Best Auckland Rugby Backs in Past 30 Years

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 713, 12 July 1929, Page 7

Best Auckland Rugby Backs in Past 30 Years

A Papatoetoe correspondent has written to The Sun asking for an expression of opinion as to the best Rugby Union backs in their respective positions who have played for Auckland in the last 30 years. This query has been referred to a recognised authority, who has been in close touch with Auckland football throughout that period. He gives his opinion as follows: Fullback.—Joe O’Leary. Threequarters.—George Smith, Scobie McKenzie, A. Asher. Five-eighths.—Morry Wood. Dick McGregor. Half. — H. Kiernan. Rover. —George Gillett. All of the backs mentioned, except i Joe O’Leary, ■ were contemporaneous : in Auckland football, roughly from 1900 to 1901. Gillett was at liis best a few years later, and Joe O’Leary came along about 1909-12. W. Harrison. who represented Auckland for eight years, played with the above back team as fullback and tlireequarter. “JAI ALAI" A South American form of tennis. | which is being exhibited in New York, i will, it is expected, cause a stir. The J game, which is called “jai alai.’’ is ! played at a tremendous rate, and ac- j fording to those responsible for intro- j ducing the game in the United States, i it is the fastest and most graceful • sport in the world. Betting is allowed. J and it is the swiftly changing fortunes i of the two sides that is expected to ! keep the spectators of New York, like j those of Havana and San Sebastian. I in a frenzy of excitement. The game f is somewhat similar to tennis, but the racquets used are basket-shaped, and strapped along the arm of the player, as in the Basque sport known os “pelota.”