EMPIRE RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 18073, 28 April 1919, Page 6

EMPIRE RUGBY

NEW ZEALAND DEFEATS R.A.F. One would 'have imagined that no better centre than Swansea for the initiation of the Inter-Services Rugby competition could have been chosen (writes the London correspondent of the Lyttelton Times under date March 3). It is a town rich in Rugby traditions and memories, and given only a reasonably decent day, one would have felt safe in laying good odds on a “gate” of at least 10.000 for the match between New Zealand and the Royal Air Force, which took place under quite pleasant atmospheric conditions last Saturday. As a matter of fact, less than 2500 spectators saw the game and one can only conclude that the interest of the sportsmen of the principality in Rugby football depends to a very great extent upon the participation of local talent in the game. Saturday’s match was between “foreigners,” and Taffy, having no personal interest in the players, “stayed away in his thousands.”

The fact that the result of the game was almost, if not quite, “a foregone conclusion,” owing to the inability of the R-A.F. to field several of its well-tried players, no doubt assisted in a measure to reduce the attendance to such a pitiable proportion, though, as a matter of fact, the New Zealanders had to bring a good deal more “out of the bag” than the score in their favour, 22 points to 3, would seem to indicate. The winners had-their full strength available, and though their team may not, as some people aver, be comparable to Gallagher’s “All Blacks” of 1906, at the best it is undoubtedly a very formidable combination. And in instituting comparisons between Gallagher’s merry men and their representatives of New Zealand to-day, it should be always remembered that the "All Blacks” struck England at a time when Rugby football here was at a very low ebb. Gallagher’s team did the game a world of good, and though the war has played havoc in the ranks of Rugby players a s in all sports, I do not think it can bo doubted that the standard of home Rugby is higher on the whole to-day than it was a dozen years ago. The most surprising feature of Saturday’s match was the splendid form exhibited by the R.A.F. forwards against the New Zealand pack, which, thanks to plenty of practice and many searching tests, is a truly formidable combination. Yet the Airmen held their own in the tight, and their dribbling in the loose was as fine as one could wish to see. At times their keen and strenuous work and their swift following up fairly “rattled” the opposition, and had the men behind possessed the swift initiative and skill in handling of the New Zealand back division, a glorious game with no “certainty” about the result would have been seen. But there was a big weakness behind the R.A.F. pack. Their passing was haphazard, and the marked neglect of their right-winger, Jones, certainly robbed them of more than one excellent chance to score. Behind the scrum the New Zealanders were miles ahead of their rivals. Brown, the scrum half, got the ball away with celerity to his fiveeighths, of whom McNaught was very quick in deciding as to development of the attack. Combination was a strong point with the New Zealand backs. The three were fast, and Ford on the right wing crosskicked with telling effect, while Storey on the left, after missing what were really a couple of “sitters,” obtained the first three tries for his side in grand style. Capper was, as usual, very reliable at full-back, and kicked well. THE GAME. The teams lined up thus:—New Zealand —H. Capper, J. Ford, J. Stoke and P. Stohr, Lieut. J. McNaught and W. Fee, C. Brown, E. Hazell, R. Sellars, L. Cockroft (lock), J. Kissick, A. Wilson, R. Fogarty, J. Beilis and A. Singe (wing). R.A.F. —Captain Mitchell, Captain G. A. Ntffgart, Lieutenant S. M. Wrentmore (captain), Major Fuller and Captain L. H. T. Sloan, Lieutenant L. Randles, Lieutenant H. W. Taylor and Lieutenant C. Lawton Moss, Captain W. W. Wakefield, Captain G. Thom, Lieutenant R. S. Simpson, Captain E. F. Turner, Captain J. P. Finlay, Lieutenant A. H. Malan and Lieutenant W. W. • Thesen.

The Airmen, favoured by a strong breeze, opened in promising fashion, and, indeed, seemed to be playing a winning game, for most of the play in the earlier stages was in the New Zealand half. Twice the New Zealand line was in dire danger, and it seemed that only the selfishness of the man with the ball prevented a score on one occasion. The New Zealand team, however, were, though hard pressed, usually very quick to scent danger in the right spot, and had their man well marked. Presently, after Sloan had “all but” got over, the Islanders began to get the measure of the opposition, and to develop attacks. Very speedily their passage from defence to offence met with its reward, for Storey, a man of rare pace, finished off a couple of brilliant passing bouts by scoring in each instance. Neither try was converted, and the sides crossed over with the score 6—o in favour of the “All Blacks.” Hardly had the game re-started than the New Zealanders were “at it again,” and “Ranji” sent Storey in for a third tiy, which Stokes again failed to majoriaa. Nine points down the Airmen made a really great effort, and were duly rewarded ten minutes later, for Sloan made the greatest individual effort of the match and wound up by cleverly tricking Capper and scoring. The place kick was a failure, but from that point the Airmen pressed the New Zealanders hard for fully ten minutes. Then, seemingly, the R.A.F. had shot their bolt, for in the final stages of the game their rivals were “all over them,” and in quick succession Stohr, Fea and Beilis scored, Sellars converting two of the tries. Thus New Zealand won by two goals and four tries to a try. Nip that cold in the bud by treating it instantly with “NAZOL.” Taken on sugar or inhaled, “NAZOL” never fails.— (Advt.)