OFF THE FIELD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6566, 15 September 1948, Page 7

OFF THE FIELD

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE GAMES AND PLAYERS (By “ Break-away ”) Faded in Closing Stages The return game between the Waikato and Auckland Rugby representatives last Saturday was robbed of much interest because of the fact that the Queen City’s B team took the field against this Union’s elect, and, also, by the defection through injuries of the W’aikato inside combination of Conrad, Cowley, and Bullick. However, the game proved very interesting, and it was only in the final quarter that Auckland gained the upper hand and ran to within two points of the visiting side’s tally. The brilliant display of G. Brunskill, at first five-eighths, was the highlight of the game, and the Cambridge player showed Aucklanders some of the grand football that he has been turning on this season. T. Lithgow (Morrinsville), who replaced Bullick, was fairly reliable, but was inclined to hold on just too long, and thereby the outside men received few chances to show their paces. I. Boyes made a good impression by his effective bottling up of North Island final trial winger, B. Sweet. Cox took quite a time to settle down, and was inclined to throw very wild passes, but his defence was very solid. Rowan and V. Ensor were always to the fore among a hard-working pack, and chased the ball tirelessly. Others to show out were Smith and Vowles. Unfortunate The retirement of Wialter Macky with a fractured collar-bone soon after the start of the annual Maori versus Pakeha game last Saturday certainly upset his team. Macky has been a tower of strength in junior football this season, and it is hoped that he makes a speedy recovery. Had M|acky been on the field all through the e-ame there might have been a big difference in the score .

Revenge Playing their first representative match of the season, the Te Awamutu fifth grade team had a comfortable Win over Otorohanga on Saturday, and thus avenged the defeat inflicted last season. The Te Awamutu lads turned on a fine exhibition, and the combination shown was a credit to all concerned. Heta and Tickelpenny, who both represented Waikato in the Roller Mills Shield tournament, played first-class football. A return game with Otorohanga has been arranged to take place at Albert Park on Saturday, and should be well worth seeing.

Long Run The Te Awamutu forward A. Rowan had a long run to score Waikato’s first try on Saturday. From a movement started by Brunskill, Bowden beat several men and made in-field to link with Rowan, who received the ball a few yards inside the Auckland half-way line and raced away towards the line chased by the speedy winger, Grace. Rowan, however, managed to touch down near the corner flag, just as the Aucklander caught him from behind.

Cup Changes Hands After withstanding many challenges since lifting the Peace Cup from Hamilton in 1945, Morrinsville went down on Saturday to Hauraki Plains by 11 points to 3 in a very interesting e-ame. The result was a surprise, but the winning side’s margin was well earned. The next challenger is Waihi, which held the trophy in 1939 and 1940. and that team appears to have strong claims to regain the cup, as it has defeated the present holders in one inter-sub-union game earlier this season.

Attraction for Saturday As Pirongia Rovers’ application for the suspension of the knock-out final next Saturday, due to two of their players being required for the Waikato team, has been granted, the main attraction at Albert Park on Saturday will be a Binnie Cup game between Old Boys, the local champions, and the Matamata Club. The Binnie Cup is a challenge trophy competed for among the winners of sub-union championships in the W/aikato. Old Boys annexed the trophy at the end of the 1947 season.

Just Reward The selection of A. E. Rowan, of Te Awamutu, to take part in the final North Island All Black trial game at Palmerston North this afternoon is a just reward for a player who, long before the present season commenced, had made up his mind to “ go somewhere ”in Rugby. Rowan started training a lot earlier than the majoritv of footballers in this district, and as a result was in much better physical condition than his colleagues in the initial stages of the season. His. magnificent display against Auckland at Hamilton on the King’s Birthday caught the eyes of the North Island selectors present, and since then the Pirongia-Rovers forward has not turned on a poor display. In the trial game at Auckland Rowan played to the instructions received from the selectors, and by gaining a place in the final trial he must have satisfied the selectors’ wishes. Although Rowan has a hard fight ahead of him in the match today, and, if he manages to make the North Island team to play the South Island at Wellington on Saturday, will face the biggest task of all. All local followers of Rugby—and those in the Waikato as well—■‘will wish Rowan every success in his effort to gain a place in the team to tour South Africa next year. Impressive Record The record of Rowan is a very impressive one. He first gained representative honours in 1938 —< at the age of 19 years—when he was selected to play for King Country. He represented this Union again in 1939 and 1940. On the outbreak of war Rowan enlisted, and first went to the Pacific with an A.S.C. unit. While stationed in that theatre of war he played Rugby for his unit fifteen, which won the competition in their area. Rowan then proceeded to the Middle East, and took part in

many games in that theatre of war. While in Egypt he gained a place in New Zealand teams which played South Africa, England, ’Scotland, and Wales, fie was also included in the combined New Zealand and South African team which met a United Kingdom side, and played for a United Kingdom fifteen against South Africa. Rowan returned to New Zealand early in 1946, and in the following season was successful—after being a reserve for several games—in gaining a place in the Waikato representative team, and has since taken part in every game his provincial side has played. Never Home ?

The New Zealand Rugby selectors have been at home sbme time this season, but in their efforts to secure the best team from the talent eligible the three stalwarts of the code, Alec McDonald, Norman McKenzie, ,and Harold, Strang, have travelled far and w’ide. Wherever there’s likely to be a footballer worth seeing one or more of them has been there to see him. Maybe the gardens will be looked after next season !

Cricket’s “Big Five” M. P. Donnelly, New Zealand, is included in “ Wjisden’s Five ” for 1948 (coverin" the 1947 English cricket season). The others are N. W. D. Yardley (Yorkshire), J. D. Robertson (Middlesex), A. D. Nourse, Jnr. (South Africa), and A. M'elville (South Africa). ,Of Donnelly, “ Wisden” says: “Rightly regarded as the world’s best present-day left-handed batsman. . . Despite his lack of inches few cricketers show more punishing power with the drive against goodleneth bowling, and he is merciless in nulling and cutting short-pitched balls. . . . All followers of the game join in the fervent hope that much more will be seen of one who has brought life to many an otherwise dull match.” The form of Donnelly this season has suffered by lack of regular playing, and he has been over-shadowed by the brilliant exhibition of Australia’s left-handed opening batsman, Arthur Morris. However, if the former Taranaki cricketer is available to tour with the New team in England next season he may regain his lost prestige.