RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12075, 14 October 1933, Page 11

RUGBY

NE PI A’ S “C.'OME-B A CK. ’

To nobody is the news of Nepia’s “come-back’’ more gratifying than to those English followers of Hie Rugby code who saw the- All Blacks play during the 1921 tour at Home‘‘X saw every match.” writes an English oiritie, now domiciled in Now Zealand, “and Nepia never played a had game, while on many occasions lie was simolv superb. The more unpoitnnt Hie game the better be played. His tackling was deadly, his Positional play clever in the extreme, and his kicking almost uncanny in its accuracy. Finch was the glamour of his football personality that thousands, nay. tens of thousands oi people who were not Rugby ‘fans went to see him play. ‘Let s go to the All Blacks' match this afternoon. They do a war-cry and dance called a haka, and there's n Maori playing for them who’s a marvel, so they say.’ Such a remark was beard on more than one occasion."

Mention nf George Nepia’s deadly tackling recalls an amusing incident that occurred during the Now Zealanders’ match against- the West Midlands (at Gloucester, if memory serves aright 3. The Vest Midland 55 captain was Tom Yoyce. the Gloucester and All-England forward, a giant of a man and a great player. Yoyce weighed nearly 17 stone, and he was all hard bone and muscle, but Nepia tackled him just as gallantly, and also as effectively, as lie had any other player. Down came Yoyce! As one pressman pur it': “You could dam’ near feel the oaith shake.” Yoyce picked himself up. scratched bis bead, and looked at tbo flying figure of the Maori full-back, Surprise was written al] over him. One could almost imagine him saying to himself, “Well, of all things! Downed by that little feller! Wait till w o meet again-” A few minutes la tor a serum broke, and both Nepia and Yoyce were on the blind side, so far as the referee was concerned. George made a playful dash at “Tiny," and dodged him, grinning all over bis face, but the big man-flung himself full length at Nepia’s ankles, and down came the Maori. Yoyce. amazingly quick* for a- man of his height and build. w as first on his feet. Tie picked Nepia U]i by the -seat- of his shorts and the back of bis jersey, gave him a Playful shake and dropped him. Then lie ran off, laughing mightily. George sat on the turf for a minute, shaking with mirth, and the next second was on bis foot once more. The most amusing part of it all was that Mr. Free thy. the referee, bad not observed the little comedy at all, but, needless to say, tlie spectators on the “pomvlar” side bad (lone so, and there wore roars of laughter.