RUGBY IN CALIFORNIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 162, 8 January 1914, Page 3

RUGBY IN CALIFORNIA.

tiAMF. STF.AWIA -lIU'ROYINC. "Notwithstanding that the New Zea-liiiHl-r- had a triumphal tour through California, \ am of opinion that American Kugii.v football has improved since last viiiir.'' This statement was raa;lo by Mr \V. W. Hill, of Swiucy, who visited America at the invitation of the t'alifornian and Stanford Cuiversitics to referee their recent annual match. "Tins particular match ga\e me an opportunity of judging whether any -progroi-s had been made since tlie. visit of the Waratab™ to. California," said Mr. Hiil. "and 1 must say that the standard of hack play has advanced. The forwards I were fairly evenly matched, but they I were not exceptionally strong."

KcfeiTing to tin: Xevr Zealanders, Mr. lill stated that tin 1 , overwhelming de- / 'cats of >omo of 'tile Oaliforniun sides I vas <Ju T> solely to I lie poorness of the J cical forwards. The California!! backs \ xvrc all rifjht, but when i( came to the orwards attempting I ) hold tlioir own igain-t the solidity of tile New Zealand 'jack, the weak .-.pot/' in California!) Rugby were cpiicklv brought to light. Without detracting from the successes ichieved by the New' Zialaudcis. Mr Hill ivas of opinion that the brillian:-v <if the New Zealand backs was dm; to .the fact j that, owing to the mastery of their torivards over the local men, there was I little defence to be beaten. Con-e- j pientlv. the ball w.'.s .thrown about in a bewildering fa.shioi . rid l.nge scores resulted. lie did not tiii'ik that this- New Zealand team wa:j as strong as tlie ' famous "All Black" combination, although the forwards compared very fav- , nraliiy with the vanguard of that team. As a matter of fact. Mr Hill think* that if New South Wales can develop two or three solid forwards, tjie New Zealandevs will meet worthy opponents when they visit that Stile next season. •'ln some places in America, where the 'VTarataU' forwards completely mastered the local men. th > scores put up were just as huge as the total* amassed by the New Zealand Irs," concluded the secretary of the Xcw South Wales Rugby Union. "Our barVs were little, if anything, inferior U, thus.' of tin' N'ew Zealand team, nnd, as already state.!, if we can mieartb a few solid running forwards. \ew Zealand is goimr to meet, trouble."