RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 6, 6 July 1929, Page 22

RUGBY

B> "OROPKICK" IN AUSTRALIA

ALL BLACKS HANDICAPPED

LEYS TO JOIN TEAM

;' After a rough trip across the Tas'.man, the New Zealand Rugby team has I received a further set-back in its preparation for the Tests with Australia, 'the .first of which was to take place this afternoon. C. G. Porter, the captain, -who had been in excellent form before going to Australia, was out of action before. the first match of the tour owing to a poisoned arm; G. Nepia "'.yraa injured during last Saturday's ■match with .New South Wales; and then on Wednesday, at Newcastle, W.C. Dalley (vice-captain) had a shoulder ■damaged. These unfortunate happen :ings to three-of the most "pramiiu'iit -members of the team resulted in ;r ycailto New £eaiu.ud for '-.uotuei ,:.<>t-i I 'and. yesterday ii. T C. i.t-"u. the Vie '-torili College, Wellington -linil New :;Zca;and University naif back, iert by ..the Maraiua u> join the New (Scan; ml team. ' The addition of this piayei to the team will give satisfaction to those followers of the game ho considered that Leys was done an injustice in not being included in the original selection Leys, it will lie remembered, was play "ed in the trial match, but the selectors afterwards made a search for another half-back, .laving at least two in ,;minil before deciding on" Tuck. It is Vto.bo regretted tha Dalley. is out of as his form this season appeared to be better than ever, and it was es..pected that he would be of great service to the New Zealand team in the Test ' with Australia. Porter, too, will be 'greatly, missed, his leadership counting •■tor a. great deal. '■'. Apart from reducing tho strength of the New Zealand team, the absence of Porter and Dalley will be a great disappointment to Australia's football • •enthusiast, who have been looking with great eagerness to seeing ■these champions of the game in action 1 'against Australia 'a best. Nepia, too, ;;is.a big attraction, and it is to be hoped 'that his injury will not prevent him ; .from appearing in most of the games. The Australians are very keen to determine whether their great full-back. : Ross, is greater than Nepia. These two full-backs were on tho field last Saturday, but the conditions were against • them. The duel under more favour able circumstances will be followed ■with great interest. Nepia was able to play to-day. . . . ; .''Most Momentous Occasion." Another reason for regret at New Zealand's -inability to field its best team is that Australia is placing great er importance upon this series of Tests -!th.au upon any other. This is what the "Sydney Mail" has to say:—"lmportant, however, as have been previous visits from our traditional Rugby "foemen across the Tasman, they pale into insignificance in comparison with ■the.present tour. There are many rea '. sons for this being the most momentAus occasion in the history of the game Tin Australia and New Zealand. Con- ; sider the position of the Commonwealth .The standard in New South Wales has .steadily advanced since the Union was resuscitated after tbe war. It is justifiably claimed that the selectors have never before had such a rich iield for their deliberations, either in quality or quantity. Wallace and his Waratahs give a fillip to public favour, but they did more by inspiring tho rank and file to emulation' of their methods. A few seasons ago knowledge of the lead ing exponents, of the game was con fined to the Union devotee. Now tha man in the street is comparing the present stars with the bright lights of other days. What has assisted the "transformation is the acquisition ofj the Sydney Cricket Ground. The State's most central sports arena will .provide, the only fit setting of the Tests to come. Moreover, the spread has .been to other .States... . . ■New Zealand's Concern. • ■'- "New Zealand is vitally concerned. ■ Her' Rugby prestige is at stake. She ~Was nearly dislodged from joint world "Supremacy with South Africa in that "country last year. She is virtually 'still gasping with relief after tho vie"tory, as the result of a 'superhuman -drive,' in the last ,Test against the Springboks. The position was one 'down, and, though it would not be right ' to say hope had been abandoned, there ■Js.no doubt that all New Zealand wait ;ed with the greatest apprehension tho "-flash result of that encounter. Since then she has been given furiously to| think. A number of straws show which way the wind has blown. Tho outspoken conclusions of vice-captain Mark Nieholls, the most intellectual of modern All Blacks, caused a sensation. He advocates the scrapping of New Zealand's habitual methods. The Dominion council early this year sugges ■ ted .to New South Wales a reversion to former rules. There- was talk of a ;chariged forward formation. Subso- , quently New South Wales was sounded regarding the advisability of postponing the present visit. Then came the selection. ;_! " Australian strength could not be "under-estimated. The effect of the Waratah tour on New South Wales "play was realised. .The unexpected sue '.cesses of last season's tour of New .Zealand by a New South Wales side of "practically third-fifteen strength were .another factor. Not given to anything ■ but the most serious consideration of ' their Bugby prestige, Now Zealand offi- ■- crals have probably stumbled on an- ■ other surprising snag. Hitherto, there has, been such a thing as an inferior ity complex. In All Black encounters /notwithstanding occasional victories, ..Australian sides have taken the field ..ivith an admitted impression of the . might of their opponents. This time the thought pervading the Light Blue and the Green .and Gold fifteens will .be, not 'Can wo beat the All Blacks?' but 'We think, we canl 1 Morale has ■been heightened. Not previously has there been such a feeling of calm confidence among local officials and play ers." From New Zealand's point of view tho present tour does not have the same importance u.s that with which it is regarded in Australia, and .some of the views expressed in the , *~?t'gis&g l comment are rather exaggerated. ' 'Record of Previous Tests. . All to]d there have been fourteen Tests between Australia and New Zealand, to-day's game being the first since 1914. The record of results is

Summary:—Matches played 14, New Zealand won 11, Australia won 2, drawn X .Points scored: New Zealand 219, Australia 87. In the Test with Australia at SydB«y in 2903 tbe New Zealand team

was:—Wallace; Asher, M'Gregor, D. M'Gregor; Duncan, Wood; Kiernau; Gallaher; Nicholson, Fanning, Cooke, Long, M'Minn, Udy, and Tyler. Tries for New Zealand were scored by Asher, Tyler, and M'Gregor. Wallace converted one try, kicked a penalty goal and a goal from a mark, and Wood potted a goal. The next Test, in 1905, was played at Dunedin, the New Zealand team being:—Turtill; Bennett, Maepherson. Gilray; Wrigley, Smith; Burgess: Dodd; Watkins, Cross, E. Purdue, Fran cis, Spencer, M'Minn, and C. Purdue. Two tries were scored by M' Minn and one each by Wrigley and Cross. Fran cis converted one try. There were three Tests in Australia in 1907. For the iirst Test ef this tour the New Zealand team v.-as:—Bocth: Wallace,. Mitchinson, Fryer; Hunter, Mynott; Roberts; Colman; Cunning ham, Johnstone, M'Donald, Francis, Seeling, Casey, Hughes. Tries were scored by Mitchinson (three), Seeling. Hughes, and Francis. Wallace convert ed four tries. In the second Test New Zealand was represented by:—Colman. Wallace, Mitchinson, Fryer: Hunter Mynott; Roberts,^ Gillett; Cunning ham ; Jchnstone, Nicholson. Francis Seeling, Hughes, Casey Tries were scored by Seeling, Wallace, Francis 'find Hunter. .\Va!'t>et' converting one Tho r.hirr! Test team wasr ■-Bootli; W.-illacc, .Uirchinsoii -Fryer: Hunter Ai.vnntt; Roberts: .Gillett: Cinumijjham '..''Su'MviinV Johnstom-. Nicholson f^is'ey. f-liiiriies, Francis A try wap scored Ijy.Mitcliinson, I 'V.-ili;;"c- '•■.-!• vi?rtpd it. A.train in 1910 there Were t.hre< iv-.r-iii Australia For tbe first New Zen land fielded---O'Leary; Stohr Mitehin son, Burns; Mynott, Fuller: Roberts. A very; M'Kellar, Patterson Wilson Francis, Ridland. Paton. M'Gui;> Tries were scored by Wilson and Pul lor. For the second Test Rv.in replaced O'Leary as full-back, Mitchell went into the three-quarter line, and Mit ehinson replaced Mynott as a five eighth. There was one change in the forwards, Evans replacing Paton. In this game New Zealand did not score, suffering its first defeat by a representative '. Australian side. "Tho team for the third .Test was:—O'Leary; Stohr, Burns, Mitchell; Mitehinson, Mynott; Roberts; Avery, M'Kellar, Patterson, Wilson, Ridland, Francis, Paton. M'Guire. Tries were scored by Burns (two), Stohr (two), Patterson, Mitchinson, Mitchell, and Paton, O'Leary converting two. In 1913 there were three Tests in New Zealand. In the first. Now Zea land -was represented by:—Cuthill; Lynch, R. Roberts, A. M'Gregor; M'Kenziej- Gray; Taylor; Murray; Williams, Atkinson, Downing, M'Don aid. Sellars, Wylie, Dewar. Tries were scored by Lynch (3), M'Kenzie (2), Gray, Murray, and Roberts, the last named converting three. For the see ond Tost there was an entirely new team, as follows:—O'Loary; Baird, Stewart, Macky; Geddes, Spillane; Brown; R. Taylor; Hasell, Francis, Gil lespie, Barrett, Wilson, M'Neece, Cum mings. Tries were scored by Wilson. Taylor, Brown, Hasell, and Cuminings, O'Leary converting three and potting a goal.. The third Test team was:— O'Loary; Cockroft, Burns, Stewart; Spillane, J. Tilyard; Brown: Taylor; Hasell, Francis, M'Neeco, Wilson, "Bar' rett, Cummings, Fanning. A try was scored.by Fanning and converted by O'Leary. In Australia in 1911 Now Zealand's team for the first Test, was:—O'Brien; Lynch, R. Roberts, Taylor; Ryan, Black; E. Roberts; Graham; Francis Bruce, M'Neece, Wilson, Downing, Cain, Fisher. A try was scored by M' Noece and converted by Graham. The second Test team was:—Cock roft; Lynch, fi. Roberts, Ryan; M'Ken zie, Taylor; E. Roberts; Murray; Fran cis, Wilson, Bruce, Downing, M'Neoce, Irvine, Fisher. Tries were scored by Taylor (3), R. Roberts, and Lynch, E. Roberts converting one. For the third Test the New Zealand backs woro the same, except that Taylor and Ryan changed places. In the forwards Lindsay and Graham replaced Bruce and M'Noeee; Tries were scored by R. Roberts (2), Francis (2), M'Konzie, and Taylor, E. and R. Roberts each converting one. t'etone and Athletic. When the above teams met in the opening games of the championship, Athletic got homo by two points, but in tho return match Pctonc turned the tablcß, winning by throo points. Both roarguards had undergone some changes in the meantime, tho baeklino. fielded by Petone impressing as being a much stronger combination than that with which they commenced tho season and eventually proving tho deciding factor. The forwards were evenly matched and played .splendid games. Though the pace was on from the start and there was plenty of gruelling tight work, play was keener than over in tho closing stages. Both sets fed their backs well, with Petono possibly getting more of the ball. Forwards who stood out were Persson, M'Naught, and Berry for Athletic,.and Can-, Fell, and Reid for Petone, although those mentioned were not always the hardest sjrafters in the closo work. : Except for the absence of Peterßon from Petone, both sets of backs wero at full strength and might have been oxpectcd to provide some sparkling move-1 ments. Sudden tackling by the .nside men, however, generally blocked such attacks before the ball had gono far, the defensivo play being one of tho features of the game. Petone mot with a j fair amount of success in their attempts to get the ball out to the wings, but they generally found that tho defence was still to be broken. As it was, in most cases the scoring was the result of individual opportunism. With the exception of Lambourne, who was badly off-colour, all the Petone backs played well up to form. Coman was well up to his beßt, and, in addi tion, did not hesitate to get mixed up with the forwards when necessary. Heazlewood was Athletics shoet anchor, and besides scoring the major ity of his team's points, must have saved as many more. Huxtablo and Polham were the best of the threequarters, both doing a lot of good work. Svenson was too well marked to shine much. Poneke's Win. Defeat, after having shown up finely in the first, spell, and also at times in the second half, was the lot of Bor hampore in theft game at Kelburn Park with Poneke, whom they had de J feated in the first round. But, never tholess, Poheke's win was merited. It i was the latter half of the second spell that told, Poneke, as they have done on many anothor occasion, proving super ior.and in. the end, after having failed! to score in the first spell, gaining sue ross by i clear-cut margin.. It was for,the most part a forward game, and in the play the Light Blue pack, particularly in the first spell, kepi Poueke moving busily. The Berham pore forwards showed up splendidly in the loose; they were decidedly better than Poneke's forwards, playing with more vigour and more sureness. But Poneke came out after the interval with a lot more ginger in them. Their at tacks and they launched -some very fine, powerful drives, carried more sting. Berhamport tried hard, tbe for wards still grafting well, but were un able to hold out and fulfil the first speli promise n'f success. With two such similarly built and capable hookers as Mollier and M' Don aid. Berhampore have a decided asset. That has been said before, and it was demonstrated again on Saturday, although perhaps not so prominently as in some of the' previous games. They were hard workers all the time-, and closely associated with them in connection were Glennie and Deere. Wilson, the Poneke wing-forward, gave a virile display, and was one of

me uiooi uutslumluig piayers on Ulo field. There was no half-measure with him; lie was into the thick of things, playing a hard and fine game. Jessup. too, was most noticeable. There was little concerted back play by either side to give the game a spectacular touch, although there were flashes of smart individual work. In this respect, G. Nieholls, the Poneke first five-eighth, was prominent, mak ing several tricky runs, but oncp or twice more- colour was given to Dis efforts by rather weak tackling Jul mn did not have many chances to show up on attack, but he scored well on de fence. Barrett, at fullback, gave an • fhiT fine all-round display. Hooper. Berham pore's half, wa? d • cry useful man, but particularly ju (li'fence. He showed no hesitanor iii.riut down to a rush. -.i.iiooiuni- and Wellington. Although there wore one <n nv u .)uh. ndividuai performances, tb. uaudard of football displayed ii thi Wellington Kastbourn.- match was noi particularly inspiring. Neither set ol backs reallj got going during the aftei noon, and. although the forwards hai a hard tussle, the result from the aver age spectator's point of view was dis appointing. Wellington- 'were perliapa trifle, unlucky in losing by such a nar vow margin after having as iiuch ,v the game as their opponents, but, ou tbo other hand, Eastbourne did noi show the form that they had produced the previous week against Berharnpore The two packt battled solidh throughout, and there was very little to choose between them. Price, Read, and CoJlins were as usual in the van of East bourne forward rushes, while Butter worth, Thornton, and Stanley were al ways prominent in the Wellington van guard. As in attacking force .c Welling ton backs did not appear in cho lime light at all, but on defence they wore sound, particularly L. Johnson, who gave a splendid display of shrewd heady kicking. Johnson realised thai the way to victory lay in the forwards and time and time again when he re eeived the ball from the scrum ho would carry it back into the pack. It was not spectacular football, but oxeolleni tactics. With Johnson at first five eighths playing in this manner, theother backs did not get a chanc to gel going, but they made no mistakes on defence.: Martin played his usual solid gannat half for Eastbourne, and fed his backs well. Owing to Wellington's goorl tackling, however, the movement thus started did jot get very far, and the ball generally went straight across the field. N. Foley's failure to field ■ rolling ball on several occasions uoarly let Wellington through, but he improv ed as the game went on. E. Foley again showed plenty of dash, but neither of the wingers got much chance. When Murray did get going, however, he made the most of it. Senior A Leaders. By their win over Old Boys last Saturday University improved their position at the head of the sonior A grade championship ladder by two points. Petone assisted thorn in this gain by defeating Athletic, who were previously on terms with Old Boys, o point behind University. With the second .round of the competition now under way, University have a strong grip on tho championship title, whicli they won for the first time last year. After last Saturday's games they were throe points clear of Poneko, but, taking a lino through the presont form of othor teams in the competi tion, that margin cannot be regarded as safe. There are somo very stern struggles ahead, and Pouoke, Ath letic, Old Boys, and Petono are not yet out of tho running for tho premier ship. Univorsity have been somewhat lucky in a fow games, one of which was that against Old Boys last Saturday. An incident in the first spell of the match,' which has given rise to a good deal of discussion, resulted in University get ting three points from a free-kick, which appeared to bo a severe penalty for what happened. Eastwood (Uni versity) was racing to got possession of tho ball near Old Boys' line, and just as he appeared to gathor it in Patrick (Old Boys) tnado an attempt to bring Eastwood down from behind and he suceooded. In endeavouring to take tho ball, however, Eastwood knocked on and, then kicked it over the goal-line. Under the circuui stances, and always bearing in mind tho spirit of the game, a scrum should havo boon given. In anothor caso Old Boys wore rightly penalised for ob struction, but they had bad luck in not getting a score during a scramble at the University posts, after Rush brook had made a. brilliant cut-in. University's winning points were scored a minute before the call of time, when, after very determined re sistanco, a breakdown occurred to Old Boys' defence through tho full-back failing to grasp a rolling ball. It was unfortunate for Old Boys, and a miss that is likely to be made by the best of players. Old Boys were well tuned up for this game, and they adopted spoiling tactics very effectively. University's usual game was upset to a considerable os tent, and, that being the caso, they did well to bring off a win. Leys was frequently caught in possession, and a very close watch was kept on Mac kenzie, with the result that tho Univer sity rearguard did not show up in any thing like its usual light. The forwards, however, toiled away splendidly against solid opposition, with Edgar playing his. usual outstanding game in the loose. The backs of Old Boys were well sorved by dv Chateau, but they rarely made the most of their oppor tunities. Cutting-in was overdone, and their play was also spoilt by tak ing up positions too close to tho opposi tion with a view to spoiling tactics Grenfell made a reappearance with Old Boys, and marked the occasion by scoring a try from a heady short kick past the opposing backs. The forwards were a- pack of bard grafters, with J. Lamason a capable leader in the loose and always a handy man to the team. There was much fumbling on both sides, and, apart from the fact that the game was hard fought, the exhibi tion fell a long way below oxpecta tions. Very little was seen of the sparkling, open play which has been the usual order with these teams in the past. Notes. As was indicated In "The Post" recently, there were not many first grade players in the team from the Australian Universities which recently visited New Zealand, and with one exception the tourists were all from the Sydney l.'ni versity. Only five members of thp tour ing team—Nicholas, Lamport, Cay, Morey and Dezarnaulds—were included in the Sydney University Srst fifteen for a recent club match in Sydney. A representative match between Hawkes Bay and Waikato is to bo played in Hawkos Bay on tho 10th July. This should serve as si try-out for the Hawkes Bay team to meet Wairarapa in the Wairarapa on the 20th July, probably for the Eanfurly Shield.

ft? follows: — 1903—Sydney 1905 —Dunedin '■ 1907—Sydney 1907—Brisbane 1907—Sydney 1910—Sydney 1910 —Sydney 1910—Sydney ■1913—W'gton '"1913 —Dunedin :,1913—Ch'ch 1914—Sydney 1914—Brisbane 191-1—Sydney Won by Score New Zealand 22-3 New Zealand H-3 New Zealand 26-6 New Zealand 14-5 Drawn game 5-5 New Zealand 6-0 Australia 11-0 New Zealand 28-13 New Zealand 30-5 New Zealand 25-13 Australia 16-5 New Zealand 5-0 New Zealand 17-0 New Zealand 22-7