RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 200, 24 July 1926, Page 6

RUGBY NOTES

AMONG THE PLAYERS. JOTTINGS FROM”.ALL SOURCES. [By “Cross Bar.”[ The All Blacks’ record to date now reads three wins and two losses in the five matches they have participated in with an aggregate total number of points for of 90 with 67 against. While the All Blacks have registered 18 tries, six penalty and nine goals from tries, their opponents have compiled their points from nine tries, 11 penalty goals, one goal from mark and two goals from tries. 1 Opposing Wellington - , infringements furnished the home team with 12 points, while against New South Wales m the first test and versus Metropolitan, nine points went to swell their opponents’ totals from the same source. Of the five matches contested, Elvey, Mill, Porter and Finlayson are the only members to have participated in the full number of gameSj Stevenson, Blake, Lomas, Harvey, Knight, Gooko, Nicholls, Irvine and M. Brownlie having four to their credit. Sheen has but the Wellington appearance to his credit, while Robilliard, Dally, Kirkpatrick, C. Brownlie, Hazlett, Alley and Brown have participated in only two games. Nicholls’s goal kicking has carried him to the fore in the scoring register, his total of 31 points being forthcoming from five, penalty goals and eight goals from tries. Svenson comes next on the list with two tries, one penalty goal and one goal from try (11 points), while Elvey has placed nine points to his credit from three tries. Blalce, Finlayson, Porter and Robilliard have each made two crossings, while Stewart, Lomas, C. Brownlie, Knight and Cooke have each scored on one occasion.

Ross, the New South. Wales fullback, like Nicholls, heads the list in the opposing ranks as a result of his kicking ability, he having registered 14 points from four penalty goals and one goal from try in two of the three test games. The record of the 1925 All Blacks read somewhat similar at the same period, their record at the conclusion of the fifth game reading three games won and two lost, but their points tally read 63 for, with 34 against, being thus six points more favourable than their successors. Whereas their tour was thereafter restricted to mooting New South Wales teams, the 1926 team wilß journey to Melbourne and there play a short series of matches. The 1925 team’s points at the termination of the fifth match had been derived from 16 tries, one penalty goal, four goals from tries and one field goal, while their opponents had registered seven tries, one penalty goal and five goals from tries, the greatest disparity being in the number of goals from penalties registered when compared with their successors’ record. Wellington have had the satisfaction of accounting for Dominion teams on the eve of their departing overseas on many occasions and Wednesday saw them add the scalps of the Maoris to their belts. The margin of 28-16 was a substantial one and points to the representatives of the Empire City being a strong opposing force when they take the field against the Shield holders. “Cross Bar” wag incidentally informed that they are already booking seats in Napier for the match, which promises to create a fund of interest.

Wellington’s 28 points were compiled in varied form, 15 coming from tries, eight from two field from a goal from a mark and two from the solitary conversion. The Maoris’ points were compiled from three tries, two goals from tries and one goal from a try. The 12 point margin which separated the losers and the winners in the Wellington game has had the result of putting the Maoris on the debit side of the ledger, for in two matches—one won and one lost—they have registered. 29 points, while the opposing fifteens have run up 40. Whereas the Maoris have compiled their points from five tries, two goals from penalties and four goals from tries, nine tries, two field goals, one goal from a mark and one goal from a try have been obtained by tlioir opponents. S. Gemmell has had the satisfaction of registering a score in both of the games contested by the Maoris, while Rev. Mateno has, by virtue of his kicking powers, also been a free contributor, he having kicked four goals from the five tries scored and added two penalty goals. Haupapa, Barclay and AVineera are the other contributors to the scoring account, each having a try to his credit.

The late withdrawal of Nepia promises to leave the Maori team without any definite player filling the role of full-back, for Lo/e, the substitution, usually plays closer up. In the Auckland match Kingi filled the position, while at Wellington Potalca undertook the role, yet the former is a half-back or five-eighth and the latter a centre. With their giant lock man, Alley, away in Australia and likely to settle in Christchurch on his return, Southland have another useful forward to fall back on for the position. He is a young player named “Jock” Fraser, who scales over 16 stone. Fraser is spoken of as Southland’s next All Black.

Otago University still pursues their unbeaten way in Dunedin, the victory of tlxo A representatives over the B team last Saturday placing the former fifteen six points in the lead. H. D. Morgan, the All Black wing threequarter of three years ago, who turns the beam at 13 stone, has played a prominent part in the attaining of the leadership. His university studies prevent him from seeking honours in the All Black touring sides. Tho surprise victory of Alhambra over Pirates in the Dunedin competitions last Saturday had the effect of placing the two competing sides on even terms on the second rung of the championship ladder. While Pirates have registered 192 points for as compared with 129 by Alhambra, the former club has had 37 more points registered against it than the ’Bamas. The Callander brothers—one in Kaikorai and the other in Alhambra in Dunedin—are both goal kickers. To date, the Kaikorai member has contributed 55 points from eight tries, eight goals from tries and-five penalty goals, while the Alhambra player has registered 40 points from three tries, 11 goals from tries and three penalty goals. Both are former Palmerston North boy si Harris, the 1925 All Black full-back, who has been unfortunate in the matter of injuries this season, again sustained a severe knock last Saturday when assisting Old Boys against Christchurch. He is reported to be much more solid than previously. Old Boys now hold a lead of 2.J points in the Christchurch competitions. Star, playing Tukapa in the northern division of the Taranaki competitions last Saturday, sustained their first defeat by 12 to nine. The outcome leaves Tukapa a point behind Star, but the leaders are a match in advance. In the southern division, Okaiawa and Kaponga are on even terms at the head of tho laddor, but the former are a match in arrears.

Mr A. Stuart, of Grey street, who was

a member of the Wellington team which did duty for this end of the Island in the Charity Day game versus the Auckland Commercial Travellers’ Association, was one of the unfortunate participants, ho having the misfortune to sustain a broken collarbone. “Cross Bar” has to acknowledge receipt of an invita'tion from the Woodville Club to attend the farewell function to be tendered Mr Norman Cowie. It has been tho writer’s fortune to have known Mr Cowie over a long period of years, dating back to secondary schooldays, and ho joins with a large circle of llugby enthusiasts in wishing the Woodville and Manawatu representative every success in his now sphere. A sportsman in every sense of the word, Mr Cowie possesses a wealth of friends throughout tho whole length and breadth of the Dominion. Although the southern unices were E repared to accept visits from the Comined Union this season, there wag some doubt as to whether it would bo possible to pay the return visits on their next northern tours, and the local powers declined to undertake the tour under such uncertain conditions. A north trip is now being arranged, but the outcome has * not yet been announced. Slight concussion caused by a knock on the head played queer tricks with a senior player engaged in a recent Rugby match (says tho Wanganui Chronicle). In the second spell lie was obviously fogged, but got through the proceedings in a somewhat mechanical fashion. After the match he changed and left the ground, but later in the evening was found back there again knocking a football about the field. “What is the use of training three nights a week if when we play we meet a referee who is not in proper condition to keep up with the game? It is not necessary for a referee to train as strenuously as players, but ho needs to be pretty lit all the same.” These remarks were made by a Christchurch first grade Rugby player at the conclusion of a garno last Saturday, in which certain things had aroused his

resentment. Of course, many roferees do train for games, but it is a fact that thdre are a few who lag behind when the play grows fast. After all, to keep fit is no sacrifice, and referees would enjoy their task much more if they are not troubled by “bellows to mend.” Sporting Life says Scotsmen 6eem to gravitate naturaliy to Rugby.— Attracted by the free kicks?