ON TOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 58, 8 November 1913, Page 5

ON TOUR.

WiTH THE ALL-BLACKS. FROM TAHITI TO 'FRISCO. (Forward bewar "Writes.) 'Frisco, October 13. We departed from Taihiti on September 20th, after spending a very pleasant twenty-four hours. The weather continued to be very hot, consequently very little training was indulged in. Once into cooler regions, the players settled down to training more seriously, and a lot of serum work and passing was done. Nothing of much interest occurred during the remainder of the voyage, with the

exception of a sports meeting that was held. A committee was formed, of which our manager was chairman, and the programme drawn up proved to be very successful. The most exciting events were the obstacle race, won by J. Cuthill, of Otago; the potato race, won by R. Roberts, of Taranaki, and the Marathon race, in which JMitehinson - . of Wellington, defeated a hot favorite in Cuthill by a few i yards. A fancy dress ball was held J the same evening, and this also was I a huge success, some of the costumes piping very clever and original. Again the All-blacks were well represented, and one of them, Captain Alex McDonald, as "Sundowner," won th? I gent's prize for the host dress. The I remainder of the voyage passed off I very quickly.

In Quarters at 'Frisco. Everyone was pleased when ivo arrived at 'Frisco on Thursday, 2nd October. We were enthusiastically welcomed by a large crowd of people, including about 2000 students from the two California!! Universities. These students, with their two brass bands, escorted ns through the streets to tire Olympic Club, where the formal reception took place. Alter bavins dined at the Club, we were driven to the Hotel Manx, which is our headquarters during our stay in 'Frisco; What strikes one on first entering the city is tbe large, fine buildings. One can hardly realise that less than seven years ago the place was a mass ot ruins. Tbe team was out for a practice next day on (Fridnv Ird), and everyone except Tecloy R< berts (who hasn't quite recovered yet) bad a "go." Playing in a Dust Storm.

The following day we met and" deI feared a team from the Olympic Club Iby nineteen to ujl, (The game, was not a good exhibition of- Rugby;, the i Xew Zealand backs especially being a I long way below their usual form. Of course the game was played under I slightly different circumstances to which we have been used to. The fields have no'turf, and at times it was very hard to see the ball for dust. Opponents' Knowledge of Rugby. In the game against the C alifor'nian [University team, there was a marked 'improvement, and the game was right j up to the standard, the score of thirtylone to nil' being a fair indication of ttie merits of the two teams. The University has some very promising l players, who will be champions when .they get a better knowledge of the game. They have the physique, and they also possess line facilities for training. One could hardly say that |their coach is well up in his business, as some of his ideas show that he has little knowledge of the finer points !of the game. One of their most noticeable failings is the unnecessary 'tackling of a men when he hasn't the I ball. The players are compelled to Ipay strict attention to training: they (must neither touch liquor nor tobacco 1 for at least a month before a match; | they must also be in bed by a certain [hour every night. There is certainly , nothing lacking in the training department of the game. When they get more 'familiar with its art, it is safe to piediet they will prove worthy opponents of the best Rugby players in the world. Off the field they are a fine lot of fellows, and entertained us really well j during our short stay with them. "Too Hot for Football." The third game of the tour was j played on Saturday against the Bar-

Kirinn team. Nothing very exciting Happened in this match. The weather was tar too hot for football, consequently the players did not feel inclined to exert themselves. Our boys had the game well in hand from the start, and were not troubled a great deal. Otic tiling that was noticeable was; the inclination of one or two of , the players to go too far on their own. ; Too much of Everything except Sleep. The team left 'Frisco on Monday lafternoon for Stanford, where two matches are to bo played with the Stanford University on Wednesday and 'Saturday. We were again accorded \a very hearty welcome on arrival. The | students rolled out in great numbers, land with their brass band escorted us |to our different quarters. They have drawn up a very line programme For ins during our stay, and it promises to excel anything we have received so far. There is only one tiling they are not going to give us too much of, and that is sleep. T fear that on account of the fine hospitality being extended to 'us we will all be spoilt (before we return to New Zealand. An interesting Critique.

\ow that three matches have been nlaved and the players are almost at .their best form, a few conruienfa on

the various players may be of inter*'

Of the backs, probably the one who has created the greatest impression here so far is Dick Roberts, of Taranaki. Dick certainly played well hi his two games. One paper here went as far as to say that "the finest man playing the game to day was Dick Roberts now with the All-Blacks." Cuthill has played in all three games, and on each occasion he has been placed in different position, viz., full back, wing, and centre-three-quarter, and it must be said he acquitted himself very well on all occasions. Tom Lynch is another who ha's played in all the games. He is easily the best wing three-quarter with the team. He scales nearly fourteen stone, has a lot of pace, and is very hard to stop when under way. McGregor and Loveridge have each played in one game, the latter last Saturday, but he did not gr-tf many ' chances \ he kicked a line goal from a [difficult angle.

Jack Stohr has played full back in his two matches. He did some fine line kicking on both occasions; ne hasn't shown them what he can do with his boot at place-kicking yet, although the first score against Calif ornian University was a fine effort. McKenzie and Gray, the five-eighths,

ire playing very well, the former es-

pecially. Mitehinson played in the first game, but owing to an injury had to retire. He is ouite well again now, and will most likely be playing on Wednesday. Taylor, the half has played in all three games and is improving in every

game. This player will prohahly ho asked to do more than any other owing to Teddy Roberts being unavailable until very late in the tour. Of the forwards it would he hard to single out any one. McDonald, Downing, and Dewar have played in the throe games. The first-named is playing pretty well up to his form oP 190-5.