FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL

MATCHERS FOR SATURDAY SENIORS: Kiwi v. Magpies at Hokitika, 2.45 p.m. (Mr D. Williamson). JUNIORS: Kiwi v. Ross at Ross, 2.45 p.m. (Air Cutbush). Kokatahi v. Excelsiors at Hokitika, 2.4-5 p.m. (Mr E. Best). Arp.hura v. Rimu at Arahura at 2.45 p.m. (Mr D. Heenan). THIRD GRADjs : Itimu v. School at Hokitika at 1.15 p.m. WEST COAST RUGBY UNION. A the weekly meeting held at Grevmouth last evening an application from Star juniors to play a. match against .. estport at Westport on 27th. July, was granted. Vincent Negri applied for re-admis-sion to the Union. The Secretary stated that Negri’s name had already been forwarded to the New Zealand v nion for reverting to the League code,, and the; meeting decided that the matter would have to stand over until a reply was received from the oil ion. Senior fixtures: Blaketown v. United at Park A. ground at 3 p.m. (Mr T. Mclnfosh); Brunner v. Stars at park B.‘ ground at 3 p.m. (Air D. MeIvor); Kiwi v, Magpie at Hokitika at 3 p.m. (Air Williamson); Excelsior a bye. N.S.W. READY. FOR ALL BLACK VISIT. SYDNEY, June 6. Now bring out your All Blacks! One could almost hear the New South Wales Lugby enthusiasts saying this when the State team overwhelmed the first Queensland fifteen to visit Sydney for ten years. New South Wales had an easy will, but it was great football all the same, and the team was revealed as one of the fastest and most resourceful ever chosen. It is doubtful whether New South AVales has ever been strong er than it is to-day—a young team kc.en to show tjio football crowds of Sydney that the Union code is a better game than the League code.

In the circumstances the All Blacks will have to he of the highest calibre if they are to retain their reputation as world-beaters at the game which they love so much. No second rate team will do for the Australian tour. The matches that are to be played at Brisbane and Melbourne will be easy enough, hut in Sydney they will have to go all out to'score a'- victorv. - This development of the Union game—the game that was most severely hit by. tb< W ar—lnis been' gradual, Hut it lias been sure, and now that the young players have, found their feet, as it were, the’ make a formidable combination, as the Waratnhs showed in their last tour o England. It is said that the tw .chosen to play against New Zealand will he almost a Waratah team, but better.

Speaking to the writer the other day one of the officials of the New South Wales Union said: “We will just about clean up the All Blacks this year. We have got the team to do it, (last clean players who are always making for the line. Yes, we will heat New Zealand at its own game this year. We have not studied for nothing the tactics of tlie All Blacjcs, and we are not ashamed to say that we owe the New Zealanders n great deal. In Towers we have the \ cry man who is going to worry the New Zealanders to a frazzle. He is'the greatest find we have got, and lie is going to he the greatest thorn i> tlie side of the All Blacks. He plays with his eye on the line all the time, always looking for a chance to break through—never giving his opponents any rest. - And he will go down to anything, too.” Cyril Towers is universally hailed as the greatest footballer in Union circles in Australia—in fact, ft mail who has had"'few equals, and hardly a superior, ! as a centre three-quarter in the history of. the Union game in Australia. It has been said that one must go back titfs the- past glories of such men as Hally Messenger, Darby Hicks, or Bede Siiiith to find (footballers of his preeminent standard. In the match against Queensland eleven tries were; scored by New South Wales, and it is; true that Towers scored only one of. these, but his swift, thrusting rushes; made many of the other tries possible, j He can side step and cut in Tike a j master, and he is always ably hacked j by Eric Ford, whom New Zealandersi know. Towers and Ford are a danger-; ous pair. All through the match the; classical play of the famous WarataTis was in evidence, hut Towers seemed to overshadow all the other players by his i sheer brilliance. And so it is that; -New South Wales is looking to Towers to show the way to the defeat of the 1 All Blacks. . New Zealand can depend on having to meet a team with A. W. Ross as the full-back once again. Ross has shown great improvement since lie last played against the New Zealanders, and in the Queensland match lie was second only to Towers, when it comes to selecting the best player on the field. New Zealand will again meet 0. C. Crossman. a miniature, compared with tiie average All Black, hut a valu--1 able addition to the three-quarter line. The hacks were severely tested at the opening of the Queensland match, for Queenslanders surprised New South Wales with their pace. But this only served to show the resource of the local men for they quickly readjusted their play’ to meet the conditions, and from then on the result was never in doubt.