RUGBY CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 226, 24 August 1932, Page 9

RUGBY CONTROL

MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. LOWER GRADE WINNERS. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Alanawatu Rugby District Council was held last night, when Air J. A. Colquhoun presided. Others present were Alessrs Alackie, Crawford, Thompson, Penney, Bowler, ILgnds, AlcHerron, Yates and Clevely. Apologies were received from Alessrs Pagan and Hardie. The Horowhenua Council wrote accepting September 3 as the date of the junior representative fixture. It was suggested that, if not played as a curtain-raiser, the game start at 2.30 p.in. —lt was decided to stage the match at 1.30 p.m. as a curtain-raiser to the senior game. Relative to the Rowlands Cup game to decide the junior championship between the Horowhenua and Manawatu Councils, it was decided to offer Saturday next ns the date of the match, which will be played at Palmerston North.

The Alanawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association advised that Alessrs Al. A. Eliott (president), L. B. Wall and J. E. Carter had been constituted a sub-committee to discuss more fully the proposal to hold an art union with the council.—Referred to Air R. Hardie to arrange a meeting.

The Feilding Club wrote advising that it was in no way connected with the complaint lodged by the Feilding Old Boys Club against the referee who controlled the game between Feilding Old Boys and Kin, Toa on August 13. “We wish to state,” added the writer, “that we have no complaints to make against any referee we have played under and we are always pleased with the refereeing of Air Hancock. The team also wishes to dissociate itself from anything against the referee coming from the side line or the stand.”—The letter was received. EVIDENCE LACKING.

The referee (Air Hancock) reported i T. I’awson, of the Feilding Old Boys i Club, for certain remarks lie allegedly ; passed to him, both on and off the field on the occasion of the match, Feilding Old Boys v. Kia Toa, on Saturday, August 13. 1 Tile report was presented last week, but was held over to permit of the player being instructed to attend, i’awson, who attended, stated that he had not been conscious of having used tlie remarks complained of on the field nor had he been warned. He had not spoken to or within the hearing of Air Hancock after the game, having dressed in a totally different part of the stand. Air Penney stated that he could 1 vouch for Dawson's statement relative to alter the match. Air Hands moved, and it was seconded by Air Bowler, that further information he secured from the referee, evidence being lacking. The chairman remarked that on the evidence before the meeting, it appeared to ha a case of mistaken identity. INTER-CLUB WINNERS. The third grade competition was declared closed with Kelvin Springboks the winners, while in the fourth grade Woodville were declared tho winners, it was decided to commence a sudden-death competition in the third grade, tho arranging of a draw for Saturday being left in the hands of the secretary. It was reported that two third grade teams had attended at Park Road on Saturday, but the game had not eventuated owing to the referee failing to turn up. It was decided to request the Referees’ Association for an explanation. The usual grant of £2 2s was made to the Woodville Club towards the cost of lighting their ground for practice purposes. THE GAAIE AM) ITS PLAYERS. (By “Cross Bar.”) Woodviile have won both tho junior and fourth grade competitions this season. The local Technical School has won the fifth grade competition for tho second year in succession and the sixth grade lor the third successive year. Tho half-time rule was “buried” with all due ceremony at Wanganui on Saturday when the Police and Press had their annual charity match. Tho band played a “funeral” march, while • a “wreath” was deposited on the “gravo.”

“Curly” Fletcher played for Auckland B against South Auckland. The latter combination fielded a strong forward division and the city players scraped home by two points. J. Lo Quesne, the Alassey College

and Alanawatu skipper, met witli a leg injury in the first trial match against Horowhenua and he was compelled to undergo an operation during tho vacation. He is still on crutches, but hopes to be able to discard them in the near future. Auckland’s lull-back, R. G. Bush, is a son of George Bush, an Old Canterbury and Wellington representative forward. Bush, junr., has also played for Otago.

A suggestion, in the south, that Southland has tho best provincial pack of Rugby forwards in New Zealand at

the present time, seems to he well based.

Although their first match was played 57 years ago, Canterbury and Auckland have mot on only 21 occasions. Auckland has won 13 to Canterbury’s six, two having been drawn. Tho forwards of the Southland Rugby team which beat Auckland’s touring side by 32 points to 8 at Invercargill averaged over eight pounds a man heavier than their opponents. The average weight of the Auckland packmen was 13st 111). A South African Rugby team, under the management of Paul Roos, is at present touring South America. In its opening match at Buenos Aires it defeated the Argentine by 18 points to 5.

The English League side have “silent obstruction,” as they term it, and shepherding down to a fine art. They tried these tactics at Alomoa Park and on several occasions were penalised. It is a curious reflection that although both Otago and Souhland have beaten the Canterbury and Auckland teams which have been on tour, neither have a match for the Ranfurly Shield this year, yet the teams they have beaten played for the shield on Saturday. Carl Aarvold, who captained the British Rugby team in three of its lour Tests in New Zealand in 1930, and who was captain of England in the past Rugby season at Home, is to captain the Blackheatli Club, oldest of all Rugby clubs, next season. 'Hie Nelson representative Rugby team is training hard for its Seddon Shield game with Boiler on Saturday. The Buller team so far have won all their matches easily. Nelson are going to Groymouth with a very big reputation and a very close game is anticipated. Auckland were the first holders oi the Ranfurly Shield, from 1902 to 1904. They lost the shield to Wellington in 1904 and won it hack the following season, then holding possession until 1913, when Taranaki lifted the trophy. Auckland have not had possession since that season.

The outstanding player for Otago University in tho Dunedin club final was Ken Uttley, who started his football career at AVairarapa High School, where his father was principal. Uttley, who plays centre three-quarter, is on the small side, blit has played brilliantly at times, and in the final he was largely responsible for University gaining the winning points. His father, Dr George Uttley, played for Otago many years ago. Under tho heading “The Wrong Horse,” a Rugby writer in the London Daily Herald says: “New Zealand Rugby people are backing the wrong horse if they will persist in trying to convert the authorities at Home to acknowledge the principle of replacing injured players during a match—a practice recognised Down Under. Veiled threats of a ‘firm stand’ and a ‘very definite protest’ by the New Zealanders will only cause them to become the laughing stock of Home players. Rugby is a game with luck playing a very important part, as in all games. When players become automatons and go on and off the field like numbers out of an adding machine, then the very spirit of the Rugby game ceases to live. The idea is not in keeping with a country which has in the past proved so adept at the handling code.” Commenting upon the fluctuating fortunes of the teams competing in the Dunedin competitions this season, a southern writer states that the ’Varsity backs were sound, but their real strength lay in one of the best packs University has fielded for some years, with Hartnell, Hamilton and Service, all Otago representatives, as the pick. Hamilton is a nephew of the late Don Hamilton, who represented Southland and Auckland at cricket and Southland and New Zealand at Rugby.—“ Cross Bar” can recall the time when two Invercargill Clubs, Britannia and Pirates (if be mistakes not) declined to take the field when ordered to dp so one wretched day with the result that they were disqualified. An attempt was made to get the League code going in Invercargill with the result that those who participated were disqualified for life. Ned Hughes, who got back into Rugby during the war, was a member of tho Britannia Club, while Hamilton was of the other club. Hughes had represented New Zealand in 1907 and 1908, while Hamilton also wore the black jersey in the latter year, but, whereas Hughes got hack into the Rugby ranks during the war to again represent New Zealand in 1921, Hamilton, who was one of tho longest place kickers “Cross Bar” can recall, was lost to the code.

While it is probably little known, the Buller Union, who are to oppose Canterbury in a Ranfurly Shield match, had a tilt for the trophy some vears ago when Auckland were the holders. On that occasion the AYest Coasters had to go hv coastal boat direct to Auckland, but the long trip under indifferent conditions did not meet with its reward, the holders winning by 21 —6. That was away back in 1907.

WAIRARAI’A’S ELECT.

TO OPPOSE AIANAWHENUA

The following Wairarapa team has been selected to oppose Manawhenua at Mnsterton on Saturday:—.Bullback, L. Roach; three-quarters, Johnson, Burgess, Stringfellow; five-eighths, llimona, Devine; half-back, Nunn; front row, Iveeble, McClamont, Reid; second row, McGregor, M. Devine, Walker, Flutey; third row, M. Parker.

MANA WHEN U A’S DEFECTIONS. Two defections liave been announced where the Manawhenua .team is concerned, Le Quesne, who was to have led the side, and Henry, a fellow forward, being both unable to take tho field on account of leg injuries. The Manawhenua team will depart tor Masterton by bus on Saturday morning, leaving at 9 o’clock. Advice has been received locally that the Wairarapa Union has agreed to play the return match with Mnnawhenua at Palmerston North on September 10.

INTER-COLLEGE TOURNAMENT.

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 23. In the annual triangular Rugby tournament between tho Catholic colleges, St. Patrick’s College (Silverstream) defeated St. Patrick’s (Wellington) by 11 points to nil. The winners take the championship, having previously beaten St. Redo’s bv 15 points to nil.