RACING ACCIDENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 December 1924, Page 5

RACING ACCIDENT.

TITO SERIOUSLY INJURED. AN APPRENTICE SUSPENDED. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. . TE AWAMUTU, Dec. 13. Within 150 yards of the start of the Te Awamutu Cup to-day, Lapidary tell, throwing hie rider, T. Tito, who suffered a fractured base of the skull and a fractured shoulder. His, injuries are serious, though he was conscious wheu removed to hospital. The stewards held an enquiry,- and suspended for six months the rider of Matinee, the apprentice J. Maguire, adding that only a conditional license may be issued to him iti future. Matinee crossed in front of Lapidary thus causing the accident. The winner J* thei 'ace, Polonett, was . a hot

eludes four internationals. Practically every member of the team: lias played already against the All Blacks, in different games. ' i L ? rd '*faiifurly visited the New Zealanders to-day and expressed pleasure at the team’s success. Their • game against Hampshire will go a kmg way towards preparing them for the remaining London fixtures.. COMMENTS ON THE MATCH. (By “Spectator.”) Probably in no fixture of the tour so rar have the expectations of the Rugby enthusiasts of the Old Country been so grievously disappointed as they have been by the result V o f the match on Saturday. The Combined Services, as on Saturday, always has included many players who have been the of the Rugby world in the British Isles. From their ranks have-come internationals every year, and men. who have made Rugby history for many years past-. This year they were considered a very strong combination, and most of the players having played in other teams against the AH Slacks, were m good form, and also had the advantage of knowing , from the field something of the play of the team. Lhe messages showed that the members were in fine condition/ and that the team had been playing together. In addition they were mainly men who used to, playing in the positions allotted to them,. and should naturally \n a^ e combine without difficulty. All these facts go to prove in greater measure the strength.of the All Blacks, all round, and also their evident’ ability to rise to the occasion and play their best when the opposition is reputed to be the strongest. They put in a fifteen which must be considered almost their best, realising that they could take no chances, and they quite evidently .made Pj Ce from the jump. The forwards played a great game, and made openmgs for the backs on every possible occasion. It must have been a sparkling back game, and it is worth notice also that of the seven tries secured five were scored ns the finishing act in magnificent passing rushes. Of the other two one was secured by Richardson, who was in the back passing rush, and took the last pass. Only one try was scored other tlmii iii' a passing movement. The place-kicking was again not so- good, but it must, be noticed that most of the tries were. scored light on the corner flag. The report,: with the exception of the place-kicking, reads very well indeed, and increases the expectations that the team will, bar accidents, continue their unbeaten record to the end.

REMAINING MATCHES. They meet Hampshire ori Wednesday; and then have a spell of ten days before meetings London Counties— a very food team, and it will; be recalled from the personnel in the previous match. A week afterwards, just after New Year, comes the clash with the elect of England, and that, will be watched with very keen interest. ' The next three weeks’ matches will be •; the end of the tour in England, and. then the.f trip across by aeroplane to gay Paris—the French Rugby authorities are* doing the team well —play a match there, and another at Toulouse, in the south. In those matches it is shrewdly expected they will meet as keen opposition as in any part of the tour. When these are over they will practically be on their home journey, and it can be realised what a welcome they will be given. Suggestions have been made for some matches in New Zealand, hut that remains to be' seen. They will have had a surfeit of plnv, and their arrival in the Dominion will he before the play of the next season.