FOUNDING OF RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 18, 27 September 1928, Page 2

FOUNDING OF RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

Reading the interesting notes recently published by Mr. R. C. Tennant on the genesis of Rugby Football in New Zealand and the further references thereto by Mr E. P. Bunny in the *' Hutt News'' last week has impelled me to respond to your invitation to add to the reminiscences arid I herewith supply a few notes referring to the introduction of . the game to the West Coast of the South Island.

It was somewhere between the years 1885-88 that the good old game first came into anything like prominence on the West Coast goldfields. Up to the years mentioned above, -winter sports were practically an unknown quantity, and I think it was the opening of the coalfields and the influx of workmen induced by the construction of the Westport and Greymoulh harbours which brought about the establishment of Rugby in those districts. Amongst the men engaged on these works were quite a number of Bugby players who lad been prominent in the game in the North Island and the East Coast of the South Island. These included several officials in the coal companies and the banking and Government institutions, amongst whom were some very fine exponents of the code as it was played in those days. The WestpoTt Football Club was, I believe about the

first established on the Coast, * and Greymouth, Hokitika and Reefton came into line about the same period. The formation of the Westport Club .was due to the enthusiasm of Jim and Ted Boswell and the brothers Treseder, who had previously made their mark in the game in Dunedin. Others of note who joined up at that time were Charlie Holdsworth (now Sir Charles general manager of the Union Steamship Company), who was then in the clerical department, stationed at Westport. He was a magnificent stamp of forward and one of the most perfect dribblers it has been my lot to see. Arthur Babin who has since risen to prominence in banking circles, was another fine stamp of forward, well up to the calibre of his club mate.

Soon afterwards the building of the Cape Toulivin railway bridge across the Buller brought the well-known contracting firm of J. McLean and Sons to Westport. These sons were North Island Rugby stalwarts and associated with them were Wells, another North Island player very prominent in those days, and others of similar stamp —indeed, during three successful years I doubt whether there was a forward pack in the whole country who could have held their own against the Westport eight. The club team was "cock of the walk" over a period of several years. The game as played at that time was not of the open sample we see now-a-days. It was the duty of the forwards to keep the ball at their feet and work downfield to within a few yards of their opponents' goal line, and then the backs would be expected to step into action. The consequence was that the forwards rarely attempted to handle the ball, but consistently practised dribbling/ which they cultivated to perfection—to-day it seems to be a lost art. The function of the backs was to consistently work the touchline,'the half-back especially being expected to work the side-line for all he was worth, adopting a short jinky run, nnd a judicious punt, until well within the opposition twenty-five. Then the play became fast and furious. It may be added that at that time the "maul in goal" was in vogue and the writer remembers especially one occasion—in a match played on "Martin's Island" ground—a maul which started with threie players hanging on to the ball. One was shaken off, and the other two struggled for the best part of half-an-hour before one finally obtained possession. I don't recollect whether the attacker was the winner, but I do remember that the two or three hundred spectators present were gathered in a frenzied state of excitement, giving rein to their feelings and sympathies—yours truly being one of the other twenty-eight players in the game, who had to stand by shivering until the issue was fought out. There was a good deal of rivalry between the Westport and Reef ton Rugbyites. The former had been "top dog" for three or four seasons, but the Quartzopolites were determined to lower their colours and issued a challenge for a match on a memorable May 24th (Queen's Birthday), always a great holiday. So great was the rivalry that, neither side would play on the other's ground, so a compromise was reached, the teams agreeing to play in a paddock at the Inangahua Junction, about half-way between the two towns. Meanwhile the rules had undergone some changes. The "maul" had been abolished and the passing game was beginning to attract attention. This latter phase had not yet reached Westport, but Reefton was more fortunate. It had been reinforced by two new playere of note, Tom Clarkin, from Auckland, and MeMahon, a graduate from St. Patrick's College, Wellington. These lads had set to work to coach the Reefton team in the new tactics and when the match eventually came off, the Westportians received a rude awakening. So great was the interest, that the people travelled from all over the district to the number of 600 or 700 to see the match. But, alas for Westport, their opponents upset all their old stereotyped tactics, paralysed them by smart passing movements and waltzed over them to the tune of 23 points to 3. That historical match marked a turning point in the evolution of the old game on the Coast and it has since developed equally with other parts of the Dominion, providing some sterling representative players, not only of local, but of Dominion fame. It's Seddon Shield competition of the present day is contested with as keen rivalry between the Coast, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough Unions as is the Ranfurly Shield over tie Dominion. ~