ROTTEN RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 9

ROTTEN RUGBY.

To the Editor. Sir, —In the course of twenty-five years’ attendance at Rugby matches I have never seen a worse display than that given by 55'ellington and Canterbury at Lancaster Park yesterday. The last ten minutes were exciting because of the closeness "of the score, but generally the contest was one of scrag —mull—boot, scrag—mull—boot. For a time in the first spell I thought that there were only two players on the field up to anything like decent interprovincial standard, but later I cut it down to one—ss'. A. Ford. Ford, though relegated to full-back, made more openings in the spirit of team-work than any other man. He should have been brought up to centre as soon as Carleton's inefficiency became apparent. Mark Nicholls did some beautiful cut-ins in the first spell and his kicking was splendid, but it was amazing to see a man of his class running dead across field time after time in the second spell. This spoiled his display. Both half-backs shone in getting the ball and diving under a heap of forwards. It was courageous—but rotten Rugbv.—l am, etc., COMBINATION.