CORRESPONDENCE SEDDON SHIELD MATCHES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1933, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE

SEDDON SHIELD MATCHES.

[to the editor.] Sir, —We are at variance with “Ex West Coast Rep’s” remarks concerning the West Coast representative fifteen. In the first place he says that the team could be altered to the betterment of all by the inclusion of Ogier. We think Ogier is more or less a shiner, and to our mind his main occupation in club matches this season has been to hover around the outside of the tight work, waiting the opportunity to take the reward of his mates’ work. This might hoodwink the average sideliner, but the selector has had many years of experience, sorting out players, and we think, he is to be congratulated on dropping Ogier for his club mate Buchanan. Next our former rep. states that .Tones has been a. failure this season getting in the half back’s way and not knowing what to do with the ball when he got it. We say that the only half back’s way Jones got in last Saturday, was Nelson’s and perhaps “Ex Rep” had an orange and black veil across his vision -when Jones cut through several of the opposition and transferred the ball to Fong, who scored Coast’s second try. He knew what to do with the ball then. Jones was also the originator of that fine passing movement among the forwards that ended in a try against the Bays. Referring to players to go in quest of the Ranfurly Shield perhaps “Ex Rep” does not know that Jones was one of the best forwards on Lancaster Park last season. Let me quote a paragraph from a Christchurch paper on last year’s Ranfurly Shield game. “Freitas was one of the really outstanding men on the ground. This Hokitika player used to big football, provided a good deal of thrust in the Coast vanguard and tackled like a tiger. He, his clubmate, R. King and E. Jones proved a very valuable trio in their fast breaking away from the scrums. This smartness gave Bouterey, the Canterbury half, little opportunity for sending the ball out cleanly to his backs.” “Ex West Coast Rep”, why not pick on M. or B. Kelly, who have not been seen in the last two rep. games, instead of Jones, a good grafter and a 10 second man, who has played his way into the team and -will keep it. We cire etc. SEDDON AND RANFURLY. [to the editor.] Sir, —Allow me space to ask the West Coast Rugby Union to start the Shield matches at 2.45 p.m. instead of 3 p.m., and thereby show a little consideration to those enthusiasts who have to travel by the 4.45 p.m. train to Hokitika. On Saturday owing to various stoppages in the game over 50 passengers would have missed the train, but for the courtesy of the guard, who brought the train to a standstill after it had started, and allowed them time to get aboard. I am etc. SOUTHERN ENTHUSIAST. [to the editor.] Sir, —The public of the West Coast have derived great pleasure witnessing the West Coast Rugby team successfully defending the Shield. These matches not only create great public interest but also increase trade to the business people of Greymouth. The players are required to train arduously and several also lose work. The players receive the knocks and the business people, the benefits. I would suggest that the business fraternity inaugurate a fund to present some small token to the players as a mark of appreciation for their efforts. Yours etc., SINCERE.