FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1926, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

1 ALL BLACKS V. MAORIS. SYDNEY” ANGLING FOR MATCH. - [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] : (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.l l SYDNEY, March 24. A newspaper sporting writer referring to the proposal from New Zealand -■ that the All Blacks and Maoris play * an exhibition game at Melbourne, ; says: ‘‘Such a match would he the > greatest football fixture of any code ; staged for some years, but it would be . wasted on the public of Victoria where , the Australian rules game is invincible and the Rugby code little understood ■ or appreciated. A match between two New South Wales teams of decent standard would give all the demonstration necessary in Melbourne, when, if as a result of the exhibition, public interest in the game was evidenced. New Zealand teams could be sent over in subsequent years. Thre is no doubt if the All Blacks-Maori match is played in Sydney followers of both Rugby codes would take the opportunity of seeing the game as played by two New Zealand teams of first class standard. Another argument in support of the Sydney match is that New South Wales is seriously considering returning to the two-three-two scrum formation and the wing forward, especially iii view of the report of Mr Harold Baker, the manager of last year's New South Wales team which visited New Zealand, who said the principle of wing-forward play had been considerably changed and in place of the old stumbling block of the past, the wingforward is a roving back, or extra five-eighth, who more often than not is a distinct advantage to the ' backs rather than a hindrance to the forwards. Hitherto critics have been able to base their arguments only on ex- ! hibitions of one side playing a sevenpack and the other an eight pack 1 with a referee probably all at sea. Ar 1

great deal more would he demonstrated and learnt from an exhibition of two teams playing with seven packs and a wing forward in a game such as the All Blacks against the Maoris, when the wing-forwards would he opposed to each other and the use each makes of the opportunities of his position would he amply shown.”