WAS THE GAME WORTH WHILE?

Evening Star, Issue 19949, 20 August 1928, Page 4

WAS THE GAME WORTH WHILE?

PERTINENT QIIESTIOH AT RUGBY LEAGUE SKGKE COKOERT EUI END BY SO CIA B C ATII Ell INC. Tho Rugby Boaguo international team-, of England ami New Zealand dealt Bcague supporters in Dunedin a cruel and totally undeserved blow when thev .staged their affray on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon: and, all hough the smoko concert given in the evening in honour of the visitor,-, was pleasant” and enjoyable in every way, it was inevitable that .some relovcncc should ho made to the incidents which had occurred on the hold oi pia.v The. most, pertinent and Iniitiul speeches delivered at the function were these of till,* two English managers, Messrs E. Osborne and G. E. Hutchins Both these gentlemen dealt with the matter in a tactful way. and Mill ntehin's remarks were, particularly straight. Irom the shoulder. “is tho game worth while?’’ was a vita! question asked by Dim. That tho game is worth while was proved in ihc course of his speech. The most p'.oa-ing feature of tho we'lattended gathering was the fact (hat, in spito of all that had gone l.elore. nothing hut the utmost friendliness existed among those present. Mr 'l'. M. Gillies (president of the _ Otago llugby League) was iu tho chair, and called’ for ” , tho loyal toast to bo honoured.

Cr J. S, Douglas (deputy-mayor), in propo-ing a toast in honour of the guests, apologised lor the absence of tho mayor (Mr TV. B. Taverner), and said that he was sure that on His Worship's behalf and on behalf of the councillors ho could endorse tho remarks made at the Town J lull on Friday evening to their kindred from overseas, with wdibm wc in New Zealand wore proud to he fighting in the effort to uphold the great British Empire. .IB; extended a hearty welcome to the visiting Englishmen* and also to the momber.s of the New Zealand team end visitors who bad come from other parts of the dominion. Owing to the behaviour of a few irresponsible individuals I hero had been some feeling in Uio match that day, hut even so he could see what opportunities there were in the game for brilliant showings. The speaker paid a tribute to Air Divers for his work in tho interests cf tho couc.

Mi - Osborne (manager of tho English leant), after thanking Cr Douglas for his remark's, said I hat ho felt they were among friends. .Even after travelling thousands of miles there seemed id lio very little dividing them from those they had left behind. They believed 11 1 a( Mew Zealand was as loyal to (lie King as the Englishmen wen; themselves. ’Wherever they might be they could always forget hard knocks that had been given and toast one another. In any game like Rugby League there must be hard knocks, and (■hose who could not give and lake hard knocks should not play at all. However, there were some eases where overstepping the mark had occurred, and there were some tilings which should be left, out of the game. Slill, it was felt that these were just incidents introduced on the spur of (he moment, and forgotten after all was over. Mlicit had depended on this game. Tf New Zealand had won they would have secured the “ ashes.” England’s winning meant that they would have another chance in the next test of winning the rubber. The speaker uttered the exhortation that from now on all the unpleasant stuff should be cut out. Tn the next two matches they should have, good games, crammed with good, hard tackling, and clean play. “ Having used Hie cane,” added Mr Osborne, “ 1 will just say that things went a hit too far to-day. However, we forgot all those differences as soon as the game is finished. Wo have had a splendid tour in the south, and have tried to further the interests of the game in Otago, where, unfortunately, there is a lot of prejudice to be overcome, f am satisfied that with Mr Divers and I)is colleagues we will convince people that Longue-is the finest winter game for people of sound playing ability and intelligence. Whatever may have happened—wo have had our ups and downs—-we arc taking something bade to the Old Country which will help us to further tho best interests of the game at Home. Wc want to feel wc have left friends behind us here, feeling that Rugby League men in Mow Zealand and at Homo can always hold out a. hand and say; ‘ Shake it warmly. Wo are glad to meet yon. Wo feel that the game is open to abuse, but at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that many things . aro done spontaneously and arc regretted afterwards. I hope when our next visit takes.place it will be found that the game here has grown.” (Applause.) . “ I am going to be (pate candid,” declared Mr Hutchins, who also spoko. “To-day’s game has not been very encouraging. Wo have not playca what wo considered our best game cf football. Probably tho Now Zealand plavcrs placed t lid game they thought would bo most effective. Our team lias not given of its best—probably because the Now Zealand Council, in its wisdom or otherwise, has given ns too much travelling in a short space of time.

Under these conditions arc our tours to the centres worth whiler' Here you li;ivo si rony opposition—people who arc biased and sceptical—and lam wondering if to-day's game has been worth while. 1 am afraid it has not been worth while in u place whore there is such opposition. Whenever yon enter 11 10 field of sport I ask you to consider seriously the question: ‘ls the game worth whiles’ If it is, play it for what it is worth. If von can’t play the game in the spirit of sport, don’t play it at all. The game is worth while, otherwise 1 would nr/t he hero speaking to-nighl. lint .1 want to make it clear that unless the game, is played in its real spirit 1 will step out ami he glad to do so. 1 believe, however, that to-day’s match was only a ‘ lly in the ointment,' and the teams .have rot given their host exhibitions. I here is no reason why temper.' shoulder; IrM. What is there in the game if il >■; nut played fairly and squarely f \\ liriim-m----has happened we have probably kotu made mistakes. Lei, us leave hero good friends. 11 no only set ourselves to the i.ask I believe we can live down prejudice,” Alter returning thanks for I:bo’ toast ’Mr .Hutchins said that, when New Zealand League players went to Ragland they would find them jn.-t the same good old friends. (Applause.) •'I have not much to say,” said Mr .1. Sullivan, the Knglish captain, ” All I can say is I did not enjoy the game, to-day like those in Auckland, ami i hope that in the next two matches wo will have (he same kind of games as we had up then'.’’—(Applause.) Air F. G. Duncan, in toasting the New Zealand Council, suggested that headquarters lor New Zealand bo shifted from Auckland to Wellington or Christchurch, the. idea being to make them more, central. Mr Gillies responded.

Air W. J- Taylor, manager of the New Zealand team, ami representative of the Now Zealand Council, in reply, extended hearty congratulations to the English team on its win in the .second test. Ho assured them that New Zealand would do its best to win the third test. Tho Dominion Council hud its headquarters at Auckland, and the members of that council wore very energetic and hard working.' The councils’ only trouble had been a financial one, but, when a call had boon made on the other councils there had boon a ready response. The games played in Auckland had been a success in even- way.

Li proposing the toast of “ The Otago Rugby League,” Mr Taylor said that although tho game had been established hero ofily four years, it had made progress, and this was due to the energetic body of men associated with_ it. Air Gillies, who replied, said he. was proud of The men of the original council, who had carried the burden from tho outeet. lie was proud of the work carried on by those men, and he felt that if the game wore played in a manly spirit it must make progress iu the future. In conclusion, lie paid a. tribute to tho executive for their loyal support in keeping Hie game going in Dunedin. During the evening items were contributed by the Idlers’ Quartet, Messrs C. C. Scott, AV. Mills, C. E. Reid, and S. G. Angedl. Mr H. Towns was the accompanist.