OUR NATIONAL FIELD GAME

NZ Truth, Issue 983, 27 September 1924, Page 9

OUR NATIONAL FIELD GAME

AH Blacks Please and Disappoint Cornwall Easy — Somerset Hard. The All Blacks gave it to us two ways .last weefc First when the Cornwall score came through we were delighted. Then on Sunday last, when Somerset only went down by six to nil, we were once again disappointed. JWith the Cornwall game over, the feeling got about that our team had found its legs. The 29 to nil victory was a nice' appetiser, and a continuation of the good things was looked for. However, on Saturday last Somerset, immortalised m song by Sanderson, upset the cider apple cart by playing a tough and resolute game. Judging from the meagre news we are receiving the All Blacks were given a shake that is not wanted m the near future. It v is about time that Stan Dean woke up to the fact that these shortpriced. victories are not for the good of, the health of the people of New Zealand. One or two more of these and the hospitals will be getting a lot of people suffering from nervous prostration. .'. The fact cabled last week that Manager Dean had seen fit to write to a paper over there complaining about the reception the haka had received was a bit of a surprise. For a, man m such a responsible position that jis the last thing he should do. Here's hoping it won't be repeated! These notes will be printed when the next result comes through. This time the enemy is Gloucester, who were defeated by 44 to nil by the 1905 team. In 1905 the Gloucester game was the tenth of the series, and it was m this match that Wallace 'was made the hero. Here is what one critic had to say:— ■ i "Forsaking for once his .usual position of full-back, the Admirable Crichton of the New Zealand team appeared at wing three-quarter, and a truly glorious display he gave.-. . The try he. 'obtained shortly before the- iritdrvai -was the gem of the whole match. The ball was sent out ,to ■'-the backs and it passed through all their hands until at last it came ,to Wallace on the extreme right. Instead of running a few yards and returning to the centre, Wallace trusted to his i speed and ran right round the opposing backs. It was a case of Pretty Polly versus a selling plater. For eyery yard the Gloucester men went, Wallace went two, and he held about a ten yards' lead when he at length grounded the ball right behind the posts. "Wallace, by a single sprint, had-be-come the hero of : the day; and not even ' the sinuous twistings of the-snake-like Hunter m the closing moments of play served to dispossess! him of his hold on the affections of the Gloucester townsfolk. All the people, as they left the ground, were talking of Wallace's wonderful run, and as Wallace's match the game between Gloucester .and New Zealand; will go down to posterity." That was a touch of Wallace the footballer. He set the Gloucester tongues wagging and they did not stop for some time. Wonder if our boys will be able to repeat the feat m this week's match? As things are head-ing-it does not look as though they will. . To-day will see the first fair dinkum try-out. ,We are now getting down into the Land of My Fathers. To-day's : opponents will be the oldestablished firm of Swansea. In the 1905 tour the Swansea match was the \ last of the schedule. Most of the players : were glad it was, for v they were beginning to feel sick of the sight of a football. " The result: was a four to three victory—the narrowest win of the tour. Once again Billy. Wallace was the star actor. Early m the first spell Swansea scored, but try as they would t the All Blacks could not make an impression. Then, m the second spell, from about forty yards' out, Wallace, with a 1 left-foot pot, landed as fine a field goal as his mates had ever witnessed. Should the team come through the ordeal to-day with colors flying (and who says they won't?) we will be able to look forward to the future with optimism. For the first time this season Morgan, the ,Otago winger, gave a taste of his real quality m the Southland game at Dunedin last Saturday. Morgan, had he been available, would have been m the present All Black team, unless he, . like Fred Perry, failed' to come up to expectations, _ There was a boy, by name HartyT playing for King Country against Wellington last Saturday, and the display he gave was 'most impressive. The writer believes that he is a 1 brother to Hec. of that ilk, who, up till last season, was an Otago rep. When the pace was on, Hec. was not far behind the best we have at HTome at present, but m an easy match he was inclined to loaf. The King Country lad has something to live up to, for did not Hec. m 1919 win the boots given to the best' forward* m the North — South game? A par about the overlooking of .the Wairoa Sub-Union by the Hawkes Bay selector crept into this column last week,, but it was obviously wrong. It was. a burst of exuberance on the part of a Wairoa fan, and instead of being credited' to him, it inadvertently got m, as one of "Tackler's.'Y Wairoa has had representation m the Bay team ever since the Shield left. Wellington. , The Taranaki football season definitely , concludes to-day. The New Plymouth High School will play its final Moascar Cup match against Mt. Albert Grammar School, which is unquestionably a strong 'combination. The Wellington representatives concluded 1 their southern tour last Saturday with a match against Canterbury! who inflicted a decisive defeat on them by 32 points to 6. King Country repeated the dose on the Wellington B team by 18 points to 12 after one of the most -wretched games seen m Wellington. Otagp, who previously ; m the season were beaten.by Southland by 21 points to 9, managed to turn the tables last Saturday, and m a return match ran out winners by 24 points to 14. This is Southland's only defeat so far this season. . , Nelson had no trouble m downing the Golden Bay-Motueka team at Nelson, and after a very one-sided game inflicted a, ;S point's to nil defeat on them. ■'•■.' . '■•■/ ' , '