RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 27 September 1933, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FINAL GAMES OF SEASON. HOWLAND CUP FIXTURE. The final meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union’s management committee for the 1933 season was held last night, when Mr A. W. Thompson presided. Others present were Messrs R. E. Hatch, H. Bowler, L. G. Berry, C. C. Yates, T. Collins, E. Clevely, H. Crawford and L. J. Plank. Tire Feilding combined clubs extended an invitation to the union to be represented at a smoke concert to be held at Feilding on Friday.—The chairman intimated that it would not be possible for him to be present, at the function, but he hoped as many of the other members would attend as was possible. The Horowlienua Union wrote intimating that Paraparaumu, the winners of the junior competition in Horowlienua, would be prepared to meet the Manawatu junior champions (Old Boys) on Saturday at Palmerston North. The fixture was set down for the oval at 2.15 p.m., Mr W. Rowland to control the game as usual. The Bunnythorpe Club made application for the customary grant of £1 10s towards the cost of lighting its grounds and building.—Granted. Mr A. R. Miers, Feilding, advised that he had handed over to the Feilding Relief Committee on behalf of the union, the sum of £ls 17s 3d, being the net proceeds of the Charity Day effort at Feilding. Mr Z. Stalker, secretary of the latter committee, wrote acknowledging the donation and thanking the union for its assistance. —Received. The Wairarapa Union wrote advising that the return match with Manawatu had been set down for Masterton on Saturday. The names of three referees were furnished and Mr H. J. McKenzie was selected to control the fixture. A further letter thanked the union for the hospitality extended to its representatives on the occasion of their visit to Palmerston North. —Received. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Thompson, Hardie, and Crawford was set up to attend to any matters which might arise during the off season. The United Club directed attention to the mirtute on the book respecting the Offers Cup, and. asking that it be allotted to them as the runners-up in the senior competition. Mr Crawford pointed out that had the extra, day’s competitions been played, Kia Toa and St. Patrick’s might have worked on terms with United, who would have had the bye. At a meeting early in the season it had been decided to offer the trophy to a junior B competition, but this scheme had not been proceeded with, and the motion had been rescinded. In view of the circumstances Mr Collins moved that the cup be not allocated this season. Mr Crawford seconded the motion, which, when put to the meeting, was carried. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. Mr K. Eglinton was deputed to present, on behalf of the union, the Millar and Giorgi Cup to the Terrace End School midgets, the winning team. Mr H. Crawford was also invited by the chairman to present the trophies donated by the Kia Toa Club to the Terrace End and Hokowhitu Schools at the same time. QUEEN CARNIVAL. Mr Yates reported having represented the union at the sports bodies’ meeting in connection with the queen carnival in aid of the central relief funds, and asked what assistance the union could give. Various schemes for assisting the movement were advanced, although it was considered unfortunate that the Rugby season had virtually closed. Mr Collins suggested that a meeting of the clubs be convened for he felt that, although out of season, the Rugby clubs would be prepared to assist. It was decided t-o adopt the suggestion and the secretary was instructed to call a meeting of club secretaries for Tuesday next. , THE INTER-ISLAND GAME. RECORDS OF PLAYERS. (By “Cross Bar.”) Of the 34 players wno were assembled in Wellington' for the inter-island match on Saturday, 33 of them took the field, and thus, of the 15 who had not previously had the honour of representing their island, King, the West Coast forward, was the only one who did not gain his cap. Both Pa.ge and Mahoney had represented New Zealand without figuring in the interisland fixture, the former having worn the fern leaf during the past two years, while Mahoney toured Australia in 1929. While there was a good deal of comment about the selection of Mahoney, the Bush representative played quite an excellent game. In the ranks of the southerners, Andrews, the brilliant Canterbury forward, had participated in the inter-island matches of 1931 and 1932, but he has still to wear the fern leaf. However, a. reproduction of his form on Saturday when the trials are being held prior to the ■selection of the All Blacks to tour Australia next year will make him a “certainty.” The same remark will also apply to McKenzie, our local representative. The records of the players prior to Saturday’s match were: : — Nepia—North Island, 1924-25, New Zealand 1924-25-29-30. Oliver—South Island 1926-28-31-32, New Zealand 1928-29. Kilby—South Island 1926, North Island 1927-31-32, New Zealand 1928-32. Lilburne —South Island 1927-29, North Island 1931-32, New Zealand 1928-29-^O-31-32. Hore —South Island 1927-31-32, New Zealand 1928-30-32. Steere—North Island 1928-29-31-32, New Zealand 1928-29-30-31-32. McLean—North Island 1929-31-32, New Zealand 1930-32. Cottrell —South Island 1929-31-32, New Zealand 1929-30-31-32. Solomon —North Island 1931-32, New Zealand 1931-32. Hart—South Island, 1931-32. New Zealand 1930-31-32. Andrews—South Island 1931-32. Max—South Island 1931-32, New Zealand 1931-32. Purdue—South Island, 1931-32, New Zealand 1931-32. Manchester —South Island, 1931-32, New Zealand 1932. Metcalfe —South Island 1931-32, New Zealand 1931-32. Caughey—North Island 1932, New Zealand 1932. Bullock-Douglas—North Island 193132, New Zealand 1932. Clarke—-North Island 1932, New Zealand 1932.

Holder—South Island 1932, New Zealand 1932. Mahoney—New Zealand 1929. Pago—-New Zealand 1931-32. Granger, H. Smith, Dunne, Fong, Scandrett, L. George. Cooper, W. Hadley, Leeson, Fuller, McKenzie, and Killeen hud not previously played for the North or Soutli Island or for Now Zealand. King has still to wear the plain white jersey of the South Island. NEPIA’S RETURN. The return of George Nepia to big football created considerable interest at Athletic Park, and the smiling Wai-

roa native showed that he was not a great deal removed from the Nepia of old, even if some of his dash was not sustained. It had been reported that Nepia Had hopes of again finding inclusion in the next All Black side, presumably tlmt which will tour Australia next season, for it appears to be expecting too much to hope that be can retain his form till 1936 when the team will visit Britain. Even if lie is lost to Dominion ranks hereafter, his record will live for many years, for it was away back in 1922 that he Erst took the field for Hawke’s Bay. He continued to represent Hawke’s Bay till 1926, in which year he transferred to the East Coast and he has been playing for the Coast Union since. He was chosen for the North Island to meet tlie South in 1924 and 1925, and his display in the 1924 match was sufficient to carry him into the 1924 All Blacks side which toured England. Nepia played in every one of the 30 games contested during this tour, and compiled a total ot 70 points. The represented New Zealand again in 1925, 1929 and 1930, the latter year, of course, being that in which the Britishers were hero. He lias scored a total of 89 points for New Zealand, made up of one try, 34 conversions aud six penalties. Hawke’s Bay Rugby followers have vivid memories of Nepia’s displays during the period when the Bay held the Ranfurly Shield. In game after game his remarkable kicking proved of the greatest assistance to the representative team, and tho statement has been made by one writer that had lie been as consistent as he was brilliant lie would have broken ail records. Few who witnessed the incident will forget the occasion in 1923, while Hawke’s Bay were playing Wuirarapa, when, with rain falling in torrents, he hoisted a penalty goal from the halfway line and right out on the side-line. The ball was as heavy as iead, and the kick was made against the wind. Another tremendous feat which will long be remembered occurred when Hawke’s Bay were playing Wellington in 1926, when Nepia took a mark at halfway and dropped tlie ball over the bar with ease. Cliff Porter aud Mark Nicliolls, members of tlie opposing team, said at the time that this was the biggest drop-kick they lmd ever seen. The presence of Fuller in the North Island team prevented the public from ascertaining whether Nepia retained his old-time place-kicking ability, but he did show by his drop-outs in the first spell, when lie bad the wind at his back, that he could still send the leather remarkable distances, while his great raking punts were little short ot remarkable, either with or against the wind. Nepia appeared to be anxious to take the drop-outs in the second spell, but Kilby would wave him back, the black skipper probably fearing a long return which would find the last line of defence unprotected. Then in tho closing moments Nepia ricked his back in a fall after getting in a kick. All enthusiasts will hope that the mishap is slight and that the versatile Maori will be found still filling a prominent role next season. HISTORIC RUGBY MATCH. The following exerpts which were taken from an English periodical of comparatively recent date will prove of interest to present-day readers, who will no doubt refuse to believe that football away back in 1905-6 was as fast a,s it is to-day. The report reads: —■

Old-time Rugby followers are in agreement that the fastest and most thrilling match of all time was that between Wales and New Zealand, at Cardiff in 1906. Wales won by a solitary try, scored by Dr. Teddy Morgan, and it afterwards leaked out that tlie movement which led to the score had been secretly rehearsed a week or so before tlie game. The plan was that when a scrum was formed on the cheap side of the field, providing tho ball came out to the Welsh halves, all the three-quarters, with the exception of Morgan, should move off in the direction of the grandstand and then towards tlie All Blacks’ goal-line. Morgan had orders to keep a straight course and to be ready for a reverse pass. The dash towards the other side ol the field by Morgan’s comrades had the intended effect. The New Zealanders ran across to meet the supposed attack. Then, hey, presto! A reverse pass, according to plan, reached Morgan, who was already gathering speed, and the little wing just managed to reach the line as he was being tackled by opponents, who saw through the clever manoeuvre a tick too late. The scene that followed baffles description. Hats, Sticks, and umbrellas went up into the air, regardless oi expense. What did it matter? Wales had won. It was the first and only, defeat ol the tourists. Just prior to that score, Willie Llewellyn, the Welsh right wing, burst into tears when he missed a difficult pass, which gives an idea of the tension. The match started in an electrified atmosphere. The weird war-cry of the tourists, as they came on the field had scarcely stopped when G wyn Nicliolls, the Welsh captain, called his men around him and solemnly started the singing of “Land of Our Fathers’’ (the Welsh National Anthem). It was taken lip with tremendous fervour by the 45,000 spectators, and was followed by an exultant cheer. The will to win was there, and the fever spread through the Welsh nation. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH. TREATMENT OF SOUTHERNERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. At a meeting of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union this evening, the chairman, Mr J. Prendeville, referred to a remark made by Mr Moloney at the last meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Union to the effect that the South Island team had not been properly looked after in Wellington. The Wellington Union, said Mr Prendeville, had made a point every time the inter-Island match had been played here of appointing members of the management committee as managers of both teams and this practice had been followed last week. Mr H. D. Morgan said be thought Mr Moloney’s idea was that the manager should have met the South Island team at Christchurch. Mr Prendeville said this would not have been much (rood, as members of the South Island team came bv different routes. “Statements of the sort that Mr Moloney made are very unfair,” the chairman concluded, “and are apt to provoke bitter replies.”