HOME OF RUGBY GIANTS.

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 9

HOME OF RUGBY GIANTS.

Wairarapa's Wonders.

/ Apropos of Wairarapa's ; early challenge to Hawkes Bay for the right to place the Ranfurly Shield on its sideboard, the famous ex-All Black, M.E.W., writes: — What a great football' record the 'little valley" has! For 1 the size of its territory and Its sparse population there Is no football province In New Zealand that has cradled ao many tip-top men. My first hero was Hart (Red) Udy, Just returned from the Australian tour with the New Zealand team. He was a moo of steel and wedded to steel, and our daily infantile Joy was to loiter m the blacksmith's shop and watch the sparks that fiy. Following closely m the footsteps of our old ginger-whiskered Hart came the great "Jumbo" Udy. Billy Uru (the late Southern member), Pat Kallagher and the Rev. Fathers Tom and Jdhn MeKenzie, One bright morning two live, sturdy, nujrsretyi little devjls known as Jake Baumber and Sid Nicholls camo over the Rlmutakas, unfolded their beautiful red dnd black caps and told us wondrous tales of the great Poneke combination. These two little champion's tire known as the fathers of the present Baumber and Nicholls fam- I illes, and are truly honored by all New Zealand footballers. At this time 1-;. M. D. Whatman and the Perrys were at their zenith, and theso were closely followed by men of the stamp of Gray and Watson. It was not until the early nineties that we saw that great raw-boned, angular six-footer "Offside Mac" come into the limelight, and his exploits throughout the length and breadth of the country were about the most sensational that have ever come into football. Ho had no master m his knowledge of all the departments of the game, and certainly there was never a player so fearod by his adversaries. He "put tho feat; of God" into the most stouthearted, and could man -handle with an ease that was astounding. Of tho Afteen Greytown schoolboys' team, no loss than eleven gained provincial, inter-island, and New Zealand representative) honors m after years. Carterton and Mastertoh also gave their quota m full. Hawkes Bay can produce "Desert Golds," but it remains to bo Boen if an "Offside Mac" will come to light. However, tho "Bay" was never m botter heart than It Is to-day, and they have some champions Jn.thoir stable. The Brownlie Bros., Gommell, Oronside, Blake, Mill and Barclay are all N.Z. rep. performers, with heapa of untried material yet to bo moulded.