RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 14 August 1937, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SPRINGBOK “FLIER.”

TURNER'S GREAT RECORD

(By .“Front Row.”) The speediest of tile Springbok threequarters, F. G- Turner, has the following remarkably fine athletic record :

Represented Eastern Provinces at swimming, 1930-31 32. Represented Eastern Provinces at cricket., 1931-32. Represented Eastern Provinces at athletics, 1933. Represented Eastern Provinces at Rugby, 1932-33-34. Represented Transvaal at Rugby, 1935-36-37. Represented South Alrica. at Rugby, 1933 to 1937.

In 1933, against the Australians, Turner played in three Tests at centre and wing. He was injured just before the fourth Test, and did not play again that season. This year lie played in both Springbok Test matches against Australia at Sydney. Remarkable versatility is revealed m Turner’s impressive athletic records. At the age of 15 lie won the 100 yards swimming championship of South Africa. His ability in tlie water is overshadowed only oil the football Held. Between tlie years 1920 and 1927 1 urner won the .100. 220 and 400yds. sv miming championships of Eastern Provinces. Before he had turned 20 Turner had three times been capped for South Africa—that is to say, he had played in three Test matches. At one stage of his Rugby career lie had eleven provincial caps, and three internationals. That was before be came to New Zealand. Now lie has five international caps, having played in both Tests against Australia this year. Mit-li much of his football before him, 1 urner already has an athletic record which has seldom been surpassed, lie I gave up swimming, cricket and athletics when he left Eastern Province ami went to live in the Transvaal in IJ3o. Record Of Pearce.

Aged 24, Thomas Henry I’earce, emergency in the first New Zealand lest side, is playing as hard a game of Rugby as any other inrward in the Dominion. But enthusiasts must not run away with the idea that this constitutes "rough play —there is a vital difference, says an exchange. learco is a grafter all the way. He learnt his Rugby at Mount Albert primary and grammar schools, after which he nllived one season for ’Varsity B in 1930 as a hooker in tlie2223 —2 scrum. On joining the Manukau first division fifteen in 1931 lie went on the side oi the three-fronted scrum which became the vogue after the British team s visit. He was an Auckland representative in 1934, when Mr V. R. Meredith was selector, but after Mr Meredith's retirement Pearce had a checquered career and did not get capped until the final game of 1936, at Napier, and then only as a last resource. Although Pearce played against \\aikato at Hamilton on Coronation Day, he was left out of the Auckland side for the return game at Eden Link on the King’s Birthday. But he lias soared high since June 9-trom senior B to the North Island team, and now has reached the goal of all footballeis ambition and become a New Zealand representative, even if only an emergenev, against tlie Springboks. | Dick Won Through. Chosen as an All Black centre-three-quarter, J. Dick learned his loothal at the Auckland Grammar School. He had two seasons in Ponsoby lower grade sides before gravitating fo Grafton His new club he assisted to win the tlmd grade intermediate championship lti 1931 and he was in iho junior ranks next’ year when they were rcniKis-up. Next year he qualified for senior ranks. Three games at centre, and then an injury put him on the bank tor i.ie 1J33 season, but he came back s,; oi gly in 1934, still at centre, to limp GraGon to its first victory in the senior cur.nipionsliip since 1921. Then in 1935 lc plated on the wing (outside :d. P-Uis),- and by 1936 he was North Eland represen-1 tative in that position \\l l**i South ay as j defeated 17-6 at Lancaster Park. Later lie was chosen for Auc-dand v,!;en Caughoy was loft out oi the Auckland side to play Australia. However, Dick could not play owing co another injury, and Caughey, New Zealand s most discussed player (for onre in what many consider his true position, on the wing), scored a Lrilliant_liy, which gave Auckland victory, B—s. Meantime Dick has played a dozen gam-s m the blue and white jersey, and d:M i gursh cd himself in the All Black trials. Dick is 24 years of age. Like British Team. Mr T. H. Bosward, the vo'i-hnown New South Wales Rugby administrator, who has managed teams on tans oi New Zealand, is of the opinion that the 1937 Springboks are very much like the 1904 British team, wniflli came out bore under Bedell Sievright. lhe J v lo-r b..cks, lie says, were perhaps be tier than tlie Springboks this year, but the Springbok forwards have shown a finer ki.tovlec.ge of forward play.

Fruits Of Tour. Tlie financial positions of He Rugby Unions of .Australia luNe Ken greatly improved as a result of il c Spa 9, ° , tour. New Eoutli Wnl- s benefited by between £ISOO and £I6OO (.bwi.sland by between £6OO and £7OO, Vmt-ua bv between £l5O and J-2CO, boevoomba by dose on £l5O, Western Australia by up to £IOO ; South Australia by up to £SO. Western Districts (New South Wales) by about £3O and Nev castle by approximately £25. The total of all these is over £2625. Queensland s pi out was a record since the ici ivul ot the game there. All Black's Brother.

Playing in tlie Nelson Ri gby competition ° this season is a younger brother of A. E. Cooke the famous All Black. In a representative mate I i acrainst Marlborough recently he dropkfeked a field goal, which was yeiniiiiscent of A. E. Cooke’s play at its best.