Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 451, 5 September 1928, Page 11

Rugby

First Test in New Zealand With the playing of the last test at South Africa last Saturday the first test between New Zealand and New South Wales at Wellington to-day has been in danger of being overlooked by many people. Nevertheless there should be a large attendance of Rugby enthusiasts at the capital this afternoon when a fast open game should result. So far the visitors have had things very much their own way and possessing a fast set of backs should fully extend the New Zealand fifteen. * * * Will Strengthen Wellington T. Corkill, the well-known All Black and Hawke’s Bay half-back and five-eighth, has been transferred from Wairoa to Welliftgton, x and played for Wellington against Petone in the senior A game recently. He should make a good link between Kilby and Johnson next season.

All Black Comment There appears to be considerable discrepancy on the part of the cableman and well-known critics regarding Archie Strang. The cableman, commenting upon the second test, said Strang was the weak.link in the backs. In a copy of the Cape Times which has recently come to hand, F. M. Howard, the English critic, states that “besides having the honour of scoring the winning points, Strang became easily the most dangerous attacking back on the visitors’ side —the only one in fact, with Dailey, to cause the Springboks real anxiety.” The later opinion has also been confirmed in a cable message sent by another correspondent.

Bad Numbering The Whangarei Rugby Union could well take a lesson from the Auckland Ruigby Union regarding the numbering of players. No fault can be found with the marking on the jerseys of the Auckland men, but the Whangarei numbers were so small that unless the players were close to the stand it was practically impossible to read them. * * * A Hunterville Waratah Residents of the Rangitikei district have reason for taking particular interest in the tour of the New South Wales Rugby team for in its ranks is an old Hunterville boy in the person back. Westfield’s father was in business as a bookseller in the RAngitikei township many years ago and is now of Westfield, the -side’s brilliant fuillin Australia. * * * Rugby News From Wellington The Sun’s Wellington Rugby correspondent writes: Brilliant raking rushes with which the Taranaki forwards simply overwhelmed Wellington for three parts of the game were the most conspicuous feature of the W ellingt on-Taranaki match here last Saturday. In spite of this, Wellington won on its merits, the team showing better staying power, while the backs, with McKenzie head and shoulders above his fellows, came to light in grand style toward the finish.

A. and R. Guy, two sons of one of the New Zealand selectors, and Jack Walter, the son of the Reform member for Stratford, stood out among the Amber and Black pack, which was of traditional Taranaki ruggedness until, exhausted by a tiring struggle against the wind, it started to crumble toward the close of the second spell. It was

Che Game and. its 1 Players

at this stage that Wellington, led in mercurial fashion by Porter, snatched the game from the fire. Porter did not always play as well as he did in the closing stages. At the start, indeed, he was outplayed by the sturdy A. Guy, who has the makings of a champion forward, despite his lack of inches, and whose diving tackles were a feature of the game. There was more than a suspicion that Porter overdid the sharp practice side of his activities, and his repeated efforts to steal a march on the referee seemed hardly the thing when attempted by the man who is to- captain New Zealand next Wednesday. Should he play the same sort of pranks in the test match Porter will be most unpopular, not only with the Cornstalks, but also with Referee F. E. Sutherland, and there may be a danger of a recurrence of the pleasantries exchanged between him and the New South Welshmen on Athletic Park in 1923. Brown, at centre for Taranaki on Saturday, is still useful, but he and Johnston hopelessly overdid the short punt, and starved a couple of pacy wings. Chaney, whom Wellington somewhat optimistically regards as a white hope, or something of the kind, failed to find his rather laborious dummies in the same demand as against Auckland, with the result that he gave a colourless displal. Wellington has a grand centre in Ramson, who has pace and physique, though perhaps he lacks judgment.

Weakened Team As is usual with touring teams, Wanganui has had to leave several of its star playeys behind on its present northern tour. Tilley and Vangioni, the two best backs, have not come North, and it is significant that the Waikato match on Saturday was lost 11 —8, chiefly because the Wanganui backs did not prove effective. It is probable that Tilley will be brought North specially to take the field against Auckland next Saturday. Against Waikato, Darby was the most useful back and second five-eighth. It was the second time he had played in that position. Solid Forwards Apparently Wanganui, which plays here on Saturd«sy, is relying mainly on its solid forwards for success. McLean, Leahy and McCrea are an excellent trio, while the rangy Oxley is an important scoring forward. McLean, who has just been elevated from provincial third grade play, has taken the place of New Zealand’s veteran forward, E. A. Beilis, as rover. Wiri Pine, who was regarded as a certainty for the Maori team which went to England, is a first-rate hooker.

Hamilton Competition City senior team has the lead in the Rugby competitions for the Clarke' Cup at Hamilton. There are still a couple of games to be played before the winners of the trophy will be known. The following table shows the position of the teams to date:

P. W. L. Points. Tl. for. agst. pts. City 3 37 15 6 Marist . . . 2 1 38 20 4 Old Boys . . 3 1 33 14 4 Technical . 4 1 26 52 2 Frankton . 3 3 15 2S —