RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 July 1924, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Discussing the All Blacks, the. Sydney Morning Herald said that the visiting team is considered thoroughly representative of New Zealand football, which for many years has oeen supreme in Rugby Union circles. The record of the New Zealand representative teams is wonderful. Out of a total of 146 matches played in various parts of the globe, only il matches have been lost, in the games.lost the New South Wales aiid Australian teams have won nine. E. E. Booth, back in Sydney from New Zealand, looks a hearty man (says the Referee) considering the reports we had of his ill-healtli. He has made a good recovery. The General speaks highly of the form of the forwards of the All Blacks, and thinks the backs, who are young, will train into a good lot.

The departure of the second All Blades for-England coincides with the jubilee of the Rugby Union game in N.S.W., and marks them out as the central figures in the celebrations of the event. Their; Rugger displays on the field, says the Referee, wilt make up a fitting commemoration for 1924. They will play two matches in New Zealand under the proper Rugby Union rules, discarding the modifications adopted a few years ago. Home of the N.Z.R.U., including' the Anglo-New Zealander Dr. P. F. McEvedv, advocated the return to the old rules earlier in the season, but, the majority felt that the j layers would have no difficulty in picking them up again.

In view of the southern tour of the Auckland team and the match against the All Blacks on Wednesday next, the following from the Auckland Hta<r will prove or interest: —-’The All Blacks will play an Auckland team at Eden Park on July 23, and in view of the fact that the Auckland members of the touring team are not to Lie included in the local side, the selector, Mr R. V. Meredith. has N selected his team early with a view to getting them '.ogother as much as possible for the ordeal of meeting the'pick of New Zealand. He has evidently kept in mind the fact that they will have a very heavy task in holding their own against the strong forward combination of the New Zealand team, and has gone for sound, solid forwards, behind whom he has backs who 'should he anle to work up a. good combination with a. short 'acquaintance of each other. For the fuii-back place the competition has obviously been between Goodacre and O’Brien,and the former is given preference, with O’Biie lias reserve. A surprise m the three-quarter line is the inclusion on the wing of 1,. McLean, who was pit ked last year for New Zealand as full-back, and this year-was a candidate for the All Blacks among the forwards. He has been tried for Grammar tins year as forward, outside five-eighth and fullback,. A difficulty encountered by the selector was getting a suitable inside live-eighth, and he has chosen Loft, of Marist Bros., who lias shown only fair form in the club games a.s a wing three-quarter, but was tried on Saturday as inside five-eighth and played such an excellent game that he impressed the selector as the man he was looking for to play inside IFwersen. AY right was. of course, tae full-back that everyone expected to see selected. Liiltott has fairly played his way in as rover, and if he is able to reproduce his club form he will trouble anyone the All Blacks may have against him. Weight and solidity have obviously been the objective of Mr Meredith in the other forwards, and the pack will take a deal of beating.”

MOASGAR CUP. HISTORY OF THE TROPHY. AN INTERESTING RECORD. Much has been said and written of the records of the New Zealand Army Rugby team, but comparatively little publicity has been given to the sjilendid record of the New Zealand team that won the first Moascar Cup. While the latter stages of the operations wei’e being fought in Palestine, and subsequent to the signing of the armistice New Zealand troops, who had been “boarded for home,” owing to wounds and sickness, were concentrated at Ismailia, pending embarkation. With the spirit of their race their thoughts turned lightly to Rugby. Early in 1919, a Rugby Union whs formed at Moascar, and a cup presented to the union by the Australian and New Zealand training depots for competition among the troops. It aroused the greatest interest. Five Australian, four British, and one New' Zealand team entered for the competition. Unfortunately, the complete records of the matches were lost on a returning transport, and no reports were sent to the ’Gypshun Mail. The competition was won ~bv New Zealand, with the following record: Games played 10, won 9, drawn 1, points for 147, points against 3. The cup is a very handsome silver Irish cup, and the base in which it is embedded is made from a propeller blade taken from an enemy- aeroplane shot down in Palestine. In addition to the matches played for the possession of the cup, the same team was -also, successful in matches against teams from South Africa and Wales. Prior to returning to New Zealand, the members of the team unanimously voted the cun to the Ne,w Zealand Rugby Union for competition among the collegiate and secondary schools in the Dominion.

The names of the members of the original team engraved on the cup are: H. A. Quartermain (cantain), J. Jobson, H. J. Higgs, W. G*. Smith, A, D. Higgle, C. S. Smith, G. W. Conrad, J. Jenkins, A. G. Macauley, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles; G. Carter, R N. Snow, H. J. Ward, R, G. Buyers, T. W. Gleeson, of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles; C. H. McManus, R. G Halstead, H. W. Waldron, L. H. Wynvard, 0. Finlayson. L. H. Alexander, n Brown,. Auckland Mounted Rifles; A. H. McCaldon, A*. H. Thomas, G. J, Oliver, Ist Machine-gun Squadron; and L. A. Harris, 2nd Machinegun Squadron. It will lie of interest to note that the previous winners of the tronhv are a.s follow: 1920, Christchurch' Boys’ High School; 1921, Christchurch Boys’ High School; 1922, Auckland Grammar School; 1923, New Plymouth High School. THE ALL BLACK TOUR. Most of us felt confident, after the result came through of the second Test, that our boys would win the third, but who expected such a runaway victory? It is remarkable that the only scores New South, Wales secured in the third Test were in the first spell, and that while New Zealand added eighteen points in the second spoil, the former failed to get one point more. A margin, of thirty points in an international

match is most unusual. The scoring shows that the All Blacks are plaving tnemselves into their stride. By 'this time the backs must be beginning to know one another's play wen, aim m the coaching they will have before they reach' the Old’Country they should bo able to start the big tour with confidence in themselves. A very disappointing feature is the failure at goal-kick-ing, especially after the form shown by the kickers in New Zealand. Another feature of the Third Test which is not satisfactory is that more tries were scored bv forwards and the wmg forward than by the backs. Although this was the case, one has to note that Porter, who scored three times, was playing, as he so often does, more like .a back than a forward. This means that as one has often seen him in action lie has. come ■ round and taken part in it back passing rush. In the trial matches played before leaving New Zealand Porter would often take the last pass from the three-quarter line. It emphasises his remarkable all-round efficiency. That factor in his play serves again to stress the point we made at the time of the trial matches, that his. all-round excellence made him fill the bill of rover, which is actually the ideal of the winger. Apparently in the Second Test Porter played much more of a destructive spoiling game. To Taranaki enthusiasts the fact that Brown,has not only kept his place, but has gained great kudos for his sound play will fie very welcome, even though it is only what was expected. It appears rather as though the cables have not done him justice, for in a special received by a Southern city paper the writer says; ‘ The brilliant Cooke and solidly working Mark Nicholls gave their three-quarter line frequent chances, and Brown, at centre, running like a champion, was fully equal to the task of rounding off beautiful movements begun by his inside, men. He accepted a reverse pass from Svenson to slip across very soon, and a little later raised Lucas into a scoring position by drawing, the last lines of defence.” This points to Brown playing the heady game for which he has always been noted, and to his having been much more, of a factor in the defeat of the N.S. Welshmen than appeared from the very scrappy cable news.

Regarding Dailey, it will be remembered that he played in only one of the trial matches, and that, only for one spell in place o'f Steel at wing threequarter. In spite of that the selector* put him in a s second half-back, and apparently he has more than justified his selection, for a special to a city paper in the South says that “Dailey’s rapid work at the base of the scrum was making possible attacks such as had not been seen before on tliei tour. The All Black l»ack-line moved into assault with a speed and precision which proved it to be of the highest calibre.” The possibilities for development m the back division are getting better • with every match. One would like to know why Hart was displaced—whether that he was not an to form, and whether he was being saved so Sven son the opportunity. It seems certain that the moving of Lucas to centre was not a success. Our forwards, a.s we fully expected, have stood the test very well, but it was someivliat disconcerting to read that they were lacking in pace. It is to be hoped that arrangements will be made to get the benefit of a ooacli who will he able to give them the help of his experience.

THE ALL BLACKS IN AUSTRALIA

«. PREVIOUS GAMES, The three tests played by the All Black touring ttfim in 1922 resulted: New Zealand won, 29-19. New South Wales'won _, 14-8. New South Wales won, 8-6. The second test of 1922 was remarkable for the fact that, though NewSouth )\ alas won they did not once cross the New Zealand line. Stanley kicked three penalty goals and also converted a penalty try awarded to his side because Hickey was held by the referee to be guilty of shepherding. Richardson and Steel stored tries for New Zealand, and Badeley converted one.

■J The New Zealand team that day was frequently thrown on the defensive by the swift passing movements of the home backs, whose penchant for high kicking towards midfield also put the All Blacks into ticklish corners. Last year New South Wales visited New Zealand and were defeated in all three tests —19 to 9, 34 to 6, and 38 to 11. RUGBY IN FRANCE. IVhe re the New Zealand team will encounter much improved form is in France (says an exchange). The French Army officers, and the Navy, too, have specialised so much in Rugby •since the end of the war and received so much influential support direct from headquarters that the standard has been raised immensely. They play a real hurly-burly style, vimful and clever and remarkably unorthodox, calculated to upset the best of combinations. Cumberland County is another place where a surprise may be effected, the players being mostly of the artisan mining class and inclusive of some Welsh.

The Rugby Federation in France has been facing a quandary lately owing to the undue roughness which is allowable under present rules. After the Toulouse-Bia-rntz match last year twelve of the Toulouse players out of the fifteen were oh the casualty list. One sporting paper described the game as a “splendid exhibition of street fighting.” The rough work, it seems, is not due altogether to the French rules, but rather to the keen rivalry between Rugby teams in different' parts of France. The Frenchman seems to let his enthusiasm get the better of him. A player guilty of “roughing’' is never ruled oil the field unless hie opponent is rendered completely unconscious. RUGBY IN ENGLAND. WHAT AWAITS ALL BLACKS. VIEWS OF AN OLD INTERNATIONAL. “In view of tlic impending invasion of England by the"l924 All Blacks, it. might he of interest to many to ’review the conditions which prevail now and those which existed in'l9oo. when the tinimphant tear of the All Blacks took place. and in the few years preceding that, date.” Dr. Eookcs said in a Herald representative:—••Ju the early part of 1890 there was a .Teat controversy in Rugby football circles in England with regard to the question of reimbursing players for moneys lostthrough time lining broken to play in games. In the North, where the players were in the majority wage-earners, the idea of repaving lost wages to theplayers was approved by many promin-

out clubs; and the English Rugby \ niuii was approached and asked to .sanction such payments. This idea was strenuously opposed by all the South of England representatives—keen lovers ol true amateurism —and the upshot of the whole argument was the decision of a great many prominent clubs in the North to form what was then called the Northern Union. The'Rugby Union promptly decided that ajl players and officials of all such clubs were professionals, and consequently debarred from playing with the Rugby Union amateurs. SPLIT WEAKENED RUGBY. "Ibis upheaval naturally caused a marked weakening of the Rugby forces in the North of England, mainly in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Not ouiv here was the drain on prominent players lelt, but Northern Union agents soon began to offer inducements, monetary and otherwise, to Welsh players to migrate, and these offers were freely accepted. “This weakening, however, was not immediately felt, for in the following year Yorkshire was champion county in England, and England did very well in the international games. But during the next ten years the attraction ot the Northern Union and its payment to players became greater and the depredation- upon the Rugby Union ranks became severely felt. It was at tins critical stage that the All Blacks came down in their, might upon the fold of the English Rugby Union and mercilessly slew all but the chosen of Wales. FACTORS IN REVIVAL.

‘‘But we must all remember now that Rugby Union football in England has rev,ved immensely as the result.of that All Black tom and the visits of the (Springboks' on more than one occasion. France, too, lias entered the lists with teams which seem to be- strcngei each year. Proof of this revival is given by England’s steady rise in the international tourney each year; for, whereas she was either receiving, or struggling to avoid, the wooden spoon in these matches she has for the past three or four seasons been at the. top or near the top of the international table. Indeed, last year she put up a phenomenal season, being undefeated and scoring a great majority of points over her opponents. “The reason, lor this revival in English Rugby is that many men who attended public schools and universities are continuing playing the'game after leaving, and the management of the game has got into the hands of a good and active body of men. The game has been made more attractive, good grounds with thought for the comfort of players and patrons have been secured, and young players are being taught with due regard for future use. (STRONGER OPPOSITION TO MEET. ‘‘This, then, we must remember in New Zealand,, that although the present team is a good one, and is going to give a very good account of itselt. it is likely to meet much stronger opposition than the 1905 team. In all probability, as the team improves in combination, it will win most of the matches it might even be unbeaten—out- we cannot, and 1 think do not, expt'oL such a phenomenal points record as was made by that wonderful combination of 1905. That team not only a wonderful' set of forwards, men who though big were nippy ana speedy, but had of backs who were all more or less known to each other, were men of experience steadied by the knowledge they had acquired. ' This year’s backs are young men whose c. v perience is short, bu-t of whose dash no one has any doubt; and they may find that the English backs are as much as they can handle.. The present forwards are a fine lot of men and will take no end of beating.”

ANNUAL clash. A PARTY ON THE CHRISTCHURCH OVAL. HOW DALGETY’S BEAT PYNE’S. Throwing down their hammers m. fa veur of a day on the Oval at Lancashire Park, says the Star, two city auctioneering firms had their annualclash yesterday, when the Rugby’ 1 fat ball team from the office of Messrs Daigcty and Co. defeated the chosen fifteen acting on account of Messrs l'.vne, Gould, Guinness, by 15 points to The captain of Dalgetj- and Go. entered the oval carrying a charming new ball. He wore a dainty dress of dark blue strides and ivorv jumper, with narrow panels of lighter blue.' The head-wear, which was worn mop-cap style, was plain hut effective in its simplicity, covering the ears entirely. J'he dress ol the opposing captain was chic. A red jumper relieved by stripes of dark blue suited him admirably. "White strides and black and red-topped stockings made a delightful finish to a charming toilette. The dresses of the other players were much the same as that of their captains, with the exception that one player appeared in : white open-work shirt which off-set his complexion effectively. Pyne, Gould, Guinness kicked off. and the ball travelled prettily 'downfield, followed by Messrs Macready and Hanham, others present being Messrs Leckie and Handisides. Mr Fitzgerald, who received the guests, wore a neat little outfit. He fox-trotted with the ball, partnered by one Walker. Josephs took possession, and with a graceful kick sent the ball past the goal-keeper and scored. The referee, who was most appropriately garbed (as previously stated in the conditions of sale) said that Josephs had scored, and cheers were given for the happy man. Fitzgerald gracefully kicked the ball m an endeavour to pass it over the rafter. but it travelled through the air and landed at the feet of the goal-keeper. Others who contributed scoring items were: For the winners, Anderson, Fitzgerald, and Walker (2t ; for the losers, Maeready, Hanham. Leeki*\ Handisides. Farrant kicked the ball over the slip rail once. At the conclusion of the meeting cheers were given for the respective teams, and some spoke highly of the referee. A. G. S.