N.Z. MEN PLAY IN ENGLISH RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19270, 6 January 1931, Page 4

N.Z. MEN PLAY IN ENGLISH RUGBY.

MINNS APPEARS FOR OXFORD UNIVERSITY. The latest reports by mail from England show that Rugby players from the dominions are taking a prominent part in games, as also are members of the British Rugby team which recently visited New Zealand and Australia. At Oxford, on November 20, Major R. V. Stanley's fifteen won the annual match ! with the University by 18 points to 3 points. P. C. Minns (New Zealand and Balliol) and W. E. Henley (Otago and New) were playing for the Varsity, at three-quarter and forward respectively. Black, of the British touring team, was also in action. Two three-quarters on the winning side were C. D. Aarvold (Durham) and J. S. E. Reeve (Harlequins), lately back from New Zealand and Australia. Heavy rain had made the ground treacherous, and there were an unusual number of injuries. “The Times’* describes the game as being neither a conclusive test of Oxford’s quality as a team nor of their own individual merits in an unofficial trial of players for the internationals. The match, in fact, largely was a chapter of accidents in which Oxford suffered more severely than their opponents* and even on the run of the play had more than their share of the bad luck. During the first half, all that one could see was that Reeve was able to hold his own, but no more, with the New Zealander Minns, who was making his first appearance for Oxford; that, as usual, the combined play of the University’s half-backs and three-quar. ter backs left a lot to be desired; that the forwards were well matched outside the scrummage; and that Brown’s finish and skill in placing himself at full-back provided even an excellent player like Adamson with an object lesson. Bad Pastes by Minns. There was little real excitement until the closing minutes of the first half. Then Oxford started to attack in earnest, and a clever run and cross-kick by Roberts might have presented them with a try but for a particularly fine example of intelligent anticipation by Brown. As it was, Brown was very nearly caught behind his own goal-line, and his hurried kick for touch gave Minns the chance to make his first dash for the goal-line. Minns wasted the dash by passing too low, but the attack was kept up. Alexander then had a leg badly hurt in a tackle by Brown, who in turn was shaken up so severely that he had to leave the field also. Alexander returned soon after the start of the second half, but he was limping and more apt than ever to throw inaccurate passes. Brown did not reappear until late in the game, but as Adamson also had had to retire owing to the injured arm he had sustained early in the season, Oxford, like their opponents, were committed to a pack made up of seven men.

Before there was any scoring Oxford also had lost the services of Hart at centre. Aarvold, who had moved in to the centre when Laird fell back to take Brown’s place, and Auty took what probably is his proper position of standoff half-back, scored the first try after a good run and clever interchange of passes with Hordern. The latter, it should be explained, was the forward taken out of Major Stanley’s pack. Hordern has had plenty of experience as a rover and three-quarter back for New-

port, and he played extremely well on the wing. Black also made his presence felt in the open as well as in the scrummage, and his placekicking could hardly have been improved upon. Druitt’s magnificent dash for the line cut short another attempt by the opposing three-quarter backs to force the pace, and, following his try, Oxford very nearly rushed another. The Oxford backs also went very near, later, and only another bad pass by Minns robbed them of success. New Oxford Blues. Oxford University Rugby football Blues have been awarded to P. C. Alexander (St Andrew’s, Grahamstown, and Trinity), T. M. Hart (Glasgow University and Brasenose), N. K. Lamport (Sydney University and Balliol), G. V. ShilJito (Taunton and Wadham), R. R. M’Gibbon (Fettesand Corpus), and D. Swayne (Bromsgrove and Worcester). This completed the side for the University match except for one place, at wing three-quarter, where Minns played against Major Stanley’s team. Oxford v. Harlequins. Oxford beat Harlequins at Twickenham by 11 points to 8 points. W. E. Henley (Otago and New College) was on the winning side. Oxford were the stronger pack in the second half, and the Harlequin backs, even when they got the ball, kicked to touch or to the full-back. Oxford gained on their opponents’ lead by means of a penalty goal, kicked by Henley, and, after Dunkley had missed a much easier chance at the other end of the field, a haphazard flykick by Laird in defence of his own line let in the Ox-

ford forwards, whose leader, S. J. Hofmeyr, picked up the ball in his stride and scored a magnificent try, which Henley converted. New Zealand’s Prime Minister attended this match. Gie&en Prominent. The United Hospitals fielded a representative team against Edinburgh University at Craiglockhart, and they won by 11 points to 9 points. The local correspondent of the “ Daily Express ” wrote: “It looked at one time as if the match would be vetoed on account of the frost. While the Edinburgh pack put up a great fight, the weaknesses behind the scrum were again in evidence, and it was only a great effort by the forwards in the second half which turned what looked like being a one-sided match into a thrilling duel. The Hospitals made all the running at the start, and displayed some crisp handling before Fichardt ran through the home defence and opened the scoring with a try. The London men were polished in their work, their backs, particularly J. E. Giesen (New Zealand), handling with fine confidence, and they got no more than their due when O’Sullivan scored another try after all the threequarters had handled. “The University forwards forced the pace towards the interval, and Kotze broke through, but lost the ball on the line. The game had not been resumed five minutes when the University. were on level terms. Their forwards played splendidly, and first Wells went over at the corner for a try, and Kotze scored a second. Later Kotze ga\-e the home side the lead with a penalty goal, which he kicked from thirty yards out. Seven minutes from time, the visitors broke away and got a try through Snipper, which Reidy converted, and so gave his side victory.”

Guy’s Hospital beat Old Leysians at Honor Oak Park by 12 points to 5 points. J. E. Giesen was a threequarter for Guy’s in the early part of , the game, but an injury necessitated

temporary absence from the field. On his return he changed places with I. K. Thomas (full-back). Blackheath, v. Cambridge. At the Rectory Field, on November 15, Blackheath, after a very exciting struggle, gained a thoroughly welldeserved victory over Cambridge University by 18 points to . 16 points. “The Times” stated:—“ln spite of unfavourable conditions both sides played bright, open football, and, while Blackheath have every reason to congratulate themselves on their improved performance all round, and especially on the way in which their forwards maintained the upper hand throughout, Cambridge, who thrice took the lead only to lose it finally in the last few minutes of the game, have not a great deal with which to reproach themselves. H. B. L. Johnstone (St Catharine’s, and Christ’s, New Zealand) was with the Varsity forwards. Play was fast when the second half was begun, first one side attacking and then the other, and at times Black was brought out of the scrummage to lend assistance. The tackling on both sides was very keen, and withstood the most determined attempts to pierce it. Both Simpson and Radcliffe saved their side on several occasions. Shortly before time Blackheath set up a particularly fierce attack in front of the goal, from which Bishop, seizing an opportunity, sent in Webber under the posts, and Black made no mistake with what was to prove the decisive kick.”