FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TO-MORROW’S GAMES. SENIORS: 11 Kiwi v. Magpies at Hokitika, 2-,<15 y p.m. (Air D. AYilliamson). f JUNIORS: ' Kiwi v. Ross at Ross, 2.45 p.m. (Air 1 Cuflnish). > Kokatahi v. Excelsiors at Hokitika, - 2.45 p.m. (Air E, Rest). Arahura v. Rimu at . Arahura at 3 2.45 p.m. (Air D. Keenan)'/, 3 THIRD GRADE: ' | Rimu v. School at'Hokitika at 1.15 p.m. ' < _ • T ——- The senior game- for Cas's Square is tlml of Kiwi v. ‘Magpies. The former though not having had-’a good run of late should be able to more than 1 hold their own with the visitors, and • an interesting game should result. i Excelsiors have a b.ve this week. Tho junior game on Cass Square is between Excelsiors and Kokatahi. This should prove a very even game. Tho following will represent Ross against Kiwis at Ross to-morrow - J. Jlonlahan, R. Parker, M. Parker, A. Mason. T. Houlalian, J. Ablcsoo, J. Johnston, D. Head, G. Tnglis, E. Osmers, ,P. -Russetl, J>. Jones, K. Martin, C. AVright, N. Inglis. .Reserves: J. Mason, A. Parker, J. Muir, J. Inglis. E. Allen. Arahura teajiv. to play Rimu ol Arahura:—K. Hamiltop, .Kelly JO, Aluir (2), Smyth, Martin, AVakelin, E. Routhan, T. Tainui, D. Jellie, G. Tainui, E. Olsen, E. Lewis, 1. T- ! mii, AV. Dick, W., Routhan, AI. Tainui. Kiwis seniors to play Alagpies at Hokitika at. 3 o’clock.:—Moynihn I 1-lagar, Pfahlert, -Fleming (3), AVe - j ster, Schist, Mills,. J., Stopforth, Carter, AlcOleary, AVilson, Kelly, Alarj shall. Excelsior juniors to. play. Kokatahi on Cass Square at 3 ■:o’clock:—Preston, Evans, Ferguson, Chaplin, Gillooly, Thompson, Cowie, Davidson, Hayward, Rutland, V 1 O’Brien, < Dale, Schroder, Rowe, Hughes. Em erg.: Palmer, Sumner, Gardyne. ‘ The following • will a represent ■juniors in their /matelm with Ross at Boss to-morrow:—Webb, Cooper. Kelly, Gro u s ky. Driv.id ton,;- Dow ling, ! AA 7 bite, Dawson, Blank, •••.Breeze* Diedrichs, Fleming, Stopforth,■ Macfailane, Stewart. AYriglit, Chisholm. Chrs will leave Newmans at i 1.15. p:-m.na; THE ALL BLACKS. "The- All Blacks leavF'AA'ellington today lor their Australian Tour.

A Wellington writer commenting on the team-says:— >• • ; -

The team'which wilU-lea-. e for Australia on Friday has been picked on its merits. AVho Us''there 'Whom wt coulit have included to strotigrr,eii the side ? Few of the All Blacks wfio made ilie tour to South’* Africa i'll 1928 are play.ng at present-hi convincing style, lake tlie Wellington contingent, for iii-innce. Neither Riishbrook, ‘ Alark Nieholls, nor Lance Johnson have shown form good chough-' this season to entitle them to places in the national side. ' ‘ '

New Zealand’s weakness in South Africa last year was lack of pace, and in this respect it must he acknowledged that ueddes, Stringfellow, Hook and Oliver are all' faster ihan the hacks who carried the silver fern last year. With Nopia, Dailey, Lilhurnc, i.arleton ami Grenside to reinforce this quartet, how can it be said that tho 1929 All Blacks are a weak side? As a Sydney Hugby Unionoiliciul triithlully remarked ihe oilier' (lay, '‘‘‘No‘ New Zealand team can he regarded as weak.”

With regard to the forwards, 1 they certainly appear dwarfed in comparison with the giants who comprised the 1924 and 1928 All Blacks, but after all, they are, according to the selector,s of the'provinces, the best available to make the Australian tour. It was said that the reason the New Zealand pack could not get' a' sight' of J the ball in South Africa was because they did not honestly .push in the scrums. I do not nold with this view for a moment. The forwards who represented New Zealand in South Africa last year were as fine a pack as the Dominion has ever fielded. The reason that they could not hold the South Africans in tne scrums was because of New Zealand’s mistaken idea that seven men aro better that eight. The South African forwards - were lib. heavier, and one inch taller per man than the New Zealanders, and when tugs-of-war t:r>k place between the Springboks a f iul the All Blacks seven there was only one way for,the contest to end. If Cliff Porter, tlie captain, can only evolve some effective method of scrum formation, it may be found that Sonntag, Steere, McWilliams, Kivefl, Rika, Reside, Pahneiy'Cotterell, Snow, Souter, and Reid can push with - the best of them.

Although they will be up against the sliffest-opposition a New Zealand team has ever had to face in Sydney, it will not he surprising to find the 1929 All Blacks come out or the ordeal with honours. More than this, many of the members of the team, who are beine given their first chanc-e on the national side, may do so well on this tour that they may be retained for the Test matches next season against the Britishers.