FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16284, 26 November 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

RUGOY UNION RULES, THE GAME IN ENGLAND. (Special to the “’Star.”) LONDON, October 7. As fine a. “Rugger” match as anyone could want to see was that between Guy’s Hospital aud Blackheath at Honor Oak Park. The ball was slippery and the ground was greasy—hard underneath and butter on tup. So that it was mostly ;V forward game. Vot that the three-quarters, were not set going again and again. But both scrums broke up quickly and the backs marked each other both semes of -the word, as if it were a i‘er?onal matter. Cleaner and harder-tackling you could not wish for—as a spectator anyway, Guy's .had nine South Africans on tho side, and the South. African seems to be always fit, and hefty. He strip* bigger than any man in the world with the exception, perhaps, of tbo New Zealander. There have been one or two in the British Isles who have done the aa.uio of course. B. K. Albertiju made .bis first appearance for Guy’s as left wing threequarter; he had, indeed, only landed a hours. He bore the reputation of being the best three-quarter in Boutn Africa and, though this is enormous praise, ho looks capable of living up to it.- Ot course, the soft'ground did not suit him; but’your groat player adapts himself to any conditions, and the unfortunate ‘people who are set to mark him lor the rest of the season tro_ in for a particularly poor timeLnlortunately there’is no return match between Guy’s arid Blackheath arranged at the moment, Rerhaps it can be arranged. For Guy’s most certainly will want another go at Blackheath; and Blackheath have their own ideas, and pretty strong ones, ament that try in the first half. Experience forward pulled Gloucester through against tho Harlequins at Twickenham by 10 points to S. I. was not there, but two much better judges were._ It would appear that S. Smart is going to get another international cup, or else that England is going to bare a really great pack, great in Italics. The Gloucester forwards dominated the game, and the backs, Helped by their forwards, tackled very soundly. Grade, who baudlqcl the wet ball perfectly, scored a priceless try for tho Harlequins, and is to be watched. If he gains the yard of pace we want to see he is an international, LONDON, October 11. In the -Rugger game, Blackheatii showed fine football again to beat,, tho Old Merchant Taylors by 2-3 points to 9. The. Blackheath. forwards were well held by the Taylors, and will need to get the ball oftener iu the scrum to beat some of the teams they are dowu to meet. Behind they are really fast and clever. 0. N. Lowe showed / all of his old pace, and his last try was a, caution. Much more is to be beard of the Jefb wing three-quarter, King of tlm many initials. Guy s Hospital had a field day against the London Irish, vilio started" one short and had another man injured later on. Albertiju, the South African, who played his first match tho week before, scored five tries; as I mentioned last ‘.reek, the South Africans have called him the finest threequarter they have playing.. The Harlequins have lost some of their finest players through people “ going back ” or “ going, up,” but they beat Richmond all right by’22 points to 7. Some wag coined'that the Harlequins dare not play badly while A. D. Stoop is in command at Twickenham.