FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19050, 1 July 1924, Page 6

FOOTBALL

THE GAME IN ENGLAND. • G. G. AITKEN'S VIEWS. am not trying to paint a black Mcture of our chances,, but am merely pointing out the true state of affairs.! Football is pretty good here just now. >nd I am wondering how our team is going to do next season, when it takes the field here. The team that you send I k Will need to be the best available.” In Jthat manner George Aitken, tho well ktaown New Zealander now at Oxford . introduces some timely remarks reigarding the tour of rhe All Blacks, and I though the side is now chosen, the ■ points which the cx-Ncw Zealand capItain. makes in the course of a letter to IS friend in Wellington should be speciBally noted, as George Aitken has had experience in the Rugby fcme, both in New Zealand and in the i yid Country. He is a Scottish Inter-1 ■national, but he writes as a New Zea- ! ■lander, still as keenly interested as ■ ■ver in the national game of his own I country. I “From your reports of the forward I play.” says George Aitken. “I think I we (New Zealand) will win in that de F partment; but what about the backs? They will need to be fast and heady, as the standard of back play here, ex iept in Wales, is high, and Jit is Of no jpse sending a ‘crook l back division. ■When I left New Zealand I was given fto understand that the English players ■Were not very good exponents of the / Rugby game, but such is not the case. / They have learnt a lot from Colonial Teams.” Aitken expressed the opinion that the New Zealand wing-forward will be able to check the back move ments of opposing teams, but points out that the All Blacks will need scoring men to finish off their own movements. He also makes a special point ■bout scrum play, emphasising the fact that the rule regarding putting the ball into the scrum is strictly enforced at Home. The Ali Blacks, he considers, should bear in mind that the ball is not in thp scrum until it has completely passed one man on each side. The same rule applied in New Zealand but it appeared to him that the referees at Home were more strict In their enforcement of the rule. (During the past two seasons in New Zealand the rule has been more strictly fcnforced than was the case previously. Mnd the New Zealand hooker’s should know what to expect when they are engaged in matches on the big tour. Aitken suggests that tho two New Zealand hookers should pack one on each side of the middle man (the hooker) of the opposing throe front-rankers. “It will be a continual fight if we attempt to pack any other way.” he adds, “still, that is a problem for our forwards, and I daresay they will find a solution.” Aitken states that he is looking forward to the visit of the team with great interest, and expresses the hope that this year’s All Blacks will be as successful as tho 1905 combination, mentioning that the latter is still spoken of in the Old Country, Aitken remarks: “Every time I go to Wales I get into an argument about Dean’s try.” Of his association with Oxford and tho Rugby game generally at Home, Aitken writes: — 11 Our Rugger side is going to be a great problem next season. We will have practically the same pack up, and we have seven internationals going for four positions in the three-quarter line, excluding Raymond, who has at last shown a little of his old form, and will have to be considered. When he first came up he disappointed all of us who knew how well hp really can play. They dropped me from the side last season without, hardly a trial. It was uphill work trying to justify myself as a wing when I have never made any pretence to occupy that position. When we went on tour in Scotland before Christmas, they were short of centres, and played me in the three games. I made the most of my opportunity, and when Gracie was injured before the Welsh game the Scottish selectors asked me to piay. Gracie did not play in the other two internationals, although last season he

was looked upon as the best centre playing. We had a field day against Wales, winning by 35 to 10. It was the most delightful game I have ever plaved in, the ball travelling like clock-work through our backs, and no one seeming capable of making a mistake. The three-quarter line was composed entirely of Oxford men—Smith, M’Pherson, John Wallace (N.S.W.), and mvself. This is only the second time in the history of the game here that four men from ono club have made up a international three-quarter line We had a sad day against England. losing bv 19 to 0, but there was hardly that difference between the two sides.* It was a most, disappointing game Three times we lost certain tries on the line. The English backs had the ball all the afternoon, although they did not score once with their three-quarters.... I went on tour with the ’Varsity in France last vacation, and we had a wonderful time. We won our games against Lyons, St. Claude, and Grenoble, in the easiest manner. The hospitality was great. After that I went to Switzerland.” Brief reference is made by Aitken to the English team’s visit to South A frica. The touring side is considered to be rather disappointing. * I A number of plavcrs cannot go.” says Aitken “and* there is a dearth of threequarters. It is a pity they cannot send the- best side in the British Isles, for. as it is. theare will hardly be a real test of t he strength of the two countries. ” QUEEN’S PARK CLUB Members of the above club are requested to attend practice at Rec. shed on Wednesday night at 7.30 •harp. ARAMOHO CLUB. Members of the above elub are requested to attend practice at the Rec. shed on Wednesday night at 7.30 sharp.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY WANGA NUI CHAMPIONSHIPS. SENIORS. Teel). Old Boys v, Kaierau, on Ree. No. 1, at. 2.45 p.m. Old Boys v. liatana, on Ree. No. 2, at 2.45 p.m. Pirates v. Waverley, at Wavcrley. JUNIORS. Old Boys v. Katana, on Ree. No. 2, ati 1.15 p.m. Kaierau V. Fordeli, at Fordell. sre v. Tech. Old Boys, on College No. 1, at 2.45 p.m. Aramoho v. Tech. College, on Racecourse No. 1. at 2.45 p.m. Rapanui v. Pirates, on Racecourse No. 2 at 1.15 p.m. (non-Cup fixture). ( ’.HIRDS. Marists v. Pirates, on Racecourse No. 1, at 1.15 p.m. Kaierau v. Queen’s Park 0.8., on Rec. No. 1, at 1.15 p.m. (Maoriland Cup match). College v. Old Boys, on College No. 2, at 3 p.m. FOURTHS. Queen’s Park 0.8. v. Marists, on Racecourse No. 2, at 2.45 p.m. Pirates v. Aramoho, on Racecourse No. 3, at 1.15 p.m. College v. Tech. College 8., on College No. 2, at 1.45' p.m. Old Boys v. Tech. College A, on Tech. College, at 1.15 p.m. REFEREES ON STRIKE (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 30. The Rugby football referees in North Taranaki are on strike. Recently several players have been reported to the Union, and the referees resent what they regard as lenient treatment. The referees discussed the matter to-night, and resolved: “That, the Taranaki Rugby Union, by their continued undue leniency to offenders, having made it increasingly difficult for referees to control matches, the members of this association decide that until we are assured by the management committee of the Rugby Union that adequate punishment will be meted out to players o_ered off no further matches be taken by members of this division of this association.” It was also decided to circularise Central and Southern divisions of the Taranaki Referees’ Association with copies of the resolution. TO MEET ALL BLACKS THE N.S.W. TEAM. SYDNEY, June 30. The following team has been chosen to represent New South Wales against the All Blacks on Saturday: Fullback, Toby; threcquart. ers, Crossman, Wogan, Stanley, Smith, and Morrissey (one to be omitted); five-eighths, Sheehan; halfA. Walker; forwards, Davis, Blackwood, Ritchie, Bonner, Fox a Thorn. Hoskins, and Greatorex. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY TEAM ITINERARY FOR N.Z. TOUR. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 30. The Sydney University Rugby team, which tours New Zealand during August and September, is stated to be very strong. It is at present head of the Sydney championship. The iterary of the New Zealand tour has now been arranged as follows: August 23, against New Zealand University, first test at Auckland. August 27, against Canterbury College, at Christchurch. August 30, against New Zealand University, second test at Christchurch. September 3, against Otago University, at Dunedin. September 6, against New Zealand University, at Dunedin. September 10, against Victoria Col lege, at Wellington. RANGITIKEI SUB-UNION (From Our Own Correspondent) The Rangitikei primary schools competition coihinenced on Friday last when Marton B. and Junction met on the Marton ground. Junction won by 14 points to 6. J. Whale scored three tries. R. Poppe a try, and S. Walkley converted one for the winners and Innes and Watts scored for tho losers. The matches for Friday next are: Rata v. Marton 8., at Marton. Turakina v. Bulls, at Turakina. Marton A. v. Junction, at Junction. The referees for Wednesday’s matches arc: Juniors, Bulls v. Marton, A. Sims; Tokorangi v. Turakina, at Halcombe, E. C. Gaisford; Hunterville a bye. Fourths: Marton v. Tokorangi, at Marton, Rev. Leonard. SENIOR SHIELD. FOURTH ROUND hollowing is the fourth round of the Senior Shield Competition (to be apj proved by union to-night) : i Saturday, July s.—Hunterville v. Rata, ; at Marton; Tokorangi v. Turakina, at Bulls. ■ Saturday, July 12. —Hunterville v. • Turakina, at Turakina; Marton v. ■ Tokorangi, at Marton. ■ Saturday, July 19.—Marton v. Turai kina, at Turakina; Rata v. TokoI rangi, at Marton. I Saturday, July 26.—Hunterville v. j Marton, at Hunterville; Rata v. Turakina, at Marton. 1 Saturday, August 2.—Hunterville v. Tokorangi, at Marton; Rata v. Marton, at Rata. I Wednesday, July 16.—Rangitikei v. j Te Kawau representatives, at Bulls.