FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 21 August 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALL

Hawke’s Bay Union

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. USUAL WEEKLY MEETING. The above meeting was held Jam night. Present: Messrs J. W. Norrie (chairman), J. W. Callaghan, B. Tweedie, W. O’Neill, D. Corbett, R. H. Milburn, J. Eraser. A W. H. King, H. Seed, H. V. Phillips, N. A. McKenzie, H. Brown and W. Anderson (secretary). Leave of ’ absence was granted Mr. R. M. Hewitt. The Hastings Sub-Union forwarded a challenge from the Hastings Club for the Lane Shield at present held bv Wairoa.—lt was decided to advise Wairoa of the challenge. A letter was received from the Napier Borough Council in regard to work done on the playing areas, and was referred to the stand committee to deal with.

A challenge for the Ranfurly Shield was received from the South Canter, bury Union, the match to be played at i’imaru.—A decision in the matter was deferred until a decision was arrived at as to whether the Shield will be taken on tour or not.

The Wairarapa Union wrote accepting the visit from the Hawke’s Bay junior representatives on August 28. Mr. R. M. Hewitt was appointed manager of the team.

A vote of condolence was passed to the relates of the late Mr. Bert Johnston, who was a member of the Hawke’s Bay team that played Tara, naki last month, and toured with the Hawke’s Bay B representatives last season.

G. NEPfA’S EXPLANATION

BEING FORWARDED TO N.Z. UNION.

Statements made concerning George Nepia and the New Zealand Rugby Union were discussed in committee bv the management committee of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union last evening following which the secretary was instructed to w{ite to the New Zealand Rugby Union intimating that the Hawke's Bay Union resented the message recently published discrediting Nepia’s actions concerning the Maori tour, and to point out that the letter from the New Zealand Union was only before the Hawke’s Bay Union a few days before a reply was expected. The committee further resolved to ask the New Zealand Union it the statement emanated from a member of that union. Messrs J. W. Norrie and N. A. McKenzie were appointed to forward Nepia’s explanation to the New Zealand Union. “HAS BfcENS” v. “REFEREES.” ONE TEAM SELECTED. The following team has been selected to represent the “Has Beens” on August 28th., at McLean Park, Napier, against the “Referees” :— Full-back: L. E. Harris. Three-quarters: E. R. Murphy, L. C. Rolls C. Chote.

Five-eighths: R. E. Bishop, L Dine. Half-back: W. Holder. Hookers: T. Brophy, Honi Tyne Lock: 'J. A. Stevens. Sides: W. G. Hay. D, Evans,

Supports: W. Anderson, T. Higgins. Wing-forward: W. D. Corbett. Reserves. —Backs: G. Morley, A. Bowman. Forwards: J. B. Andrew, M. Preston, M. Gleeson.

CAUSTIC COMMENT.

(By

“Centre.”)

The display of Rugby in the Shield match last Saturday was one of the most brilliant ever seen in the Dominion. The Bay representatives demonstrated their right to be classed as the greatest Rugby combination in Australasia to-day. By their speed, brains and their excellent defensive play, the Wellington pack were reduced to the status of a very third-rate team. Lance Johnston at five-eighths was ona of the outstanding players in the Bay team. His tackling was deadly and several tries were directly traceable to the excellent opening initiated by Johnston,,

Nepia gave the opposition something to think about when he dropped such a beauty from half-way. George was well and truly on the job last Saturday.

On one occasion Bill Irvine was seen to be acting the “goat.” It is essential that players use their heads but not as a weapon for butting an opponent, as was seen last Saturday right in front of the stand. *

Bert Grenside gave a slashing display on the wing last Saturday. Comparing this player with some others who went to England two years ago, it is hard to understand why Grenside was excluded from the All Black team.

Mark Nicholls, who has been referred to as “the biains of the All Blacks,’ was certainly not the brains of the Wellington team last week. His display all though was of a very mediocre Jim Moffitt was the outstanding player in the Wellington forwards. Barry also was much in the limelight. * # “Snowy” Svenson did not get many chance s to get away with the ball last Saturday. # Cliff Porter played his usual heady game. He was here, there and everywhere, his fielding and kicking was good, but it was evident that his leg was troubling him. H. E. Nicholls did not play up to anything like his reputation, being very weak on defence and repeatedly failed to pass cleanly. Tait, the Wellington wing threequarter is very fast, but was stopped smartly each time he got the leather. The Bay had some faster players. The confident control of the game, and the quick decisions given, spoke volumes lor the ability ot Mr. A. E. Eckhold, of Dunedin. He was up with the ball all through, and his rulings were preof of an exceptional knowledge of the code. Lt was refereeing de luxe.

“Why the H didn’t they send you Home instead of Rose,” shouted a Wellington supporter from the main stand at Saturday’s Shield match, when Blake scored his magnificent, try easily outdistancing lus opponents.

Frank M. Stout, the vice-captain of Rev. M. Mullineux’s English team in Australia in 1899, died in England on May 30. He was one of .the best forwards in the different English teams seen in Australia and New Zealand. He played a hard, clever, all-round game, being tireless, a sound scrummager and tackler. Personally, he was a fine type of sportsman. His death will be regretted by the men of his time in Australia and New Zealand, by whom he was held in high regard as player and sportsman. EXTRACT FOR “N.Z. TIMES.” (August 16th.) The Hawke’s Bay team gave a wonderful display of high-class combination, and it is therefore all the more to be regretted that the display was marred by rough tactics. Porter was one who suffered early in the game. Wilson had to retire at half-time with concussion—the result of a kick on the head. It may be claimed that football is a game for men. So it is; but the finest thing about it is the game itself. That is the first and most important thing. And Irvine’s tactics of putting his head down and diving it into the bodies of his opponents do not constitute clean football. A large amount of obstruction went unnoticed by the referee—holding on to jerseys barging into players after had got in their kick. The Hawke’s Bay team is a magnificent team, and does not need to stodp to such practices for which it is getr.ng a reputation. HAWKE’S BAY IN SEASON. BUT SOME DAY, PERHAPS 1 (By “Sinbad,’ ’in “Auckland Star.”) I’d like to sing songs of the Bay, whose feats are not easy to credit, but there is left nothing to say—the Bayites already have said it. We heard some predictions last week, which nowadays cause one to chuckle, for keenly did Wellington seek to get the Bav under its knuckle. Among the wiseacres were those, were felt fox the Shield-holders jity, while

others thought things would be close, with odds on the Capital City. Alas! When the contest took place, we had quite a different story; the pick of the hat-holding race soon found themselves battered to glory. The score of the Bay was so great, J guess it is subject to audit; yet Wellington batted for eight, and, may be, we ought to applaud it. The coveted Ranfurly Shield we, too, hoped to bag, and with reason, but though the Bay some dav may yield I fear that this isn’t the season.

WIFE (of damaged referee): Good gracious! You’re worse than you were last Saturday! KEF.: Yes, draw to-day, neither team won! ' •’’L'-'fi;:,- - . —“Passing Show.’