FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 187, 24 July 1913, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

(Rugby Notes liy ’’Threequarter. ') The following appeared in a recent edition of the London referee:— "li stands to reason that an invitation must, be extended to New /L-alaud before one is issued to Australia. As a matter of fact the New Z< alanders ought to have been asked here before the South Africans were invited to pay a second visit. It will !>e interesting to see whether Nev? Zi aland, despite the inroads of the Northern Union game in that part of the world, can place in the field as brilliant a Rugby team as that which Galhighi r led to tiiis <?> ui'ti.v in tiie season of 1905-6.” In the event <.i this invitation being tc.-tbeoming. it will be interesting to note hov. ihe New Zealand Rugbv Uniun will rh al with it, in view of the obvious snub received last year whi n South Africa was requested to ‘ond a fc;'!ii. notwithstanding the fact that timt country had been represented in England since the visit of tbe Aii Blacks.

Auckland appears to have been favoured with hick in the game with V,T i!ingt>>n on Saturday, as the Empire City representatives clearly

had the best of the game and have, according to more than one report, only to thank the neglect of the backs to take advantage of the wind in the first spell instead of continually finding touch, for their failure to lift the shield. The conditions under which the game was played, are described as being about the worst yet experienced in a shield match, but notwithstanding the weather a tremendous crowd rolled up. proof positive that the old game is still very much alive in spite of the efforts of the X'orthern Union adherents. Roberts, the AVellington half, is described as being the best back on the ground and is regarded as being fairly safe for a place in li:e X< w Zealand up. team, which wili meet Australia and also make the trip to California When the Aucklanders go on tour, their return match with Wellington will be watched with the greatest interest. and I for one expect to see the tables turned. The news that the position ofmanager of the New Zealand Rugby team which is to meet California in September, has been offered to Mr. Geo. Mason, of Christchurch, and the fact that he lias signified bis intention of accepting the position if the pci essa’-y leave can be obtained, will be received with gratification by all followers of football. Mr. Mason has been a keen support er of the sport for many years and has always shown himself an ardent advocate of all matters pertaining to the advanieinuit and l>el terment <>f the game. Those, who are personally acquainted with Mr. Mason, will admit that an admirable selection has been made and the players who are fortunate enough to he members of the team can rest assured that they will be under the control of a gentleman, whoso personality will go a long way towards the success and harmony of the tour. The Hawke’s Bay rep. team returned from its disastrous tour last Monday after being defeated in all its engagements. When will the local authorities recognise the absolute necessity of obtaining some sort of combination before sending a representative team on tour ? Surely past experience should have taught ■them this necessity without having the lesson so severely forced upon them again. I am credibly informed that want of combination and lack of that List “hit of dash” near the line, as abiv demonstrated by other provinces, were mainly responsible for the failure of the recent tour. Hawke’s Bay cannot look forward to any success until decisive steps are taken in the direction indicated. HAWKE S BAY LEAGUE REPS. The Hawke's Bay Northern League rep. team to play Auckland on Saturday were passengers for the northern city bv the mail train this morning. The team is the same as originally selected with the exception that the place of Dave Evans, who was unaMe to make the trip, was taken by H. Swain. Writing of the prospers of the cup hunters, the- Auckland “Star” says: The red and whites from Hawke’s Bay are expected to put up a good fight aaain-t the pick of the Auckland League on Saturday next at Victoria Park, in the course of a friendly disputation over the ownership of the challenge cup presented by the English X'orthern Union. This will be the second or live mterprovinrial matches billed for Auckland during the next few weeks. M itli the games again-t the light blues from Xew South Wales also to come, League attractions promise to be strong from now to the end of the season. Supporters of the Hawke s Bay challengers write very hopefully of their chances. They are proud of the performances of the pair whom they sent io Australia recently— Manning and Duvall—and also expect great things of Evans, the. Barclay brothers, and others who have ■quaiiig into prominence this year. Manning "crossed the Rubicon ' at the commencement of this season, having last year captained the North Island emmtry r<-ps. against the South Island team under Rugby rules. During his recent tour in Australia lie was written up as one of the most brilliant five eighths ever seen over there. Duvall, who is by new well-known in Auckland as a League player, is said to have been performing better in every succeeding game during the Australian tour, while in Christchurch against ( at’.terbnry he was voted brilliant. Evans toured Australia as a Rugby forward before going over to the League, and the latter sent him across t hi' Tasman again in 1911. Clem Barc’at played fh< eighth fcHawke’s Bay against Auckland last season, and his showing was deeidedly good. Altogetber, the challengers promise l<> be a stiff proposition.