SACKCLOTH AND ASHES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 2 July 1928, Page 4

SACKCLOTH AND ASHES

NEW ZEALAND'S DEBACLE.;

A WEEK-END REVERIE.

(By.RS.) j:'., Sunday momng:’ Yesterday all football enthusiasts, and wh’o"fs not a Rugby enthusiast id NewZbalpndl* were discussing the forthcoming trtftl of strength between thp champions of South Africa, and New Zealand. Few there were that prophesied a: defeat for the wearers of the silver fern. Practically everybody retired to rest last night full of hope t>at the morning would bring great tidings o< victory. But also for Vain imaginings reality brought the amassing stupefying) aye, almost m,ralysiirfi| views! of a great defeat. The flower of New Zealand’s football withered before the blast of the South' African

Sirocco. ■' ' Our men have had to 'bow,-their necks to the conqueror; bur selected test players have been make a‘ South African holiday. The most pessimistic follower of Rugby would not have dared to predict the dire result. The worst that could have been predicted was defeat by,a very narrow margin, bat seventeen points to ml-1 , it to too a.wrul .w* contemplate with equanimity. . . There may be au explanation-r-tho description of the maten in to-njor-row s paper will be eagerly scanned by enthusiasts seeking for . a of comfort. It cannot yet be imagined that our full fifteen were so badly defeated. ’ It is thought that surely some pi our men must have been ■ injured early in the game, and that depleted ranks will account for the disaster. Can there be any other, causes’ But this is another story. ; , Monday. Net even a crumo ( Ol comfort. *■ Nay, worse! The South Africans played only fourteen men i n the second spell. We have to admit defeat by .a better team. As true sportsmen wo have to sincerely congratulate South Africa on a'splendid victory, and commiseratpour own men in defeat. - Archbishop Averill has said we‘ ara a conceited race. It may comfobt him to know that so far as football is concerned, conceit has flown of the window and humility in her stead! •; ■ \ New Zealand! New, Zealand! . Thou art no more As thou hast been. ,