HOW NORTH AUCKLAND DREW WITH WAIRARAPA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1043, 6 August 1930, Page 6

HOW NORTH AUCKLAND DREW WITH WAIRARAPA

RYAN’S FINE GAME Special to THE SUN MASTERTO.N, Tuesday An excellent North Auckland combination descended on VVairarapa during the week-end, billed as the team which had come within a point of defeating Auckland. But we who read the papers knew that the British team had run up a large tally against it so that our well-preserved old soldiers took the field expecting to dazzle the far North. And what a surprise .hey got. For three parts of the game the visitors were in the ascendancy, and must be accounted unlucky not to have won, the score of 19 points all being a reflection on their goal-kicking abili ties. There were not many tickets on North Auckland when the grey-haired first five-eighths, C. Ryan, lead the visitors out. But they opened at a pace that had VVairarapa badly rattled, and the home team was eight points down before it was fully awake to the fact that the game had started Our new acquaintances then had the misfortune to lose M. C. McDonald, their halfback, through injury, and throughout the game could not attain the same degree of efficient working It did not take long to realise that it was not old age that turned Ryan’s hair grey. He played with a thrust and speed that nonplussed J. Denby the local first five-eighth. Had the North Auckland backs all reached the high standard attained by Ryan, it would have been a sorry story for Guy Nicholls. brother of the famous Mark, played second five-eighths to Ryan. Though generally safe, and handling well. his display lacked thrust The other star in the visiting backs was N. Barrich, a flying winger with youth on his side. Barrich scored only one try, but deserved more, for several times he swerved past J. Le Quesne his 14-stone opponent, only to be brought down by the deadly fullback. L. Roach. Le Quesne evened matters later by fending Barrich to run in for a good try but the Northern lad promises to develop well. G. Kerr, the Northern fullback, was very sound. Of the North Auckland forwards, VV. Rika. Fletcher. Morrisy and M Rika led a formidable pack that VVairarapa failed to dominate until late in the day It was a new experience for the local forwards to be pushed off the ball, and there was a yell of derision when a forward dropped down behind the scrum to let the Northern juggernaut push men and ball over him into a tangled heap. However, the Blue forwards tired in the second spell, and VVairarapa opened out to score 11 points in short order, holding the lead till the last few minutes, when, after a ragged rush. M. Rika scored an unconverted try as the bell went STRINGFELLOW IN FORM C. Stringfellow. who won All Black honours lasjt year, is on his game at last, and showed himself as easily the best VVairarapa back both in attack and defence. He was responsible for most of the openings which ended successfully- On one occasion Mill sbt the :>acks going in his own twentyfive. Stringfellow’s speed taking him to half-way where he handed to Fuller who outpaced the opposition to run round behind the posts and convert. The ungentle art of “shepherding’ is no: unknown in this district. For some years the unusual brilliance of one of our star players was held to be the deciding factor in important games, and occasionally a visiting team would pay particular attention to individuals. As the ball travelled i "Ut from a scrum an urgent voice somewhere on the field would call Get Cooke!” “Get Cooke!” After being dumped unfairly a few times, the little man might have been cx-

pected to retaliate mildly, but even remonstrance from him would be booed, and the real offender praised for his “clever stopping tactics.” To continue to countenance such proceedings has the effect of delaying (which is to say denying) justice to those who have every right to it. Taking as their common inspiration Who spares the wolf is the sheep’s murderer.” both Messrs. Baxter and McKenzie, as managers of their repective sides, have signposted certain directions in which the game of Rugby can ue improved. Today, as in wartime, it avails little to be an inoffensive neutral We require leaders in our great national sport who will fight strenuously to keep the game clean Like many other candid fellows in wartime, both are now being denounced as a shade undiplomatic for staff conversations. Football banquets generally seem to be conducted with much loose eloquence and a neglect of detail, with habit of cheering visitors on general principles. Certain fatuities have long been associated with such gatherings —a watertight rigmarole from the chairman: butter from a couple of the high prisets: the usual “gup” from the captains: but no vinegar, no hometruths. It would appear that “Scobie” McKenzie told a home-truth, for no single writer has attempted to deny the actual chr.ge made. Ana now our high priests are pointing out that his heart should be greater than his perceptive faculties. Humbug, of course* And long after many of the present high priests are forgotten, the strong taciturn McKenzie will be remembered tor that quality men sense and pause upon—his straightforwardness, which disdains fluency craft, or intrigue He :s a powt r for good in Wairarapa football, and is noted foi a stern impartiality.