1908-1930: A Remarkable Coincidence

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 19 July 1930, Page 17

1908-1930: A Remarkable Coincidence

A remarkable coincidence attaches to the British team’s matches against Auckland and also the third Test struggle here. Twenty-two years have elapsed since the last combination from the Old Country visited these shores and the .curious fact is that there is only one day difference in the dates of the clash with Auckland and the third Test compared with these same two games played here by the 1908 Anglo-Welsh team. Twenty-two years ago yesterday, July 18, Auckland achieved the distinction of downing the Anglo-Welsh tourists by 11 points to nil. A week later on July 25 the All Blacks decisively defeated the Home tourists by 29 points to nil in the third test played here. Today, July 19, Auckland meets Britain, and a week later, July 26, the All Blacks clash with the visitors in

the third test. Will history of 22 years ago repeat itself? History has already done so in the defeat of the present British team by Canterbury and Wellington. whose provincial teams strangely enough lowered the Anglo-Welsh combination in 1908. Certainly Taranaki, wh-» also gained this distinction 22 vears ago, went down to Britain on the present tour. GREAT PLAYERS The All Blacks, who inflicted defeat on the Anglo-Welsh combination in the third test in Auckland 22 years ago included some of the greatest forwards that Auckland has produced, notably Charlie Seeling, whose skill as a great dribbler and all-round forward, still makes his name one of the most treasured in New Zealand’s Rugby annals Geo. A. Gil let t, who was wingforward. F T. Glasgow, W. Cunningham, A. H. Francis and 11. Hayward Those were the palmy days of Auckland’s greatness as a province of splendid forwards.

This is thq first occasion on which four tests have been arranged against a team from the Old Country. The 1888 British team which toured Australia and New Zealand did not play any tests, although it met the South Island on two occasions, and won on both matches by 5 points to 3 and six points to nil. The tourists played four games against Auckland, winning the first G to 3, and the \hird 3 points *o nil. Auckland won the second match by 4 points to nil and the fourth clash was drawn 1 point all. In those days the scoring in .New Zealand was one point for a try, two tor a goal from a try and three points for a field goal. The 1904 British team, on its visit to Australia and New Zealand, met Auckland once and was defeated by 13 points to nil. Only one test was played— at Wellington—the All Blacks winning by 9 points to 3. In 1908 the Anglo-Welsh combina tion clashed with New Zealand in three tests, at Dunedin, Wellington and

Auckland New Zealand substantially defeated the visitors by 32 points to 5 in the first battle, the second struggle was drawn and the All Blacks were victorious in the third by 29 points to nil. *