Reminiscences of Old-Time Rugby “Mick” Hyland and Other Giants of His Day

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 157, 23 September 1927, Page 10

Reminiscences of Old-Time Rugby “Mick” Hyland and Other Giants of His Day

Frank Eyre

It was a. happy chance that threw te writer on Saturday into contact

vith such a one on the wet turf at Sden Park. It was extremely lucky, seeing that; the said “vet.” would most issuredly be a guest of the A.R.U. on iuch a memorable occasion!

With both interprovincial and international honours to his credit, Mick Hyland, a name to be conjured with in the matter of old-time Rugby, was to be found on the sodden ground, filled with old-time eagerness, even though such must, naturally—after the span of some sixty years—be spent on the touchlirie, or perhaps under the shelter of a. friendly pavilion. The name will awaken old memories in the minds of Aucklanders. It will recall a string of others —George Smith (the flying All Black), Bob Oliphant, F. Surman, W. McPike, H. Absolum, C. Caradus, C. Stone, Oily Riley. Abbie Braund, T. Roberts, Davey Gallagher, F. Murray, C. Marshall, C. Brady, J. Breen, T. C Jar kin, W. Elliott, F. Jervis, and a host of others whose combined names spelt Rugby in days that are gone. But to return to “Mick.” PI is early days were spent in Wellington, and his first association with the code was under the banner of the Union Club in the ’eighties, a junior combination, from which he graduated to Athletic. Rep. honours came in 1887, when he was selected to play against Wairarapa and again in 1888 against Stoddart’s great English team. It was at this period that Mick Hyland was considered the greatest forward in New Zealand, and though we know how odious comparisons—especially Rugby comparisons—can be, Hyland was undoubted)' at the top of the Rugby tree in his day. Crossing to Melbourne, Mick again had the honour of playing against the English combination, at a time when the code was only slightly known outside university circles. AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCES Then followed a term in Brisbane, where the code was growing ki popularity, Speakman, of Stoddart’s team, having settled there. At Ipswich Hyland played against the noted New Zealand native team, Joe Warbrick being one of the linesmen. It was in this match that Joe put up his flag and stopped the match, declaring that the natives were not triers. However, the game was resumed. We have seen Queensland at Rugby since in many a more worthy tussle. It will be remembered that after the return of the native team, Bill Warbrick and the redoubtable Sammy Cockroft returned to Queensland. The latter captained the State reps, on their New Zealand tour. In 1891 Hyland was in the thick of it still, representing Manawatu against Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui. Wellington and Taranaki. There were good men available down the island then —Oliphant, the two Whiskers, Jewell, Manning. Hume, Henrys (the well-known handicapper), Jackson, and others of like calibre. OLD COMRADES How many realise that “Jack” Jackson is the .same person who has made fame both as a cricketer and billiardist, and who is still in our midst today ? “Jack” was one of the giants of his day, a trustworthy full-back who kicked equally well with either foot,

and a most difficult man to eith< pass or prevent passing on the Rugg< field.

It did not seem strange that Jackson should be Hyland’s companion at Eden Park last Saturday. They would have much to recall. We find Hyland again in 1893 earning interprovincial fame in Wellington’s contests with Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and South Canterbury. It was a year later that Auckland prepared to take him into her Rugby van, and “Mick” blazed another trail in the interests of the City Club, in the northern province, linking up with the array of bright lights already mentioned. and making “history” with which the older Auckland generation is quite familiar. The first IMarist Brothers pupil to gain rep. honours in the Dominion, it can be said that Mick Hyland has a proud record in the field of New Zealand Rugby. A year ago he took his place in a plumbers’ match in the South, and played through the second spell! In his day the game was strenuous. Nothing can belittle the wonderful record of later teams, but it is wonderful, too, that though there is a wide gap and many a bright spot in between, the glory of the old-time giants still remains undimmed. None will seek to deprive them of their honours, for they were great footballers —and great men. Waratah’s Fixtures The Waratahs. the representatives of New South Wales Rugby, began their “serious” fixtures last Saturday with a match against Devon and Cornwall, played at Devonport. In all there are 28 matches listed, including four international games. The following is the complete list of fixtures : Sept. 17 —Devon and Cornwall, at Devonport. Sept. 22—Newport, at Newport. Sept. 24—Neath and Aberavon, at Aberavon. Sept. 26—Abertillery and Cross Keys, at Abertillery. Oct. I—Swansea, at Swansea. Oct. s—East Midlands, Notts, etc., at N or thamp ton. Oct. B—Yorkshire and Cumberland, at Bradford. Oct. 13—Glasgow, at Glasgow. Oct. 15—South of Scotland, at Melrose. Oct. 19—North of Scotland, at Aberdeen. Oct. 22—London, at Twickenham. Oct. 27—Oxford University, at Oxford. Oct. 29—Leicestershire, at Leicester. Nov. 2—Cambridge University, at Cambridge. Nov s—Combined Services, at Twickenham. Nov. 12— IRELAND, at Dublin. Nov. 16—Ulster, at Belfast. Nov. 19—Northumberland and Durham, at Newcastle. Nov. 26—WALES, at Cardiff. Nov. 29—Llanelly, at Llanelly. Dec. 3—Cardiff, at Cardiff. Dec. B—Pontypool, at Pontypool. Dec. 10—Lancashire and Cheshire, at Birkenhead Park. Dec. 17— SCOTLAND, at Edinburgh. Dec. 24—Warwick and N. Midlands, at Coventry. Dec. 26 —London, at Twickenham. Dec. 31—Gloucester and Somerset, at Bristol. Jan. 7—ENGLAND, at Twickenham.

A WHITE FOOTBALL Shall we have a white ball in Association football? That is not a new question. It has been asked many times in past years, and numerous experiments have been made, but always there has been a return to the brown leather casing, because that has been found best to meet all requirements. The position so far as the laws of the game are concerned is that there is no bar to a white ball being used. The law is complied with if the outer casing be of leather, but the governing body of the game would be acting within its powers if it decided that paint must not be super-imposed on the casing, as that would be a technical breach of the law. The alarm expressed by some manufacturers lest a freak of fashion should leave their present heavy stocks of footballs on their hands is unnecessary. It will be found that the ball to which we have become accustomed will, be used in all competitions in the forthcoming season. But we may have a white ball when white leather suitable for casings is on the market. A SYDNEY APPRECIATION OF THE N.Z. CRICKETERS The New Zealand officials should not take the financial loss to heart (writes “Not Out” in the Sydney “Referee,” in commenting upon the heavy financial loss over the tour of the New Zealand cricket team). Possibly the New Zealand Government may come to their help, as it came to that of the All . Blacks, with a handsome contribution toward the expenses. This pioneer tour had to be made sooner or later, in the interests of New Zealand sport. That it was not made too soon has been demonstrated by the performances of the team. The cost may he severe, financially, but that will soon rjght itself with the men at the helm over there, and the excellent players New Zealand had been proved to possess. It is to be hoped the sun will smile benignly on the New Zealanders when playing in Sydney at the end of October, so that the cricket will be good and the gates big enough to be materially helpful to the Dominion in face of experiences in England. MT. ALBERT GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY OLD BOYS V PRESENT WIN FOR EX-PUPILS -, The . a i r ' riual Rugby match between Mount Albert Grammar Old Bovs and Mount Albert Grammar was played at the Domain yesterday. .u Fr ?, m the start the Old Boys had the Present Boys completely baffled. As a 1 esult of a brilliant piece of combination, Fordyce crossed the line near the posts. Butler converted. Shortly after,) Stuart scored well out Butler goaled. Although the Present Boys’ forwards did their best to check the scoring, Fordyce scored again after a brilliant 40yd dash. Butler failed to convert. I Another forward rush saw Hook score between the posts. Butler converted. The half-time score was: Old Boys, 18; Present Boys, 0. SECOND SPELL A forward rush led by Bush and Soloman saw the Present Boys dangerously near their opponents’ line, and had it not been for Butler’s trusty boot the Present Boys would have crossed the line. Play returned to the other end of the field, and Potter scored well out. Butler converted. Shortly after, Hook scored between the posts. Hook converted. A few minutes before time Skelton succeeded in crosisng the line. Butler failed to convert The game ended: Old Boys, 31; Present Boys, 0.