RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 April 1922, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Secretaries of all clubs &re asked to he careful to send their teams for Saturday's matches <at the latest by Thursday morning., so that all team's anay appear together. It will be a convenience to the paper, and will also assist clubs -and be of interest to the public if they know they can get this information two days before the weekly matches-. £»Ast Saturday's game between Hawera seniors and Imlay was not taken very seriously by the local players, who easily established their superiority over the visitors, .but it served to give an indication of the possibilities of the Hawera team this season. Let it be said at once that ■the team is likely to be very strong -when its players get into their stride. The forwards did not have serious ■opposition to meet, but Fogurty, West, and Osborne were frequently in evidence, Osborne showing a good turn of sjieed at times. Purcell, who comes from the Bay of Plenty district, did some c;ocd work, and was quick at cutting in whenever lie saw an opportunity. Atkins, at half, was able to pick up ' the ball cleanly behind the scrum, but le will need to get rid of it quicker if he is to make the best of his chances. Robertson showed good form, but was also rather slow in passing, and frequently passed too low. Whittington did not have a great "deal to do, and was collared too soon to break away as one has seen him do in the past. Wilkinson was in fine trim, and did the bulk of the scoring, his pace carrying him through the opposition without much trouble. His best effort was when he gathered in the ball and beat four men, one after the other, reaching the -lane, only to be called back foi a forward pass by another player in midfield. Hughes, at full back, was safe, and the opposing players had little chance of passing him. There are two playing grounds laid <aff this season, running north-east and sonth-west. At the ends there is not much to spare—about 10 or 12 yards— but the new arrangement should enable the games to be played with less influence from the strong winds which used to affect the play when '.he ground was marked off in the old direction-north-west and south-east. The absence of the full margin between the goal line and the dead ball line, however; will perhaps be found a disadvantage, and probably for representative macches the old arrangement of the ground will have to be reverted to. The various clubs in South Taranaki are full T)f enthusiasm, and keen rivalry is anticipated, though the opinion was freely stated among followers of the game last Saturday that Hawera has a team this season that will take' a lot of stopping. The match with Opunake at Haewra to-day is expected to prove a good tussle, as the Opunake team has - many keen young players, and is said to be considerably stronger chan it was last season. We shall be very pleased if clubs will send to the Star Office as early as possible .after matches are played the results and names of scorers to publish, especially Junior and lower grade matches. Very great interest is ; displayed by the public, and they are very to get results as early as pussible. The scheme, therefore, inaugurated last season of having results available on Saturday evening will be eentpusd, and we trust that clubs will Jielp u.g in this matter. Jji? jSaponga s©nnnittee arc taking a good s£an<l in insisting that tneir teams shall train and practise. There are, no doubt, difficulties" to bfl faced by country clubs in this direction, much more sq than city sluus, but it is -quite certain that more ffllght be done than lias been the case in the past if players "will loyally and enthusiastically second.the efforts made by secretaries and Xiommlfiees.. Such efforts will be for their own good and for the good of the 'club and the sport generally." It will lead to better football, and thus foster the game and increase the interest of the public, without whose • support the game would die. The betting .evil at football matches " was strongly commented upon at a recent meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Union. One speaker declared that last season he saw men in the dressingsheds among ' players with money in hand enquiring if anyone wanted to bet. It was also reported that bookmakers operated on the ground. The union decided to take drastic action to prevent a recurrence this season. "Rambler," in the f Sydney Referee, fiays that the Rugby Union authorities in Sydney intend to buzz in the coming winter. _ The activity of the League has shown them the necessity of being up and doing. A result is that a glittering programme may be provided. Mr Hnderson, a great admirer of the Maori footballer, is eager to see another native combinatin cross the Tasman. He was instrumental in getting the New South Wales Union to communicate with the New Zealand Union with the view of arranging such a visit.