Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 867, 16 February 1917, Page 21

Rugby Football.

New Zealand's Rugby Soldiers. TpETER McColl, the old-time Wellington player, and assistant at the Parliamentary Library, writes me an interesting letter from "somewherein France," dated 14th December, 1916. He writes: — ' 'I happened to come along to an instructional college here the other day for a course of bombing, bayonetting, and physical, development work, and ran up "against the New Zealand team which is to, tour. Great Britain shortly. Thev have a splendid side, and dished a Glamorgan fifteen last Sunday by 22 points to nil. Owen was . playing ~ at half-hack for the Welsh team, who were too. light for our hig chaps. "Th© New Zealand team was:—Fullback, Miller (Auckland); three-quarters, George Murray (Wellington and Auckland), Gibson'* (Wanganui and Athletic Club, 1910), and Eddie Ryan (Petone); five-eighth, Mclntyre (old Harry's son), and Stead the younger (Southland); half. Brown (Taranaki); forwards, Casey (Hawke's Bay and Auckland), Whittingtoh (Taranaki), J. Moffitt (Wellington), Charlie King (Wellington Rugby and Rugby League representative). Bilkey (Auckland University and Auckland representative), Cockroft (brother -of Otago's flying three-quar-l-.er), and Pini (Johnny of Taranaki); wing-forward, R. Taylor (Taranaki). The ground was very greasy, and the backs, under the circumstances, played a great game. Their fielding and kicking were neat and clean," 7 and they put in some really first-class passing work, indicative of a hot time in store for some of the teams in England. Gibson got two. tries by good dashes. Eddie Ryan led up to two by his tricky runs,

in the first passing to George Murray when pressed, and in the second to Jim Moffitt, who had backed up cleverly. George Murray got a beauty on his own. He started a passing run, and wound movement by-taking thei ball again and going over at the corner. A strong forward dash by Charlie King was finished-up by young Mclntyre, who snapped up the ball when King had finished, and scored a clever try. < "Besides the fifteen mentioned above the other players in the touring combination are: — Full-back, Scott (Otago); three-quarters, 'Snowy' Adams (Athletic),' W. Wilson - (Athletic), George Owles (Oriental);- five-eighth, Sam Cameron (Taranaki); . forwards, Dan Sullivan (Melrose and Wellington), T. French (Auckland), Bright and Fogarty (Otago). Altogether, they make- a pretty hot mob— don't you think so?" [I certainly agree with Peter McGoll that a- team selected from the aboee would undoubtedly do credit to New Zealand Rugby football at its best.] . Peter continues:—"The boys are quartered at the rear of an estaminet not far from here, and get plenty of practice each day. I see •-them every night. One would think you in old Jack Pagni's bar in little old New Zealand when all are gathered in for a 6ing-song and a wee glass or two at night. Kind regards to all old sports." '•..-.■* •» * •« A cablegram from London on Monday announced that "the greatest interest attaches to 'the forthcoming Rugby match on February 17th at Richmond, between a New Zealand team from France and the unbeaten Army Service Corps team." Evidently the teafnvreferred bo in the above communication are now touring England, and the interest in the game will be enhanced to the readers of the Fbee Lance by knowing the names of the men composing the New "Zealand team in to-morrow's match.