MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 12

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

SOME OP THE CLUB HAPPENINGS. It seems that Wellington gained the useful services of Wilkes only to loso them again. Tho winger has been transferred to Invercargill. M'Kcnzie, who has been missing from tho Wellington ranks for a month, has returned to tho city, and will be playing again to-day. Rumour hath it that Hekcta will not be playing again this season. Tho St. James man is considering tho advisability of taking a rest. It islsaid that tho coming week will see another prominent Rugby player (an exWoilington representative) cross to tho Northern Union ranks. Tho trip to Auckland is considered likely to prove alluring to good men, who may not find inclusion in tho Rugby Union's louring team. Montgomery, who is playing halfback for tho North Island Country team, filled tho same placo last year. It will bo remembered lie was badly hurt in the concluding match of tho tout, and doubt was expressed ns to whether ho would play again. In view of this it is pleasing to hear that ho is showing such good form at the present time. With the departure of Messrs. W. .T, Hill and F. N. Abercrombio for Auckland, tho Wellington Football Club lias lost two very strong supporters. Both men acted on the olub's committee for

several years, and both took a keen interest in lower grade football. During the present season, Abercfrmibio had been assisting tho club's third fifteen. "Algio" Thomas, a. prominent St. James player, who met with a distressing accident some weeks ago, is still in tho hospitol. His fellow-club-mates have, it is understood, not been wanting in practical manifestations of sympathy. . ' C. Manning, who captained tho North Island Country team at Lancaster Park last Thursday, was last season a member of tho South Island Country team (soys tho "Weekly Press"). Ho was then resident in Blciihoini, but is now stationed in Hawko's Hay. He is quite a veteran of the game,, as ho represented Canterbury in 1903 and 1901, and previous to that had been playing in Wellington. Tho St. James Club is having a picture benefit nt the King's Theatre this month. Thero havo been heavy drains on tho el nil's fund* tins season, and a big effort is being made to clear oil all debts. Although the record of tho Wellington Club may not be such an excellent one this year, the club has been well organised and tho players have had the l>encfit of capital coaching. Mr. O. Kember has been looking after the seniors, whilo Mr, D. Weir has had an cyo on tho juniors. Mr. Harold Carey, who rendered the club excellent activo servico for many years, lias .been coaching the third fifteen, and Mr. Frank Turner has given the fourth fifteen tho benefit of his coaching. Tho young players in this club have certainly nothing to grumblo about. Some think that twenty years of. a paternal "Liberalism" has sapped the energies of tho people—even tho sport energy which made the ancient Rugby games eo enjoyable to watch. Corroborative evidence can be found any day in any paper. A bit from the Auckland "Star":—One hordly knows whether to criticise the Auckland representative team or not. Certainly no bouquet can lie handed out, but it might not bo out of place to suggest that even when opposed to weak teams, such as in tho throe matches played this season, tho play cannot bo token seriously. Busy times are expected in Wales next season. In all probability England as well as South Africa will be played at Cardiff, and Ireland will bo met at Swansea. Then again the South Africans will bo frequently tackled by the clubs, and in this respect it is interesting to note that the financial recommendations arci Each Welsh club playing tho Africans shall pay to tho Welsh Rugby Union 50 per cent, on the gross takings, with a guarantee that the union's share shall not be less than .£IOO for a mid-week match, .£IBO for a Saturday match, and .£3OO for tho Boxing Hay match, it having now been definitely decided that the tourists will play ill Wales on that dale.

There has l>oen a slight misunderstanding between New South Wales and New Zealand since a previous visit from the latter (remarks a Sydney writer), but there are no difficulties in tho way of a combined team for England that could not bo surmounted.

The Taranaki Rugby Union is at present compiling a list of all past Taranaki representative players for a permanent record. To all of these prior to probably 1907, and thoso who havo since played in a certain number of representative fixhires for the province, life member*' tickets are to bo issued, and theso will bo available for all functions conducted by tho union. It is hoped by this moan's to keep in touch with all old pluyers, and overy year those of" five years before will be added to tho list.

After 'a recent glinipso of him, "Full Back," in tho "Witness," sums up Knipara thus: "He was always a picturesque player, but with all his atmosphere of tho picturesque he was as elusive as a hare, and as difficult to catch. Not so to-day. While he retains tho showincss of the Kaipara of two or three years back, ho has lost <tho subtlety and elusivencss of that player. On Saturday ho attempted several times to get through with' his onetime marvellous swerve or wriggle; but it had lost its deception, and the Otago forwards fell on the contortionist like tho Tower of Babel." ,