RUGBY REGNANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 10

RUGBY REGNANT.

AUCKLAND'S GREAT HOUR. impressions of crowd. THRILLED AND SATISFIED. "THE HILL" IN 00OD FORM. And so the great Rugby game, Britain versus Auckland, has been played and won, and won handsomely by the blue and whites. The crowd had its thrills and moments of delirium, which fortunately did not mufflo its plaudits for the visitors and tho city, so largo a part of which did not see tho match, has been experiencing a glow of pride ever since. Most people had anticipated that a draw might bo the best possiblo hope and glad surprise gives extra zest to the common feeling In a tramcar an elderly gentleman who doubtless had considered that there was no hope of his seeing the game and had instead spent a quiet afternoon at the show, was told the result. "Six to nineteen. Bless my soul. Six to nineteen. Nineteen you said. Well, well. Bless my soul." The monologue and his beaming face told the whole story. Very small boys, too small to be taken to the match, found great satisfaction over the matter. Perhaps 19 was a little too far for them to count, but they knew from their Dad's extraordinary buoyancy that evening that everything was very well indeed, and not a bit behind them were Auckland's grandmas and great-aunts, many of whom listened in to the account of a game they knew little about with very intense interest. One grandma who does understand the game spent an exciting afternoon kicking goals and lending moral sup. port to Mr. Lucas and company, at the same time offering all sorts of moral consolation to the "foe," one or two of whom come from her own county. Still More Boom. Of course, everyone knew that after mid-day at the latest it would be quite impossible to find a place in tho crowd, and as for a seat on either of the public stands, well, of course, that was entirely beyond the realm of possibility. But it so happened that no latecomer was unable to see the match, that there was quite a lot of unoccupied accommodation upon the temporary stand, and that even in tho grandstand, which was sold out long before, a few seats \Mpre unclaimed. In view of these facts many people found much satisfaction in hoping that the speculators had got something that would "learn them." The crowd always must have a bono to gnaw. Bye and bye some of it used the referee for that purpose. But after all, it was a pleasant, orderly crowd. The hill was very densely packed, but noticeably more so at each end where evidently infiltration soon ceased. It takes a bigger city to pack itself in the manner approved by the best ticket-sel-lers. You can push in so far in Auckland, but very soon the man who has carefully staked out a claim about a yard square says, "Where do you think you're goin' ?" And all within earshot agree ancl that ends the thrusting tactics of the average man. Diversions on the Hill. Prior to the big match the hill entertained itself with mild local diversions. Individuals who presumably had offended by rising from their newspaper seat at inappropriate moments were bellowed ar. and pelted with papers. One of these people was being counted out by his neighbours just as the Auckland B team was kicking off. The player was just about to put his too into the ball when the counting out resounded across the field and he paused in mild surprise and looked over to find out what lie had done.

The hill was in fine trim for the great match when it started. It had come for a long day and it was going to have it. So it lost all sense of restraint at moments during the Auckland-King Conn-

try curtain-raiser. Just before this game ended there was some commotion at the Dominion Road end. A blue figure that proved to be a constable arose and he was pelted. It seems that pleasantry had gone too far and some persons unknown had used as missies bags containing scoria. But let us blame the individuals and not the crowd. The hill was all right. Enter The Players.

There was a gentle simmer at the stands entrance when the players came in. • Of course every self-respecting Aucklander has a number of personal friends in the team if ha is not a brother to everyone of them. "Went to school with So and So. Once gave him a hiding. Taught him his football." But on the clay of the match and at the moment of their arrival what a glamour hangs over these chaps! What an aura! They must know what a gladiator used to feel like. But to the credit of Rugby let it be said that the chosen player, whether he be an Auoklander or a representative of Britain is usually a very modest, unassuming young man who does not want hero worship. The deep voice of the loud-speaker announces the entrance of the teams. Deafening din. Tip-toe excitement. One man finds that after all these years ho can still tremble to tlio thrill of it. The National Anthem by a choir of these thousands while the two teams stand opposite after their compliments. Thanks to the loud-speaking apparatus for announcing and the time-keeping by a leader standing alono on the middle of the field, it goes with a swing and rises to great volume. That was a very great moment and one which must havo been inspiring to the visitors and to every patriot. A pleasant note is the appearance on tho field for a moment of Auckland's Rugby veteran, Mr. T. O'Connor. The Game. Then away they go with Britain into attack like a whirlwind. This most emphatically is the "stuff" thinks the crowd, which decides then and there that all tbo waiting has been justified, that whatever way the game goes it is going to touch tho high spots. There is an undercurrent of anxiety among Auckland's supporters for a little that their team may bito the turf. It takes ten minutes to get that comfortable feeling of reasonable confidence. First blood goes to Britain and Britain is cheered, but what a shout when that score is equalised! What delirium when Auckland gets the first try. When the second try comes the crowd rises to its fcot as one man. Hats and coats are flung in the air and the thrill of the year, of several years, is reached when Auckland leads by 12, and then 14, to three. Whole-heartedly the crowd gives Britain its best when tho score becomes 6—14 and the conversion of this try would give the gamo its maximum excitement But there is no goal and before the end a while flie result is beyond doubt. But still another try and its conversion bring ecstacy and when the bell sounds the stampede on to the ground with tho school boys in the van is a sight to remember. The deserted hill is seen to be carpeted with newspapers. Slowly the emergency stand erected by a private individual in his garden above it clears of people aiul two doors away the man who had removed a sheet of iron from his roof so that 110 and his friends might have a good view descends and pushes sheet into place again. The boy who had brought <1 homemade periscope speeds with the instrument under his arm and everyone goes away telling the other fellow the things that the other fellow urgently desires to tell him. A great and memorable day, marred by one episode, and all true sports are glad that Britain remained fifleen to the end.