RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 17 May 1933, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYER. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby District Council was held last night, when Mr A. W. Thompson presided. Others present were: Messrs F. D. Mackie, L. J. Plank, M. Murray, H. Bowler, H. J. Hickey, R. E. Hatch, H. Crawford, J. R. Hardie, C. C. Yates, K. Eglinton and E. Clevely. The secretary of the Rata Football Club applied for a clearance on behalf of J. Hodge, a former United player now resident in Rata. —Granted. The United Club wrote explaining that its third grade team had been compelled to default to Woodville on April 29 under the following circumstances: —At the time appointed to start there were seven players ready, but the referee stated that a team had to field at least eight players before it could play. Mr Carruthers, a member of the executive, had endeavoured to get the players to play at least 15 minutes each way to avoid a default, but the players preferred to abide by the referee’s ruling.—On the motion of Mr Eglinton, seconded by Mr Hardie, the letter will be referred to the Woodville Club to determine whether the latter is still desirous of making its claim for expenses. The United Club made application for the transfer of L. Findlay from the Ivia Toa senior team.—The chairman pointed out that no reasons for the transfer had been'given and he considered that the wholesale granting of transfers should not be permitted. Mr Hatch mentioned that Findlay was a former West End player and was now desirous of going back to his old club. On the suggestion of Mr Eglinton it was decided that Findlay be asked for an explanation of the grounds on which he is seeking a transfer. The Feilding Old Boys Club sought a ruling on the question whether Mitchell, who had played for Grafton while on holiday in Auckland, would be eligible to play for the club on Saturday. Mitchell was an old member of the club and it was understood that the Feilding Club would protest on the grounds that Mitchell was not qualified owing to the fact that he had not fulfilled the residential clause. Mr Eglinton considered that the residential clause did not enter into the matter, for Mitchell was a bona fide member of the Feilding Old Boys’ Club. This opinion was -supported by Messrs Crawford and Hardie, while Mr Bonder added that he did not think the Feilding Club entertained for a moment the entering of a protest against Mitchell. It was decided to inform the Feilding Old Boys’ Club that the council raised no objection to the playing of Mitchell on Saturday. The Railway Football Club, Palmerston North, wrote entering a junior team in the seven-aside tournament on June 3. The chairman pointed out that the club was not affiliated and the application was accordingly declined. The Feilding Club made application for the transfer of C. Hartley from the Waituna Club, S. Gunning, of the Kimbolton Club, and C. Hight from the Bulls Club.—Acceded to. SEVEN-ASIDE TOURNEY.

Mr Yates presented a report on the enquiries made concerning trophies at the seven-aside tourney on June 3, together with specimens of suitable trophies. Following upon some discussion it was decided to award miniature cups to the senior and 'junior winning teams and framed photographs to the winning third grade team. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES.

Mr T. Collins, who was unable to be present, furnished a written report on the business transacted at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union aiid on the dates for representative matches arranged by him. Referring to the tentative date of August 23 for the representative match versus 'Wanganui, Mr Hardie suggested that overtures be made to Wanganui to transfer the fixture to either September 2 or 9 (Saturdays), for the benefit of Saturday patrons, the speaker adding that Wednesday fixtures were not successful financially. Failing those dates, some other Saturday earlier in the season be sought. It was decided to make overtures accordingly. Regret was expressed by Mr Eglinton at the inability of Taranaki to fulfill the annual fixtures, Mr Hardie explaining that Taranaki would be touring south this year and a halt in Palmerston North was not possible. Appreciation was voiced by the chairman of the very able manner in which Mr Collins had represented Manawatu at the annual meeting. In referring to the “divorce” of the parties to the Manawhenua Union, the chairman stated that a pleasing feature had been the happy manner in which the negotiations leading up to the “divorce” had . been carried through. He felt certain that Manawatu would now go on to greater heights. GENERAL.

Owing to the members of the three Woodviile teams being engaged in different capacities at the Jubilee meeting of the Woodviile Jockey Club on May 27, Mr Mackie asked whether it would be possible to have the fixtures postponed. Mr Mackie asked whether it would .be possible to have the fixtures postponed. Mr Murray added that probably 23 members would be affected. Mr Eglinton pointed out that tho council had recently declined an application for postponement by the -Feilding High School. Mr Crawford, in stressing that it was an exceptional occasion, expressed the opinion that the club should be met if at all possible. Mr Plank moved and Mr Hickey seconded that the request be acceded to. When put to the meeting the motion was carried, the fixtures to be played at the end of the season if necessary. Mr Yates, in pointing out that now Manawatu was again a separate entity, there would .be keen competition for places in the representative team, said it might be fitting for the council to consider furnishing players with a monogram for blazers. He did not suggest that the council should furnish the blazers, but only the badges. Further, rules could be introduced to govern the number of matches to be played before players were entitled to a badge. Mr Hickey: What about caps ? ■ Mr Crawford : All these little things are making inroads on the council’s finances. The chairman: The suggestion may be well worthy of consideration later in the season. The matter was deferred accordingly. An application from the United Club for the regrading of B. L. De Cleene from junior to third grade was granted. FIXTURES FO RSATURDAY. The following fixtures, grounds and referees for Saturday next were approved : , _ Senior grade.—Feilding Old Boys v. Feilding, No. 1 Johnston Park, Feilding, 3 p.ni., Mr I). Heggie; United v. St. Patrick’s, Oval, Showgrounds,'3 p.ip., Mr J. Holman; Massey College v. Old Boys, Oval, Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m., Mr H. Hughes; Kia Toa a bye. Junior Grade.—United v. Old Boys, No 5 Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr G. Cooksley; St. Patrick’s v. Linton, No. 4 Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m., Mr A. Gordon; High School v. Massey College, No. 4 Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr S. McGaffin; Kia Toa v. Woodviile, Recreation Ground, Woodviile, 3 p.m.,

Mr L. Cope; Bunnythorpe v. Feilding Old Boys, Bunnythorpe, 2 p.m., Mr G. Duthie; Feilding v. Batteries, No. 2 Johnston Park, Feilding, 3' p.m., Mr H. Hope. Third Grade.—Massey College v. Woodville, No. 2 ground, Woodville, 3 p.m., Mr H. Dorrington; St. Patrick’s v. Kia Toa, No. 1 Park Road, 3 p.m., Mr L. Holdsworth; Feilding High School v. Kelvin Springboks, •High School ground, Feilding, 3 p.m., Mr G. Elstone; Old Boys v. United, No. 1 Park Road, 1.30 p.m., Mr A. Weston. Fourth Grade.—Woodville v. Kia Toa, No. 2 Park Road, 3 p.m., Mr C. White; High School v. Feilding High School to be played later; Bunnythorpe a bye. PARS ABOUT PLAYERS. CULLED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. (By “Cross Bar.”) The first Rugby international between England and Scotland was played 62 years ago. E. Chin, the former High School Slayer, is assisting ’Varsity B in the ►unedin competitions this season. Although a light type of forward, G. McNeile, the Old Boys forward of last season is reported to be playing fine football in Wellington this year. It would almost appear as though his doubtful knee is keeping “Curly” Fletcher out of the game this season, for a perusal of the teams participating in Auckland failed to disclose his name. The local Old Boys could well do with his services.

The lightest man who ever played Rugby for New Zealand was A. L. Humphries, the Taranaki half-back, who weighed 9st. 0. Knox, the former Otago hooker, is coaching the Alhambra senior ' fifteen in the Edinburgh of the South this season.

Fred Fuller, the former Wairarapa wing-tliree-quarter, who is now stationed in VVellington, has been in great scoring mood this season, and has contributed the major portion of the points scored by Eastbourne. The sole selector idea is stiil popular, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury having all decided on sole selectors this season. Southland and Otago each have appointed committees of three.

Old Boys caused the first major upset in the Canterbury Rugby Union’s senior competition for the present season when they defeated Sydenham, last year’s champions, by 11-6 on Saturday. 1 ‘ It was extremely doubtful on many occasions in the senior games at the Showgrounds on Saturday whether the letter of the law was not broken by the player putting the ball into the scrum, for repeatedly it went straight to the feet of his own hookers.

At the close of the third Saturday’s play last season Feilding Old Boys had registered 14 tries, 12 goals from tries and two penalty goals. Although they won their second game this year by default, their total again stands at 14 tries; but instead of having 12 goals from tries they have only six conversions.

At the conclusion of their third game last season the junior combinations of Bunnythorpe, St. Patrick’s, Old Boys and United had won all three matches. At the same stage this year there are only three unbeaten teams— Bunnythorpe, Kia Toa and High School. ■

C. Lowndes, one of the five-eighths in the Australian University team, is a member of a Gisborne family. He has played for Gisborne High School and the Otago ’Varsity. In 1931 lie was the New Zealand University lightweight boxing champion. The importan'ce of developing hooking ability:• in the set scrums was strikingly demonstrated at the Showgrounds) on Saturday, for the combinations- winning the ball sot ,the tune. The scoring totals would have been much more even had the honours in the - hooking department been better divided. It should be a great battle for possession when Kia Toa and Feilding Old Boys meet. J.. • Harris, the brilliant full-back for Christchurch Old Boys up to 1925, who was in the running to be selected before .G. Nepia for the English tour of the 1924 All Blacks, is coach of the Old. Boys in Christchurch this season.

The Wellington Club’s senior fifteen contains three products of the Southland Boys’ High School. They are Frank Kilby (last yearjs All Black captain, who lias represented Southland, Wellington, Taranaki and Wanganui, as well as both islands), It. Page (All Black of the last two years), and E. H. Diack (who has represented Southland, Otago and Marlborough). The Otago University A team hj.ve put up a record this season in scoring only four points off a century in three games, with only 15 points recorded against them. So far they have' not met very strong opposition, and the first real test of their strength will probably, come in the match with Southern on Saturday. It is stated that G. D. Innes may secure a teaching position away from Christchurch at an early date. He was away from Christchurch on Saturday and Sydenham backs missed the direction and thrust he gives their movements. Canterbury will also inlss his solidity in Ranfurly Shield matches later in the year if Innes is successful in obtaining a position outside Canterbury. It was largely the Lancashire Rugby team’s own fault that it was beaten by Hampshire in the final match for the English county Rugby championship, at Bournemouth, a few weeks ago, states an English critic. The Lancashire men began slackly, both forward. and back, and gave tho Hampshire forwards and scrum half too much scope. Within ten minutes of the start of the match Hampshire scored and converted two tries. Those were the only tries of the game, the remainder of Hampshire’s 18 points consisted of two drop-kicked goals from play. Lancashire scored seven points, by means of a dropped goal and a penalty goal. For the last twenty-five minutes of the game Lancashire was a man short. The international Rugby match in which Ireland beat Wales by 10 points (a drop-kicked goal from play, a try, and a penalty goal) to 5 (a converted try), at Belfast, is reported to have been a poor one. The London Times comments that “it might bo said that the better side won, but those who watched would find it hard to say in what Ireland was the better.” The Times also says it is true that the Irishmen did not look like scoring more than the one try they got, and that was a rather fluky one. From a perusal of several descriptions of the match it appears, on the whole, that Ireland won because its forwards were livelier than the Welsh forwards, and because there was no real brain-work in the Welsh attack. The dates for the final trials at Newlands for the Springbok Rugby team to play the Wallabies in the first Test match are June 21, 22, and 24. At this time the tourists will be in Rhodesia, so that all the South African possibles will be available and not engaged in provincial fixtures Preliminary trials will be held at East London on May 25 and 27. At these trials laading players from Border, Eastern Province, South-Western Districts, North Easterns Free State and probably Griqualand West and Western Transvaal, will appear before the

selectors. From these, fifteen players will be chosen for tho final trials in Capetown. Another fifteen will be selected from Transvaal and Natal, and these thirty together with about thirty from Western Province will make up the four teams to play at Newlands. The first Test will lie played at Capetown on July 8,