holidays which were overdue. He went to the railway station and bought a ticket for a tourist resort, there to forget that he had ever had the audacity to think that he could find a niche in a top line football team. At the station he bought a newspaper and on opening it his eyes immediately turned to the football news. Imagine the spine-tingling sensation when he saw the name of Bob Lulham as a member of the Balmain senior team for the following week’s opening game. The trip to Katoomba was . immediately forgotten and. he

could not reach Sydney quick enough to be in the team. His transfer of employment and residence was arranged by the club and he stepped out on the following Saturday. In his first game he notched two dazzling tries and in the next game three more. From there on he rapidly climbed to the heights to finish the season with a Sydney club record for a threequarter of 28 tries. He was chosen as an interstate representative and town and country player during the season and in these games collected a further seven tries. SEASON TO CLOSE OFFICIALLY NEXT SUNDAY

Although non-competition matches may still be played, the West Coast Rugby League season will close officially next Sunday, when the proceeds from all games will be devoted to charities, in lieu of the “charity day” which had to be cancelled last Sunday on account of bad weather. This was decided at last evening’s meeting of the Board of Control, when Mr.W. Meates presided. A motion of sympathy was passed to Mr T. Merriman senr., in his illness.

The Marist fifth grade team was declared the winner of the one round competition in that grade. The report of the last meeting of the Referees’ Association and a resume of its activities for the season was received as satisfactoryReference to the improved service now being given in regard to broadcasts of the Kiwis’ matches was made by the secretary (Mr T. F. McKenzie). Appreciation of the co-operation received from Mr -H. O’Loughlin, station director of 3ZR was expressed and it was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to him. The following fixtures were arranged for the week-end: — Senior (Saturday): Runanga v Marist, at Wingham Park, 2.30 p.m. Senior (Sunday): Blackball v Ngahere, at Ngahere, 2:45 p.m.; Marist v Korodale (Wellington), at Wingham Park, 2.45 p.m.