RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MATCH AGAINST AUCKLAND FORWARDS’ PLAY COMMENDED The play of the Canterbury forwards in the representative match with Auckland on Saturday was commended by the manager of the team, Mr R. R. Masters, who is also president of the union, when he reported to the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. The match W’as drawn, 11 points all.

Old followers of the game in Auckland, who were always delighted with a good forward game, were pleased that the weather had turned to rain for the match. “They had not seen such a liyely forward game for years.” Mr Masters said. Mr Masters said that the Canterbury pack had played a fine game, and for 35 minutes in the second spell had dominated the match. The backs had also played well, and under the conditions the handling had been good. Canterbury had done a little more line-kicking than Auckland, but the first five-eighths, J. Hotop, had been very effective. Mr Masters said that members would have read of’the penalty try given against Canterbury. “I could not follow it,” he said, “but I was not on the spot and I should not comment on it.”

A penalty given against Canterbury had been a rather unusual one, said Mr Masters. A forward returning to a ruck eight or nine yards from the posts “came in and more or less pushed the Auckland half-back out of the way to get into the scrum on that side.” He said it was the sort of thing that could happen to a player who was a little excited. The player in question had otherwise played a good game. Mr Masters warmly praised the way that the Auckland Union had entertained the Canterbury team. “I take my hat off to Auckland. They know how to entertain,” he said. The committee decided to thank Auckland for its hospitality. It will also forward to Auckland a copy of a letter it has received from the captain of the Canterbury team, R. C. Stuart. “On behalf of the representative side, which was fortunate to travel to Auckland under the efficient guardianship of your president, I wish through you to express our sincere appreciation to the Auckland Rugby Union for the overwhelming hospitality showered on the team during the past week-end,” said Mr Stuart. . “Without doubt this trip was one of the most enjoyable undertaken by the team during the last few years, and it has certainly highlighted the . career of many of our players. To the Canterbury Rugby Union also the team’s thanks are due for the part it played, not only in making this trip possible, but also for the successful running of the 1952 representative fixture programme.” The committee decided to thank Stuart for his action. Mr Masters said it was the first time he had known of the captain of the representative team writing such a letter. Loss on Match Instead of making £ 1000 out of the match, Mr Masters said, Auckland had made a loss of about £5O, because of the bad weather. He said he had telegraphed Auckland asking for the loss, with the idea that the union might offset it. The Auckland reply had been: “Forget about loss. Everything 0.K.” Mr Masters said he still felt that the union should insist on paying for members of the Canterbury party who travelled to Auckland, in addition to the number of which Auckland had been advised. “It is customary for sports associations or clubs requiring pavilions or shelters to meet a portion of the cost,” said the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast), replying to a letter from the union, stating the necessity for dressing accommodation in South Hagley Park. “In some instances buildings have been erected without any assistance from the council," Mr Feast added. He said the council’s reserves committee wished to know the requirements of players taking part in the union’s competitions, and the amount the union was prepared to contribute. A voice: Better than I really thought. The council’s reply was referred to the union’s finance committee. The Linwood Club forwarded the following notice of motion, to be placed before the next annual general meeting of the junior advisory board: “That clubs sponsoring under-age and under-weight teams in the Canterbury Rugby Football Union’s competitions and supplying players with free jerseys, agree to adopt the practice of charging £1 for such jerseys, the deposit to be refunded on return of the jerseys to the club.” Mr V. L. Jensen: I think that is out of order, Mr Chairman. The president said he felt it would be > wrong for the union or the junior advisory board to incorporate this pro- ’ posal in its rules. - The committee decided, on the recom- » mendation of Mr Jensen, to advise the . Linwood Club that it could not accept the I notice of motion. It was decided to thank the senior selectors for their work during the season and 5 to express the hope they would be availl able again next year.

R. H. BELL DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 7. R. H. Bell, who was injured in th< second Rugby test match against Austra lia at Athletic Park on September 13, wai discharged from the Wellington Publii Hospital today, and returned to Dunedin