RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NORTHERN TOUR

JERSEYS DISAPPEAR

The disappearance of jerseys and money belonging to the Wellington representative Rugby team which played against North Auckland and Auckland last week was referred to by the manager of the team, Mr. T. A. Bezzant, in his report to the Wellington Rugby Union last night. It was decided to write to North Auckland and ask them to put the matter in the hands of the police.

"The conduct of the team was exemplary throughout the tour and their gentlemanly behaviour was commented upon by officials and the public with whom they came in contact,*' Mr. Bezzant said in his report. "I also wish to inform the management committee that although the team lost both matches, this was not due to any of the players not endeavouring to keep themselves in good physical condition, but unfortunately one or two players did not reproduce the form displayed by them, previously. "I have alreaay reported the loss of some equipment at Whangarei. This, I can assure your committee, was not due to our players swapping jerseys with North Auckland players. Every article of equipment was checked and accounted for after the match. As there was insufficient space in the hotel office the bag containing the equipment was placed in a room occupied by two of our players. I inspected it at midnight and everything was in order, but on the following morning one of our players reported to me that the bag had been interfered with. "I inspected all of our players' bags, accompanied by the, president of the local union, and they did not contain any of our jerseys. I am sqrry to have to report that at Whangarei some of our players lost-sums of moneyone player £5, another player £2 10s, and a third player £2. "The loss of the jerseys was not discovered until shortly before we were leaving the hotel to catch the train and I therefore had no opportunity of making further inquiries." Mr. Bezzant expressed appreciation of the honour which had been conferred upon him in his having been made manager of the team. The officials of North Auckland had been most attentive and courteous and bad done everything possible to make the visit enjoyable, he said. The following players were granted permission to have the date "1939" inscribed on their blazers:—W. J. Fulton (Wellington), E. Griffin (Hutt), J. Gunh (Athletic), T. Hegglun (Poneke), A. C. Kenny (Johnsonville), A. Lambourn (Petone), C. M. Ongley, C. J. Pringle (Poneke), E. Sargisson (Hutt), E W. Tindill, G. R. Wales (Athletic); and A. H. Wright (Wellington College Old Boys). A. Thompson (Wellington), having played in eight games this season, qualified for a blazer. Permission was granted for the following matches to be played:—Hutt Club fourth second division team v. Athletic Club, Levin, Saturday; Hutt Railway Workshops Club v. Otahuhu Workshops. ; The New Zealand Union advised that Messrs. H. B. Simmons and J. Gilchrist had been appointed to referee the two trial matches to be played at 1.30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Wellington, on September 27. Mr. H. Murphy was appointed steward for the South Island team and Mr. F. Tilyard was appointed steward for the North Island team.