THEY'RE OFF!

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2670, 2 May 1925, Page 8

THEY'RE OFF!

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER WAY. FOUR GRADES START TO-DAY. (By “PON^Y.”) The senior, junior, third and fourthgare competitions of the Manawatu Rugby Football Union commence today There has been a good deal of conjecture as to the personnel ol the various senior teams, as the intervention of Anzac Day prevented an early start and the clubs have not known until practically the last minute who would comprise their first fifteens. Keen Rivals,

At the Palmerston North Showground Old Boys and Western-United will meet on the oval at 3 o’clock. The sides are: —Old Boys: Barling. McArthur, Brophy, Palmer, Evans, Akuira, Nicholson, Stewart, Snell, Anderson, Seeker, Guy, Smith, Trcmcwan, Gledinning (wing). Four new faces in the rearguard will bo those of McArthur, Palmer, Evans and Nicholson. The first-named was a Wellington rop. wing three-quarter in 1910, 1919 and 1920 —an old Poncks player. Palmer is Harry of that ilk who made a name, for himself as a

Manawatn junior represenative last season Kvans is the 1023 High •School half who played senior for Westerns in 1024 and won a place in j,he Groen-and-whites, playing a fine game at No. 1 against Taranaki at Stratford Nicholson is a South Island player with a reputation as a scrumhalf. Of the now forwards Snell (Old Boys), Smith (Old Boys) and Trcmcwan (School) were juniors last season while Guy got his “black-and-white” for Christ’s College. Western-United: —Hughie, Cockroft. Waller, Birstall, Ormond, Vanticr, Huntingdon, Algar. Butler, McDonald, Crawford, Ebbctt, McArley, Fitt, Ellis, ■McKay (wing) Birstall hails from Thames district and Huntingdon is an ex-Wellington Collegian who played in the Empire city for Athletic juniors last year. Outstanding forwards are bound to be the two shock-headed Manawatn junior representatives Ellis (Western) and McKay (Bunnythorpc). The loss of Evans and Sly is a sad double catastrophe, but nevertheless Old Boys

will know they have been playing before stumps are drawn at 5 p.m.

Pelldlng Tackle Champions. Kia Toa rhp 1224 champions tackle the 1922 chtvipions at FeUding. lh© 30 contestants are:— Mcy weeny. Strange, Mullins, Boeder, Wasley, Taylor By mo Boldt, Harden, Jackson, Bryce, Dyhcrty Pragnell, Stuart, McDonald (wing),. , The only new man ro Palmerston North in the truard is Taylor, a Biinsi, Mhurch five-eighth who has shown quite good form m the trials. Morn Strange has got well-earned promoiinn and Billy Eyre, School halt a couple of years back, is already free y tipped as the Manawatn donkuyuuin. , Feilding:— H Darragh. McLean. Bailey, Bramwoll (captain), G. Dar ragh, Benge; Mason, Howes, Boddy, Hight, By an, Spence, Bcltit, Simpson, V Lawrence (wing). Emergency: ° McLean is an Aucklander with a good burst of speed and played in the last R-ame or two for I 4 eilrlirip in 1924. Benge showed excellent form at five-eighth, for the Manawatu reps last season and is expected to go well in double-harness with G. Dana o h. Howes and Simpson are also up Horn junior ranks Spence played lot the vellow and blacks a lew years ago and then went to Auckland whence he has,returned to his old love. Ryan and Lawrence were supposed to be doubtful starters —it will bo surprising if both take the field to-day and Coyle anex-Petonelte. is expected to field loi Lawrence. „ , Third Grade.

Owing to the withdrawal of Bunnythorpe Old Boys A get into the fray to-day and meet Kia Toa. Ibe round has been redrawn and will be published on ’Monday.

MANAWATU REFEREES' ASSOCIATION,

“IRREGULARITIES IN GOAL.”

Mr. F. C Campbell had the floor at* the weekly meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Referees’ Association last night and gave a most interesting* lecture on irregularities in-goal. Auer dealing with the various broaches that can occur in that all important part of the field, Mr. Campbell summed up by stating that in the case of- such breaches by the attacking side the decision is—a drop-out (at the twenty-five’s), and where the defending side is the offending party a five yards’ scrum must be conceded (at a spot opposite the mark whet© the breach took place). Next Friday Mr. P. O. S. Skoglund will enlighten members on the most debated point in Rugby, the difference between a "tackle’) and a “collar’ (i.e.. if there ic now any difference after the heads thrashed the matter out at Wanganui over Easter).