RUGBY FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1925, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

.A NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY. OF FAMOUS RUGBY MATCH. To-morrow will be the tuinivereary cf the defeat of Mr Bed-eil-Hivwright’s English Rugby football team at the Athletic Park, Wellington., by a New Zealand Representative team, by nine points to nil. The match —'.he only representative fixture of the New Zealand tour —was looked forward to with intense interest many weeks before.it eventuated, and speculation life as to the result, but the mui<flTty favoured the visitors. Those were the days before the famous Ail Biacks of .1905 hud brought Now Zealand into prominence i.i the Rugby world. Many of the older generation of Greymouth people no doubt went to Wellington to witness it. at was played in glorious weather, in the presence ef 24,000 spectators, well over £2OOO being taken at the gates. The following were the teams: New Zealand —Full back, R. McGregor, three-quarters, Billy Wallace, Harper, D. McGregor; five-eighths, Wood, Stead (captain), half, Harvey; wingforward, D. Gallagher; forwards, A. McMinn, Tyler (front), Fanning, (lock) Cross, Glenn, Seeling (supports) Nicholson (rear ranker), Britain—Full back, Btanger-Lcathes, three-quarters, Morgan (captain), Gabe, Jowctt and O'Bric.i; half-bucks. Bush; forwards, Dobson, McKenzie, Saunders. Traill, Bevan, Edwards, Crowther and Swannell. Mr J. Dunean was Luc Now Zealand conch. New Zealand drew first blood in the first spall by Wallace kicking a penalty, b\it (ns he afterwards admitted) 'X! 1,1 could not see the goal posts afterwards through nervousness” and failed to convert the two trios scored. D. McGregor scored, .the tries, the second resulting from, a passing rush by Nicholson and Harper, the latter sending it on to McGregor. This was a short while before the final whistle. Several penalties were awarded both sides, Nile being unable to make any use of them, while Wallaeo and Harper were Doth unsuccessful in sending the leather between the posts. This was the team that was responsible for the idea that afterwards took practical shape, of sending a Rugby team to Britain. Of the members two are dead. Stead, the captain, died a few years ago in Invercargill, and “Dave” Gallagher lies in a- soldier's grave in France. Tyler is in business in Auckland, and ‘.‘Billy” Glen.t is now a member of Parliament in the interests of Reform — Billy always wis conservative. Billy Wallace is i.i the engineering shops of J. J. Niven and Co., Wellington, and the rest have, no doubt, become domesticated and ‘‘take the wife to the pictures.” Many of that famous old team were included in the All Blacks ,of 1905—the greatest team beyond doubt that New Zealand has e'er sent abroad..

SCHOOL MATCHES. Yesterilay afternoon, the Grey Alai.i School first fifteen played a friendly game against Technical High School junior team. A fast game resulted in a win for the Main School by 10 points to 3. For the winners D. Ellis and C. Watson scored trios, .1. Garth and D Minehin converting. V Mabin scored a try for Technical. Mr A. A. Adams refereed the game. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ SHIELD. The following temu will represent Grey Main School agatast Hokitika Primary School next Saturday at Hokitika' in the semi-final of tho Newnun, Shield Primary Schools’ contest: Full back, P. Larsen; three-quarters: D. Alinehin, L. Harrington and I). Ellis; five-eighths: J. Garth and J. Robin; half, F. Garth; forwards: C. Watson, J. Woollott, F. Bell, J. Kear, J. Ilopkinson, F. Guy, I’. Wilson and A. Rodgers (wing). GREY v. OTIRA. On Saturday 52 boys and girls of the Grey Alain School travelled »to Ot-ira to plav matches at football and bus ketball, the boys being in charge of Mr O. W. Williams assisted by Messrs Gore, Wilson and Barltrop, while Miss K. Ryan escorted the girls. A hearty welcome. was received at the .Lands of the children at Otira and after the usual exchange of cheers the visiting players were entertained at lunch. In the football match, which was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd, the laurels went to Otira by 9 points to 6. Tho game was fast and the Local lads earned a well-deserved victory. At noon the basketball game was played and resulted in a victory for the visitors by a substantial margin. The Otira team played well for so young a combination. Afternoon tea dispensed by the Otira girls, concluded a very happy outing. Two teams of girls from the Hokitika District High School visited Greymouth Technioal School on Saturday. The visitors were met at Karoro station and taken to the Technical High School, where morning tea was served. The visitors, both girls and boys, were ‘■ptertained at Everybody’s Tea Rooms at lunch. The basket ball matches resulted: Grey A (2) beat Hokitika A <0); Grey B (11) beat Hokitika B

At Westport the Reefton girls won a basket ball match, defeating Westport by 11 to 5, after tho. latter led by 5 to 0 nt half time. At Rugby Westport primary school 'beat Reefton by 20 to nil on Saturday, running over the visitors in the second half. CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON. AN EVEN GAME.' WELLINGTON, Aug. 10 In the Rugby rep match on Saturday, Wellington defeated Canterbury by 8 points to 6, after a game which was closely contested, and in which the visitors had the worst of th' luck. In the first spell Canterbury, paying with the wind, scored all their points. Potv-

ter did net force after Canterbury attacked, and Fori'. (Canterbury) secured and darted over. The kick missed. Offside play on the part of Welling ton gave a free kick to Canterbury and Nixon goaleil. For -the remainder of the first spell, the visitors had the best of tho play. J i the second spell, Canterbury were without ths services of Bailey. Wellington made some determined dashes, but the visitors ’ tackling wgs most effective. Towards the middle of the spell Love sent the ball to Nicholls, who “dummied'? when tackled, and then passed to Alalfroy, who scored near the corner. Nicholls’s kick just missed. Porter played brilliantly in the second spell. After being once held up on the line, lie managed to get across. Soon after with a great kick, Mark Nicholls -goaled, and won the match. The j-unipy rep match. Wellington v. Canterbury, was won by the local tea aft by 26 lo 5. BULLER GAME. WESTPORT, Aug. 8. The senior frame Westport v. Rivals was won by Westport by 9 to 5. Mr Tiplady whs referee.