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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review, October 1908

University Rugby

University Rugby

Sydney v. New Zealand.

The difficulties in connection with what has been called the Australasian Oxford v. Cambridge have at last been surmounted. The work done by Mr. Hyam Marks some five or six years ago, of which the immediate result was the interchange of visits between Sydney and Dunedin, has been completed, and for the first time the New Zealand University as a whole has been represented in the sport's field. For the first time the Sydney University man has been able to claim his Rugby Football "blue," and the same event marks the introduction of the "blue" as a New Zealand University institution.

The arrangements for the selection of the team, were carried out as foreshadowed in last number of The Spike. Otago University and Canterbury College met in Christchurch, on 24th June, and a team selected to play a North Island team in Wellington on June 26th. Mr. F. T. Evans of Christchurch was unable to come to assist in the selection and the work fell on Dr. Irwin Hunter of Otago and Professor T. A. Hunter of Wellington. The following is a list of the winners of the "blue":—

W. A. Gray and L. G. Robinson (Auckland University College), J. D. Brosnan, F. B. Goodbehere, A. D. Lynch, F. A. de la Mare and H. F. O'Leary (Victoria College), G. S. Collyns, page 24 W. H. Grace, L. Potter, M. H. Rhodes, A. J. Wigley, E. J. Wilson, H. P. Young (Canterbury College), R. Dansey, D. E. Fenwick, J. H. Lang, E. L. Lomas, R. H. Nuku, M. Ongley and L. M. Tansey (Otago University.)

Hitchings (Victoria College) was picked but was unable to obtain the necessary leave of absence. Robinson, who had been bar-bound in Onehunga, arrived in Wellington about an hour after the departure of the Sydney boat, and, as an extra three-quarter was wanted, he returned to Auckland and caught the Tuesday boat from that port.

The party was completed by Dr. Hunter and Dr. Tizard of Otago.

The Trip Across.

Within three hours of the selection the "Maitai" cast off from the Wellington wharf. Of the trip little need be said save that it was not good. It was not until towards the close of the third day that there was any general desire for fresh air, and there was very general rejoicing when the shore-line of Australia broke through the haze on the horizon. It was in the afternoon of Tuesday the 30th June, that we sailed through the Heads and sighted the great city in which we were to spend ten short days. We were met at the wharf by representatives of the Sydney University, amongst whom were Mr. Hyam Marks, president, and Mr. Frank Coen, secretary, of the University Football Club, to both of whom the inauguration and success of the venture owe so much. It is greatly to be regretted that Mr. G. V. Bogle, who acted as secretary in New Zealand, was not there to see the consummation of his work. The team was driven to the Hotel Mansion and was soon comfortably settled. There was a football ground close by at Rushcutter's Bay and before night fell the advent of the black jersey told that the business of the tour had begun. The trip was undertaken primarily for football, a fact which most of the team seldom forgot, and which the manager, Dr. Hunter, did not forget at all. As long as there was a University match in view there was a practice every day, and that which energy, skill, experience, and concentrated eloquence could do for a team inside a week, that did Dr. Hunter for the New Zealand University side of 1908. Lest enthusiasm for Sydney and for the people of Sydney should hide the fundamental purpose of the trip it is proposed to deal with football before entertainment, with footballers before any reference is made to dances.

page 25

The Teams Compared.

Most or those who are interested in the game have heard all that is to be said concerning the respective merits of the teams. Scores speak louder than words. But, if this is to be a record of the trip it is perhaps necessary to recapitulate. There is, of course, only one explanation of our defeat. The scores, 39 points to 9, and 26 points to 11 declare unequivocally that Sydney University had the better side. But friends at home cannot judge from the figures why the 18,000 people who saw the first match and the 8000 who witnessed the second, were delighted with the games and with, the play on both sides. The Sydney papers, which treated our team with great fairness, not to say generosity, were unanimous in saying that the margin of defeat was less than the scores indicate. "For practically two-thirds of the time" says the "Referee" of the first match "the football was tit-for-tat, full of bounce and buzz and interesting bits, with New Zealand backs, as a division, superior in attack, and Sydney forwards superior all round. In the end the Kiwi was shattered by the rushes but he had already shown some dainty movements." The same comment applies also to the second match. The loss of Nuku as an active factor during the first spell of the opening match deprived the New Zealand side of its best opening-maker. But this could not have affected the result. As long as our forwards had their full measure of dash our backs were enabled to take advantage of the loose rushes from which the ball could be snapped. But as soon as our forwards began to flag, the magnificent opposing vanguard swooped down with a combination and skill which was not to be denied. Then it was that we called for a Roland or an Oliver, a Bogle or a Hitchings, to go down to the onslaught. Our back defence was not so strong as our attack and this told its tale in the last minutes when our scrum was being hoisted where Sydney listed.

The Sydney forwards were in fact an exceeding good lot. James and John Hughes, and Bullock have since been picked to represent the State in England. They are big strong, hefty men, keen on the leather and able to handle the ball like backs. The other forwards, too, are fast and good. Both R. G. Waddy (who goes to Oxford as Rhodes' Scholar) and J Fitzhardinge, hold their running "blue," and McKeown, Reynolds, and Hammond completed the octette which dealt us two strenuous defeats.

Of the Sydney backs W. F. Matthews, captain and scrumhalf was the star performer. He played to his team all the page 26 time, passed well, made frequent openings, and kicked magnificently. It was delightful to see the way he nursed his forwards with the touch-line, and his in-field kicks were so high that they would have been difficult to field without the rush which had time to accumulate underneath. Luddy and Roe were both prominent in the three-quarter line, while Nigel Barker the famous sprinter, gave several exhibitions of his speed. C. A. Verge at full-back played excellent games in both matches.

It is a difficult matter to criticise backs who had never played together in the same respective positions, and this was the case of every man in each University match. O'Leary filled a difficult position with credit on the first day, but he showed some hesitation in taking the ball in the second match. H. B. Young of Canterbury College proved a reliable three-quarter and, in the last match, an effective wing forward. Rhodes of Canterbury should develop into a strong player. At fullback in the last match he played an excellent game. A. Adams of Otago fame played at centre in the second match and the team had the advantage of his sound judgment. Goodbehere scored two pretty tries in the first match. His defence was not strong, perhaps due to the fact that he was slightly injured. Goodbehere has played better games for Victoria College. Dansey, the captain, was on the whole disappointing. He did brilliant work at times, but was not consistently good, especially when watching the blind side. Lomas and Nuku the Otago five-eighths were a source of great strength to their side, and had Nuku not been injured the scores would probably have been closer. Nuku made the cleverest openings we saw in Sydney. Lomas handles the ball beautifully and passes with great judgment. W. A. Gray of Auckland is a clever little half, but his compatriot Robinson did not seem to get into his stride, due, no doubt, to his much travelling.

The New Zealand forwards, though out-classed in the scrum, could have done much better in the second match had they been in consistent training. Tansey, Lynch and Collyns, three of our best forwards were unable to last out die second spell, and the opposition took full advantage of the fact. J. H. Lang a scrummer of Otago was perhaps the most solid of our forwards and he showed great facility for getting into position for defence when he was not leading the van. He was well backed up by W. Grace who is young and should improve. Potter is also a promising player. Fenwick and Wilson played well in the front rank, but they never had weight enough behind to give them a chance of securing the ball. Ongley (five- page 27 eighths), and Brosnan and Wigley (forwards), did well in the games they played, and will all benefit from the experience gained on the tour.

After these remarks it is not proposed to give a detailed account or each match, though something must be said of each.

New Zealand University v. Sydney University.

First Match: Won by Sydney 30—9.

The teams were:—

New Zealand

  • Full Back:
  • H. F. O'Leary;
  • Three-quarters:
  • H. B. Young, F. W. B. Goodbehere, M.Rhodes;
  • Five-eighths:
  • R. Nuku, E. K. Lomas;
  • Half:
  • R. Dansey (Captain);
  • Forwards:
  • L. M. Tansey (wing), A. D. Lynch, E. j. Wilson, W. Grace,
  • G. S. Collyns, J. H. Lang, F. A. de la Mare, L. Potter.

Sydney

  • Full Back:
  • C. A. Verge;
  • Three-quarters:
  • C. W. Roe, J J. Luddy, J. James, N. Barker;
  • Halves:
  • E. Fisher, W. F. Matthews;
  • Forwards:
  • H. Bullock, Jas. Hughes, R. G. Waddy, K. J. Reynolds,
  • John Hughes, J. Fitzhardinge, C. A. Hammond, F. McKeown.

Matthews won the toss and took advantage of a fresh breeze. The first try fell to Goodbehere after some good passing by Young, Rhodes and Nuku. The next score fell to Matthews who got through on the blind side, and shortly afterwards the same player by means of a high punt which eluded O'Leary and bounced wide, gave Waddy a chance of which lie availed himself. The third Sydney try was obtained by Luddy. At the end of the first spell Sydney was leading by 9 points to three. The second spell opened with a good passing rush from which Nuku scored. The Sydney forwards page 28 returned to the charge and Hammond scored between the posts. Verge converting. Fitzhardinge and the Hughes brothers were instrumental in obtaining the next try, and almost immediately afterwards Matthews placed Hammond in a scoring position and another try resulted. An expiring effort on the part of New Zealand transferred play to the other end and Goodbehere scored his second try. During the last few minutes Sydney had it all their own way and Matthews and James Hughes added tries the last one of which Verge converted.

Mr. Pauling was referee.

Second Match: Won by Sydney. 26—11.

The Sydney team was unchanged. The following represented New Zealand:—

  • Full Back;
  • H. F. O'Leary;
  • Three-quarters:
  • L. G. Robinson, A. Adams, R. Dansey (Captain);
  • Five-eighths:
  • H. B. Young, E. K. Lomas;
  • Half:
  • W. A. Gray;
  • Forwards:
  • D. E, Fenwick, E. J. Wilson, W. Grace, G. S. Collyns,
  • J. H. Lang, F. A. de la Mare, L. Potter and L. Tansey (wing.)

The opening stages of the game found the home team mostly on the defensive, Sydney, however, scored first, Barker obtaining the ball and giving an exhibition of his pace. The try was converted by Verge. New Zealand then came with a rush and a very pretty passing movement in which most of the backs took part resulted in Robinson scoring a try which Adams converted. A few minutes later Young marked in front of the posts and Dansey kicked a goal. Shortly afterwards a very fine series of short passes ended in Grace crossing the line. He lost the ball, however, and de la Mare who was close up, was awarded the try. Towards the end of the spell Sydney set up a strong attack, and Barker receiving a good pass from Luddy, hit home. The spell ended—New Zealand 11; Sydney 8. The second half began with fairly even play but soon Matthews made a pretty opening from which Luddy scored a good try. Now Sydney began to attack in force, and Barker after a good run, put the Hughes brothers in a strong position from which James Hughes scored, and page 29 Verge converted. In the last few minutes Fisher scored a try which he converted and Bullock added the final one, Verge adding the additional points. The game ended—Sydney 26 points; New Zealand 11.

Mr. W. J. Howe was referee.

New Zealand University v. Sydney Metropolis

Lost 14—6

The third match of the tour against a fairly strong team picked from Sydney clubs, was played at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground. The game was a very pleasant one, and played in excellent spirit. New Zealand showed a general disposition to be tired.

The following were the teams:—

Combined Metropolis

  • Full Back:
  • B. St. John;
  • Three-quarters:
  • E. Hucker, H. Baker, F. Luscombe (captain), D. Carroll;
  • Halves:
  • Ward Prentice, H. Goddard;
  • Forwards:
  • J. Clarken, O. McCarthy, A. Buckley, T. Eagar, A. Burge,
  • W. Baker, O. Shirley, F. O'Grady.

New Zealand

  • Full Back:
  • M. Rhodes;
  • Three-quarters;
  • L. G. Robinson, F. B. Goodbehere, R. Dansey (Captain);
  • Five-eighths:
  • E. K. Lomas, M. Ongley;
  • Half:
  • W. A. Gray;
  • Forwards:
  • H. B. Young (wing), D. E. Fenwick, A. J. Wrigley, J. D. Brosnan,
  • E. J. Wilson, W. Grace, F. A. de la Mare, L. Potter.

The first spell was characterised by a good deal of give and take play, and a good many chances were missed on both sides. The only score was a try by Burge which left New Zealand with three points to the bad. In the second spell Nuku replaced Gray who had to retire injured. For a while page 30 play became more exciting and W. Baker scored for Sydney from a forward rush. New Zealand then put in some attack and Wigley was awarded a mark from which Dansey kicked a good goal. New Zealand now began to look dangerous, and Grace and Brosnan did some good work from which the latter scored. Sydney 8 points; New Zealand 6. The New Zealand rally was not sustained and Sydney returned to the charge. They were repulsed, however, and Nuku obtained a mark in a good position. Dansey's kick failed. A few minutes later Dansey made a dash for victory in the open, but, a pass being missed, the Sydney three-quarter Hucker, picked up and found no opposition. Another forward rush ended a minute later, in a final try, and no-side was called with the score—Sydney 14; New Zealand 6.

Mr. Martin was referee.