NOTES.

Feilding Star, 17 May 1907, Page 3

NOTES.

(by A.K.) Last Saturday's games were very much interfered with by the howling gale which blew all afternoon. In more than one case it is likely that winning the toss meant winning the match. In the game at Awahuri, Palmerston, who were playing only fourteen men. had the luck to face the storm in the first spell, and consequently were to a great extent played out when they came to have the assistance of the wind. The Huimai team, on Saturday's form, are a fairly formidable combination, provided the ball is kept tight, but in a fast game I am sure their want of condition would see them with their tongues out long before the close. The forwards play good football while their wind lasts, when it goes, they lose a good deal of their sting. In Carroll and Hughes they have two good backs, the former particularly being strong on his feet and running very straight. Campbell stops rushes in fine style, but is inclined to be just a little too longon the ball. McNae, Stuart and Wiwaka were the beßt of the forwards, who play the kick-and-rush game for all it is worth. I was not impressed with the Palmerston team. The best men behind the scum were Nicholson at full-back, and Childs. The former is distinctly useful. The forwards could beat Huimai for the ball, but could not stick to it r for the country team simply shoved them clean off it. Palmerston expect to have a much stronger fifteen out against Feilding on Saturday. It appears the senior team has been suffering from the unwillingness of the juniors to play in their club's senior team. Kia Toa are said to suffer from the same complaint. On Saturday night, lam told, things were "anyhow" in the ranks of these clubs, and only the threat of some of their officials to call in the aid of the Rugby Union Classification Committee could induce the modest juniors to accept promotion. This complaint is by no means peculiar to Palmerston. It is not unknown in Feilding, and some of the Wanganui clubs have suffered severely from it in the past. The Seven-aside Tournament on the Prince of Wales' Bithday will be open to teams from any recognised club, whether in the Manawatu district or not. There will be only the one class but there is nothing to prevent junior teams entering and trying their strength with the seniors. Entries close with the secretary of the Union on the 27th inst. Instead of the usual medals of doubtful value, framed photographs of the winning team will* be presented to each member thereof. The Accident Fund Committee met the Union Committee on Tuesday night and had a "washing-up" of affairs connected with the insurance scheme. This fund, like many other things in connection with the Union, has suffered from carelessness in the reading and observing of rules and by-laws. For instance, clubs are supposed to contribute one guinea for each team participating, but the Accident Committee has been in the habit of accepting a guinea only from clubs even though. they may have three teams engaged. Then the Foxton end of the business appears to have been run in a casual way, and claims accepted unaccompanied by the necessary doctor's certificate. The Committee have decided that it is advisable for the sub-union to have its own scheme altogether independent of the M.R.U. Fund. Four clubs were reported for playing men in wrong colors, and the Union's Fund benefits to the extent of half a sovereign from fines inflicted. The Selection Committee have been instructed to watch Saturday's games with a view to nominating playeip to the N.Z. Union, who may be thought good enough tor inclusion in the North Island team against the South on June 3rd. On present form there are only two men whose play this season reaches anything like a nigh standard. Saturday's play may bring forth some more Seelings and Wallaces.' Bulls and the Foxton sub-union are pretty persistent over the severance of the Bull's club from the Rangitikei Union. Both Wanganui and Manawatu Unions have plainly stated that the boundaries must be respected. By the way, the tone of the sub-union's correspondence with the M.R.U reminds me forcibly of the letters which the Feilding club used to write to the union a couple of seasons ago. I am pleased that the idea of a training hall for Feilding has been mooted. The club is going into the matter and getting information from Wanganui re the dimensions, cost, etc, of the hall recently erected by the Rugby Union there. Provided a piece of land can be obtained, there ought to be no very great difficulty in getting the hall built. In the last of the internationals, Slayed at Home this season between ootland and England, the Scotsmen proved victorious by eight points to three and retain possession of the Calcutta Cup. Bedell-Sivright was in the Scot's team. The forwards were well matched, of anything, the Englishmen being better, but outside the scrimmage the winners were too good for the wearers of the rose. Scotland have put up a record by winning four international matches in one season. Wales almost did it last year, but the disaster at Belfast when Ireland beat them smudged their clean sheet. On Wednesday afternoon the High School team played Lytton street on the Racecourse, and won by an unconverted try to nothing. The Standard V. and TI club from the High School play Cheltenham at | Cheltonnam to-morrow. The following additional nominations of men for the North v. Soutl matches have been received:— Wanganui, J. Hogan, H. L. Abbott, and A. Guscott; Nelson. W. E. Smith and H. Sparrow; South Canterbury, W. Scott, ft Carlton, and William Melvin. -