IN SOUTHERN HAWKES BAY.

NZ Truth, Issue 903, 17 March 1923, Page 9

IN SOUTHERN HAWKES BAY.

Dannevirke Jottings.

The coming season In Rugby in Hawkes Bay is very full of promise. Following on the carnival held in D^nney^rke: foe., the /purchase of ;a ground, realising a (handsbrne "profit, tho ground has ' been piped and drained and a fine stand is now in course 'of erection which, will provide seating accommodation for 500 people.

Many players of class who donned the jersey last season will be again available this season and local competition should be strong. Of the Dannevirke members of the provincial team (H.8.) that wrested the Ranfurly Shield from Wellington, Jack Kirwan, the wing-three-quarter in the Springbok — H.8.-Poverty Bay game, is well in the forefront again. He, with Snowy Miller (Old Boys), a young forward with great promise, Watty Barclay, who excited the Wellington Press in their kick-off in - the Maori team's game previous to sailing for Aussie, and W. Irvine, one of Now Zealand's finest front rank men (who loves it the tighter it is), will be* well in the limelight for the next trip to Blighty. Irvine and Barclay will most probably this season be playing in Walpukurau and Napier. They will be a loss to the game locally.

Dannevirke as a Sub-Union have their troubles and being under the jurisdiction of Hawkes Bay, whose centre is 80 miles away, does not help things. To say — rumors to the contrary notwithstanding — that they are not loyal to their parent Union is over the fence. Locally there is an outlook to the Bush Union, Wairarapa and Manawatu. Against the Bush the locals are the better, against Wairarapa things are fairly even . and against Manawatu the last occasion they met Dannevirke were masters in convincing style. Now Manawatu have no time to play minor sub-unlona that put it across them. The local authorities' biggest hurdle is not to thrash severely the local SubUnions under H.B. The East Coast are unfortunate In having a scattered district eprlnkled with a ,fow enthusiasts. Walpawa are In the same category and without Mr. Alf Parsons would have a bad run. Still, everything promises for a bright coming Beason and with progressive men In the management there should be no cause to look back. One player In the Springbok game at Napier (Klrwan), one In the Maori team to Aussio (Barclay), and four in the team that got away with the Shield is surely not bad for a small place, of four thousand. Nominations for seats on the Management Committee have closed and by' all accounts quite a classy field (0 In all) will face the starter. It is to be hoped when the numbers go up that Tiny Thompson, the present Chairman, will be In tho leading six as that populnr and hard working enthusiast has done more to boost the game since he was elected last year and has taken more responsibility than any previous man in tho same position.