RUGBY SENSATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 June 1927, Page 7

RUGBY SENSATION

CLERGYMAN ORDERED OFF EDITOR AND UNION (Special to “Star.”) AUCKLAND, June 10. A first-class Rugby sensation is reported from Northern Wairoa (subunion of Northland), where in a recent match, the Reverend Matene, who toured England, Wales and France with the 1926-27 Maori combination, was ordered off the field. It is understood that after a previous mix-up, in -what was a hard game, Matene was shaping up to an opponent in unmistakable fashion, whereon the referee gave Matene marching orders. Before the official enquiry, the Editor of the North Auckland Times, commented to the effect that while there could be no objection to sending a player off for having struck an adversary (as appeared in an exchange of. blows in an earlier episode),.it appeared a bit rough putting Matene on the bank for what the referee thought he only might do. To this comment, some Rugby Unionists took exception, as being a pre-judgment of the case, and analagies to Magistrate and Supreme Courts were quoted. After a keen discussion, at a full meeting a motion of censure on the Editor was defeated by one vote. No further action will be taken as far as Matene is concerned, members being of the opinion that the fact of his being ordered off was quite sufficient punishment in his case and in the circumstances. RANFURLY SHIELD. NAPIER, June 10. Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, tonight, decided to enter a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield.

AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS. SYDNEY, June 10. Twenty-eight members of the Rugby Union team, to tour Britain and France in the coming season are: — Full-back, Ross. Three-quarters: Palmer, Wallace, Egan, E. Ford, Towers, King, Bowers, Gordon. Five-eighths: Lawton, Sheehan. Meagher. Halves: Duncan, Malcolm. Forwards: Tarleton, Blackwood, Balir, J. Tancred, Woods, Fox, Finlay, Judd, Storey, J. Ford< Thorn, Breckenridge, A. Tancred, Greatorex. One more is to be chosen. The team should mould into a formidable combination. LEAGUE TRANSFERS. N.Z. PLAYERS FOR ENGLAND. AUCKLAND. June 10. The Press Association message from London stating the English Rugby League by 20 votes to 9, has cancelled the agreement with Australia and New Zealand restricting the signing on of Dominion players, means that the residential qqualification of two years has now been removed, and that New Zealand players are fit liberty to play League football. The ban was confirmed late this afternoon, when B. Davidson received the following cablegrame from England: “Two years restriction has been removed. Do you accept, my terms? —Dannat. In an interview Davidson said he was disappointed when the New Zealand authorities refused to sanction his clearance, and naturally he was now delighted at the lifting of the ban in England. Asked why the offer came from Hull and not from Wigan, Davidson said he was approached byy the Hull Club, but not before he had actually signed a formal contract to play for Wigan. The terms of the Hull Club were preferable to those of Wigan, and during the next few days he would eagerly await any word from Wigan. He would sooner play fox’ Hull. Brown has Ixad no official intimatioxx from the Wigaxx Club.

During the past two weeks the refusal of the New Zealand Rugby League to approve the application foxtransfers by L. Blown and B. Davidson, of the City Club, Auckland, to the Wigan Club, England, has been an interesting topic in football circles. However, the latest advice places a different complexion on the position.

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT. (Special to “Star.") AUCKLAND, June 11. “Until we’ve been officially informed that the han has been lifted,, we cannot do anything.” In these words, Mr C. A. Snedden, President of the New Zealand Rugby League, withheld an official pronouncement on the cabled news from London that the English Rugby League had cancelled the agreement, with Australasia restricting the signing on of players, under two years’ residential qualification. ’ Mr Snedden said that the news was probably correct, and that when the New Zealand team was at Home, an effort was made to lift the ban, but it was defeated’ chiefly through the Australasian delegates’ instrumentality, but now it seemed those English clubs who wanted it lifted then, have been successful. LOCAL MATCHES POSTPONED. Owing to the wet weather all footl>al I /fixtures set down for to-day, both Rugby and League, have been cancelled.