"PLEASED TO PLAY"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 121, 24 May 1928, Page 11

"PLEASED TO PLAY"

FIRST MATCH APPROVED South African anxiety in regard to the playing of the first match of the New Zealand Rugby football .team's tour was _urther indicated in a cable-' gram read at lust night's meeting of tho New Zealand Rugby* Union's Management Committee. According 'to the official list of matches, published in ''The Post" last week, tlio opening match of the tour is with a combined country clubs' team at .Capetown on Wednesday next. An earlier report that tho team's arrival in Capetown might bo delayed had led. to a- suggestion that the first match should be cancelled, but from later advices it was expected that the All Blacks would bo at Capetown in time for tho first engagement. The New Zealand, Rugby Union's Management Committeo favours the game being played, and it made a decision to this effect last evening. The South African Rugby Board advised by cablegram that' the following was tho material part of a wireless message sent to . Mr. Hornig on tho 19th: "Ship expected at Capetown early on Sunday. Prom sporting aspect it is vital that the fixture should stand. Cancellation means bitter public disappointment and a great loss." The board had received the following reply from Mr. Hornig: "Pleased to play first match as arranged if we arrive on Sunday." "The more I think of this the more lam convinced that ( we should play this first match," remarked the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean). "After all, the South African people have gone out to do everything they can do for us, and I think we should fall in with their wishes. I think we are inclined to pay too much attention to victories in these early matches against the good of the game. The Springboks played the day after they came to New Zealand, and even if we do lose this first game it does not make much difference. The matches I am particularly keen to see our team win are the Tests; I am not worrying much about the others." Members agreed that a cablegram should be sent expressing the committee's desire that the first match be played. It was pointed out that, if necessary, the South African Board would put the match back a day, and would take the team overland from Durban' to. Capetown, so that it did not matter whether the team arrived at Capetown on Sunday or Monday. There was the possibility of upsetting tho South African Board's arrangements in leaving the decision regarding the first match to the last minute. The Chairman: "From a sportsmanship point of view we should play tho game. This first match will be good training for the players, and, after all, it does not make very much difference if we lose a game like this." Mr. A. C. Kitto: "But we do not want to be beaten if we can help it. There is a certain amount of prestige at stake." ' . Mr. H. S. Leith: "If something unforeseen happens tho South African Board will no doubt meet Mr. Hornig, and put the match back a day, as they have ilidi.ated." After further discussion it was decided to advise Mr. Hornig by cable- I gram that tie New Zealand Union ap-

proved the .first match, against the country clubs, and that a copy of the cablegram bo sent to the South African Rugby Board.