RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND AND MAORIS.

INTER-ISLAND SIDELIGHTS

APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. The sc.\son tor big football will close 10-dav when tho New Zealand team will play the Mauris at Wellington. A very s! rong New ZealaiijJ sido has been selected, but it would have been even stronger had other players been available. Those who were unable to wait for the match wore Minus, Bally, Harris, McClymont, lloldeu, Sonntag and Burrows. The defection o|' these seven made the task of the selectors mii'li easier. Minns, Batty and Sonntag, at least, would probably have' gained places. The selectors would havo had difficulty in choosing between Heazlewoxl and Harris, and Burrows also would, have given them food for thought. The match against, tho Maoris should provide an interesting lino as to the, ability of tho New Zealand team. The forwards will be carefully watched, and every than will have to do his best it ho wishes to retain his place. Tho selectors arc /Oil (lie look-out for genuine, hard working forwards to meet the Britishers next season, and " shiners " are certain to get tho go-by. Selectors on Spot. Tho, six New Zealand selectors, Messrs. CI. Nicholson (Auckland), E. MeKenzio (Wairarapa), N. McKenzie (Hawkc's Bay), W. Maxwell (Canterbury), A. MoDonald (Otago),'and A Ocddcs (Southland), wiiro all watching the inter-island game on Saturday, and tho majority of Ihcm will be present at Athletic Park to-day. For some reason or other many ciit:cs have referred to tho selectors as "the bi* five." They have apparently overlooked Air. Maxwell, who, as a matter of 'fact., has done more travelling than onv of the. ethers this season. The South Island was unlucky this yp.'if in being without tho services of some of its best plavors—Dalley, Olliver and Carloton, for instance. The. presence of }hrso three would havo made things a lot easier for the selectors, who had to experiment with the three-quarter line. ,lt> was certainly weak, but the .blame could nou be laid at tho door of the South selectors who had to do the best they could with the talent available. Olliver, the wing, showed possibilities flf improvement in good company, but McDonald, of Marlborough, looked to be out of his class. The inter-island contest proved that New ■ Zealand is going to have a very powerful sido to meet tho British * team nex':- season. A fine combination been been chosen i'rom .the players who took part in tlio match last Saturday, but what about Dalley, Harvey, McWilliams, I. Finlavson, M. Brownlie and M. Nicholls, among others who were not at Athletic Park last week ? Good Lock Required. What New Zealand really requires for next year is a first-class lock. Ilarvey will, no doubt, fill the bill provided he is 'in go ad health, but ho seems fated so far as big football is concerned. Steele and Sonntag are both good average, locks, but the;/ arc not quite up to Harvey's eUnAnrc'. Wanoa and A. Knight will come into the running next year if they play up to form. The -visit of the British side will make the Rut by season next year a very long cne. According to the proposed itinerary tho tourists will play their first match against Wanganui on May 21, a week after their arrival at Wellington. Tli? first test match is to be played at Dunedin on June 21. This means that the Possibles v. Probables matches in both islands, and also tho inter-island match will take placo prior to the selection of the New Zealand team for the first, tejt. Tho victory of the North Island last Saturday brings its total of wins in the inter-island games to 14. South has won on "nine occasions, while two games hava been drawn Selecting Referees. The selection of referees lor. matches played under the control of tho New Zealand. Rugby Union appears to be done more o: le3s at. random by the New Zealand Sislecliou Committee, which is cornpfispd of three gentlemen resident in Wellington. If it is of importance that the New Zealand selectors should see the iiost players' in action, surely it is of equal importance 'hat some member of the Referees' Appointments Board should travel 1 little and sec various officials in Action! One has in mind an appointment made by the board in connection with a match Hayed in a southern centre against a Tew South Wales team four seasons ago. r iho referee was quite incompetent, and tho game at times developed into a farce 'with lough play frequently in evidence. Such i, happening next season, would take the edge off the British team's tour. The. Auckland Rugby representatives thought the season had ended for them, but the Thames Union has made a request to the Auckland Union that Auckland's best team bo sent to Thames for o match on Saturday next. Canterbury's History. Mr. W. G. Garrard, of Cliristchurch, has forwarded the writer a copy of his 50 years' history of Rugby football in Canterbury. The Canterbury Rugby Union celebrated its jubilee this year and no our was more fitted to write its history itfan the author of the present publication. He was for 17 years secretary of the. union, and was also a prominent referee, who controlled several representative matches in various parts of the Dominion. Having had a good deal of experience in journalism Mr. Garrard has v. ritten his work in very interesting style. While, of course, it is of most value to < 'ah'evbury or ex-Canterbury people, If can be read with very great interest by It'ighy supporters in any part of the Dominion. The inscribed silver medals, donated by focal .supporters of the Rugby game, for the most improved players in the Northrole and Birkenhead Rugby Football Club during tho past season, have been presented to tho following Third grade intermediate, A section, L. V. Nicholson; B sec'Jon, C. Perenara. Fourth grade, A fcctioi, Keith Markwick. Seventh grade, li section, Fred. Whitcornbc.