LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 11

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

REPS. TO PLAY ENGLAND. The West Coast selectors, Messrs Hall, Smith, and O’Neill, have decided on the following’ players to represent West Coast in next Wednesday’s match at Victoria Park against the Englishmen:—Full-back, E. Quinn; Three-quarters, J. Mason, M. Mason, and H. Brown: First five-eighth. J. Kennedy, second five-eighth C. Robins (Capt.); half, J. O’Malley; Forwards, .1. Calder, R. Bennett, R. Quinn, J. Timlin, A. Brownlie, and M. O’Brien (vice-captain). Reserves: Backs: — Kinsella and Stevens; Forwards, H. Long and Malloy. Any player unable to" play, please communicate with Mr W. S. Clarke, Chairman of the Selection Committee, Cobden, as early as possible. SENIOR GAME POSTPONED.

The senior Knock-out Cup final, between Marist and Runanga, to be played to-morrow - , has been postponed until next week. The Third Grade final between Marist and Runanga, will now be played at 3 p.m. to-morrow, instead of 1.30 p.m. as previously arranged. TEAMS. The following players will represent Reefton seniors against Waiuta at Reefton Racecourse on Sunday at 2.30 p.m.—D. Twomey, McElwee, King’, Shaw, Spillane, Tattley, Skinner, Manson, Seogreen, McMahon, Coxall, Curtis, McElwee. Marist juniors to play Ngahere at Ngahere to-morrow are: Ryall, Maloney, Martini, Rich, O’Connor. Fraser, Sparks, O’Connor, Kiely (2), Kiddey, Marriott, Ryall, Brown. Cars leave at 1.30. Nelson Creek junior team to play Brunner at Brunner: E. O’Brien, Sweetman, E. O’Brien, Knelen, Ellery, Morrisey, S. Becker, Dalziel, Hynes. Knite, Skinner, Wallace, Fisher, J. Becker.

Grey seniors v. Nelson Creek at Nelson Creek on Sunday at 3 p.m.— Thomas, Wright, Smith (2), Mason (2), Lynch, Campbell, Petrie, Bond, Williams, Hawes, Sherlock. Leach, Culling. Players to meet at the Dominion Hotel at 1 p.m. sharp. USE OF LANCASTER PARK. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, August 10.

“This refusal to allow us the use of Lancaster Park for one afternoon just bears out my original statement that the wrong men are at the head of the Rugby Union in New Zealand,” said Dr H. T. J. Thacker, commenting'Today on the action of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening in refusing the Canterbury Rugby League permission to use the Park for the test match against the English League team, now touring the Dominion.- “Personally,” continued Dr Thacker, “I feel like Tunney before his big fight. He resorted to the philosophy of Shakepeare. Like him, I will appeal to Shakespeare, and say, as the bard of Avon said, so wonderfully, ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity, which like a toad, ugly and venomous, has yet a precious jewel in its head.’ We are quite satisfied with Monica Park,” said Dr Thacker, “but on behalf of the League Council and on behalf of thousands of people who will want to see the match in comfort, we asked for the use of Lancaster Park. Our request was much against the inclination of the executive. We are not greatly surprised at the result of our application.”

Dr Thacker said Lancaster or Victory Park belonged to the King, who himself was the patron of the Rugby League, ft seemed only consistent, at least, that those whom His Majesty patronised should be able to use his own ground. A clause in the Victory Park Act says that all Rugby football may be played on Victory Park, but during the season it is under the mandate of the Rugby Union. If on future occasions we want to use the Park, our only way out of the difficulty is to get an amendment put into the Victory Park Act, by which we will have the right to play there on two or three days in the year. Dr Thacker pointed out that the* Rugby Union’s difficulties as far.as grounds were concerned could have been overcome by the fact that the League had offered it the use of Monica Park. They had every reason to expect a record attendance at the test match, and the least they could do was to provide all with good seating accommodation, just lor one day in the year. “Before the Englishmen come back in four years,” he ended, “we may come to the turning on the long road, and then the boot will be on the other foot. The Rugby Union is wise in its own wisdom, but the law of life and progress is that a man is not yet a man until he has eliminated intolerance, and can look at the other man’s side.” The Canterbury Eootball Association has offered the League the use of the English Park for the match, and it is likely that this offer will be accepted at the next meeting, on wTonday evening. ' •