RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 June 1924, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE OKAIAWA MATCH.

The match between Clifton and Okaiawa last. Saturday was not by any means a brilliant exposition, but it was very fast and keen, one of the latter players saying that- it was as fast a game as he has taken part in-'for a considerable time. Both packs played remarkably well, and the loose rushes ivere excellent, and took a power of stopping on both sides. The backs had not equal opportunities, but they played well and often set up many creditable passing rushes. On such a day as last Saturday it is often more serviceable tactics to keep the ball on the ground, and gain ground in dribbling and kicking. Dick Roberts played a fim- game, and showed that he is almost as fast and tricky as ever, while his brother also played well, and his potted goal was a nice effort. Dave Johnston was, as always, sound, and did a lot both in attack and defence. He was actually the pivot of the backs and also got away often in brilliant solo dashes. Purves is a steadily improving player, and with experience and practice will be one of the team’s most useful men, for he has plenty of dash and a good turn of speed. Clifton pack played a fine game, hut were

somewhat overshadowed in the latter part of the game. Matene, as always, showed himself a very useful player. The forwards unfiT near the end kept Okaiawa very busy, and the team had had luck in not scoring at least on© more try. Of the backs, Brice and Ross were the best.

Has anyone made a note of the number of accidents that have occurred in football matches this season (says the Christchurch Star). Scarcely a week passes by without an accident, more or less serious, being recorded. What is the reason ? There was a time when accidents were as rare as they are now common, or seemed to be as rare, possibly because in those days the game did not receive the publicity it gets to-day. Or has the game become rougher, or has the risk of accident increased as the game. became faster ? Whatever the reason, the fact remains that accidents at football are numerous, and a complete record might show that they outnumber the accidents which occur in all other branches of sport. Adam Lindsay Gordon said that “no sport was worth-, a rap into which no accident or mishap could possibly find its way,” in the robust sports one must look for accidents, but football appears to be getting more than its snare.

Undoubtedly the best Rugby team in the country was Oxford University before Christmas (says a London writer). They recorded 13 wins in succession before beating Cambridge, who made a gallant fight of it, arid on their Scottish tour they maintained their unbeaten record. Oxford, by the' way, have not been defeated in "Scotland since the war. “Schools” and injuries depleted their ranks in the New Year, and they lost. to the London Scottish and Richmond on successive Saturdays in February. Their recent tour in France with a powerful side was an unqualified success, and a most enjoyable trip; in their three matches they scored 107 points against 85. As huge banners were hung across the principal streets of the towns they played in announcing them as the ‘‘best team in Europe,” it was as well that they lived up to their reputation. Says an exchange: Betting in football matches is widely known to exist, but in the best circles the fact is usually mentioned under the breath'; more hinted at than broadly stated. It therefore comes as something of a shock to read, in a newspaper that ‘there was brisk speculation in Wanganui oyer the prospects of the representative match between Wanganui and Taranaki, and incidentally some betting locally as to the result”; and, .worse than that, “knowing that Taranaki would be minus the services of some of their back stars, there were local enthusiasts willing enough to back •Wanganui and give ten points in.” The shock of reading such a thing is, Perhaps, softened by the thought that the local enthusiasts, as it turned out, were not squandering their money, but reading further one is again saddened to see that “there were nlenty of even money bets floating round” ; some of the enthusiasts evidently did not fully realise their opportunity. Betting is not good for football if the game is to be kept healthy as an amateur sport, however, so it is not necessary to be a wowser to hope that the time will never come when the Government finds it advisable to prohibit publication of betting news in connection with Rugby as it has done with horse-racin^ A song for the All Blacks has been written and composed by Mr A. Worsley,.of Christchurch. “It’s a jolly good song,” said ]V% S. F. Wilson at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, in announcing that Mr Worsley had handed over the composition with the request that it should be forwarded to the New Zealand Union. The union decided to forward the song as suggested, and to thank Mr Worsley for liis generous gift. “If the All Blacks adopt the song the New Zealand Union should make money out of it,” observe!! Mr J. K. Moloney.

slashing forward from the Bay or Plenty, and ex-Southerner, Les Cupples, plays under difficulties that would daunt the average plaver. Awav back in the wilds, he has to travel 100 miles when his club plays a match, which is only four times a year. He is a forward of the type of the Spnngbokker Mellish, and the South Africans had a very high opinion of Cupples when thev were "in this country.

The following ruling as set out below was received at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union: (1) A player is grasped by an opponent and is .brought to the ground, but is not sufficiently held to permit him passing the ball. He may pass the ball whether.it has touched the ground or not.

(2) When a player is grasped and brought clown by an opponent and the hall touches the ground, but the player is not sufficiently held to permit him lifting the ball and placing it over the line, a try should be allowed. (3) When a player running for the line is grasped by an opponent and brought down, the ball touching the ground outside the line, but the pi aver and ball slide over the line, a trv should be allowed.

The advisability of returning to the old rule is open to question, and certainly appears a retrograde step. For 19 vears the Blackheatli Rugby Football Club had not defeated Newport. but in. March the W T elsh Club verv nearly had its record broken. With the score at 6 to 5 in favour of Newport. Blaekheath was awarded a free kick in a good position. Kemp, a yoimcr Blaekheath plaver. placed the ball for Blake, his captain. The ball sailed

away beautifully, straight between the posts, the line-umpire signalled a goal, and the crowd cheered, for Blackheath surely had triumphed at last. But no, to the amazement of everybody the referee ordered a scrum. It tinned out that Kemp in placing the ball had been lying well in front of it, and he was ruled off-side. In New Zealand this fantastic ruling would make a referee notorious.

RUGBY ] N SYDNEY.

PREPARING FOR ALL BLACKS.

The New South Wales Union selectors were keen observers of the matches oi the last round (says the Sydney Sun). They are highiv pleased with the form shown by the big forwards, who will have to do some hard rucking when the second All Blacks come. Some of the forward stars who have caught the eye already this season are .it. J. Thorn, Bonner, Hoklsworfcli, .Blackwood, T. S. K. Davis, Elliott, ami Creatorex. As the season advances, others, of course, will become more prominent, but it is very gratifying to know that these “rep.” players are in good form, so soon.

Owen Crossman, the brilliant young winger, placed a phenomenal performance to liis credit when, in the match against Old Bo'ys he scored 24 points. Six tries suggest that not only is he in form, but that also one of the centres, too, must have been playing good football.

E. Louden, who :r, playing in the Manly three-quarter line, is in excellent form and his strong and clever running has brought spectacular tries. To ensure that the best possible side will lie got togeher to meet the New Zealanders, the union has arranged for extensive trials, and tor this purpose, early in June, the. competition will he suspended on one Saturday, and four teams will play. These will he further fined down to a first and second fifteen, and from these the final selection will be made. Some hard tussels will, no doubt take place in these trials, and .excellent experience will be gained hv ‘all the players.

NORTH v. SOUTH.

r Jhe long-looked for clash between the best from our two islands is past and gone (says an exchange), but the 18,000 present- left the grounds rather disappointed with the match. Although a sound, hard match was fought out from start to finish, the huge crowd expected a taste of what it had experienced ten days earlier when the North Island Possibles v. Probables’ match was played. The outstanding features of the match were : (1) The superb game played by the North Island team; there was not one weak spot in it. (2) The weak display made by the whole of the South Island backs. There was not the faintest resemblance of combination noticed during the whole game. (3) The brilliant display of A 1 foiwiard play made by three or four South Island forwards, but three magnificent forwards cannot play the whole of a brilliant team. (4) The sound tackling of the Blacks compared with the ineffective high tackling of the Southerners, especially of their hacks, the best defensive back on the ground being Svenson, and, (5) The splendid place-kicking of Nepia and Richardson.

Without a doubt the game played by the Blacks will be handed down to- posterity as one of the most brilliant of the North v. South series of matches. This is a- bold statement to make when one considers the giants of old, viz., Allen, Pauling, Duncan, Kernan, Wallace, Cooke, P. Harvey, Morry Wood and Co., but the play of the Blacks was really up' to 1995 All Black standard. The final score, 39 to 8, represents in figures the relative values of the- two sides; no spectator can deny that the Blacks were a five times better team than the Whites.

The Whites were just as devoid of dash, enthusiasm and combination as the Blacks wore: full of them, and it woulcj have been still a sorrier day for them if Richardson had been unable to play. But out of fairness to the Whites, one must remember that during the week most of them had played two other fast solid trials.

Out of the 20 inter-island games played, the North Island has won 11, the South Island 7, whilst those played in 190-t and 1923 were inconclusive. Prior to this year’s game, the biggest win the Blacks had was in 1905 when the following first-rate teams played: North —W. J. Wallace, W. E. H. Mackenzie,. G. W. Smith, H. D Thomson, J. Hunter. H. J. Mynott, F Roberts, D. Gall'aber, W. "S. Glenn. J. O'Sullivan, G. Johnson, IV. B. Maekrell. A. Carlson. F. Glasgow, D Whisker. " ’

South.—G. Gillett, E. E. Booth, E. T. Harper, A. Reid, R. G. Deans, W. J. Stead, R. D. Dansey, J, Learmont, <l. Corbett, F. Newtown, A. McDonald W. Johnstone, S. Casey, A. McNie D Horgan. ’

won ky 26 to nil. Thomson (2), Glenn, Hunter, Smith, and Johnson scored tries. Wallace converted four tries.

What a galaxy of .super-footballers l In the first All Black team the North Island supplied 11 of the above plaverTi." South contributed 10. Ihe biggest win the South ever had was in 1913. when the teams were composed thus:—

North.—A. Evenson. J. G. Kinvig. J. Lovendge R. W. Roberts. W. Geddes, J. L. McKenzie, E. Roberts, \V. Dustm. H Dewar, J. A. Bruce, C. Gillespie N McKenzie. M. Cain, R. Baton. A. Wilson.

South -fi. Scott. J. Ci,thill, T. W Lynch, A Smith, G. D. Gray, J. RarH - V. Murray, J. Ridlaml. J MoXeece, R. Atkinson, J. A - M ‘-- D <»«ald, IT. Mclntosh, J . W'llliams. pS,wn' b ' V t 0 Lynch Ok). Cuthdl, Williams, and McNcece scored ,ne>. Cutlnli converted two tries and kicked a goal from a mark. A lick McDonald, one of’ the finest forwards that ever played in New Zealand, was the only member of the 1906 team that played in the .above match During the Great War Gallaher Hunter and Jim MeXeeee gave up their lives whilst W S. Glenn, R. Dansey. A. McNee, W. Decides. Id. Roberts. M Cain, A Wilson. J. Ciithill and J. Harley donned the khaki to fiHit for their King and Country. Twice, during the France v. Fund and !o ,i- a ,, tr y «as scored bv a player hurdhng’ Re full-back, Catchxkß (England) and Rallnrni (France) being the try-getters. This dangerous prat? tico is evidently coming back into tb“ game. w

New Zealanders remember with regret the hurdling tactics of “Opai” Asher and of the late Barney Armit. of Dunedin, who died as the "result of hurdling.

By scoring the last try for Jingland against Scotland, the wing three quarter, H. C. Cateheside, earned the distinction, which must surely be a. record, of scoring not only in each of the three trials, but in the four international matches. In these seven games Cateheside registered 13 tries and dropped a goal. Since the war England lias played 20 games, of which 17 have been won and one drawn. Her only defeats have been at Cardiff ,and Swansea, and her superiority in scoring is represented by 2G4 against 129.

THE 1924 ALL BLACKS.

COMMENTS AND COMPARISONS.

A comparison of the All Blacks of today with the champions of 1905 shows that whereas the hacks are nearly a stone lighter on the average, the forwards are just a. pound heavier on the average. Naturally, therefore, the whole team to-day is considerably lighter all round, a difference in favour of the 1905 team of fit lbs on the average. There was in each pack a mail of 1-5 stone, but ir. the present team no less than four are over 14 stone. It is striking, too, that- the 1924 backs are very much younger than their confreres of two decades ago, while the forwards are a little older, and the whole team averages a little less. The 1905 team included 27 players, the 1924 team has 29. The following are the averages of the two teams:

The 1905 team’s test pack consisted of Casey, Tyler, Cunningham, Seeling, 0 Sullivan, McDonald and Glasgow; their average weight being about 13 stone 4 lbs. The 1924 team’s test pack (including the forwards first chosen) consists of McCleary, Irvine, Harvey M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie, Richardson and Stewart and omitting White as the lightest forward, averages ,13 stone 13} lbs.

The following comments on the 1924 All Blacks Rugby football team and comparisons of same with the “Original All Blacks”,/ of 1905 and the South Africans of 1906 and 1912 are contributed by T. A. Grace, an ex-New Zealand Maori forward, in the Hawke’s Bay Herald:

“Now that the personnel of the All Blacks Rugby football team to tour England during the 1924 season has been made known by the selectors, I take this privilege as a footballer to criticise oi; otherwise the final selection of the 29 players chosen to represent this Dominion in upholding the high prestige gained by their predecessors of 1905.

“First of all, I have fully realised the big task that the seven selectors had before them owing to there being so many players of equal calibre playing throughout the country, and as only 29 players were Required, naturally there were many disappointments all round. _ But still, taking into consideration the circumstances right through, I think the selectors have come out with flying colours, and I therefore must congratulate them for so successfully earying out the great responsiility that was placed upon them. 1

“The team is as fine a body of athletes as ever represented a country, either collectively or individually, although personally I would have liked to have seen a little more weight in the backs. From figures I find that the average weight of the backs is just over 11.0, which is on the light side for an international combination, and does not compare at all favourably with, the hacks of the great 1905 combination, whose average was 11.13. In this I think the selectors could have used a little more judgment, for there surely must have been just as good big hacks about as some of those selected, and the old saying is ‘that the good big man will always heat the good little man,’ and just to give one example of the great scoring abilities of a big, fast man, T. Lynch, the South Canterbury and All Black wing three-quaiter of 1913-14, weighing well over 13.0, scored 35 tries for New Zealand during the two seasons that he wore the silver fern leaf, this being by far the best average of any New Zealand. player, and had the Great War not intervened there would not have been the slightest doubt. hut that he would have established a much higher record. “Fortiinately, however, the present backs will be playing behind a greatset of forwards, which should assist to a very great extent their line of defence, as well as enhance their scoring abilities. But, on the other hand, in the event of our forwards going under, perhaps, to the fierce onslaught of the Irish or English pack, their defence will indeed be sorely tested, and in which case a sprinkling of a few weightier and solid men amongst the backs would have been a decided advantage.

“Reading over the weights recently published of the backs, I can only see two players over the 12.0 limit, to' wit, Steele and Nepia, whereas there were six in the 1905 All Blacks, viz.. Deans, Abbott, Gillett, Roberts, W T allace and Harper. Therefore, as above stated, the present backs do not compare at all favourably with the 1905 combination either for weight or speed. “This lack of weight amongst the hacks lias, therefore, considerably reduced the average weight of the whole team, backs and forwards, which just averages out at 12.5. This, again, does not compare favourably with the 1.905 team, that combination having averaged 12.9 and being' much more evenly balanced, so that, taking everything into consideration, this present ream does not compare favourably as far as physique is concerned with their great predecessors of 1905. In fact, according to figures and records that I have of the 1905 All Blacks and the South Africans of 1906 and 1912 I find that the present team is the lightest coinin' nation of the four, although this may surprise many readers and followers of the game, especially when there are such giants as the Brownlies, Richardson, Cupples and Co. in the present team, and to verify my statements hereunder are the respective weights of the four teams.

New Zealand and South African foothall teams:

I sincerely hope, for the sake of the Dominion, we represent,

that my criticism shall have no foundation, and that the backs who have the honour to light and uphold our prestige on the football field will do all that is required of them, and in so doing we cannot expect any more. “Lastly, we come to the ‘Old Guards,’ the forwards. Collectively and individually I don’t think they have any equal in the world, which is saying a lot, and providing they arrive in _ England in good condition and regain their form jiroduced here there "’ill he no cause for anxiety as far as they are concerned; in fact, the only anxiety one will feel will be for the unfortunate individuals whose lot it will be to oppose them. I would, however, have liked very much to see L. McLean, of Auckland, among them, for, having seen him ,play so often and lowing exactly what he is capable of Yvhen fit as a forward, or as an emorgency back if required, I really feel that the team is incomplete without him. However, as already stated above, there are certain to be many disappointments, and those who were not lucky enough to he selected on this occasion need not be downhearted, i our time is coming, and the most we can do now is to extend our heartiest congratulations to those who are going across the seas to represent us in the game which, we New Zealanders are so f°nd of and, may I add, masters of. Mr Grace adds the following suggested war. cry for the All Blacks: Leader: “Mate atu he ton!” Team: “Ara mai ra he toa!” Leader: * ‘Mate atu he toa !’ ’ Team: “Ara mai ra lie toa'” “Hei! Hei! Ha!” Translation. ‘“As we defeat one champion! Come forth another champion! As we defeat one champion! Come forth another champion! Woe! Woe! Woe to. all!”'

IFWERSON AND THE ALL BLACKS

A great deal of ink has been spilt over the supposed hardship in Ifwerson being left out of the Alf Black team for England on account of his previous connection with the Rugby League. Just why so much time should he taken up and so many brickbats thrown at the New Zealand Union is hard to understand. Judging by the tone of most of the writers it would seem that a dead set had been made against Auckland. There is no doubt that the eld feeling against Wellington is partly responsible for this. If anyone takes the trouble to look back they will see that a great deal of trouble was made in England over Lawton, the Oxford fiveeighth. It- will lie remembered that Queensland went over to the Northern Union game in a body, and that the Rugby Union became dead as mutton m consequence. Lawton had to play League or nothing, and there never was any question as to his bona tides as an amateur, even to receiving an excess of travelling expenses. The English Union took a great deal of evidence on the case, and exonerated Lavvton. The man chiefly responsible forraising the question as to Lawton was popularly supposed to be Adrian Storp, or the Harlequins, and a former Enginternational half-back. The case of Ifwerson does not go on all fours "Rh. Lawton’s. The former played Rugby League with his eyes onen as a good, many others did. They supposed that the new game would entirely supersede the older game, and that no eventualities would arise. In the course of time these fellows found out their mistake, and that the Rugby Union was very much alive and intended remaining so. Ifwerson applied for reinstatement, and the New Zealand Union granted it. There is a penalty tor coquetting with what is termed professionalism under the union rules and the players put themselves comoffside. Though the New Zealand Lnion reinstated those; players it does not follow that thev would" be al- !? VV t d *° PlaY in England. The New Zealand Union has fairly wide powers but when these clash, with overseas elements then the strict letter of rules must be abided by, and there can be no suggestion of allowing any trouble to arise over players formerly League men now playing Rugby Union. The New Zealand Union is quite right in its attitude, and the various writers should see that they are unnecessarily putting obstacles in the way of the New Zealand Union officials. ‘The matter is quite out of their hands, and men must think from points of view other than that of the “parish pump.” the whole subject of All Black selections has been tinged with parochialism, and it seems the height of absurdity to say that this and that pro-"i-tice have not their quota when everything was supposed to hinge on ability, the question of a coach has been settled, and no doubt if one could be sent there are men in New Zealand more capable than Ifwerson of teaching our men fine points and tactics.

the potted goal.

IS IT W r ORTH FOUR POINTS? (New Zealand Times.) The recommendation of the Wellington Rugby Union to the forthcoming conference of Rugby authorities that the “potted” goal be reduced to three points instead of four raises an old and thorny subject, and one upon which wider divergence of opinion may he expected. The system of Rugby scoring may not be like unto the laws of the Modes and Persians, but it has reached the present stage presumably with some method behind it, and there are certain to he those who have played under the old regime and, in the words °f a delegate to the 1923 meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, think that ‘we have tinkered with the rules long enough.”

Just what principles guided those who built up the game in the past it would be difficult to say. Long and keen battles, spread over five decades, have convinced us in New Zealand that the true test of the game is the try. Modification of the rules of late vears have confessed that, and have ‘been aimed at some protection of the try as a superior score. No longer, for instance, may anyone snatch a mark in a handy spot and give the hall to the team to kick for a not at goal. But the question of the' potted goal remained.

The problem simply forced itself upon the public* view a few seasons ago when an absolute epidemic of potting broke out. In senior games alone one Saturday there were four successful pots, two being in the match (one to each side). When two years bark ’Aarsity robbed Marist of‘the championship by a potted goal from George Aitken’s boot, which, coming at a critical stage of the match, look all the sting out of the Marist side. Marist went down to Poneke again, when the ball was potted from a ruck before the posts, the score heinp; a potted goal to a, try, while one wet day last season Svenson made all the difference to the Athletic total and to the championship table by poting a goal after the score board had for long shown Athletic and "Wellington as 3-all. Thou there was Marist’s experience against Berhampore, when Walters put his team well ahead! and the green and whites’ .failure t-o

beat Athletic because in the dying stages of the match Warwick sent the ball over the bar.

All of which goes to prove one thing, that in a close match the pot makes ail the difference. Yet in the cases mentioned all save_one were the outcome of sudden impulse. Warwick’s goal, alone, was the result of a long ..series of attempts to secure four points, and was preceded by at least £&n unsuccessful pots in half an hour. It has been said that the view to-day is that the true test of the game is the try. The view of the old gentlemen who ruled that a try should count only one point and a penalty goal three, as it did over forty years ago, could scarcely have coincided with ours. But time and opinions have changed, and the system of scoring has been altered. The thing to he decided is whether or not the potted goal is worth four points. Undonbtedlv there are pots which are of. the full value of the present score. George Aitken’s goal, before mentioned, was one ; Walters’s was another. Svenson’s and Hall’s, where the ball was scrambled over any old how, were not. Yet for a good kicker like Nepia it is a comparatively easy thing to pot a goal from well out, and *he wonders why the weapon has not been used more often in other provinces which are not blessed by a Wellington wind. And, equally, a goal secured from a. melee before the opponents’ posts may in effect be a more meritorious performance than the most beautiful of dropkicks from beyond the twenty-five. For in such a case lightning quickness is needed, and even more unusual luck. Such a goal generally comes to a man who utilises the second of time in which he is unmarked by a solid defence. The percentage of pots which fail is probably greater than that of any other kick, because the pot is made under less favourable conditions, and is frequently tried by a flurried man. But should it count more than the try ? Before answering that question it would he as well to realise that this ma.tter opens up the whole problem of kicking. Should a goal from a mark be the equivalent of a try? Should a penalty goal be set down at three points'? If so, should a mark equal a penalty goal? Further, should two converted' tries heat three unconverted tries? We have seen many good teams beaten by inferior sides solely by* kicking. They have gone down sometimes bv twentV-pqint margins because of their utter lack of a reasonable luck. The combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team which was beaten by the Welling, ton B last season was such a team. The Poneke downfall to Berhampore provided another instance of the same thing. . „ . , In this matter there is rood tor thought. Just what should be the future relation of kicking to trygetting? The time does not seem far away when the try will be paramount. Meanwhile the Wellington Union is breaking the conservative ice. It is to be hoped that the suggestion will be adopted.

OBITER DICTA.

(Christchurch Press'). Those whose only sports are. golf and mah-jong, and whose dreams ai’e oi going round or building up allIvom- hands of "honours, will not be the who will easily refrain from tears when the All Blacks have gone away Their relief will be as nothing to. the relief of that numerous body of world’s workers who cannot get their usual hearing—the. politicians, the psychological professor, the anti-gambler, the arithmetical McCombs, and the other gentleman who moves or seconds the motion at the meetings of so many public bodies. We at any rate I long for their familiar voices. With, them I feel at home, but in this clamour of backs and forwards, this cataract of football analysis and argument, 1 feel like the poet, A stranger, and afraid In a world 1 never made.

But think, mv friends say, oi the advertisement the team, will give New Zealand. Ido think of it. Years ago an English newspaper printed a review of a book of verse by New Zealand writers, a review of three or four lines, •as follows: “This is a volume of verse by New Zealand writers. It is only fair to admit, however, that New Zealand can produce good footballers.” (I am not being superior. I believe I was amongst the condemned.) "We do not, that is to say, need any advertisement on the football field. Britain already believes that, our lamb and butter apart, our football is our only good product, and the public excitement over the All Blacks will confirm Britain in its opinion. . . But, surely, says another, it is line sport, and so s 7 hy be ill-natured-about it? ft is not the'game that one minds, nor the men who play it, nor even the spectators who watch it. All are doubtless very admirable. WTmt- offends the possibly ‘obsolete taste of some of us is the growth of football to the dimensions of the oil interests in America, and also, if the Canterbury Rugby Union Executive are the flower of football statesmanship, the spirit of its controllers. One should not complain of the C.R.U. Executive, however, for its latest essay in'sportsmanship has resulted in what nobody would have thought possible : harmony between Dr. Thacker and the Press. What has been most disturbing to at least one observer of the elaborate football >iri'ang|tmen,ts of the past fortnight has been the contrast between the'rinanner of picking a fotball team and the manner of picking a Parliament. If half the care, nay, one-tenth the care —were taken in the selection of our M.P.’s—hut you can develop this thought for yourself. In the meantime it would appear that if our football were to go there would he little left to console the patriotic New Zealander.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL NOTES.

Although the United Services (Bevonport) did not field their strongest fifteen against the American Olympic Games side in the Americans first match, they included several quite useful performers, and in consequence the easy victory of the visitors caused no little surorise. Possessing a firstclass three-quarter line, the Americans impressed the onlookers by their sure handling and speedy running. In the scrums, however, they were not so outstanding, but the loose forward work was quite up to the standard of English club football. They proved this two days later when they met a formidable Blackheath team, and only lost by IB points (two converted goals and a' penalty) to 9 points (three tries). Despite the fact that they were not getting the ball from the scrum so often as Blackheath, they crossed the club’s line twice in the first quarter of an hour, and led by two tries to a penalty goal at the" interval. Their tackling was a revelation and an object lesson to many of our men. In the end it was only the wonderful goal-kicking of the New Zealander, T. Lawton, which enahed Blackheath to win. It was Lawton who kicked the penalty goal, and placed the other two goals from tries. Mr M. F. Walters, president of the Rugby Fotball Union, expects that the improvements to the Twickenham

arena will enable another 20,000 to see the match in comfort. That is all very well, but will they be abe to get to the grouhcl in comfort, or, for that matter, to get inside the enclosure at all? A? with the Stadium at Wembley, it is the approach that matters. and Twickenham needs entirely new avenues of entry.

THE 1905 TOUR,

RESULTS OF MATCHES. In the 1905 tour 33 matches were played and only one was lost, that being the famous match against Wales, played at Cardiff. The following table shows the teams against which matches were played and the points scored:

AUSTRALIAN MATCHES

The team played three matches in Australia prior to going to England, two of which were won and the third was drawn. The matches were:

Backs. Age. Ht. Wt, . 1905 team ... 26 ft. in. 5 9 st. lb. 11 13 V 1924 team .. 224 5 8 11 0' 1905 team . Forwards. 5 11 13 5 1924 team .. 25 V 5 1H 13 6 1905 team Whole Team. So 5 10 12 10 1924 21 5 10 12- 3 V THE TEST PACKS.

1905-06 All Black? Backs, st. lb. Frwds. st. lb. ... 11 13 13 5 1908-07 Springbok? ... 12 24 13 5 1912-13 Springboks ... 11 13" 14 0 1924-25 All Blacks ... 11 3 13 7 Avge. weight 1905 All Blacks 12 9 Argo, weight 1906 Springboks 12 m Avge. weight 1912 Springboks 12 131 Argo, weight 1924 All Blacks 12 5

Points Points fov. agst. Sept. 16 —Devon 55 4 Sept. 21 —Cornwall 41 o Sept. 23—Bristol 41 0 Sept. 28 —Northampton 32 O' Sept. 30 —Leicester 28 0 Oct. 4 —Middlesex 34 0 Oct. 7—Durham 16 3 Oct. 11 —West Hartlepool 63 0 ■Oct. 14 —Northumberland 31 0 Oct. 19 —Gloucester 44 0 Oct. 21 —Somerset 23 0 Oct. 25 —Devonport Albion 21 3 Oct. 28 —Midlands 21 5 Nov. 1—Surrev 11 0 Nov. 4—Blackheath 32 0 Nov. 7—Oxford 47 0 Nov. 9—Cambridge 14 0 Nov. 11 —Richmond 17 0 Nov. 15 —Bedford 41 0 Nov. 18—Scotland 12 7 Nov. 22—West Scotland 22 0 Nov. 25 —Ireland 15 0 Nov. 28 —Munster 33 0 Dec. 2—England 15 0 Dec. 6 —Chittenham 18 0 Dec. 9 —Cheshire 34 0 Dec. 13 —Yorkshire 40 0 Dec. 16 —Wales 0 3 Dec. 18— : -Glamorgan 9 0 Dee. 23—Newport 6 3 Dec. 26—Cardiff ...: 10 8 Dec. 30 —Swansea 4 3 Jan. 1 —France 38 8 Total 868 47

Points Points for. a»st. New South Wales ... 19 0 Metropolitan 22 3 New South Wales .. 8 8 Total 49 11