THE RUGBY GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19663, 15 June 1927, Page 16

THE RUGBY GAME.

AUCKLAND SENIOR MATCHES.

INDIVIDUAL SCORERS' LIST. LOFT AND STEVENSON LEAD. After the completion of the first round of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior competition it is interesting to record the various points scored by the players in all Learns. Loit, Aiarist-, and Stevenson, Grafton, head the list with 30 points. Loft has scored lour tries, goal-kicking making up his extra points. Stevenson, who has played both as hve-eigtiths and fullback, lias been a good scorer for Gralton as regards goal-Kicking. He has kicked seven penalty goals, as well as converting three tries, iu all an aggregate of 2/ points, winch, with one try, brings his total to 30. By converting 13 tries Short, Ponsonby, i is third on the list. Although Short has converted tries from difficult angles, ho has not yet succeeded in turning a penalty-kick to advantage Ponsonby has no penalty-goals to its credit. Accuracy in place-kicking has also brought Pilling, College Rifles, well up the list in fourth place, with 22 points. Lucas, Ponsonby, leads the try-getters with a total of seven. Woods, of the same club, closely follows him with six, while Teape, College Rifles, has also scored that number. There have been only three potted goals, Stoupe, Marist, kicking two, and Johnsoil, North Shore, one. Knight, Grammar Old Boys, with four tries, easily heads the list among the forwards. The following table shows the total points scored by all players to date. The various clubs are signified as follows: — Ponsonby (P), Gralton (G), Grammar Old Boys (G. 0.8.), College Rifles (C), University (U), Marist (M), North Shore (N), Training College (T). Pts. Loft (M). 4 tries, 4 p.g., 3 con. .. 30 Stevenson (G), 1 try, 7 p.g., 3 con. .. 30 Short (P), 13 con 20 Pilling (C), 1 try, 5 p.g., 2 con. .. 22 Lucas (P), 7 tries 21 Stoupe (M), 1 try, 2 p.g., 1 con., 2 pot. g 19 Te'ape (C), 6 trieß .. .. .. ..13 Woods (P), 6 tries .. .. .. .. 18 Badeiey (G. 0.8.), 1 try, 3 p.g., 1 con. .. 14 Wilson (C), 2 tries, 4 con. .. .. 14 Turei (G. 0.8.). 2 tries, 1 p.g., 2 con. .. 13 Knight (G. 0.8.), 4 tries .. .. ..12 Cammick (P), 4 tries .. .. .. 12 Ruru (G), 4 tries .. .. ..i :.. 12 Lawrence (G), 2 tries, 2 con 10 | Hook (G. 0.8.), 3 tries .. .. i.. 9 Butler ([!), 1 try, 3 con - .. 9 Johnson (N), 2 con., 1 pot. g. .. -.. 8 H. Reid (jn), 2 p.g., 1 con 8 Singleton (G. 0.8.), 1 try, 2 con. .. 7 Blakey (U), 1 p.g., 2 con 7 Gardiner (G. 0.8.), 1 try, 1 p.g. .. G Matheson (T), 2 p.g. .. .. i.. 6 Hook (P). 2 tries .. .. ... 6 I Tonkin (P), 3 tries ... .. i..- .. 6 Mcilanus (P), 2 tries .. .. .. G D. Keid (N), 2 tries .. .. i.. 6 Page (Ni, 2 tries .. .. .. .. 6 Cornthwaite (M), 2 tries .. !..• i.. 6 Alathins (U), 2 tries .. r.. 6 Cashmore (U), 2 tries ~ .. i.. G Lockie (G), 2 tries .. < G : McNaughton (T), 1 try, 1 con. i.. 5 Gillespie (C). 2 con. .. .. .. 4 The following have scored one try each:—Stewart (M), Lawn, Molloy, ! Spenceley, Fogarty, Sheen, Barclay (C), Williams, Cornes, Batty, Goodacre, McCarthy (G. 0.8.), Kelly, Anderson, Beresford, Hill, Mason (T), Berridge, Fleet (P), Holmes, Soloman, Meikle, Walsh, Mouatt, Clarke, Jackson (N), Freeman, | Jenkin, McLeod, Brooker, O'Halloran, ! Colgan, Olsen, Keene (U), Munro, Wanoa, Liddle, Finlayson, Hargreaves, Noakes, Compton (G). Stokes (N) and Miller (U) have converted one try each. North Shore has : gained six points by being awarded two penalty tries. RUGBY SELECTORS. CHANGE IN PERSONNEL. EXPERIENCE OF LAST YEAR. The announcement of the New Zealand selectors for the present season shows that Messrs. E. McKenzie, N. McKcnzie and A. Guy have been returned for the North Island, but there has been a change so far as the South Island is concerned, says a Southern writer. Last season the South Island selectors were Messrs. H. E. Davis (Canterbury), A. J. Geddes (Southland) and O. Banner (Golden Bay). This year Mr. Geddes is the only one to hold his place, as Mr. T. Milliken (Canterbury) replaces Mr. Davis and Mr. A. Arlams (West Coast) replaces Mr. Banner Was the poor selection of the South Island team last year responsible for the change that has been made in tho personnel of the selectorship this season ? Last season Canterbury, Southland and Golden Bay had representation on the selection committee. Now Golden Bay has been dropped in favour of the West Coast. Why not Otago or South Canterbury—- ! especially the former ? It is hard to understand why Otanro is passed over so persistently. The West Coast is really onlv a minor union and has produced but one good footballer—Jack Steel—in a decade ; It is granted that Mr. Allan Adams has done a tremendous lot of work for football on the West Coast, and no doubt his appointment is some kind of a reward for those services. But there are other men who have also put a tremendous amount of time into the came, and with such a serious tour ahead next year the New Zealand Union should surelv have given a little thought to Otago. The North Tsland selectors represent, three of the big unions, and their work in the past, has fully justified the renewed confidence that has been placed in them. i A CLEVER FIVE-EIGHTHS. I NEW SOUTH WALES PLAYER. T. Lawton, who played five-eighths for New South Wales against Combined Universities, is the cleverest five-eighths in Rugby of any kind in the State to-day, says the Sydney Referee. He was quite the best all-round back in the match. The Rugby League in Sydney has no player so skilful, so elusive in the position and quick off the mark. lie handles the ball and passes it with the slip skill of a J M. Gregory. He compares well with celebrated five-eighths of other generations, either New Zealand, New South Wales, or British, seen on Rugby fields in Sydney. We could not name one who was his superior. With a strong, enterprising threequarter lino to support him, Lawton's play, associated with that of a quick-thinking halfback, ought to develop attacking powers of high order on tho tour of the team in England. SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. STRENUOUS FOR ALL BLACKS. A gentleman who resided for five or six years in South Africa knows something of the conditions under which the All Blacks will play their football next year. He says that without the slightest shadow of a doubt the South African tour next year will be the most strenuous a New Zealand side has ever undertaken. "One day they will be playing on the level and their next match might be about 5000 ft. above sea lovel," he says. "The winds there blow strongly and bit- j terlv cold, but worst of all, from tho footballers' point of view, is that the least scratch not given prompt attention after the game will lead to septic poisoni s ng." ,