Outside Chat.

NZ Truth, Issue 150, 2 May 1908, Page 3

Outside Chat.

For downright blasted cheek the proposition of a North Island Rugby Union beats any tiling of the kind I have heard of for maiiy a long day. The Union m question, through some of its leading officials, offered a plate on, its N.Z.R.U. delegation to a /Wellington resident who knows something of the inner workings of •the parent body, conditionally on his 'whole-souled support being given to tho Executive now m office. As soon as tho AVellingtonian had recovered from the shock he intimated to the affiliated Union that it had better make tracks for King Nick!s quarters, where a suitable dummy could no doubt be unearthed for the occasion.

Because their gabbling gibberish was Wisely unheeded, Fred Laws and other whistle-tooters who mostly get an annual Easter holiday at somebody else's expense, are narked at the Auckland press which is to he commended for Avhat might be said to he the starting of the funeral oration over the grave of that rotten Rugby excrescence known as the New Zealand Referees' Association. Our Auckland friends sized up itobb and his cronies correctly. It is only a question ol

time when their valuation will oe endorsed throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion. Good reports come from Hunterville ov a hooker named J. Milne, a 14-stone man who is credited with being very fast, hooks splendidly, and tackles m deadly fashion.

It is reported that several members of last season's Waverley senior team intend playing for Patea this year. There is little likelihood' of there being any club m Waverley this season, the players having decided not to play, under, the Wanganui Union whatever becomes of their application m the matter .of alteration of boundaries. Mr J. Manning has been appointed by the Manawatu Rugby Union to act m conjunction with' the Horowhenua selector to select the combined team to meet the British players. The Manawatu Union has decided to arrange a rep. match with Horowhenua Union tp be played three weeks before that match, m order to enable the selectors to choose a team. At a meeting of the Hamilton (Auckland) Rugby Union, held recently, the report and balance-sheet showed the past season to have been a most successful one. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £22 13s 5d on the .year's working. The Hon. John Hughes, M.L.C. ofNew : South Wales, will have four sons m first grade football this year— John, James and Frank, m the Sydney University, and Bryan m the North V 3?lasy team. Rumor says that Hargreaves, the Tar a-, naki rep. back, will not doa the jersey this: season. '■ Aucjcjand senior grade district championship start this afternoon. War.gaiiui . Cup cdfh'petitiohs commence next fiat-ir-dav. ' Feilding Club hopes to be able to put some good teams into the Manawatu Union's Cup contests this season.. The senior team was weak last year m the forward, division, but with McNae and the Carrqlls added to the team there I should be nothing to complain of on that I score. Harding will bean Acquisition to ! the hacks, aria with Ongley, Rout, Carroll, Pirani, Price, Lewis, and Trevena,- --[ will make a back division no team should be ashamed of.

Thehjw Zealand three-quarter back, G. W. Smith, made his appearance at Oldham recently m his new capacity as a member of the Oldham Northern Union professional team. Smith was m the three-quarter line, and played a very sound game. On one occasion he secured the, ball m his own quarter and evading a host of opponents gave his winger a clear run m. The referee ruled the New Zealanders pass to be forward, but another break-away on the part ■ of the Oldham backs ended m Smith scoring a try. Leeds, the opposing team, were, beaten by. 24 points to 5. L. B. Todd, the other New Zealander who has joined the Northern Union, also took the field on Saturday and helped Wigan to defeat Bradford. It was reported that "Jerry" Crowley, the Okaiawa and Taranaki rep. forward, would be playing m Wellington -this season. "Jerry," however, informed a Patea "Press" representative that he did not intend leaving the "butter-fat province."

At a special meeting of the Okaiawa Club, t the chairman said that owing to lack of interest m the game, football had got to a very low ebb, and the members had been called together to, consider whether they should go on or disband. The practices had been so poorly attended that it had been impossible to pick even one team. A vote was taken, when it was decided by 24 to 6 to enter the field on the following Saturday. ' . Baskerville's men say that the standard' of N.U. football is. far superior to that of the Rugby Union game m England, inasmuch as players of any calibre are bought over by the N.U. Clubs. But they say that this "statement does not embrace college men, who stick to the Rugby Uniom game. A» correspondent signing himself "8.W." who complains bitterly of the Rugby Union's , policy m playing the championship matohss at Miramar, winds up his dismal wail m this strain :— "lf the Wellington Management wants to help the pro. game along, it is fast going the right way about it, and if reports are right we will perhaps see the pros, playing on the old Park much sooner than expected. It only requires four good teams to enable the public to become interested and the very open style of play alone must draw every keen sport. Let us look back to last year's football, and you will agree with me that there was only one game worth watching, Poneke-Petone, From the way our playiers play to-day, it is high time we had a - change and saw something worth watching. The sooner the Northern Union rulds are started the better,, and I think that those gentlemen interested mit now can rely on very good .support if they secure the Park at once." The report that Kindley was to transfer his chattels from Dunedin to Wellington is denied on the authority of that player himself. If m form, he is expected to be Otago's full-back m the big matches.

A Greymouth friend writes me that there has been a complete change m the West Coast Rugby Union's Executive this year, and that some of the older hands who have done sterling service for the Union m past years just squeezed home for a place. The Union has decided that its delegation to the N.Z.R.U. this year shall consist solely of West Coasters who have a good knowledge of local requirements. Messrs Fitzgibbons and Clarke, of Wellington, were appointed delegates to act m conjunction with Dr. Mcßrearty, who is a vice-president of the Union.

Baker, who played for the Athletic Club last year, is said to be. shaping very well this season-- for Christchurch Albions. I was never shook on Baker " as a scrummager and \ think he was very much overestimated.

Soutliern sent out a strong crowd o! barrackers to Petone. I also "noticed Mick Hogan and "Banjo" Jones m attendance. As the former is one of the rep. selectors, he should have heen out at Miramar (where eight senior teams were performing) unless he purposes getting about fifteen of the Maroons into the provincial uniform.

Gran-ma Murray and Jones the Bounder must have found the Petone attraction pretty strong, otherwise their absence from the "tea-guzzling,, forty-love crowds" at the local tennis courts is inexplicable. By the way, the latter was acting m the capacity of line-umpire. As he is the secretary of the Maroons that accounts for the milk m the cocoa-nut. Just as well he wasn't on Harry Driscoll's side when Hacktey took the corner flag and was allowed a try ! ! !. Time the Union put a stop to these hare-brain-ed club partisans officiating m matches m which they are interested. . Skipper Hardham 'should counsel McGill to knock off tripping. That game is pla)'ed out nowadays. Fred Laws was not $p to form with the whistle on Saturday, several cunning players getting to windward of him m the fine points of the game. Fred is also out of condition and should take on. a little training to get wind.

Joe Calnan was set down to referee m a junior match at Petone on Saturday, but failed to provide himself with a. pass, and when he put; m an appearance at the outer gate the man on duty refused to admit him. Joe got the "huff" • and quitted the scene of hostilities. Three Murphys were m evidence for Ould Oireland and Melrose against Poneke. The Murphys and Spencers make up a good part of the Red and Blue combination. Over one hundred kiddies took possession of the touch-line at Petone on Saturday, and the efforts to shift them took a lot of the starch out of the caretaker, and that portion of the publi* which wanted to obtain a fair glimps* o! the proceedings. A friend who saw the Petone-Southern match asserts that House is going to be

a bright star m oite Rugßy-constellationj JSHe is quick, nippy and heady. There was a good deal : too much pall-: "■ ing about on the lipe-out m the MelrosePoaete game, and interference during the iOTpiation of scrums somehow . escaped ! referee Wylie's attention. Illegal, obstruction was noticeable, . Doth Poneke,and Mejrose being offenders m this respect. ■■ Front-ranker Mujjrhy^ of tfce Melrose ! -scrumming brigade was early on the job with •> his scragging tactics, Some day this spiteful little beggar will bump against a victim who will deal him out well-merited stoush for such reprehensible tactics. Isaacs, of the Oriental vanguard had better .be careful, too, or elsd he will get a few months' Rugby stretch j at the hands of the Union. During the progress of the St. James-' Wellington match, Crewes and Wilson were" ordered off the field by the referee. When asked by Grewes at the conclusion of the game why he and his opponent had been, suspended from playing, the referee said it was, on account of striking each other. Crewes alleges that not - a blow was struck and not an angry word spoken between the pair. Wilson and himself had not come into contact previously during the game. The incident happened within ten yards of the touch-line (a bit of jostling) and players: and spectators alike' were surprised and enquired of each of the men why they had been put off. 1 There was a consensus of opinion that the referee had, made a great mistake m. taking such an extreme step for such a. very trivial matter— a thing that happens fifty times during a game. There had been not the slightest fictipn between 'the men on the field and their harmonious relations after retirement goes 'fto show that the whistlertooter— unintention-. /.ally, perhaps— had made an egregrious^ blunder.