RUGBY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10508, 11 February 1928, Page 3

RUGBY.

POPULAR WAR AT A HS. RECORD OF MATCHES. The match against London was the last on tlie official programme of games of tlie AA'ar.-itab’s tour in tlie Old Country. The game was to have been played on December 20. lait the unprecedented snowstorms m England at Christmas time rendered piny impossible, and ir was agreed that the AVnratahs should play tho march on their return from I-ranee. It is a curious coincidence that the match should have had the same result as the first the touristplayoel with London—a pointless draw.

AA’liile tin* AA’aratabs have not met with success equal to that enjoyed by some of the other colonial Rugby tennis that have visited tini nited Kingdom, they have, on the whole, done well, and their record does not compare unfavorably with that of the AA’a Hal lies, the Australian team which went Home about twenty years ago. It is stated that the AVarntahs have proved tlie most popular colonial Rugby team that has ever toured tho Old Country, and the estimated profit- from their matches far exceeds that of the allronqiioring ID2I All Blacks. In the Fnitcd Kingdom tin- Warntahs have played i weiity-eigjir matches. They won twenty-two. lost four, and two were drawn. They scored 400 points compared with 177 scored against them. The record of the lf>24 All Blacks for their matches in the Foiled Kingdom was:— Played 2 ? . won 28, points for 051. |-oints against 98. The AVaratahs played five international matches with tlie following results : A’ersus freland. won. 5 to 3. A'ersiis AA’ales, won, 18 to 8. A’ersus Scotland, lost, 8 to 10. A'ersiis England, lost. 1| to S. A'ersiis France, won. 11 to 8. Points for 5-3. against- 17.

In addition to being beaten by J Scotland and England. the AYaratalis also lost to Oxford Fniversitv. Pontvpool and South-west France. COMPARISON AA'ITH PRF.A 10FS TOURS.

The following tal Je shows 'he records of tlie various volonia! Rugby teams that have visited the Old Country, matches plavod in F'rata -■ being included :

Tlie following table shows the points scored for and against colonial teams in matches in the United Kingdom and France:—

RESULTS OF MATCHES. Following arc the results of tlie matches played by the AVaratahs >n the United Kingdom and France:

A'. Devon and Cornwall won 30—3 A*. Newport won 2U—.’. A’. Neath and Aberavnn won 21- b A'. Alienillory and Cross Keys won 13-—3 A'. Swansea won II 0 A*. Midland won IG—l2 A* Yorkshire and Cumberland won fl—3 Y. Glasgow won 10—0 A*. South of Scotland won 30—0 A’. North of Scotland won ... 21—15 V. London drawn o—o A’. Oxford University lost ... O—B A*. Leicestershire won 20—8 V Y Cambridge University won 18—11 A'. Combined Services won ... .13—11 A'. Ireland won .*>—3 A'. Ulster won 11 A'. Northumberland won .. ... 14—0 A'. AA’ales won 18—3 V. T.lnnellv won 2-I—l I

| A'. Cardiff Won 1-Y--9 A'. Pontypool lost 3—o A'. Lancashire won 29—11 A’. Scotland lost ... B—lo A'. AA'arwicksliire won B—s A". Gloucestershire won 14—I A . England lost 11—18 A'. Soutli-AA'.st Fiance ]os< .. 10—!)> A". Midi won ll—3 A'. France won 11—8 AY London drawn 0 -0 Total 432 207 SCOTTISH FORWARDS TC< > FIERCE FOR AA'AIiATAHS. LONDON. December. 22. AA allace and Ins men. forming the New South AA'ales Rughv team, were '■eaten in their match in Edinburgh 'iv two goals to a goal and a try. 3 lie “■suit was a surprise. The tourists '-“IV expected to win lie reason ot superior team work, hut, almost for the first time during their interesting tour, they were opposed by a-set -a forwards who held their own in i lie line-outs, and were superior in the loose. Indeed, the Australians experienced what Scottish forward play is at 1 its best, with the eight wheeling and drihliling and going through with the mill in most formidable fashion. The AAaratahs’ ‘hacks went down before these rushes with line courage, and the defence of the side as a whole was excellent. But their opportunities were restricted by reason of the fact that they were so often thrown on t lie defensive. They got the ball from the scrums as trequently as the Scots, the heeling being quick and clean, hut, as soon as it was out. the Scots concentrated on Lawton, and, if they did not actually cause the passing to break down, lliev were able to force the men to run in a more or less harmless direction. In this wav tin l Scots could be said to have won through tho power of their defence. The Scottish team played hotter than many expected. Both lan Smith on the wing, and Macphorsnn in the tentre, were absent from the threequarter line, and possibly the attack was weakened on this account, hut tin- substitutes played extremely well. The match was contested in a line sporting fashion. though the football was hard and keen. Front Edinburgh tlie Australians came to London, where they spent Christmas. A newspaper account of Vlio game says : '

[ The referee made a mistake-when In- tailed t.i take into account luu [ lairlv lone delays and stepped the match dead on time, as .’sow..South Wales were then ].residue hard, and showing their host all-round form ol the game. : The Waratails scored jftr.st, hrjlliant passing ending in K. Ford getting over with a try which Lawton contorted. Scotland were level with* in two minutes. Simmers punted over the head of lips.s and drahnm. following, up with great dash, ran over with a try. Drysdale converted with a splendid kick. Almost immediately afterwards Scotland went very close to a second score, .1. '-Ford intercepting finely. The Scottish pack more than held their own to half-time, whieh.oame witli the s.epre live points all. As the game • progressed the pace became faster aitfl faster. The Waratahs gradually dutproved, and a fine run ; I v }treekei|ridge carried the play jelose to T'np Srottisli line. The ><:o;y?s were level till twenty-five minutes'.after the resumption. Then Simmers cross,-kick-ed h i W'elsl to gather and score' I '} fry width Drysdale eon' -rte.l. l.alet .1. Ford scored very cleverly for thjiWr rat-ahs. and Lawton only jnsSJ missed the goal. - ■ 1 Then followed desparate play hi tin- Wara falls. K. Ford and then .|J. Ford being nearly over, but the Scottish defence held out in :un ‘c.\jciiiug finish. /' "

P. W. J.. D. lOOT.-fi All Blacks .. . 00 02 1 o 1900-7 Springboks 20 20 2 1 11)08-0 Wallabies :U 20 0 1 1912-10 Springboks 27 20 3 0 1024-27 All Blacks 00 30 0 o 1027-28 \V:i rat alls 01 24 7. 2

FoiA gains-ire')-fj All Plucks ... SCS -17 mcr,-; Sprinjilioks nos •s; m0S-D Wallnliios IAS Ml? 10] 2-1:1 Srrin«lmks 111 101 All UliK'ks 721 111? 1027-2S Wara talis -1.12 207