Football Commentary

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 11

Football Commentary

Round the Rugby Fields All Black Trials Imminent HAVING registered 131 points against 18 in four matches, the Auckland representative Rugby team has started its 1927 programme exceptionally well. A series of interesting representative matches is now ahead, to be followed by All Black trials, which start in September.

STATEMENT in defence of Hawke’s Bay’s attitude in the Ranfurly Shield controversy has been issued by Mr. J. W. Norrie, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union. He voices definitely his union’s opinion that it has been the target of a form of persecution at the hands of the New Zealand Rugby Union —and those who have followed recent Rugby history may be inclined to agree with him. Of the last three international teams that have toured the Dominion, only one has played in Hawke’s Bay, and this year the New Zealand Union again denied Napier or Hastings the opportunity of staging the inter-island match.

Wellington Perquisite For some queer reasons, the NorthSouth match appears to be regarded as a special Wellington perquisite. Of the 23 matches, 14 have been won by the North, while two have been drawn, and no less than 14 have been played at Wellington, with the rest divided between Auckland (2), Christchurch (4), and Dunedin, Napier and Invercargill one each. This year the match is regarded in the light of an international trial match, and is again to be played at Wellington. Hawke’s Bay has been so strongly represented in recent New Zealand sides that there seems only bare justice in its claim for another match. All Black Trials

The All Black trials will begin on September 14, and conclude with the inter-island match on October 1. Auckland’s trial match will take place on September 21, but will introduce few unfamiliar figures to the crowd, as it will be Auckland and North Auckland against South Auckland. Waikato, Thames and Bay of Plenty. The Auckland and North Auckland teams are

the strongest of the bunch, and a onesided game seems likely to result. Should they be available the strongest candidates would be A. Lomas, B. Finlayson, A. H. Keene, S. Hadley, T. R. Sheen and F. W. Lucas. Berridge,

who has been mentioned as a candidate, will have to show much bettei form than he revealed last baturday. Nicholls and Lucas Mark Nicholls. one of the soundest backs in the country, has said that ne is not prepared to go to South Africa, unless his services are absolutely necessary. Nicholls appears to retain his form, so the implied valuation is by no means exaggerated, and the P r ®J’ ent dearth of classy backs suggests that he will be pressed into service. * * * F. W. Lucas, the brilliant Aucklander, has also stated that he is unlikely to be available, owing to domestic and business responsibilities. . * * Shield Complications Wairarapa’s interest in Hawke's Bay’s Kanfurly Shield appeal has now been transferred to Mana-whenua. the hyphenated union having downed wairarapa last Saturday. As it had been routed, 16 to nil, by Hawke’s Bay, the Saturday before, Manawhenua’s win leads to the inference that at present the shield is hardly a genuine reflection of Rugby supremacy. As it remains to be seen just how much oi the shield will be seen by the people of Palmerston North and district, such inferences are perhaps premature, but if the decision goes Manawhenua’s way, few will grudge it the minor triumph. Veteran as Coach Manawhenua will be in Auckland on Saturday week, and its fast pack will give the somewhat drowsy local forwards something to think about. The side is coached by Jimmy Ryan, once skipper of the N.Z.E.F. team, who said last week, before his men left for Carterton, that no fitter team had ever left Palmerston North. Teddy Roberts, a former team-mate of Ryan’s, is also seriously devoted to coaching. The Eastbourne club, at Wellington, is under his care, and tlie other day, when it was short-handed, he turned out and played a telling game.

Celebrities as Coaches These celebrities take their hobbies seriously. J. H. Parker, of the 1924 All Blacks, is another sideline professor, but he has not yet lost his gallop, as was demonstrated the other day, when he went on as an emergency for the North Canterbury subunion team, of which he is the sole selector. Parker is fruit-farming at Lowburn, North Canterbury, and is out of big football, but a Southern scribe records that on his recent appearance he was like a Gloaming among a lot of cart-horses. At the youthful age of 22 George Nepia is sole selector for an obscure East Coast sub-union. He, the peerless fullback, seems also lost to big Rugby. Jimmy Hunter, one of the stars of the 1905 All Blacks, has a farm near Wanganui, and for a time coached Wanganui Collegiate School. Anderson’s Sideline Rugby is only a sideline for E. An- ; derson, the beautifully-proportioned j Manawhenua forward, who should be 1 j j

here with the red, white and blues next week. Last time he was in Auckland he was here on more serious business, to defend his heavy-weight wrestling title, and as he meets Dufty (who drew with him here) at Wellington on'Monday week, it is to be doubted if he will accompany the team to Auckland. A hooker for Manawhenua, and a modest but amazingly strong young man, Anderson plays Rugby for the Old Boys’ Club in Palmerston North.

Sporting Parsons The South Canterbury side which appeared at Eden Park last Saturday lacked the familiar bulk of P. Gerrard, an Anglican parson, who long graced its ranks. He was a fine type of forward, and a fine type of man; played for Old Boys in Timaru, along with the All Black, R. F. Stewart, and represented the South Island in 1925. He lias since gone to England. The sporting padre lias not been altogether rare in New Zealand Rugby.

The Rev. W. Matene, the Maroi forward, is a contemporary example, while G. T. Alley, who looks a certainty for the New Zealand team next year, may by that time have taken holy orders. He is studying divinty at Canterbury College. * *

Barclay’s Job Last time the writer saw W. Barclay he made Wyndham Street the scene of a demonstration of a, patent motor-car jack in which he is interested. It was to exploit the device in a territory with which lie is familiar that Barclay returned to Hawke’s Bay, j and he informed T. R. Sheen, in a letter received the other day, that business was satisfactory. If publicity counts for anything in business “Wattie” should make his fortune, as he has lately had an overdose; more, at any rate, than he himself would prefer, as he is one* of the most modest of footballers. He informed Sheen that he expects to come to Auckland with the Hawke’s Bay team.

New Plymouth’s Visit. New Plymouth High School, known as one of the leading Rugby schools of the Dominion, is sending its first fifteen to Auckland next week, and the team will meet Auckland Grammar in a curtain-raiser to the Manawhenua match. One of the threequarters, according to report, will be a younger brother of the All Black, EI. W. Brown. New Plymouth Old Boys resident in Auckland intend making the match—and afterwards—the occasion for a reunion. The next fortnight should provide attractive school football, as next Saturday is to be College Day, when the schoolboys will have pride of place on Eden Park. Kings v. Grammar, Sacred Heart v. Mount Albert, and St. Stephen’s v. Grammar B are the matches scheduled. Steel on the Line Jack Steel, the famous West Coast winger, has not shown form good enough to justify his inclusion in the Canterbury team, a novel experience for the man who scored that great try in the first te’st against the Springboks, and who was among the first preferred for every international side since chosen. Elvey, another All Black winger (now in Wellington) has also shown disappointing form, but he won a place In the Wellington representative team. A. C. C. Robilliard, the other Canterbury flier, is said to be better than ever. Of giant proportions, he was one

of the youngest of the 1924 All Blacks. He and B. Grenside should be the first two wingers chosen for South Africa. * * * Aucklanders in London All Auckland footballers will join in congratulating C. R. McCullough, a former Varsity hooker, on the recent arrival of a son. McCullough, who is associated with the Smith-Wylie forestry interests, is now living in London, and turns out regularly for London Scottish. N. H. McMillan, a former King’s College player, has also been playing in London. He went to England during the shipping strike. Pilling, who played well as rover for the B reps, last Saturday, is another who has had experience of London Rugby. He handles the ball so cleanly, ’

and runs with such dash, that he could be a really first-class rover if he were carrying a little less avoirdupois. Passed with the Foot The value of clever footwork was illustrated in the match against South Canterbury on Saturday, when Sheen scored a simple try after Batty had given him a foot-pass. Batty had broken through, ball at toe, and Sheen was flanking him on the inside. Sheen called for tlie ball—he was unmarked —and Batty gave it to him, a neat transfer which lobbed the ball into his arms. All through the game Batty controlled the ball well with his feet, and as a result figured in some admirable breaks. His play was an illustration of the value of good footwork. THE WAIPA UNION THIS WEEK’S MEETING (From Our Oivu Correspondent.) TE AWAMUTU, To-day. The weekly meeting of the Waipa Rugby Union's Management Committee was held on Monday evening. There were present: Messrs. S. A. McNamara, W. Wliitton, G. W. Mairs, E. T. Crump, G. B. Melrose, A. A. Reese, J. G. B. Gifford, H. T. Hazelden, G. T. Reynolds, W. Cavanagh and the secretarv, Mr. W. M. Winter. The Otorohanga Sub-Union asked for a match with the Waipa junior reps, on August 13. A clearance from the Grafton Club, Auckland, for Leo R. Grace was put in. It was suggested that the final for the Teddy Shield be played at Te Awamutu as a curtain-raiser to the Waipa versus Matamata representative match on the 20th inst. The following players have been selected to play the Eden Club juniors on August 20: R. Jackson (Parawera), G. Death (Ohaupo), F. Johnson, E. Taylor, G. Balme (United), A. Bill (Puahue), G. Nicholls (Ohaupo), R. Parish, R. Crozier, C. Owens (Puahue), R. Grace( Pirongia), G. Cruicksliank, F. Hagen, R. Foley (Karokonui), W. Pollard (Rovers), S. Gregory, W. Glasgow (United).