FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

\VA I! AT AI IS WIN AKA IN. GLOUCESTER DEFEATED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) LONDON, Dec. 31. The Now Ron Mi Wales Rugby I'ootbnllers defeated Gloucester hv 13

points to 4. In the first half Olmieester did most of the attaching, lint before the interval the visitors secured a try. which was converted. In the second half the Waratahs held the upper hand, though they were playing without A. Tailored, who retired owing to an injury to a shoulder. Clloueestel’hs bad handling was responsible, for many missed chances. Nevertheless, they scored a dropped goal practically on time. Ihe AVaratahs showed more iinish than their opponents. A feature of their game was the fine baching up and the co-operation of forwards in rushes.

Interesting comment on South African Rugby is made liy a ( ape I o\\ il resident in a letter to a friend in New Zealand. He is been to see Cooke. “I doubt whether our forwards are as good as those which we sent to New Zealand in 1021,” ho continued. “W. IT. (Boy) Morkel, Kruger and van Roovcn, were outstanding forwards in that team. To-day only Kruger. A restart and Tindall of the 1921 team stand any chance of being selected. ‘Boy’ Aforhel lias practically retired and van ltooyen joined an overseas professional team (one of the Northern Union Longue teams), so did van ITccrdon, who played some wonderful games oil the wing in 1921. Then again we have no full-bach to-day comparable with Gerhard Aforkol. Tindall, who played halfback in 1921. played some very fine games at full-hack for Western Province during the past season, and I should not he at all surprised if he is selected as the last line of defence next year Wo have an outstanding wing three-quarter in ‘Jock’ van Niokork, who owing to having broken his collarbone last season did not play in the representative matches. Starke, who played on the wing for Western Province in 192(5, is a most resourceful player, who. I think, should lie .played centre in the absence of class centres. Wnnsluiry, of the Orange Free State, is regarded as a fine centre, hut I have not seen him. In Daniel and van A\yk. "Western Province possesses two fine forwards, and Dr van Drutin, of the /Transvaal, is also a fine forward. AA’e shall hold our trials at the beginning of next season. We have a selection committee, who have hold a preliminary meeting. Our grandstand at Newlands, which ran from east to west, is now lieing altered to provide extra stand accommodation for the matches against your team. The alterations are to cost £14.000.”