The World of Sport

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 28, 2 April 1937, Page 9

The World of Sport

HAS NEPIA DONE HIS DASH Visitor Says Rugby Idol on Down Grade What of Holder, Harrison, McDonald and Smith A recent visitor to England upon his return to New Zealand stated he had made special visits to League football matches to have a look at George Nepia, Charlie Smith, Eddie Holder, George Harrison, and McDonald, the New Zealand footballers who’d all gone Home to play for the Streatham and Mitcham Rugby League club. “I’d heard a good deal about them, how Nepia was back in the form of his palmy days, how Smith’s non-selection in the 1935 team was just another of the colossal blunders that disturb the serene surface of Rugby in this country, and how George Harrison and McDonald were a couple of first-class League forwards,” he said. “Well, I saw them about three months ago. And to be honest I wouldn’t give you tuppence for any of them except Holder. He did play well. But Nepia, grand old George, was, to put it plainly, a joke. All the old flashes of genius which made his play for Hawke’s Bay ten or twelve years ago so amazingly gdrd, were missing. His positional pi ly was poor, he had lost his pace and his handling was nowhere nearly as clean as it used to be. Even that terrifying gather and charge into the opposing pack had disappeared. I came away from the match disappointed. Somehow, I’d always had a sneaking liking for the thought that a player as good as George could never grow old, that he could never be touched by the dross of moderateness. But George’s pure gold nowadays is streaked by mould. I felt pretty sad, seeing him that way. “Maybe I was a bit harsh on Charlie Smith, because I saw him play some grand games for the Bay out here. But he was playing in the centre, alongside McDonald, a forward ; and whatever your private opinion about Charlie, he isn’t, in my opinion, a heaven-sent centre-threequarter. His handling was fluky and there was no quick-stepping plunge through the opposing backline. “Smith, like the rest, seemed to lack inspiration. Possibly the boys are craving a second sight of New Zealand, with their own serene people around them and a whiff of dried shark greeting them as they go back to their paas. I don’t blame them. It must be disheartening experience playing to small crowds. The day I was there, only about 500 ethers had taken the trouble to come along and see the match. As far as I could discover, the Streatham and Mitcham club has had a tough time and the specially-prepared ground and the appurtenances have become almost a dead loss. “One thing that impressed me about the English club P.ugby, in comparison with New Zeal-md’s, was the absence of “stoush.” The couple of games I saw were far more clean for instance, than ordinary club matches at Athletic Park, quick though the Erics on the Western Bank are to erase the rough spots with a heartily disapproving roar.”

INTRODUCTION OF NEW WRESTLERS TO N.Z. First Twelve to Be Signed Up Dean Detton Visits Again The following are among the first dozen wrestlers to be signed up for the 1937 season in New Zealand by the Dominion Union : Dean Detton, champion of the world ; in New Zealand in 1932 and 1934. Hal Rumberg, blonde giant who was the most formidable proposition among the importations of 1933. Jack Forsgren, Vancouver fireman, whose battles with Blomfield and McCready last year were responsible for some of the chief sensations of the season. Chief Baptist Pauli Thunderbird, only Canadian Red Indian professional wrestler ; leading exponent of communicating with adver tisers please mention our name More advertisements means a better paper.

the “Saanich Snap,” death lock applied with arm ; unrivalled showman. Matros Kirilenko, Russian Cossack, who had a memorable match against Dick Shikat when the latter held the world title. A 1 Baffert, French-Canadian strong man, now living in Los Angles ; rugged wrestler and droplock artist. “Rusty” Westcoat, big reputation as a swimmer and all-round atnlete before he took up professional wrestling ; one of the toughest nuts in the game. Bull Martin, “Rough-house Ruler” ; certain to be a popular villain in the piece. Vic Christy, “Sunland’s Sun God,” bronzed star of the younger brigade who has proved that youth is an asset rather than a handicap in the wrestling game ; was the subject of negotiations for a trip to New Zealand three or four years ago. SPRINGBOKS’ 1921 TOUR How They Fared in N.Z. The Springboks this year will play 22 games in both Australia and New Zealand—one less than the total played in the 1921 tour. Then, four matches were played and won in Australia and nineteen played, fifteen won, two drawn, and two lost, on the tour of New Zealand. In Australia, the team scored 83 points to 38, and in New Zealand 244 to 81, a grand total of 327 points to 119 against. Results in both countries were:— June 25—v. N.S.W., won 25-10 June 27 —v. N.S.W., won 16-11. July 2—v. N.S.W., won 28-9. July 6—v. Metropolitan, won 14-8. July 13—v. Wanganui, won 11-6. July 16—v. Taranaki, drawn 0-0. July 20—v. Wairarapa-Bush, won 18-3. July 23—v. Wellington, won 8-3. July 27—v. Builer-West Coast, v on 33July 30—v. Canterbury, lost 4-6. Aug. 3—v. South Canterbury, won 34Aug. 6—v. Southland, won 12-0. Aug. 10—v. Otago, won 11-3. Aug. 13—v. New Zealand (at Dunedin), lost 5-13. Aug. 17—v. Manawhenua, won 3-0. Aug. 20—v. Auckland-Northland, won 24-8. Aug. 24—v. Bay of Plenty, won 17-9. Aug. 27—v New Zealand (Auckland), won 9-5. Aug. 31—v. Waikato, won 6-0. Sept. 3—v. Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay, won 14-8. Sept. 7 —v. Maoris, at Napier, won 9-8. Sept. 10—v. Marlboroug'h-Nelson, won 26-3. Sept. 17—v. New Zealand (at Wellington), drawn 0-0.

Correct Teacher : How much did it cost to j build Buckingham Palace ? Tommy : A pound, sir. Teacher : What do you mean ? Tommy: Well, you said it was built for a sovereign, sir.