CAN AUCKLAND TAKE SHIELD?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18466, 18 May 1928, Page 12

CAN AUCKLAND TAKE SHIELD?

LEAGUE MEN STRIKE FORM. The New Zealand Rugby League footballers, B. Davidson and L. Brown, continue to show good form, and English papers give the Auckland pair praise for splendid football. In their last two games for Wigan against Hull Kingston Rovers, and Batley, the following comment makes interesting reading:—“The player who pleased most was Davidson, who showed form approaching that which caused Wigan to sign him when he was with the New Zealand touring team. Davidson has greatly improved, and his splendid work at Hull was repeated against Batley. He was quick in seeing an opening, and burst through cleverly, w-hile he never failed to provide his partner with ample opportunities. The

New Zealander tackled keenly, and gave an all-round display that must have gratified Wigan's supporters.” “L. Brown, too, was in excellent form,” added the critic. “He showed great judgment in supporting Davidson’s bursts through the centre, and was always on hand to deceive the last pass.” In an interesting letter to a friend in Auckland, Lou Brown confirms the form above, and he said that Davidson stood out for his brilliancy in the last few matches. “My team mate,” says Brown, “is playing great football, and at his best there are few better centres in England. We will have a welldeserved spell in a few weeks, and look forward with pleasure to next season’s football, when we hope to help to place Wigan high up on the list of teams, especially if our forwards can get the ball.” In their game against Batlev, Wigan won by 36 points to 10. Brown scored three tries and Davidson two. J. Sullivan, who is the English full-back to tour New Zealand, kicked six goals. Maurice Tate's Shop. The latest sportsman to become a shop-keeper is Maurice Tate, the famous Sussex and England bowler. He has opened a sports outfitting shop in Brighton. When he was asked why he £ad undertaken this new venture he re marked that if they keep on improving wickets as they are doing there won’t be a bowler left in England in three years’ time, and he wanted to be able to earn a living longer than that. Numbering of Players. One of the main subjects of conversation at Twickenham before the England and Scotland’ Rugby game commenced was the attitude of the Scottish authorities towards numbering their players. England sent a politely worded request to Scotland that their players might be numbered; Scotland sent an equally politely warded refusal. It is understood that Scotland told England she did not see any reason to lead to a change*of view she had always taken up. Want of consistency can hardly be laid at the doors of Scottish Rugby; now at the risk of snubbing English Rugby—for that is what the position amounts to—there is to be no climbing down. Scotland's attitude towards numbering is very simple—she says man plays as a member of a team and not as an individual. Fortunately for the general public, who, after all, keep places like Twickenham and Murrayfield going, other Rugby bodies believe that the man who goes to see a Rugby match likes to know who is who. Lon Murchison Not Dead. The report published early in the year of the death, of Loren Murchison, the famous American amateur sprinter, happily turned out to be incorrect. In December last year Murchison was taken suddenly ill, his complaint being diagnosed as cerebro meningitis, and his condition became so bad that his case was considered to be hopeless. Given up by his physicians he made a sudden rally, and continuing to improve, was practically out of danger towards the end of January last. His death was announced in London papers and the report was copied in Australian and New Zealand papers. An American sporting paper to hand by the last mail, under date March 6, stated that “ Murchison and his wife are en route to San Antonio. Texas, ■where Murchison is going for his health, following his recent illness. ‘ I have been trying to quit the track for some time,’ Murchison said, ‘ and now that I have an excellent excuse, I intend to keep out.of the track game in the future.’ ”

CHALLENGERS WILL . HAVE STRONG TEAM. (Written for the “Star” by W.R.K.) First holders of the Ranfurly Shield, Auckland is being selected as one of the most likely teams to extend Canterbury in this year’s series of games. , So far as Canterbury is concerned the destiny of the shield games is of no less importance than the matches in South Africa. No stone is being left unturned by the northerners in their bid for the shield, and their programme has been so arranged that they will have matches after Canterbury with any team likely to beat the red and blacks if the early challenge is successfully negotiated by Wairarapa. - The shield was first awarded to Auckland in 1902 as champion province of the Dominion. The first challenge came in 1904, when Wellington lifted the trophy by six points to three. In 1905 Auckland recovered the shield from Wellington by ten points to six, and the following year the province became football rampant, and .administered sound defeats to Canterbury, Southland and Taranaki.

Held Shield lor Eight Years. Year after year until 1913 Auckland continued in its winning vein, the closest calls during the eight-year period being a six points to live defeat of

Wanganui in 1907, a six points to four defeat of Canterbury in 1910, a three-all draw with Wellington in the same year, and a six points to five win against Taranaki in 1912. Taranaki maintained its form in the following year, and the cow-country people went to Auckland in force to see the shieldholders defeated in a great game by fourteen points to eleven. From that day Auckland Rugby commenced to wane, and a very critical period was gone through as the star of the Rugby League game began to ascend. No challenges were entered for the Ranfurly Shield until Carl Ifwerson had come back to the Rugby fold. Even then the Bay put it all across Auckland.

Then the change came. The Auckland Rugby Union in sheer desperation changed its policy and appointed Mr S. Meredith as sole selector. Success did not come immediately, but the popular Aucklander worked on a policy mapped out a few years ahead, and 'he reached his object last year. Unbeaten Side. With the exception of the match with Otago which proved a hectic struggle on a heavy ground, Auckland smote provincial teams and hung the scalps of three Ranfurly Shield holders to their collective belt in Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Manawhenua (the hybrid combination of Manawatu and Horowhenua). Auckland did not tackle Canterbury last season, but this season the brilliant northerners will enter on their first southern tour for many years.

Auckland has lost four fine players in Sheen, Lucas, M’WilJiams and Hadley, who are now on their way to South Africa, but has gained three Rugby gerps in Dr J. R. Hindenach, formerly Christchurch Boys’ High School, Otago, and Otago University representative, a Very fine hooker; Albert Falwasser, the brilliant exHawke’s Bay, Taranaki and New Zealand Maori representative, and C. E. W. Macintosh, a Scottish international of repute, whose fine form on the wing for Varsity last Saturday commended itself to the selector. Macintosh took the field with the vivid scarlet international stockings adorning his limbs, and he turned on fireworks with a vengeance.

It will not be very hard to fill M’Williams’s place in the pack, because Auckland has a number of good forwards ranging from 17-stone Maoris down to twelvo-stone nuggety scrummagers and line-out men. The chief difficulty will be the centre-three-quarter position vacated by Sheen. Even in that position Auckland has this season dug up a find from the City Club, a new side to senior grade ranks. His name is Crook, and he is said to be the counterpart of Cooke. Brilliant Players Available. As an attacking force Auckland will field a set of forwards and backs. In the rear the side will be able ±o call on IVI Manus, Badeley, Berridge, Falwasser, L. Hook, Paewaj, Macintosh and Vic Butler. In the forwards there will be Palmer, Hindenach, Wanoa, M’Carthney, Solomon, Angas, Finlayson, Batty, Knight, Cathcart and Keene. After Mr Meredith has ha/d another two Saturdays to sort out his players, it would not be at all surprising

to see the Auckland team selected something like this:— Full-back.—L. Paewai or V. Butler. Three-quarters.—L. Hook, Falwasser and Macintosh or Crook. Five-eighths.—C. Badeley (captain) and Arnold Berridge. Hal.f'-back. —M’Manus. Rover.—A. Keene. Hookers.—Palmer and Hindenach. Lock.—Wanoa. Sides and Back.—Knight, Solomon, Batty and Finlayson.

The team will thus include four All Blacks, including two Maori representatives, five players who took part in the trials for the team which is to play South Africa, and a Scottish international. Solomon and Crook are the only two players mentioned (with

the exception of Macintosh) who have not won Auckland colours, and Solomon might easily be replaced by Cathcart or M’Carthney, two fine lineout forwards, -who will probably go on tour with the team.

OLYMPIC ATHLETE'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM BAD ACCIDENT. -T1 n , SYDNEY, May 1. The departure of the Olympic athletes by the Naldera to-day was nearly accompanied by a serious' accident to Jimmy Carlton, the young New South Wales champion sprinter. Just before the vessel pulled out from the w-harf at W oolloomooloo he was crossing the deck near a hatch where Lascars were hauling in loading’ gear. Suddenly the tackle on. one of the winches swung round, and the block rattling down, struck - Carlton heavily on the forearm. Carlton looked sick from the pain, but recovered, and was able to take his place along the rails to wave farewell to relatives. His injury, however, is certain to trouble him for some time. The team was given a warm farewell by the large crowd on the wharf, and they were almost hidden by streamers and roses. As the vessel Jeft the band on the wharf played "Auld Lang Syne.”