RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11768, 15 October 1932, Page 10

RUGBY

A CUR SOUY HIT YME. (By “Whawhai”, in the Christchurch Star.) Fifteen gallant footballers Flaying on the piark One received concussion When ]ie claimed mark. Fourteen battled gamely on A forward bad to relire— Bui their luck was out, He’d drunk,some poisoned stout. Alas the number thirteen Brought evil in its train The first-five had to go oil W.iih water on the brain. Twelve harassed footballers Rearranged their team One got. jiis claret trapped Blood flowed in a stream. So now a bare eleven Were left- to carry on Again there was a casualty. One man's wind was gone. Ten weary footballers Cursed a stupid rule Until one got ordered off. lie called the ref. a fool Nine sick and sorry men Were -still attacked by Fate One broke his collar-bone So there wore only eight. And down the numbers dwindled Until but one remained. The referee then cried a halt And to the teams explained; ‘ The game must be abandoned An impasse sure has conic, Wlitli only one defender flow can we form a serum? The ball must pass ni least three feet And he has only two We’ll write the British Union To find out wlmi to do.” NOTES AND NEWS. It is :3J years ago since "Ojiai Asher came into the Rugby limelight. in Auckland. He was 'bon .17 years of age. and he luid come tip from Taurauga to join the Parnell Club. He had already played in the Tatiranga team for three years. 33 hen he wont to Australia, with the New Zealand team in 1003. be was dubbed the “india-rubber man", hut' it is the sobriquet of “Opni", earned soon after he commenced playing in Auckland. that identified him throughout a, brilliant Scarcer on the Rugby and League fields. .It came about through his characteristic habit of hurdling opponents who attempted to tackle him. At that: time, there was a hurdle horse named Opao racing with success in Auckland, one of its victories being the Great Northern Hurdles in 1898. Playing in a club match Asher brought off one of his sensational leaps, and a, spectator expressed the feaf by calling out Opao. The apt description appealed to the crowd, and the nickname was taken up and stuck to Asjier over after, with the alteration of the final loiter. “Opai seldom hears his Christian name, which is Albert.