RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 October 1927, Page 8

RUGBY

(By

Kick-Off”)

INTER ISLAND GAME TO-DAY. TRIAL MATCHEB~ALMOBT OVER. The process of searching the Dominion for new internationals to meet the Springboks on the veldt of South Africa next year is drawing to a close and this afternoon the second last of the trial matches will be played. One of the most important games of the year is the North v. South game and this season the interest has been kindled by the fact that from it the working of the selectors will be almost completed. The labours of the selectors conclude next Wednesday when the Possibles v. Probables match will be played in Wellington. The year before last the All Black trial games provided some of the finest Rugby ever seen in this country and the games to-day and next Wednesday promise to be just as spectacular. The results of the matches between teams representing the North and South Islands are as follows:—

THE POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA Some interesting impressions oi South African Rugby are given in a letter to the Sports Editor of the Auckland “Sun” from Mr, N. L Lowe, formerly of Auckland. Writing from Kimberley, Mr. Lowe says ■ “Kimberley Rugby is at a very low ebb. Owing to the diamond industry being stale, all the old stalwarts have left, and the senior clubs are composed entirely of young players, who have not the finesse and dash of the “Uncle Dobbin” school of 1916-1920. A beautiful stadium has been built, but the ground has no turf, although it is remarkably kind to players. “The old Springboks of 1921 are forgotten. Mostert, the crack Western Province forward, and one of the old guard, is the only one who is playing class football, and will in all probability be an opponent for the same province against the All Blacks. “Boy” Morkel is now leading the Western Transvaal, but it is quite probable that this is his final season. G. Morkel has retired, while young Tindall is now playing in his place as full-back. “ ‘Baby’ Morkel is dead, and so is Pienaar, the captain, and Bennett, the manager of the 1921 team. Big Jim Michau was in Durban, but on the grandstand, while the small Michau, the scrum-half, is trying to make up his mind to ‘come back.’ Myburgn, who was a reserve, is playing with ‘Boy’ Morkel and ‘Nick’ du Plessis. “To all intents and purposes, Rugby is still very strong, except in Kimberley. The Currie Cup is not quite decided, and from local celebrities I have met, the information that some astounding new players have come along has been gleaned. “We do not fear the All Blacks, nevertheless we are not underrating them, and you can rest assured that brute force and ignorance are factors which the selectors are not considering again. WITH THE WARATAHS. The Waratahs have shown themselves to be a team that may make a fine showing against the best English teams. New South Wales forwards in recent years have gained a great reputation for their play in the loose as has been shown in tne encounters with All Black teams. Last Saturday the visitors accounted for Neath and Aberavon combined by defeating them 24—5. Their predecessors, the “Wallabies” of 1908, beat these two counties 15—0. 'file 1912 Springboks met Neath only and had a win B—3, but outside of the New Zealand Army team no New Zealand team has met either of the counties. The Army team won 15—0. Last Wednesday they met Abertillery and Cross Keys, and won 13—3. This is the first time they have combined to meet an overseas team. Abertillery has a good though very small record as it drew with tne 1908 Wallabies, 3 all, and lost 3—o against the Army team Cross Keys met the Army team in 1919 and lost 6—o. The visitors play their fifth match of the tour against Swansea this afternoon. In all the Waratahs have to play 28 matches, including four international games. The following is the list of games to be played after to-day— Oct. s—East Midlands, Notts, etc,, at Northampton. Oct. B—Yorkshire and Cumberland, at Bradford. Oct. 13—Glasgow at Glasgow. Oct. 15—South of Scotland, at Melrose. Oct. 19—North of Scotland, at Aberdeen. Oct. 22.—London, at Twickenham. Oct. 27—Oxford University, at Oxx ford. Oct. 29—Leicestershire, at Leicester. Nov. 2—Cambridge University, at Cambridge. Nov. s—Combined Services, at Twickenham. Nov. 12— IRELAND, at Dublin. Nov. 16—Ulster, at Belfast. Nov. 19—Northumberland and Durham, at Newcastle. Nov. 26—WALES, at Cardiff. Nov. 29—Llanelly, at Llanelly. Dec. 3—Cardiff, at Cardiff. Dec. B—Pontypool, at Pontypool. Dee. 10—Lancashire aud Cheshire, at Birkenhead Park. Dec. 17— SCOTLAND, at Edinburgh. Dec. 24—Warwick and N. Midlands, at Coventry. Dec. 26—London, at Twickenham. Dec 31—Gloucester am] Somerset, at Bristol. Jan. 7 ENGLAND, nt Twickenham. Three matches are to be played in France, while it is expected that on the return trip other matches will be played.

Date Played at Won by 1 .. North Scores 1897—Wellington .... 16-3 1902—Wellington .... ... South 29-14 1903—Auckland .. South 12-5 1904—Dunedin .. Drawn 3-3 1905—Wellington .... ... North 26-0 1906—Wellington .... ... North 9-5 1907—Christchurch . .. North 12-0 1908—Wellington .... ... North 12-5 1909—Wellington .... ... South 19-11 1910—Christchurch ... South 14-10 1911—Wellington .... .. North 19-9 1912—Napier .. North 12-8 1913—Christchurch ... South 25-0 1914 —Wellington .... ... South 8-0 1919—Wellington .... ... North 28-11 1920— Wellington .... 1921— Christchurch . ... North .. North 12-3 28-13 1922—Auckland ... South 9-8 1923—Wellington ... ... Drawn 6-6 1924—Wellington .,.. ... North 39-8 1925—Invercargill .... ... North 16-5 1926—Wellington .... ... North 41-9