RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 16 May 1925, Page 12

RUGBY NOTES

NEWS' AND PARS OF INTEREST

CULLED FROM ALL SOURCES. (By Cross-Bar.” Sheehan, the Marist- (Wellington) fiveeighths, has been transferred to Invercargill. Svenson, the All Black and Athletic (Wellington) player is reported to be a vastly improved exponent of the game, with a versatility in attack almost unknown in him before'his visit, to Britain. E. A. Beilis, who at ono stage was in the riming for the All Blacks team which toured Britain, is reported to be as keen as ever. lie is helping his old club, Hautapu, at Taihape. Jack Steel, the New Zealand wing three-quarter, is still with tho Star Club on tiie Coast and turned out on opening day. L. Cockroft, the Western United wing three-quarter, is at present to be numbered among hors-de-combat. Ills absence will be felt by the red and blacks.

R. Bell, who played for New Zealand against New South Wales in 1923, but who faded out at the time of the trials last year, is reported to bo playing well down Invercargill way.

N. McDonald, _ who has been nominated by Southland for the trials this year, played for 'Otago last season and gave a good display in Die southern trials. 11. G. Munro, due of the unlucky members of the All Black team on its recent tour has again run into trouble, for while playing for University at Dunedin a fortnight ago, he received a knock and had to leave the field.

W. Elvcy, one of Canterbury’s nominated men for this year’s All Blacks, was facing Robilliard. the 1924-25 All Black in the Linwood-Chrislchurch match a fortnight ago,, and was stated to have emerged with the margin of honours in his favour.

Webb, fhe Otago Universitw threequarter, scored five tries for his club against Southern • lo'st. Saturday. “Jock” Murray, as centre, provided most of the openings. Both these players were fancied in Otago for the All Black tourists last season.

.Otago has nominated Wise and Dickson for the All Black team to tour Australia.

“Cross-Bar” jumped to the conclusion that the latter .was identical with Dickinson, tho former All Black, who was out of tlie game last year owing to injuries. It however proves to bo a University player, who incidentally won the match for ’Varsity against Alhambra by kicking two penalty goals. Dickinson, tho writer finds, is not playing this season.

The result of last Saturday’s games in Christchurch leaves Linwood in the lead, but (he general l “fancy” has not been established yet. Not for years has the competition boon closer. Suehteams as Albion and North Canterbury, which have suffered a lean period, now are on the upgrade, reaping the benefit of experience. Dunedin University A team had a cicee call at the hands of Alhambra last Saturday, only two points separating the teams when the final whistle sounded. One. try and two ppnulty goals lo a penally and a “potted” goal were the scores. Kaikorai made hacks of Union at Dunedin last Saturday, running up the big score of 61 points to three. MeMeeking, the former All Black, opened the scoring. There is a prospect of the Wniroa SubUnion, whose representatives defeated Hawke's Bay last season, visiting Palmerston North this year.

Nepia and Paewai assisted Aotea. lo defeat Ruahine by 24 —6 in the Dannevirke competitions last week. Seven thousand spectators watched Athletic lower Petone’s colours at Wellington on Saturday last, the two All Blacks, Porter and Svenson, playing no small part to that end. Tho Levin Wanderers, who proved successful in a friendly game versus Western United prior to the season opening, have apparently found their early activities of value, for they annexed a victory over the county team in the Ilorovlienua senior grade last, Saturday. Despite the fact that they fi' , "dcd r>. »<*ak team, the blacks ran out winners l.iy £—C. Alarton District High School defeated Wanganui Technical School last week by 19 points to three. Although over-weight-ed. the Marlon rearguard gave a brilliant exhibition, throwing the ball übout with great freedom. In its tremendous puce from kick-off to finish, and its extraordinary vicissitudes, with first one team leading and then the other, and ’Varsity, with half the second spell gone and six points behind, for all that, by sheer determination, drawing level and then winning, the ’Varsity versus Oriental game at Wellington last Saturday was considered club Rugby at its best. In the I-lawke’s Bay third grade competitions Technical 0.8. A. team ran up a total of 52 points against H. 5.0.8. B's., while in the same series Pirates compiled 40 points as against H. 5.0.8. A’s three. The referring in the local games to date has been excellent, while it is pleasing to note Hie almost entire absence of talking bv players on the field. The "new tule of rhe kicker being allowed to place the ball on the occasion of a free kick or from a score came into force on Saturday and. should assist in tile correction of what hns been little short of lamentable —the wretched goal kicking. In this respect it might be better for the club to persevere with one kicker rather than change tho kicker following a failure, onlv to bring the same player back later. Such tactics have been evidenced at the Showgrounds on the past two plajing days. New rules will govern the Moascar Cup this year. All challenges must bo sent to the New Zealand Rugby Union by June 30, and all matches will be played before the third school term. The holders are not to be compelled to play more than four matches, and the New Zealand .Union will decide which schools shall be given the right of a challenge match.

CUTTING THE PAINTER.

QUESTION OF RUGBY MANAGEMENT.

NEW ZEALAND DISSATISFIED.

“Candidly. 1 am very disappointed,” remarked Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the management ggmitleo omf the New Zealand Kugby Union, when advice was received at this week’s meeting from the English Rugby. Union to the effect that the proposal to set up an. Imperial Rugby Advisory Board had not been entertained, but that it had been suggested that a conference should be held in London every three years. “When we receive treatment such as this,” declared 'Mr Dean, “I think it is time that New Zealand seriously considered the advisability of cancelling affiliation with the English Rugby Union.” He went on to state that a conference was of no value to New Zealand whatever, as the delegates at such a gathering had no power. Mr E. Wylie pointed out that New Zealand had never suggested that an Imperial Rugby Board should be set up. The letter from the English Rugby Union, dated April 8, read as follows: “At a committee meeting held on Friday last the report of the International Board, which met on March 20. with regard to the Imperial Rugby Advisory Board Was read and agreed to. The minute of the board read as follows: “That it is not desirable that an Imperial Rugby Advisory Board should be formed on the lines suggested by the Now Zealand Union, but that it is advisable that an Imperial Rugby football conference should lie held at intervals of not less than three years, in the months of November or December, to consider any suggested amendment of the laws of the game and the rulings thereunder, and that it is dosirnbie that when practicable the representatives of the colonies should be then living in the colony they represent, such conference to he held in London. That the first conference be held in November or December, 1927, and be called by the hon. secretary of the International Board, the expenses of all representatives attending to be borne by their respective unions. That the members of the conference shall consist of the members of tiie International Board and of two representatives of each of the following Rugby unions:—New Zealand, New South Wales, and South Africa.” Messrs S. S. Dean. A. C. Kitto, E. Wylie, and T. A. Fletcher were appointed a sub-committee to consider the English union’s letter.