A Sportsman’s Log

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 13

A Sportsman’s Log

Glimpses of the Past

The older generation can gaze back through the dim vistas of., the past. The seventies, the eighties and the nineties, recur with events that made the 19th century ring.

It is a delusion of the youthful that an elderly man can derive only slender pleasure—and that vicarious—from his interest in sport. Active in their immaturity, the young crave for fresh sensations, the keen urye of confict, and the thrill of victory. Even the dejection of defeat is not without its new interest. But older sportsmen, too, have their pleasures. Over the great events of perhaps half a century they can cast their mellowed judgment, and they can review monumental personalities whose future prototypes may perhaps never rival them in greatEARLY RUGBY MATCHES Rugby football in New Zealand is now well past its jubilee year. The first game played under recognised rules was staged at Nelson, and a match between Nelson and Wellington was probably the first representative match staged in the countr-. At Auckland the first game was a form of Soccer, introduced by men from a visiting man-o’-war, but th Rugby game soon found favour.

A pioneer of the Rugby game was Sir Douglas McLean, of Maraekakaho, Hawke’s Bay. His father was Sir Donald McLean, land buyer for the Government, who successfully negotiated many historic transactions. He sent his son Home to school in England, and when the boy returned he took a prominent place in New Zealand sport. One of his feats was to ride a high-wheeled, old-fashioned bicycle from Wellington to Napier, a remarkable achievement.

In the late ’seventies the representative matches between various districts became a feature of sporting life in the colony. Rules were then not crystallised for universal use, and some of the matches were 20 a-side, others only 11 cr 12.

The first overseas team was Seddon’s, captained by A. E T' jddart after its original leader had met a tragic death while scuding on the Hunter River, N.S.W.

Famous Rugby Tours Recalled rE log-books of sportsmen take many forms. They may be ridiculously-maintained diaries, or just casual scraps of paper—photographs and programmes. There may be an autograph or two, some cherished souvenir, or a treasured jersey that speaks of spirited combat; perhaps there is nothing tangible at all, save the storehouse of the memory. Just the same, the treasures are as precious. All are part of the entries in any sportsman’s log.

At the same time the Maori team, the pioneer New Zealanders, were touring abroad. Their quaint experiences included the match at Belfast, where the opposing full-back broke his leg in attempting to kick a ball which had lodged in heavy mud. At Huddersfield, beating the ciub considered to be the best team in Yorkshire, the Maoris were pelted with mud by chagrined Huddersfield supporters.

The first British team, Seddon’s, played 19 matches in New Zealand, drew four and lost only two. Its great captain, A. E. Stoddart. international cricketer as well as footballer, is considered by many old-timers to be the finest player ever seen on a New Zealand Rugby ground. Ever impeccably turned out, he made a fine figure, always taking the eye.

In 1904 another British team ca. ; to New Zealand, led by the brilliant Scottish forward, D. R. Bedell-Siv-right. In the meantime another team, the Rev. M. Mullineuxs, had visited Australia, playing 21 matches, and losing three. Those earliel British teams had five records. Mr. Mullineux later won the warm affection of thousands of soldiers as a padre in the Great War. In California at the time of its outbreak, he worked his way to New Zealand, and from here got to Gallipoli, where he shared the hardships and perils to which the men were exposed. FAMOUS FOOTBALLERS Bidell-Sivright’s team played five matches in New Zealand, won two, lost two and drew one. Among its members was die famous forward, Blair I. Swannell, who had visited Australia earlier with Mullineaux’s team. Still another team came to New Zealand, led by A. F. Harding, in 1908. It included only Englishmen and Welshmen, and for that reason the Irish and Scottish Unions declined to entertain the original Wallabies when they paid t return visit to the Old Country. Harding’s team included Dr. P. F. McEvedy, who had visited New Zealand with Bedell-Siviught. It was a fine combination, winning nine matches

out of 17, but it struck New Zealand at a glorious period of this country’s Rugby history, and failed to win any test matches. Two were won outright by New Zealand, and the third was drawn. The historic third test of 1908 was played at Auckland, after the powerful Auckland team, led by G. Gillett, had defeated the tourists by 11 to 0. New Zealand followed this up by winning the third test, 29 to 0. J. W. Stead was captain of the All Black team, and A. Campbell was the referee. Members of each British J °am apparently retained a strong approval of colonial life, for many of them returned to settle in Australia or New Zealand. Swannell settled at Newcastle, New South Wales, Dr. McEvedy at Wellington, and A. F. Harding at Taihape. All continued to take interest in Rugby. Another representative of international football overseas is Dr. F. N. Harvey, of Napier, whose three brothers, one a V.C , were Irish internationals, while he himself was an Irish trial man. Dr. McEvedy is an official of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The sacrifices made by New Zealand Rugby men in the war were equalled by those of British ‘'ootballers, and the toll of internationals was heavy. Bidell-Sivright and Swar.nell fell in France in 1915, and Stoddart a few months later. Gallaher, killed in acaction, also perished, and thus passed the leaders of three great international sides. J.G.IVJ.