FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 16 April 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL

. . ?y " Player." ;'" Practice matches were continued on 'Saturday, all clubs 'haying a good muster, and some good Avork was indulged

On No. 1 ground, Kaierau met Wan?•ganui, both teams having a fair perrentajre of juniors in their ranks, so that. thr. • result cavinot be accepted as aii indication of the relative strength •of+ho two t-pams.

On No. 2 Ground. Pirates also hold a practice game, and although lack of condition was evident on all sides, most <or tlio-ijlavers managed to pet.U\ plenty nr solid ulay. Kaierau and Wanganui Thirds also played on No. 1 ground be-fo-f! the sen ions came on.

Ah indicated above, I am 'a player, and as such have my own little a:rievnnce against the local Rugby Union. I have ulayed for clubs in Auckland tfuul Wellington and for sliVunions in the Waikato, but nowhere T havp been bjis the'lack of dressing aocommorlation I>ecn so noticeable as it is here. In the

lai-ge centres a room is <set apart for) each clvb —a room much larger than^ the two in the..local shed..., Now here we have fouv senior teams, three of which run .second .and third grades, which means that when the season'is in full swing as many as 60 or 70 footballers iv one afternoon have to undress in two rooms not big enough "to hold a team each Maybe the local Union has not got the money to provide the necessary accommodation, but if the members ot the Union have tb.3 game at heart, as they profess to do, then they would see that something was done to provide more rooms for the players. Around us we see many counter attractions springing up, and it is no wonder that men soon forsake the Rugby game— when they have to battle under such hard conditions—for some other athletic pursuit. Of course, as I was told last Saturday, there is plenty of room in the shed itself. But no one can be expected to play good football when he is carrying a quantity of tan bark in his boots. Also, one's clothes get covered with bark dust through having to Ibo laid on the ground. However, no ' one is to blame more than j the individual player himself. A couplo of the iclubs have only to instruct its delegates to move in the matter, and something would soon be done to improve matters. Most of the local clubs have engage- ! ments at Easter: Wanganui journeys Ito Napier to engage a team there, and the Pirates are' returning the visit of the Port Ahui'iri Club. - .

Kaierau are having a visit from the Melrose Club, Wellington, and the match will take place on the. local Recreation Ground at 3 p.m. on Easter Saturday. .'•'■.

•Melrose, whose team is published.else-: where, are a very strong lot, and include Geonge and Jack Spencer, who represented . 'New Zealand in Australia last season. It will be remembered that Melrose lowered the colours Of Petone both in 1906 and 1907. The Kaierau team is a good one., and spectators can rely on them putting up a good fight. . . . ■ The following az'e the teams which will represent Melrose and Kaierau on Saturday:— . ' .-.-.■•

Melrose. —Full, G. Spencer ; three quarters, J. Marshall, H. Beavis, and Thompson; nvereighths, W. Church and C. Murphy, half, H. Greigs;. wing forward, B. King; .forwards, J. ■Murphy,A. Trevor, A. Cameron, D. Sullivan, J. Spencer, H. Croombe, and J. De.Blois.

Kaierau.—Full, A. Woon; three-quar-ters, Marriot, White, and Bellamy; five-eighths, Kilpatrick and Joyce; half, Dowe; wing forward,- Souter j Gumbley, .D. O'Doimell, Casey, R. O'Donnell, O'Neil, Chivers, and Keane.