MARK NICHOLLS GIVES VIEWS ON THE GAME YESTERDAY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 13

MARK NICHOLLS GIVES VIEWS ON THE GAME YESTERDAY

Interviewed after yesterday’s interprovincial Rugby match, Mark Nicholls, the Wellington captain, said that he was well satisfied with the result. It had been a good clean game. He was very disappointed' with the display of the Canterbury forwards, but said the backs certainly showed that they knew how to handle the ball. They seized nearly all their opportunities to score in the first spell whereas Wellington did not. “ The result of the game does not matter one iota," said Nicholls. “It was a good game, and as a lot of our players were on their trial we are going back well pleased. I do not believe in this business of sacrificing everything to win. We lost and are quite satisfied. It isn’t the losing that matters, it is the spirit of the game." Speaking of individual players Nicholls said that Oliver appeared to be a very hard man to follow' and affected the combination. “ P'ord is probably one of the most versatile players in New Zealand," continued the All Black. “ He played a good game to-day. Our height on the line out enabled us to get possession of the ball, whilst our weight gave us the ball in nearly three parts of the scrums. We made it a forward game in the second spell, and only attacked when we were near Canterbury’s line. It proved once again that a good forward team will always beat a good back team.”