Rughy

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 13

Rughy

-k—- The Game and its 1 Players s . s

Good Kicking Prior to the Ranfurly Shield match between 'Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay, Mr. E. tV. McKenzie, the Wairarapa selector, gave F. Fuller, a "Wairarapa player, a try-out at goal-kicking. He had 32 place kicks from an imaginary semi-circle reaching from the twentylive yards’ line on one side to halfway at the centre, thence to the twenty-five on the other side. In 29 of these kicks the ball went over the bar, two hit the uprights, and one fell short. Xo wonder Fuller kept the shield for Wairarapa against Auckland. An Early Challenge South Canterbury, no doubt on the strength of its victory over Southland by 17 ,to 3 4, was first in with a challenge against Southland for the Ran - furly Shield. Playing at Timaru on August 21, South Canterbury was reported to have had the better of the game, and would have a good chance of repeating the performance if a match is arranged, as requested, on September 11, when the Southland team will be passing through Timaru on its way back from Hawke’s Bay. W ith R. Stewart and A. Strang as its mainstays. South Canterbury lias a young side which is showing good promise. But whether the shield goes to Southland or South Canterbury, it is fairly obvious that Canterbury will bo the next holders of the shield. Brownlie on Side Maurice Brownlie’s rather belated appearance for Hawke’s Bay this season appears rather significant. It was thought that the exAll Black captain bad given the game up, but it is now fairly evident that he still desires to remain in the picture until the English tour concludes next season. This he lias managed to do by playing a splendid game for his province against Manawiienua on Saturday. He will now be able to retire again to bis broad acres secure in the knowledge that his appearance early next season will pot be heralded throughout the country as a come-back. This undoubtedly was a very fine move. Three Rep. Teams Three Auckland teams will be in action on Saturday, when representative matches will be played against j Taranaki, Xorth Auckland, and Huntly. i Xo doubt the selection of the team to play Taranaki has been determined ; largely by who were available, for it appears that the strongest team, particularly in regard to forwards, is that which will turn out against Xorth Auckland, at Auckland. The Xorth Auckland side possesses a powerful

with liis hands, that it was affecting him. On one occasion when lie missed the ball by yards lie was undoubtedly running 1 blind. “Billy” Fuller, when lie coached Canterbury, used to insist on the fullback wearing a cap late in the season, and L. J. Dyer, that very fine fullback who captained the Australian team in Xew Zealand in 1913, frequently used to wear, not a cap, but a light, white hat. A dark cap of some light material, suitably made, would prove a useful part of any fullback’s equipment. “Best Fullback Ever” ‘I would like to corroborate W. W. Wakefield's opinion that George Nepia is the best fullback who ever played, at least for the last 35 years, and to add that during the sarpe period we have seen no better forward than Maurice Brownlie,” says a writer in London “Sporting Life.’ The Best Eight Commenting on the above statement, C. W. Packford, the well-known Rugby writer, says:—‘Both the Brownlies— Maurice and Cyril—of the last invincible All Blacks’ team, were undoubtedly two great forwards, and either of them would be worth a place in a world’s pack, but within 35 years we have seen in action Sam Woods, who last played for England in 1895; Charles Seeling, of the original All Blacks, who in my opinion is the best forward of all time; John Daniell, ‘Wakers’ himself; Douglas Morkel, J. M. Bannerman, Mark Morrison, the Ryans—in fact, it is difficult to leave one of at least twenty scrummagers out of calculation as being worthy of recognition among the best eight of the last 35 years. One of these days, in an odd moment, I will attempt to select what I believe to be the best fifteen of ail time from the Dominions, and

one from players contemporary with them from the four Home unions—and then sit back and wait for an avalanche of criticism.” ‘•'Canterbury’s action in demanding an outside referee to control its game at Auckland has caused quite a flutter in the Queen City, but it may serve to bring home to the Northern Union the fact that it is about time it camg into line with the rest of the Dominion in the matter of Rugby rules,” states the Hastings “Tribune.”

WELLINGTON’S REPS. TO PLAY CANTERBURY SATURDAY’S MATCH Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The Wellington team to meet Canterbury on Saturday is as follows: j ITeazlewood, Peterson, Ramson, Elvy, i Nicholls, Mackenzie, Julian, Porter.. J Jessup, Coulston, Cave, McPherson, j Taylor, Diedericli, Wilson, j Emergencies.—Leys, Chaney, RushI brook, Shearer, . Claridge, Graham. ! Johnson was not available. 1 AUCKLAND TEAM’S TOUR CHANGES IN THE SIDE ! As a result of some players being unable to secure leave, some alterations were necessary in the Auckland team which left lor Te Ivuiti this morning to play King Country today, and Taranaki at New Plymouth on Saturi cay. The touring team is now as foli Fullback. —Goodacre. Threequarters.—Stoupe, Bell, Falwasser. j Five-eighths.—Weir, Jamieson, j Halfback. — Corner, j Rover. —Fletcher. Forwards. —Palmer, Hey wood, Ander--1 son, A. Knight, McGuire, Peacock, i Sathe.rley, Kahu, Schnauer. | Bush will leave by train tonight to join the party at Te Kuiti, while Cammick will go through to New Plymouth by service car on Friday morning. WHANGAREI TEAM CHOSEN The selector, Mr. A. B. Charters, announces the following players to make the trip to Auckland to play the Auckland representatives at Eden Park on Saturday:—Kerr, Waterman, Nicholls, Barrach, Webster, Britland, Ryan, B. Morresey, McDonald, M. Alorresey, Sheriff, Rika (2), Finlayson, O’Shea, Morrison, Dixon, Fletcher, McQueen and one other to be chosen. The team will leave for Auckland by boat on Friday evening. It is understood that many supporters of the team also are making the trip. Mr. W. Conaghan has been apopinted man- j ager. PONSONBY BOWLING CLUB The final of the Ponsonby Bowling j Club’s pairs tournament between | Hardley and Parsons (Ponsonby) and I Newton and E. Thomas (Mount Albert) was played on Monday afternoon I and provided an interesting contest. On the -Ist head Parsons was lying game, and Thomas equalised with his last bowl, this necessitating a play-off. Ten heads were played, and on the tenth head Thomas was lying game, Parsons requiring three to win, with one. bowl to go. He played up to the head and secured the requisite number for a win. A full-rink tournament is to be held on Wednesday. September 11, commencing at 8.45 a.m. There are still 1 a* few vacancies and the secretary w ill j be pleased to receive entries. AUCKLAND REFEREE’S APPOINTMENT Mr. F. E. Sutherland has been ap- | pointed to referee the match between i Canterbury and ‘Wellington at Wellj ington on Saturday next.