Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 11

Rugby

—-- —The Game and. its* Players l ,

The annual match between the first fifteens of King’s College and the Wanganui Collegiate School, which was to have been played at the King’s College grounds, Middlemore, this afternoon, has been cancelled. A slight outbreak of scarlet fever at Wanganui College has prevented the Wanganui team from making the visit. The special correspondent travelling with the All Blacks, in his advocacy of the claims of Nicholls for a place in the test team, appears unconsciously to have done injustice to Strang. His highest praise for the Timaru boy was bestowed after the first game against Orange Free State: “Strang, who played first five-eighth when McGregor was hurt, | showed excellent football, varying his Strang play nicely.” A higher estimate of Strang’s work in that match was that of the English critic, Mr. F. M. Howard, who wrote as follows in the “Capo Times”: “Strang was magnificent; he played easily the best game of any All Black five-eighth so far seen on the tour. In attack he was full of dash and quick-thinking; he handled faultlessly and he made some splendid openings. In defence he was übiquitous, and his relief-kicking proved as accurate as it was invaluable.” In the cabled report of the second test it was said: “Strang was the weak link in the backs.” Compare this with the remarks of another correspondent: “Strang was the outstanding figure in the back division. Snapping up opportunities, he was always exercising ingenuity.” * * * Nykamp, who is not a test forward, has now played against the All Blacks on four occasions. It is hoped that the South African footballers travelling with the All Blacks do not have to supply their own jerseys. * * * Even although the All Blacks must now be finding the continual travelling rather tiresome, it is some consolation to think that the same disadvantage is also being experienced by prominent South African footballers. * * * “To my mind Lucas is slightly the best of the lour All Black wings tried so far, and certainly the brainiest,” writes F. M. Howard in the “Cape Times.” Referring to the criticism levelled against Lucas for his failure to score after crossing the Griquas’ line by a full two or three yards, Mr. Howard considers that as Griqualand held a four point lead at the time it was Lucas’s duty to try and run round behind the posts if possible in preference to touching down in the corner. Unfortunately he did not see J. J. Kipling’s devastating effort to bundle him into the corner until it was too late. He is of opinion that in this match Lucas played a really fine game. North Island Selection With the annual North v. South game to be played at Christchurch on August 18, the selectors in both islands will now be busily turning over in their minds the numerous candidates for inter-island honours. With the All Blacks on tour there will be quite a lot of fresh blood to pick from, promising young players in both islands who for some time past have been playing good football, with a view to wearing an All Black jersey against New South Wales in September. The Champion Province? To-day the Auckland touring team meets Wairarapa in the first game of the Southern tour. This should prove a hard game, and it will be followed by an even harder one on Saturday, when the Northerners line out against Canterbury. Despite the fact that eight of that province’s best are now

in South Africa, the Cathedral City can still turn out a formidable side, particularly forward, where, judging by reports of the Canterbury-Waira-rapa game, there are seven hard-pack-ing players. Also, on that historic battleground at Lancaster Park the men from the plains have put up some great fights, and time and again have achieved victory against superior forces. The result of these two games will largely determine which is the champion Kugby province of 1928. That over-valued bauble, the Ranfurly Shield, does not enter into the question. Bracketed Champions The drawn game played between Ponsonby and Varsity last week still leaves these two teams at the head of tlio championship table, with 17 points each. As the representative team now on tour has taken a number of players from both teams, it will be impossible to play a deciding game in their absence, and the forthcoming Island tour by Varsity will further complicate the question. To bracket both teams as champions seems to be the only way out of the difficulty, although probably a little unsatisfactory to the teams concerned. Shows Promise King’s College possesses a back of unusual merit. He has been a general handyman in the two defeats this season of Auckland Grammar School. On Saturday, he piled on 14 of King’s 19 points, with a try, three penalties and a conversion. He was the crowning factor in the defeat of Grammar, which mustered 11 points. Grammar was outweighed, but produced surprising dash near the end. Young Blood The Wanganui Rugby Union is having an active time remodelling its representative team. Under the leadership of veteran E. A. Beilis, much young blood is being tested. Wanganui will be seen in Auckland this season, but have lost a star player now that Johnston, a capable Maori halfback, has been disqualified. Oxley, a forward from up the Wanganui River, should catch the Auckland public’s fancy if lie comes. He is only 20, is half-negro and half-Maori, and towers in the vicinity of six feet. There used to bo a player near Christchurch, Pickrang, who had Zulu blood in him and was regarded as a prospective rep. player. But he sank to obscurity.