Rugby Critics Praise Alan Stewart

Chronicle (Levin), 21 October 1948, Page 10

Rugby Critics Praise Alan Stewart

11 Outstanding— better than anyt.hing of the sort seen ou" any ground for manv a long day, " was the description given by The Times ; Rugby correspohdent to the game played at fullback for Oxford University last .Saturday by Alan Stewart, formerly of Mount Albert Grammar School and Massey College, and now an undergraduate at Oxford. Oxford in their first game of the season beat Richmond 13 — 9. "His fielding was brilliant, " continued The Times, "and liis kiching to toueh had both earry and the quality of swinging inwards which is so rare." The Daily Express headed its report

" Stewart 's Match," and said that with two Australians and one South African he was outstanding. Stewart, it is reported, was asked to fill the vacancy since the regular fullback had an injured shoulder. "The versatile Stewart," the report continued, "who has played for University at fly'half and centre threequarter, did so well he is likely to stay there. Stewart was always on hand at the right moment; he fielded kicks high, low, and along the ground with the agility of a first-class cover-point, while his tackling and t'ouch-finding were as good as anything I have seen this seasoii. ' ' An England seleetor, who was present, was pleased with his display. (A. Stewart, a Rhodes Scholar, is a former Manawata representative centre' three-quarter. While at Massey College in 1940 he represented New Zealand Universities. Last year he toured the Argentine with an Oxford Rugby team.)