RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

[BT ABiBTOBTOra.] THE BLACK,&THE BLUES. ' Wanganui Achievement. We were all a littlo surprised when tfio nows camo down this week that Wanganui had beaten Now , South r Wales. The little republic of contributors who constitute "Aristobulus" ' really woke up, abolished the customary yawn with which they are inclined to greet the usual Rugby "guff," , and genuinely felt that it would be interesting to hear a littlo more about that match. ,It came, during the week, by mail, from the Rev. W. B. Scott, sole selector for Wanganui, and read aa . follows: — , tWellinEtonians can look forward : to a. good contest on 13th when tho ..representatives of tho. River City will do battle against tho elect of the Empire City. Our match against 'Australia proved a surpriso packet ' to all excopt tlio ■ few possessing the inner knowledge of the development of local tactics during the past week. Wo have had the material .right along, it only wanted developing. Under the able coaching of Mr. P. A. Peters, late of Wellington, the . desired end was accomplished. '.It was a treat to . watch the Wangaiiui pack at work. The game was'full of incident from the jump to the finish. Tho vie- ■ tory was no fluke. If any hard luck was on tap it :camo ; Wanganui's N way. As one Australian nut ■•it::. ■ "Wanganui had Australia.' beaten"-''! : all the way." This . fe scarcely cor'rect as for about ten minutes in the second spell it Beemed as if Wanganui would orumple up, but, recovering themselves, they put on tho last five .points and tho result .was never in doubt. ■The Australian' side is'a good team and tho passing among the backs is clean and good. 1 fancy they committed the error of taking our boys too cheaply. Wanganui went to win—realised to tho full the expectations of ■ ■ ■ . that; little inner circle that knew tKeir capacities. Personally I am proud .of ,the success on account of the many disappointments that have come my way in the matches of last season and the earlier part of this season. , Wanganui's win on Wednesday is the fourth consecutive win m representative matches • 'iius .season.—l ami etc., , , ' WM. B. SCOTT. Kla Ora. Congratulations to Auckland on their win last Saturday. It was a hard game, ifull of exciting turns,' won in the last lap. There is little to add to Monday's account of the match;'-,■ but a few individuals claim attention. Firstly, it must have, been forced- upon close followers of the game by now/that though he has been played as a second string (in a sense), Tilyard is the hest fiveeighth in the city. M'Kenzie has done little during . the' season, and Tilyard, by sheer.merit, has worn down the ad- ' vantage others held in their reputations, and should on form, precede M'Kenzie in any five-eighth' position at tihe disposal of the Wellington selector. And if a certain back (see below) is unable -to go to California, Tilyard- Bhould be seriously considered by the New Zealand selectors. Two Halves. Recently the writer in praising the' play of Nunn'(Milf-back), remarked that Ji©-would like to see him in a few more big games in order to ascertain how ho' really compared with E. Roberts. Nunn plavcd well on Saturday, but it is clear that he lacks the distinct cleverness of . Roberts. * We Have the Blues. r •. One can say ; little as to the 'strength ,i of the Australian team which is to meet 'New 'Zealand 'oil Athletic Park this afternoon. On a fine day,'with the'pick ■ of the All Blacks.in the field, and all of them prepared to play "right out," it "seems likely that the Blues would be defeated, for the New Zealand lot looks a good .one. However, atthetime.of writing no one can say who will be'standing out : of- the Blacks, and everyone knows that rone of the New Zealanders will be risking injury on the ever of departure for California. The Blues have, put up _ two good games already.> They were just beaten toy "Auckland soon ; after' their landing, and. they just defeated Taranaki. Then, strangely (it seems) they were upended iby Warganui. A Sydney Opinion. It is interesting to note that an 'Australian writer 'remarked at about tho time of the Blues' departure from Sydney: "Unless the Blues develop iiito a moro powerful combination than Sydney i form suggests as likely, the New Zealanders should add to their laurels in this contest" ■ Wo hopq that this Australian scribe frail not be disappointed: rot that we. would deny tho Blues victory if they are 1 Ithe better team. [The Touring Team. Originally 25 players were selected for ith'e New! Zealand tour, but six of the first choice have dropped out, and of tho substitutes, two have had to be .replaced ' owing to . not being able to get away. J. M. Cooney (Manly), R. J. WilcocKs (Brisbane), (backs), Jiavo been repraced iby R. Simpson (Harden) and M. X M'Mahon (Brisbane); while the forwards unable to make the trip were: lv, J. Reynolds R. J. A. fclassie (University'), J. Duffy (Eastern Suburbs), and M. Lloyd (Brisbano). For these have been substituted F. Thompson (Eastern Suburbs), B. D. Hughes (North Sydney). W. Cody (Eastprn Subiurbs), and R. Roberts (Newtown), Roberts and Thompson getting placos owing to L. B. Heath (University) and CI. Walters (Glebe) respectively not accepting. The team, as it will leave to-day by the, Maheno for Auckland, is therefore asj follows:—Backs: R. Simpson, (Harden), L. J. Dwyer (Orange), E. Carr (Manly), D. Sutter (Bathurst), L. W. Wogan (Glebe), H. Jones (Nowcastlo), W. G. Taskor (Newtown), F. Wood, (Glebe), (N.S.Wj. M. J. M'Ma'hon. L, Miebusoh und J. Flynri (Queensland). Forwards: H. George (Eastern Suburbs), C. O'Donliell (Glotra), W. T. Watson (Noivtown), E. J. Fohey (East-em Suburbs), H. WalJftch (Eastern Suburbs), R. Rohorts (Nowtewn), F. Thompson (Eastern Suburbs), B. D. Hughes (North Sydney), W. Cody (Eastern Suburbs), R. B. Hill Os T owtown), (N.S.W.), D. Williams, D. Horodan, P. Murphy (Queensland). L. J. Dwyor is captain, and 15. Fahey rico-oaptaia. Mr. C. E. Morgan is malinger. Slightly Unfortunate. The Blues' visit has not come at the Best possible timo from all points of vi/y.v. Jliey will meet in tho firafc tost a, Now Zoaland toam which is probably reserving itself a little, and in tho sccond tffird tests will oo opposed by sec-ond-string New Zealand teams, U* the chief team will he on its way. to Oalit .' ff.iniit, .Furthermore, somo'of tho pro- , toucß aro ir. progress. at the . inmo timo. 1 Tho Rluos' ?resr(irrtfT(«i. 'Hid if tho Australian -on ring team are September 6, play New Zealand at Wellington: September

' 10, play Southland <it Invercargill; September 13, play New Zealand at Dunedin; September 17, plav South Canterbury at Timarn; September 20, play New Zealand at Cliristehurch; September 24, play Marlborough at Blenheim. Extra Match Just Possible. It is understood that an extra match between the Australians and somo New Zealand team is just possible. _ If the Australians propose staying in this country long enough to visit Rotorua, another gamo may be arranged. If such a match is played it might occur at Wellington, probably against a Wellington representative team. Olllosple Unlikely to Co. The mystery of the Atkinson letter has" not yet been cleared up, and the unfortunate position in which Gillespie has been placed is still unsettled. The probability is that Gillespie will not bo sent to America. People nave been freely expressing tho opinion, that if possible the New Zealand Union should send him and pay all expenses. Thero is nothing official to announce as to this phase of tho question, but it is almost certain that if t Gillespie goes it will be on those terms. Gillespie is a fine sport, and all llu'gbyites nope to see him go with the team. Is StoTir Fit for ths Trip? It seems that. Stohr's injury in the Taranaki-Aucklsind match was not altogether of a slight, nature,, and some doubts have been entertained as to whether tho Amber and Black thrcenuarter will be lit to tour Cajfiornia. .Stohr''considers that ho is quite well enough, but he will be required to pass a veri' thorough medical examination when he arrives ■ in'- Wellington. If liis condition is doubtful, his trip really lies in tho giving of Dr. M'Evody. It would certainly weaken tho team to lose Stohr, who is without doubt the leading goal-kick in the country to-day. Why' Not This? Why Not That? Rugby followers no doubt observed the other day that in recording the victory of a West Coast team over Canterbury a West Coast scribe rehashed the grievance that West Coasters could not understand why some particular player from that district had not been chosen to go to California. As this is at least .the third time that some message of the kind has arrived from the Coast, wo'might console, our southern friends that we, too, are consumed in wonderment. How we have wondered all this week why "Paddy" Murphy, the famous goal-punter was omitted- from tho team I Why weren't thero 17 Aucklanders. in the original choice, instead of 6evenP Why didn't Otago nominate 117-players instead of 17 P Why was. "Teddy" Roberts selected as halfback' when Auckland's Cunningham, who has been in the gamo for many years, was available? And why does not the New Zealand Union send fifty players to California so that every big union and every little union can _ bag a trip for every player-worth sending? Chopping About, This year Taranaki have been delightfully -inconsistent. tl They were narrowly beaten by Wellington at Hawera. Wellington wero just beaten by •Auckland in Auckland. Taranaki went to Auckland . and defeated tho shieldholders. In Wellington Taranaki were defeated hy Wellington. They were beaten by Wairarapa, and they only just defeated Manawatu. Then they succumbed to Australia, who were beaten by Auckland and Wanganui. Wellington, too, has in a sense, been inconsistent. Wellington has twice defeated the Taranaki who'beat Auckland, and Auckland has twice beaten Wellington. ' In Contrast to Athletic Park. Says a Stratford writer who attended tho Aiistralia-Taranaki match at the Taranaki capital: "To seo the New Plymouth. Recreation Grounds on any spring day full of sunshine, and destitute of the raucous * tongued football barracker, with only the_ songs of birds making pleasant music, is a memorable sight of great beauty. But even, as on Saturday last, when tho terraces were thronged with an impartial crowd of about 3000 from all parts of the province, iwith. pride in their climate and grounds . . . it was a picturesque scene. On tho lower terrace on tho north side, a whito awning had been erected as a sort of grandstand, and the offect produced was pleasing to tho oye." Old Hands Might Copy. After all there is nothing like enthusiasm. It is an asset which will shift mountains, and it is pleasant to record that there is at least one gallant little team, which is full of it. This team is Oriental third. It has .had an average muster of twelve at "the gymnasium for training during the last three, seasons, and t'ho scoring results are- written so plainly that he who runs may read. _ In 1911 the team iust missed tho championship by a single point. In 1912 it rose to the top of the ladder, and this year it is again on top, scoring 185 points to 12 against. Following are tho details of operations for the present season Points For'. Ag'st. Against Wellington B ......... 5 3 Against Y.M.O.A 22 0 Against Hutt: (Lower) 11 0 Against Old 'Boys -3 3 - Against Petone 9 0 Against lierhamporo 9 0 Against Wellington College ... 12 0 Against Victoria College 20 Against Johnsonville 25 0 Against Melrose 20 3 Against Athletic 25 0 [Against St. Patrick's College 15 0 j Against Upper Hutt 9 3 Totals 185 12 Wellington A defaulted. MERELY BANK'GOSSIP. In tho final between Ponsonby and Marist Bros, for the championship of Auckland City, George Murray, who figured in Wellington Rugby last season, injured his hand and retired early in the gamo. It is twenty-four years since Mr. G. Mason, of Ciiristchurch, who is managing tho "All Blacks" for California, had an extended holiday. An Australian newspaper writes of Dwyer in terms which go next door to announcing that ho is the best fullback in tho world. Dwyer is the fullback with tho Australian touring team. Nothing like a largo order occasionally! G. D. Gray, member of tho New' Zenland Rugby football team for California, was tho recipient of a serviceable portmanteau,' with silver plate and inscription, from his fellow-employees at Wm. Goss's, Limited. Mr. Barnes, in an appropriate speech, congratulated Mr. Grny on his inclusion in tho t-eaui, and testified to tho esteem in which Jiis fellow-workers held him. Donations aro still coming to hand to swell the Downes benefit fund, and it is anticipated'that when matters are settled a sum of £150 will bo availablo to hand over to tho beneficiary- The other day an old Otago ontliiisiast sent his mite from Central Queensland! It is reported that James Wyllie, tho Auckland University member of tho New Zealand toam for' America, will not return to New Zealand upon the completion of the tour, aa it is his intention to enter tjio Stanford University in California,, where ho will' tako a six years' course of engineering. 1