FOOTBALL RIVALRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 874, 4 August 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL RIVALRY.

ENGLAND v. NEW ZEALAND.

AN IMPRESSION OF THE NORTHERN UNION CODE.

[By E. G. Sutherland.]

Auckland, Saturday,

After the enormous gates which the British Northern Union tourists continued to draw in Australia compared with those registered by the so-called amateurs, it is not surprising to learn that about 17,000 people wended their way to the Auckland Domain this afternoon to view the British — New Zealand match, in contrast to the 1,000 staunch supporters to the principles of amateurism who jaunted to Epsom to gain a glimpse of the Maoris combating the question of superiority with an Auckland fifteen. Those who have not witnessed a good side in action at the Northern game may naturally form the opinion that, after the manner in which the English visitors routed the Maoris, Auckland, and Rotorua in such decisive fashion, the New Zealand (?) match would naturally be a very tame affair, fully, devoid of interest, to say nothing of the penny tram fare from the heart of the city, or the one shilling admission money. Not so at all, and I voice the sentiments of all keen football enthusiasts when I maintain —even though the visitors succeeded by a 32 points margin—that not a single sport of the vast assemblage at the Domain lost interest in the struggle until the hell finally sounded “ time.” The playing rules of the code are so advanced on our national Rugby as to keep the game lull of thrilling incidents and exciting episodes throughout, which features must naturally gain the hearty enthusiasm and admiration of the onlooker. The New Zealand Rugby Union must regard it as a blessing for their game that the present English touring team cannot find time to give exhibitions in .the southern centres, for if they could have done so Rugby, a? it is known in the Dominion, would surely suffer the immediate sounding of its death knell, just the same as it has done in Australia and Auckland. The football loving community must necessarily hanker for the most tasty article that can be dished up, and to use a slang phrase, even the most ardent supporters of amateur Rugby are forced to admit that their game is not “in it” with Northern Union football as it is played. Seeing is believing, and hence it is that after witnessing the English games, also the Roto-rua-Auckland rep. fixture, and club competition matches generally in the Queen city the past few weeks, the present writer, along with the thousands of others who love effect, is forced to admit himself a convert to the Northern Union code, and is fully convinced that the opportunities for the nippy, dashing toeballer to provide a dazzling spectacular extravaganza must perforce be much more greater when only thirteen a side are pitted against each other than when fifteen are found in opposition. Not only the sound reason quoted, but the general improvement in the rules of the game all tend to provide the spectators with a more appetising and exhilarating exhibition. The argument is open to question, yet it seems certain that, though only in its infancy as yet, the Northern Union game has come to stay in New Zealand as it has elsewhere, and if the amateur game hopes to outlive its rival, the N.Z. Rugby Union will have to drop their conservative ideas and alter the rules to suit the taste of the public, to whom they owe their present prestige, power, and large cash balance. A contrast of the gate money registered in the two games in Auckland to-day should, in itself, be sufficient warning to the affluent Wellington body.

It is a mistaken idea to believe that the N.Z. Eeague (Northern Union) are driving at out-and-out professionalism, and such an impression should be speedily cast out from thought. Certainly the authorities make no secret of the fact that they believe in making recompense to all players for loss of time, or injury by accident, but their main object seems to be to provide as attractive a display of football as possible to public and player alike, and it must be admitted they are succeeding in their object. With that end in view they are negotiating to secure Jenkins’ services, of the present .English team, to act as coach to the different New Zealand clubs under their bannea next season.

THE GAME. To come to the big match, a very small percentage of the thousands who wended their way to the Domain could have seriously entertained even the remotest idea of victory for the colonials, hence the final result of 52 to 20 came as no surprise to the vast multitude, who accepted defeat with good grace, and whole - heartedly cheered the expertness of the Anglo-Saxon descendants as they handled the leather towards the conclusion of the contest in a fashion characteristic of the All Black calibre. To contend that the Englishmen showed us anything novel or sensational in field-of-play manoeuvres would be erroneous in the extreme, and their quartette of New Zealand victories can be put down to the fact that they were right at the top of their form in this country, besides having worked almost perfect combination into their ranks (both back and forward), aided by an advanced knowledge of the finer points of their particular code, as compared to the ill-conditioned,

| half-trained Dominion teams they ! chanced to meet. The Englishmen, truly, were a beefy side, fast and weighty, all in the pink of condition, and all “ frothing ” (like Oliver Twist) for more at whistle call; while the New Zealand sides pitted against them were more fit for the ambulance waggon when the games concluded than going on with a fast, strenuous struggle of football. It was certainly fascinating to watch the English human machinery in motion when they elected to pile on the points —every man in his place, and each of them grafting as if motioned by some mechanical power. Lomas, the Jenkins’ and Leytham may be sorted out as the “ stars,” all these possessing an immense turn of speed, while the former’s exhibition of goal kicking throughout the tour may at times be regarded as a revelation, and certainly deserving to be classed with the best efforts of Dufty, Messenger and Wallace. In the Auckland match especially, Lomas landed a “ daisy ” from the touch-line, with a greasy leather, and from his left foot, too ! In to-day’s match, New Zealand, aided by the sun shining bard and bright in the Foglanders’ eyes, managed to hold the honours at half-time with a score of 15 to 10, but their hard efforts in doing so spilt their energy, and once ends were changed the visitors’ superior condition asserted itself, and with an appetising exhibition of passing combination the lads from King George’s Isle simply paralysed the locals, and scored at will until they ran up their score to 52 points in all, while New Zealand managed to add another five to their total.

“ Opae ” Asher was well watched, Chorley made a fair fullback, while Buckland (until his retirement in the second spell with an injured hand) was amongst the best of the colonial backs. Hughes, Griffin, Jackson, Seagar, and Hannigan all grafted in the forwards as long as their condition would allow.

To compare our best Rugby teams with the present English combination, I feel confident, that with the same knowledge of the rules of the game, any of the All Black teams would defeat the Britishers, albeit they are a formidable set of leather hunters,, all particularly strong runners that take some stopping, gentlemanly in manner, clean living, and decidedly popular.