NOTES BY FULL BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 60

NOTES BY FULL BACK.

In view of the fact that the New Zealand v. Surrey match was played in a deluge of rain on a treacherous turf, the score of 11 points to nil against" Surrey is by no means a poor perf entrance. Rather does it indicate ihat even under conditions which places scoring backs at a great disadvantage, and reduces a brilliant attacking combination to an ordinary 1-3 vel, Ntvv Zealand is yet able to show superiority

The report states that in the first spell the local team made a good defence. This--was to be expected of Surrey, for whatever else they were last season, they were a strong defensive side. "In the second spell the New Zealanders pressed their opponents continuously.'' Here, again Surrey's defence must have been sound, for only two tries were scored. Yet on a day such as Wednesday appears to have been, there, would be an element of luck in the game New Zee land may never have been out of Surrey's- twenty-five in the second spell, yet such is the " playfulness " of a greasy ball that try after try would be missed through misfielding. ,It is good reading to learn that M'Gregor has recovered from his injuries, for in form he is one of the most dangerous scoring backs in the New Zealand team. So long as M'Gregor sticks to scoring tries, and does not attempt any goal-potting, he will fulfil all that is expected of him. His attempt to pot a goal for New Zealand against combined Southland and Otago will live long in the memories of those who witnessed it.

As furnishing" some idea of the strength of New Zealand's latest opponents, it may be noted that in the English county championships last season Surrey defeated the formidable Kent County by one goal and three tries to one goal. Kent had previously defeated the Rest of England, in what practically amounted to a trial match prior to the selection of the English International team, by 10 points' to 6. With the exception of three players, Hearson, Jones, and M'Evedy, the Kent side on that occasion was made up of BlackVeath men. including English internatonal players in Dillon and Cooper, threecuarter -backs, and Hill, Rogers, Newbold, and Cave, forwards.

The New Zealand team met Surrey on the same ground at Richmond where, 17 years before, the New Zealand Native team opened their English campaign, when they defeated Surrey by one goal and one try to one try. The following is an extract of the report of the Native team against Surrey: '"This being 'the overture of the campaign, the -Natives naturally desired- to win, and succeeded in doing so, though they were hardly fit; and perhaps the Surrey men, at the commencement of ihe season, were equally out of condition. The attendance was good for an off day. The Native team appeared in their n:ats, snd gave their war cry — which little pantomime was somewhat ridiculed by the English press. The mats were afterwards discarded."

An English international three-quarter back, in the peison of J. E. Raphael, Mould probably be playing in"* the threequartor line for Suirey against New Zealand. Raphael played for England in the matches against Wales and Scotland last season. He owes his success as a threequarter in a great measure to the unorthodox methods ho sometimes adopts.

The question is continually being asked, " Can New Zealand beat Wales?" A correspondent this week repeats it. Without parrying with th© question, the answer is in a nutshell : If the New Zealand forwards can beat the Welsh pack New Zealand will win. The defeat of England, Scotland, and Ireland by Wales last season has been greatly attributed to the Welsh backs; but it would have been nearer the mark to have said the Welsh forwards, who made it possible for the backs to score The Welsh forwards last season were heavier and stronger than they have bepn for years. By the way, according to the amended programme New Zealand is to play Wales twice in the same week! That is, they play Wales on December 16, and on December 20 play Glamorgan County, which last year practically furnished the whole of the Welsh international team.

Dear Full Back, — Can you inform me what arrangement obtains in England for the playing of championship matches? We read that Devonport' Albion played 38 club as well as. It district j»aichg§— s"?,. in jJi

for a season of fully six months. This is at the rate of two matches a week, and the loss of time to the players in travelling, etc , must be considerable. Yet Devonport Albion is a purely amateur team ! The fact of Devonport Albion playing the above number of matches in (proportionately) the same period as the New Zealanders somewhat dispels the fear that our men will become stale with playing too many matches. A "par." from you on the matter would, I am sure, prove interesting. — I am, etc., Tablis.

[The arrangements obtaining in England for deciding championship matches are regulated by the County Championship, flic counties arc divided into groups. For example : Devonshire (in which county is the club team Devonport Albion) is in the south-western group, which includes, besides Devonshire. Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Somersetshire. The champions of one group of counties play tha champions of another group, the final winner of the County Championship being ascertained by means of a match between the two counties at the head of the northern and southern groups respectively. The Devonport Albion team played the majority of its matches on its own ground last season, and in those matches that were played away from home the Albion was not always represented by the same players. Dsvonport Albion has a very noworfui reserve team, which is called Devonport Albion A. This explains why so many matches are credited to Devonport Albion. There are really two teams— Devonport Albion (the team which the New j Zealanders met) and Devonport Albion A. — Full Back.] Apropos of the present tirade by English critics against the New Zealand wing for- ' ward, the '" winger " is no innovation in English football, but apparently a new generation of critics has arken who knew not the wing forward. In view of the trenchant «riticisms levelled at the wing game as played by the New Zealanders, it is significant that as early as last English season, at the beginning of the present year, it was suggested that England's prestige could be regained by reverting to the three three-quarter backs and a wing forward ! The present critics are silent about this ; but read what an English authority had to say last season when advocating for the wing forward: — "A wing forward is of infinitely more value , in spoiling the opposing half backs than a fourth three-quarter can he. Since the offside rule came into force a half back is j almost powerless against a yis-a-vis who is ! continually put into possession of the ball by his forwards. "What a thorn in the flesh a. fast, strong wing forward can te any half back will bear witness who has

had the misfortune to play against S. M. J. . Woods in his palmy days ! He could, as occasion arose, play the wing game to perfection."

It is fair to assume that any doubts which previously existed in the minds of the English critics as to the merits of the Njew Zealand team have now been removed by the overwhelming defeat of the famous Blackheath team. Outside of the international match yet to be played, the New Zealanders, by their latest victory, have set the seal on their fame in England. • No excuse could be raised on the score ,of " condition " or lack of training for Blackheath, as since" the opening practicematches and prior to meeting the New Zealand team Blackheath had this season played seven matches. The results of these matches have not yet come to hand, but in ita report of the opening games the London Sportsman states that they were of a highly interesting nature, and serve to show that the high standard of play usually associated with Blackheath will be fully maintained during the present season. The captain of Blackheath expressed himself as extremely pleased with the form of his team.

team. In the tour of England in 1888-89 the New Zealand Native team defeated Blackheath by two goals and three tries to one goal. On this occasion Blackheath was not represented by its full strength, several prominent players, including the captain, being unable to take part in the match. The New Zealanders have now defeated the. champion county of all England (Durham), the best combined club team (Devonport Albion), the best individual team (Blackheath), the finest forward team in England (Leicester), and the most scientific side (Middlesex).

side (Middlesex). • j For many years Blaekheath has been one of the most famous of English club* teams, I and at present shares with Richmond ihe ! 'honours of Rugby football in London. From the ranks of Blackheath the majority of , English international players have been j drawn.

What advantage Devonport Albion (the champion club team of England last season) possesses in the way of combination Blackheath has 'in the individual brilliancy of its players. This is probably best illustrated in a comparison of international honours^ which fell to each club last season. Whereas ' Devonport Albion furnished one interna- • tional player to the English fifteen Black- j heath supplied six. < The international players drawn from Blaekheath to play for England against Wales last season were S. F. Cooper and C. W. Dillon (three-quarters), and B. A. Hill, C. J. Newbokl, W. L. Rogers, and W. T. Cave (forwards).

W. T. Cave- (forwards). Commenting on the prospects of Blackheath for the season 1805-6 an English writer says:— "ln dealing with club prospects pride of place- must, of course, be given to the oldest Bugby organisation, Blackheath, by reason of its seniority and past, if not present, pre-eminence. If history counts for anything, then England's international prospects are invariably brightest when the 'Heathens' promise to be really a strong side. Into the reasons for this view I will not enter, though it is trite knowledge that, other things beingequal, the man who plays for Blackheath stands a better chance of winning his international cap than if he played for any other club. Though present appearances do not point to Blackheath b&ing as great a side as formerly, they should be fairly strong. With H. Lee and E. M. Harrison available at full back; Dillon, Cooper, and Priday, at three-quarters ; tfcobson and Jackson as halves ; and Cave, Rogers, Liddell, Bland, Casement, Harrison, and Hartley, of last season's forwards, Blackheath should hold their OAvn with the majority of t&eir opponents."

nents." j When Hie New Zealand team met Blackheath I fully expected to hear of a sensational try being scored against the colonials. In Cooper, the English international three-quarter, Blackheath claims one of the most sensational scoring men AS G£ea.t Entajifc. Jo go foj- Cooper law A

is the greatest mistake a tackier could make, for ho has a great knack of jumping clean over (he would-be tackier' s head. He generally resorts to this jumping trick when clear away from the rest of the field and having only the full back to pass. Last season Cooper scored many tries in this thrilling but highly dangerous manner. He has always been severely criticised for this style of play, but by its means he has won several matches for his side. ■ , In the middle of April of the present year Blackheath had won 15 of the 24 "matches played, and was seventh on the list of the *15 leading clubs in Great Britain. Thalr victories included amongst others defeats of the Welsh club Newport (twice), West of Scotland (Bedell-Sivnght's team), Bristol, Northampton, and the two universities. An English critic recently stated that the triumphant tour of the New Zealanders would probably be checked when they opposed the two universities— Oxford and Cambridge. It is rather interesting to know at this stage that last season Blackheath defeated Cambridge by 12 points to nil and Oxford by 12 points to 3 points. Both universites, however, subsequently reversed the defeats. It is quite evident that experiments are being tried with the New Zealand team. Stead, the five-eighth, has developed into a three-quarter back, in which position he has played with success ; Deans, the Canterbury' five eighth, has also been played in the throe-quarter line; while Gillett occasionally plays wing forward in place of Gallagher. Owing to lack of cable information it is impossible to know exactly what is being done with the New Zealand team and how it is constituted This is most important from a colonial point of view, and the wonder is that the names of the players composing the team are not cabled. Can we expect when New Zealand enters upon the international contests this will be .attended to?

"Inquirer" asks: What are the prices charged for admission in England to the matches in which the New Zealand team is engaged? — The general admission to the grounds is 6d, but, as here, there are special seats at a higher tariff. Admission to the enclosure is Is; covered stand, 2s; and reserved seats in stand, 3s 6d.