RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 May 1925, Page 9

RUGBY

FIXTURES. The first- rnunt( of senior fixtures were drawn as follow : GR-OUP I. May 9.—01 d Hoys v. Athletic, at Ha-wera; Sta.r v. Kaponga v. New Plymouth; Eltham v. Opunake, at Opu-n.a-ke; Stratford, a bye. May 16.—01 d Hoys v. Opunake, at Opunake; Stratford v. Kaponga, at Kaponga ; Star v. Eltham, at Eltham* Athletic, a bye. May 2H1 —Stratford, v. Eltham, at. Stratford; Athletic V. Kaponga. at llaweia; Star v. Opmuvhe, at New Plymouth; Old Bovs, a bve. May 30.—01 d Hoys v. Star, at New P 1 vni o i tth ; El tha in v. Ath le v-i c , a t Eltham; Stratford v. Opunake, at Opunake; Kaponga. a bye. June o.—Old Hoys v. Kaponga, at Kaponga; Athletic v. OpunaKe, at Hawera; Star v. Stratford ..at. Stratford; Eltham, a bye. June 16. Old Hoys v. Stratford, at Stratlord ; Star v. .A t itletii-, at New Plymouth; Kaponga v. Eltham, atEltham; Opunake, a bye. GROUP 11. May 9. —Tukapa v. Okinawa, at Okaiawa; Inglewood y. Clifton, .at Waitara; Hawera- v. Patea, at Fa,tea. May 16. —Tukapa. v. Pa tea, a t New Plymouth; Inglewood v. Hawera, at Hawera; Oliiton v,. Okaiawa, at Waitara. May 23.—Tukapa v. Clifton, at New Plymouth; Hawera v. Okaiawa, at Okaiawa; Inglewood v. Pa tea, at Inglewood. ~ ' May 30.—Tukapa v. Inglewood, at Inglewood; Okaiawa v. Pateu, atPate a; CM if ton v. Hawera, at Hawera.

FIXTURES FOR LOWER GRADES. The drawing for. the fixtures for juniors, thirds, and fourths has been completed as follows :■ — FIRST JUNIOR. May 9. —Opunake v. Kaponga, ai Opunake. at 1-30 p.m.; Waimate v Athletic, at Manaia, at 1.30 p.m., P.W.D. v. Patea, at Manaia ; Kaponga v. Eltham, at Kaponga; Hawera a bye... May 16.—Opunake v. P.W.D., at Manaia ; Waimate v. Patea, at Patea ; Hawera v. Ath'etic, at. Hawera; Okaiawa v. Eltham, at Okaiawa; Kaponga a bye. Mav 23. —Opunake v. Patea, at Patea;. Waimate v. Okaiawa, at Manaia; P.W.D. v. Eltham, at Eltham; Kaponga v. Hawera, a ; t Kaponga; Athletic a bye. May 30. —Opunake v. FJtham, Opjfnake. 1.10 p.m. ; Waimate v. Kaponga, at Kaponga; P.W.D. v Hawera-, at Hawera; Okaiawa v. Athletic, at Okaiawa; Patea a bye. June 6. —Opunake v. Kaponga, at Opunake- Waimate v. Hawera, at Hawera ; Eltham v. Athletic, at. Eltham;. Okaiawa v. Patea. at Fafcea; P.W.I). a bye.' June 13.—Opunake Hawera, ai Hawera; Patea v. Eltham, at Patea ; P.W.D. v. Athletic, at Manaia; Kaponga v. Okaiawa, at- Kaponga; Waimate a bye. June 20.-—Opunake v. Ath’etic, at Hawera ; Waimate v. P.W.D._ v at Manaia; Kanonga v. Patea, at Kaponga: Hawer- v.. Eltham, at Eltham at 1.10 p.m. ; Okaiawa a bye. June 27.—Okaiawa v. P.W.D., atOkaiawa- Waimate v. Eltham, at Manaia ; Kaponga v. Athletic, at Hawera , Hawera v. Patea, at Patea at 115 p.m.; Opunake a bye, THTR.D GRADE. May 16. —Elt-haim, v. Okaiawa, at Normanby, -at 1.15 p.m.; Ha-wera v. Waimate, at Manaia, at 1.10 p.m. ; Patea- a bye. May 23. —Patea. v. Waimate, at Manaia, at 1.15 p.m. ; Hawera. v. E-l----tham, at Hawera, at 1.15 p.m. ; O'kai-arw-a: a, bye. May 30. —Patea v. Okaiawa. at Patea., at 1.15 p.m.; Waimate v. Elltha.m, at Kltha-m, at 1.15 p.m.; Ha-wera a- bye. FOURTH GR ADE, May 9. —Waimate v. H.T-HS. A, a.t Hawera; Okaiawa v. Kaponga, at Kar pong a; H.T.H.S. B v. Hawera, a-t-Ha-wera. , _ May 16.—-Waimate v. H.T.H.S. B. at Hawera, at 1.15 p.m. ; Ha-wera v. Kaponga, at Ha-wera, at 1.15 p.m. : H.T.H.S. A v. Okaiawa, at Norm-anby, at 1.15 p.m. . May 23.W T aim ate v. Okaiawa, a t Normianiby; Kaponga v. H.T.H.S. B, at Kaponga; H.T.H.S, A v. Ha-wera-, at Hawera. *-.'■. . ■ Ma-v 30. —Kaponga v. Waimate, at Manaia.; H.T.H.S. A v-. -H.T.H.S. B. at Ha-wera; Okaiawa. v. Ha-wera, at Nortrianby.

SATURDAY TEAMS. To-day is a most interesting day in the Ru'gby calendar of the district and province, for the first round of the matches are being played and the results will give followers an indication of the strength of the various teams. In view of the entry of the second Hawera team a comparison will be of considerable value. MID-WEEK UNION. Next week will be a similar day for Wednesday play that was filled by Saturday ' last, for the other teams. There are eight teams out and competition will be very keen. Hawera City Llnb have not decided how to divide their players, and the decision will mean a great deal tp the club—whether to make two teams as even as possible or a best team and a second, the latter would mean that the second team would have little chance, and might be discouraged if beaten time after time. On the other hand, there would be strong inducement for them to train and qualify if they could, for the other team. But that would mean probably alterations, and it would seem better to select two teams so that their players could specialise in one position, and so learn one another’s play. It is a question they will decide almost at once. NOTES. 'that keen supporter of Rugby, Mr. F. Robbiliard, of Ashburton, had three sons playing in the match between Ashburton and Christchurch at Lancaster Park last week.

The opinions expressed by the All 111 sicks 'part v on iheii- return that France was" steadily coining to the front as it Rugby nation seem to be correct. The cables recently stated that in the international match between England and France the former were successful by 13 points to 11. England’s score consisted of a goal -from a. mark and two converted tries, whereas France scored three tries, only one of which was converted. A further cable message contained the information that the French Rugby Union had adopted the New Zealand rules, and so their play is likely to show .still more improvement ere long. The change will suit their style of play.

The sudden death is announced of F. H. R, Alderson, the famous English international Rugby footballer; at the ■ age of fifty-eight. His first appearance of note was in 1887, for Cambridge against Oxford He was centre three-quarter, but- on occasions played an equally good game as half. He took part-in six North v. South match, es, playing five times for the former and once for the latter. In the south he played for Blackhenth ; in the north for Hartlepool Rovers. _ His first representative match was in 1891.. and in the next year he captained England. Besides being a great player, he was a good critic of the game, and a member of the English selection committee, in private life he joined the staff of Hartlepool School in 1889, and he became head master in 1892.

“Rugby weighing” is the heading of a notice in the Auckland paper dealing with the weighing of third intermediates and lower grade players. It A. S. B. Walker, the New South Wales captain, has been- elected on the selection committee of the New South Wales Rugby Union, with T. H. Bosward and T. Griffin. The management committee will he H. S Whiddon (chairman), T. H. Bosward, H. C. Holden, .-V. Hornimnn and E. J. Thorn, and the Appeals and Protest Committee, R. W. Adamson J/ B. Lane, C. E. Morgan and T. Duggan.

IN THE CENTRES. WELLINGTON. W. R. Eea, the Otago, South Island and New Zealand representative, is now on the medical staff of the Wellington Hospital. He will, if playing, add strength to Wellington football. Wellington’s three All Blacks, Porter, Svenson and Nicholls, were, all in the thick of it in the capital city last week. Mr. E. M’Kenzie, chairman of the All Blacks selection committee, has been reappointed secretary of th© Wairarapa Rugby Union, and has been reappointed a senior selector. “Jock” Richardson is now able to get about without the aid of a stick. THE GAME IN HAWKE’S BAY. The Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union has made- an early commencement with ils club competitions for on last Saturday three senior matches were played in the two main centres, Hastings and Napier. There are many who believe in an earlv start for the purpose of leaving more time at the end of the season for representative matches, but in this district those who have participated in or witnessed the scratch games played to date, could not but agree "that the grounds were too hard for club competition. A man might knock his knees about badly on the sun-baked [paddock, and cripple himself, so far as Rugby is concerned, for. the greater part of the season. In Hawke’s Bay the union appears, however, to be' unable to avoid an early start. The possession of the Ranfurly Shield has, jn the opinion of many players and patrons of tne game, tended to spoil club competition. A district that sacrifices club play to representative fixtures can only expect to meet lean days later, when the older players drop out and the young players fail to come on. Hawke’s Bay is still a long way from that stage yet, but the. effort of the Ranfurly Shield matches has been to weaken the patronage for ordinary club matches, and “Onlooker” heard, while in that district recently, that there would be few tears shed if a strong side came along and captured the trophy.

COUNTRY KEENNESS The general keenness for Rugby is illustrated by the formation of a new and prospectively successful iclub at Clive. Another instance of the game’s popularity is to be found in the back country, Patoka, Puketitiri and R.issington being even now preparing for the renewal of the friendly matches that were begun so successfully last year. It, is hard luck for Puketitiri that the allegiance' of the two famous Brownlies to the Hastings Club precludes their joining up with their native district’s team. But it would, no doubt , be hard on Patoka and Rissington if they were to do so. HERE AND THERE. Something has been heard of the possible advent of Corkill in Napier. How these rumours get about it is difficult to say, for this one is apparently quite unfounded. The new flood-lighting system on McLean Park is proving of immense value.' The three projectors throw a wide radiance which greatly facilitates night practice. Tankard, who was exceptionally promising in junior grade last season, turned out for Pirates seniors. He should he useful in the upper grade. FROM ALT, QUARTERS. Mark Nicholls will not. after all play in Waifarapa this winter, but, will turn out in Wellington in the dark bine garb of his old clnb ; - Petone. Friction is said to have arisdn in a Masterton club in this connection. Dr. A. R.itchie, who played so well behind the wickets in the Hawke’s Bay-Victoria cricket match, is a useful footballer who did well for Wanganui Collegiate school last year. He is now located Sn Waipukurau district.