THE KING'S RUGBY CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17658, 23 June 1919, Page 6

THE KING'S RUGBY CUP

NlfiW ZISALAND VICTORY. GREAT STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY. (Fuou Oua Own Ooiuiesi'Ondent.) , . LONDON, April 17. luo aides computing m tho tie match between tho Mother Country ajid New Zealand iu tlio Imperial Services competition woro: — Mother Uoiuitry: Major B. S. OuinborlocJgc; Lieutenant J. A. Dic-kson, Captain W. S. Cull-en, Lioutonaut R. 0. Pickles, Major A. T. Sloan; Lieutenant Clem Lowis, Oapfciiu J. A. l J ym; Lieutenant-colonel L. G. Brown, Captain 0. M. Ushor, Captain tho Rev. W. T. Havord, Captain It. A. Gallic, Major H. R. Moore, Major P. H. Lawless, Captain C. 11. Pillnian, O.S.M. I. Jones. Now Zealand: J. O'Brien; P. Storey, J. Stohr, J. Ford; J. Ryan, W. Foa; 0. Brown; M. Cain, E. Hascll, J. Moll'att J. Kiswick. A. Wilson. E. Belbss, A. West, A. Singe. Tho result was two tries and one penalty goal for New Zealand to the one penalty goal for the Mother Country—9 points to 3. Until half-time Prince Albert and Prince Henry were among the spectators. Another occupant of the Royal box was tho Now Zealand Prime Minister, who remained until the end. During tho interval the two Princes entered tho field and shook hands with tho members of both sides. Amidst cries of "Good old Bill!" Mr Massoy roturried to his seat and had tho gratification of seeing the Now Zealanders force their wav to success, for at half-time with three points all it was almost anyone's game. Ihci-o was a considerable period when it might have gone tho way of tho Mother Country, whoso half-backs were quicker and more resourceful than those of Now Zealand. In the first half each side got a penalty goal, but after ends had been changed the A ow Zealanders, whoso forwards (says Mr B. Bennison in tho Daily Telegraph) at times played like men possessed, had most of the same by far. After the interval the i\ow Zealand pack was positively great. "All the time they worked at top speed; that their mighty exertions did not cause them to crack was remarkable." The Mother Country, playing with a great blustering north wind, survived tho first part with honours easy Thereafter the forwards were terribly rattled, so much so tliat there was only one side in it "New Zealand," says the Morning Post, " laid its plans admirably and in astuteness and generalship one has never seen tactics so admirably carried out not even by the great Welsh teams. Tho New Zealanders were out to win, and the Mother Country had too many old men in her pack. It was beaten in scrummage science, and tho quick, breaking Now Zealand forwards never gave the slightest scope to the two fine half-backs, Pym and Lewis. I hey worked splendidly in defence from beginning to end, but they were overwhelmed." Mother Country's score was made by Cumberledge, and the New Zealand men woro within a few minutes level with a penalty goal, by Stohr. In the second half it was obvious all through that the Mother Country was " done." The forwards had neither the pace nor the wind for this terrrfio fight. They struggled on phiekily but they were beaten in scrummage science and bluffed in taotks when the ball was loose. One of the London critic's comments, "You want youth and not maturity for the kind of forwHrd work that was now served up by Near Zealand" Tho Homo forwards were scrummaged back to the line, where Singe scored a try and later the ono good movement in the match along the half and thr je-quarter line sent Ford in. And that really determined tho game. The Mother Country was utterly b?aten in the second half; a great defence kept the score down to small limits. SOME COMMENTS. Tho Morning Post: "Now Zealand had this groat merit. They set out to play a ' particular game and played it. They had a sterling pack of forwards, who could shove and could break quickly, and could hold the ball if they chose. And they never gave tho brilliant Mother Country back division a, chance." The Daily Mail: " The visitors played their typical game to perfection, especially in the second half, end they rushed I and bustled our men off their legs. They succeeded and have now achieved i.heir supreme ambition, the winning: of tho King's Challenga Cup. Tho Army backs, clover i as they were, did not get many chances; and they spoiled some of these by knocking- on." The Daily Telegraph? ''We would have no Rugby football that was not all iron; this about which I write was tremendous in its insistence that there should not be a smg-lo breather. It was a. succession of bangs, and to the mind, no rm/re tha.i ordinarily imaginative, it supplied the secret of mnny of the imperishable s-tones , the war has given us. Then were moments when the two packs set ono alight with enthusiasm. They ran and worked like Troji'ns Tho New Zealenders did not suggest a perfect machine • most of their movements were plain and conventional—their backs especially did not bring out the poetry of Rugby football—but as a team brimful of determination and indifferent to all else except to finish winners of the most memorable tournament in the history of a great game, they were giants every one of them.?' Certain of the Home forwards would often hold up the New Zealand, pack as they ca,mo tearing down the field in a body, generally with either Singe or Belliss at the head, but they faaled to change the character of the play in such a way as to promise a victory for thai side with any degree of deriainty. The New Zealand pack- after tho interval were positively grcaii. CLEVER DISPLAY AT SALISBURY. Wnen toe l\ew Zealand iitteen met the United Services at Salisbury a fast and exciting game resulted. 'liie latter team had been strengthened since their Welsh, tour by the introduction of Surgeon M. G. Thomas, the Welsh international, and Private Powell. Tho All Blacks were at full strength, the players being: O'Brien; Ford, M'Naught, Storey; Fea, Ryan; Brown; Singe, Ilazell, Cain, Wilson, Moft'att, Kissiok, Fogarty, West. Playing with the advantage of a strong wind the New Zealanders were over the Services' s lines twice in eight minutes, the first try resulting from clever work by Singe, who also scored the second point. The combination of the New Zealand side I is described as having been magnificent, while the Services, too, showed some fine work. M'Xaught scored the third try for New Zealand, and then a try was registered by tho other side. Soon after Ford, choosing his own position, scored magnificently, and (Ryan converted, so that at half-time New Zealand led by 14 points to 3. Later, Ford and Hazel got through, and the final score was 20 points for New Zealand to 7 points for the United Services, whose players included four Australians. The New Zealand Demobilisation Depot at Torquay sent a good side k> Exeter, where a combined team* from the city and Exmouth. underwent "some much-needed instruction in the art of handling." All through the first half the visitors had a cloud of outside men in motion, to the constant embarrassment of the home side, who had more than they could do to deal with the rapid and accurate transfers. Very early Muir crossed over for the Depot from an excellent round of passing; then Hunt went over twice, and Ross scored before tho interval. The home side, who at first played without cohesion, at last discovered that New Zealanders are not happy when called upon to deal with determined dribbling, and a fine breakaway of this type by Brock, Havfll, and Lawrence led to a capital try by Mogridge. In the second half the local side harped freely upon loose play, to their own advantage but to tho detriment of the game, and they gained one try. Final score': New Zealand 14 points. Exeter and Exmouth 6 points. The winning side consisted oi : —Sergeant Hanna.; C.S.M. Hunt, S.M. Muir, Corporal Ross; Rifleman Kirk, Corpdral Nelson; Rifleman King; Sergeant Burdon, Sergeant Geary, Sergeant Gflling-, Lance-corporal Fanning, Rifleman Tohill, Sergeant Bilkey, Lance-cor-poral Harty, Rifleman Slattery. WIN FOR LLANTSLLY. Play of an exceptionally high order marked the match at Llanclly, where in the presence of 9000 people the New Zealand team had to admit defeat by 17 points to 9. Com-, billing admirably, Llanclly before the interval had registered three tries. Afterwards Knight dropped a goal for tho Now Zealanders, and Woodward played another from a try by Hines, but Evans and Jenkins each added a try for Llanefly. The result of a well-contested game was 1 converted goal and 4 tries (17 points) for Llanelly; 1 converted goal and 1 dropped coal "(9 points) for New Zealand. The New Zealand players wore: Denchrass; Lcnano, Robertson, Jones; Hines, Knight: Wiggings; Macartney, Barr, Woodrow, M'Cormack, Smythe, M'lnnis, Pearcoy, Carronth. A strong wind swept the ground, and accurate fielding was at times out of the question. The feature of the game was tho fine three-quarter-back play of the home men. The • Welshmen looked like winners from the outest. and

tho result was uover in doubt. Tho play, however, waa full of bright incidents, and keen without being rough. Hines was one of tho most prominent men. At Belfast tho Queen's University mon battled vigorously against a much more Bkilful sido of New Zeakmders, but had to admit defeat by 2 goals (1 dropped) and 3 tnos to nothing. Roberts placed tho goal, nnd himself gained two of the trios, the others being scored by King and Ryan, NEW* ZEALAND'S TRIUMPH FRANCE CONQUERED. LONDON, April 25 Prior to tho match at Twickenham, on April 19, when Now Zcahind defeated Franco by 20 points to 3, tho King pro eented to J<imes Ryan, captain of the Now Zealand team, tho Clip which his Majesty liiid given to tho winners of the Imperial Services Rugby tournament. King George warmly shook Ryan by the hand, and aftervva.rds greeted and congratulated every member of the team; and the King's four sons—tlio Prince of Wales, Prince Albert, Prince Henry, and Prince George—did likewise. _ More than 20,000 people were present, including Sir Douglas Hnig, representatives of tho French Embassy, and many British military celebrities. It is reckoned that the day Avill come when Franco will hold her own in intercountry games. She is young at Rugby, but she does not play as a novice. Their play exceeded expectations, and it was no runaway game for the Now Zealanders. At the interval the score was a try for each side. Tho All Blacks, -especially the forwards, wore stronger; but, though they often enmo away in a bodj;, trampling down tho opposition by their strength, speed, and oneness of purpose, they failed to make the first score. On more than one occasion Dussert bamboozled the New Zealand backs by giving tho "dummy," and at tho right moment handed to Reon for that player to drve over the line near the corner. It was a try made by daring and cleverness. Whenever New Zealand footballers are fearful of losing _a game they are' almost invariably at their best, remarks Mr B. Bennison, in the Daily Telegraph. He does not suppose that Reen's score perturbed them seriously, but it was evident from the restart that they were taking_ no chances, and they jumped into something hko their real game at once. First Ford struck the crossbar in an attempt on goal, and then Singe, whoso penchant for being at the right place at the right moment is almost uncanny, got an unconverted try, and soon tho interval followed. In the second half the New Zealand forwards wore -very protjinent, t>ut the backs as a whole were only occasionally brilliant. Very soon Ryan helped Hazell to get a try ,and later West, Kissick.. and Brown got over in turn. "No side" had almost been reached when Ford ran in, and Ryan kicked a goal. The total score was 17. There was one Frenchman who won all spectators to him—the full back, Sergeant Mazarico, who was excellent in every way. It did not matter to him, says Mr Bennison, whether tho New Zealand forwards came in a, body or singly. Down ho went for tho ball, and most times ho not only fastened on to it when the odds were that he would be flattened oiit, tmt in a manner often thrilling lie would wriggle himself freo and find an almost unbelievable touch. With Mazarico it was do or die. As tacklers all tho Frenchmen did well, the team having heaps of pace and tremendous pluck. The New Zealand team will always be remembered because of a magnificent pack of forwards, and while the baoks are not strikingly clever, Ford and Stohr are classified as undoubtedly great footballers, the former having it in him to win a match all by himself by his speed. As for O'Brien, in the way of nursing his forwards by finding touch, he is a master. The Morning Post critic says that the New Zealand backs .could do little that was right in fielding and passing, and the placekicking was feeble; tries were steadily put on by tho forwards, and in the last minute there was a brilliant sprint by Ford, who went over for Ryan to kick tho goal. Commenting on the French play, this writer says it was impossible not to admire their splendid gallantry in sticking it in the second half, when it must have been obvious to them that they were out-generalled and onxt-skilled. The two things that one marked were tho usefulness of the scrum half and the never-failing kick of the fullback, Mazarico. In any criticism of the New Zealandors it. should not be forgotten that within a fortnight thoy had pla-yed a series of hard matches, and only two days bfifore had had a tough struggle with the Motlier Country. The personnel of the New' Zealand team ( was: J. O'Brien, J. Storey, J. Stohr, J. 'Ford, W. Fea, J. Ryan (captain), C. Brown, J. Moffatt, J. Kissick, M. Cain, E. HazcJl, A. West, R. Fogarty, L. Codicroft, J. Singe (wing). GREAT VICTORY IN WALES. Two 'days later, on April 27, practically the same New Zealand side met Wales at Swansea, and were the victors by 6 points to 3. As one of the critics remarks: "It seemed hard luck that within five days of their desperate struggle with tho Mother Country, not to mention the contest with the French Army, they should be called upon to take part in a match, the result of which meant so much to them. That Now Zealand in the circumstances would triumph where their famous predecessors (All Blacks' 1905 combination) had come to grief appeared jmpoasiblo. No one would have been surprised had they gone down rather badly." However, after finding themselves throe points in arrear within 10 minutes of the start, the New Zealanders played up? with such tfr;acity that before the interval they were in turn three points ahead, and that lead they maintained to the end, their score being two penalty goals to the on& penally goal of Wales. The Welsh goal was kicked within eight minutes of the opening of the match. Then the visitors began to assert their superiority in the scrummage, and their backs moved close to the Welsh line. Storey figured prominently in taking the line kick by Shea. Shortly after New Zealand -was awarded a freo kick, and Stohr, with an excellent kick, equalised the scores. A repetition of this incident occurred again almost immediately, and Stohr once more kicked with effect' thus plaoing the All Blacks with the lead of three points at the interval. In the second balf play became verjr fast, and until close on time the All Blacks' forwards swept almost over the Welsh linos, but no further score resulted. In the opinion of one of the α-itics tho standard of plaj was not international Tho Welsh forwards were deficient in pace, stamina, and weight. Tho New Zealand victory was entirely due to the superiority of their forwards in all departments, especially in their short passing rushes, combined with quick footwork. On the day's play the better side won. The match was witnessed bv 25,000 people. J A CARDIFF DEBACLE. The accommodation at the Cardiff Arms Park was quite inadequate for the huge crowd which . was attracted by the visit of the New Zealand Egyptian Expeditionary Force Rugby team.' consisting of A. N. Mar , - kay, A. Stewart A. D. Anderson, K L M'Neil, M. O. WetherilL F. A. Peach, B. de Oasfcro, A. R Lomas, J. R. Johnson I , ' C. Williams, W. K. Ross, G. H. Worker' J., Barratt, C. H. Wightman, N. S. Cole. ' This side, which was making its initial appearance in this country, oamo with an unbeaten re-cord, &nd although Cardiff is a strong side, it was< defeated by 21 points to three. Cardiff had the ill-fortune to lose their clever centre, Coghlan, at half-time, he having damaged his anklo, and late in the second half Scanlon had to retire hurt. The New Zealandeis played fine fooiban\ ■and they should havo little difficulty m r'sintaining their excellent record. Cardiff j opened brilliantly, and no one was prepared for the debacle which later set in. Their superb'passing completely nonplussed the; New Zealand defence, but at length, the visitors got into their stride. Cole was our first man to score, and this was immediately followed by another try by Peach, who ran in from a pass by Barratt. In each instance the kick failed, and very shortly after Stewart scored his side's third unconverted try. E"arly in the second half Wethorfll, following ,, up, passed to Worker, who scared between the posts, and M'N-eil added the points. After do -Castro and Peach, had almost scored, the former mado a mark, and M'Neil kicked a fine goal, while in tlio last minute M'Neil got possession and dropped a goal. Bristol -was given its hardest game of the season on April 19 m a contest against the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps. Tho result was a draw —eight points each. The New Zealand men were heavier forward, and speedy and olevor behind. The Home side, with the assistance of "Lioutenant Pickles, were better in combination, but their defence was heavily taxed. Bristol opened tho scoring, and after the inte:-val/ tiro M.G.C had the. best of tho play. Two days ago a New Zealand Fifteen beat Ebbw Vale .by four goals (two dropped and ono penalty) and four tries to nothing. The visitors played a fast, open game, which was altogether too much for tho Welshmen, who, furthermore, were weak in their tackling. The New Zealanders put on 22 points in the opening half. Ryan -vraa

in great form, dropping two goals and registering two trios, ono of which- Capper improved. Standon. also cot over the Home lrno _ before the interval, and afterwards M'Gibbon ran in twico. New Zealand took a. strong team to Coventry on April 23, ami won'by 47 points to nil. Sfcohr pot ui first, but tho kick failed. F«i miulo tho second try. but Iho goal jiost was again missud. By bard forward i>lay Coventry made several good attacks, only to ho forced kick by tho superior paoo of the Now Zealand back*, lord scored a. brilliant rim and added another try just on half-time, while Turaii put tho ball over tho liar from the place kick, but it bad l>een touched in ils flight. Crossing over, tlio visitors rapidly scored in tho following order:—T-ureai, Hazel I, Stohr, Ford, Cockroft,, MTsTaiught. Ford, Stohr, and Fca. Tire place-kicking- \vns tho weakest feature. Stohr, who converted 'only once, giving -way to O'Brien, wlio convertrd three times. SUCCESS AT A.LDERSHOT. At Alders-hot on April 23 was decided tho opening match of tho Theatre of War Ghampionsliip. Unfortunately, of tho various theatres of war only Egypt and 'France found themselves able to send over Rugby football teams, so tho contest lias been reduced to a field of three, completed by the Homo Forces. On this particular day tho Homo Forocs, who had oxporrenced difficulty in petting together a side worthy of the occasion, were beaten by the New Zealanders chosen from tho " troops in Egypt. With both sots of forwards working tremendously hard in tho scrummage and in the loose, the backs of neither side wore given much opportunity of dissaving their powers. Still, the play proved very even until the concluding quarter of an hour. From that point the New Zealanders overran the Home side. Within . another five minutes Lieutenant Scott, of the W.M.R., had S2curod a try, and just on tiirre the ■same- player kicked a penalty goal. Thus Egypt beat the Homo Forces by a, goal and a try—six pointe— to nothing.