RUGBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3868, 1 May 1928, Page 53

RUGBY.

By

FULL BACK.

NOTES.

The following notice was posted in a northern factory: “ Applications for leave of absence on account of influenza, twins, measles, relatives’ funerals, eto., must be handed to the foreman not later than 8 a.m. on the day of the match.” Hcazlewood, the ex-Zingari-Richmond full back, will play for Athletic (Wellington) tliis season, The Wellington Post states that. Stewart, a club mate cf Heazlewood’s in Dunedin, will also play for Athletic. B alconer, a Southland B representative player, has joined up with the Wellington Club. George Ncpia, who made Rugby football history by his remarkable performances as a full-back in the 1924 All Black team, . who is at present living at Tiki Tiki, may not. take the field until late in the season this year, ilo is convalescing from the serious ill. ness, of which at one stage his condition was reported as being critial. Hawke, the Pirates five-eighth, who now resides in Samoa, is on a visit to Dunedin. Is it possible for a referee to blow a whistle and also perform the duties of a member of the Management Committee? Inis question exercised the minds of the delegates at the annual meeting of the Vvhangarei Rugby Union, when a motion was moved to the eflect that selectors and referees be debarred from serving on the Management Committee. The mover said that invariably when the duties of trie Management Committee were being allocated several were not available, on account of having to control games. ' He wished. in nowise to cast any reflection upon the capabilities of either referees or selectors, but he was sure that it would be to the advantage of the Management Committee in both work and proficiency if members were not asked to serve in a dual capacity. f peaking under instrue tian of the Referees’ Association, a delegate said he did not consider it a fair thing to debar members from taking other executive positions. Ibo union would not be on such a sound footing if it had not been for the assistance of referees in the past. Another delegate considered that referees should be well represented on the union, otherwise members would not receive the support they should from that body. A supporter of the motion said he had yet to find the active referee who could fulfil, as he should, his duties on the Management Committee. The more independent followers in the union the better for the game. The motion Was lost by a large majority. A great triumph has just been scored for Irish football. Representatives of both Rugby a.nd Association crossed to Scotland, the former to play at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, and the latter to Glasgow, and both were succesful. Truly- it was a day, which left Scottish enthusiasts, who take their international matches so seriously, dumbfounded.

The 1923 Rugby football season was opened in Christchurch on Saturday under auspicious conditions. Merivalo made a good start by securing a comfortable win over Albion by 22 points to 9 points. This match was played on the Oval, but the most exciting game was that between University and Linwood on the so'Ph ground at Lancaster Park. University won by 16 points to 15 points. The game wa a evenly contested throughout and was very exciting in the final stages, when Linwood were making desperate efforts to get n front. Old Boys had little difficultv in beating Technical, the final score being 28 points to 6 points in their favour. Prospects for the 1928 Rugby season in Auckland are particularly bright. The representative side should be a very strong one, and in all probability a match for the Ranfurly Shield will be played on the tour south. Sonntag played his usual honest game in the Kaikorai forwards, and Callander. Fountain and Brown were the pick of the backs, although they did not get many opportunities. The Kaikorai Club shou'J rearrange its five-eighths, and place Ross in his accustomed position at second fiveeighths. The Taieri forwards are a strong, fast lot .and if they could only combine they would beat more sides than beat them. Apart from the country players already mentioned, M'Pheat, Scott, Oliver and Bathgate were also prominent. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The rain which had fallen during the week made the grounds soft for the Rugby football matches on Saturday, but some of the areas were in much better condition than was expected. The heavy state of the ball made it difficult to handle, and play, as a whole, was not of a high standard. It is an interesting fact that none of the losing teams scored. The following are the results of the games:— Kaikorai .... 19 Zingari .. .. 0 Union 7 Dunedin .... 0 University A 24 Taieri .... 0 Pirates .... 5 University B 0 Alhambra .. G Southern .. 0 IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, April 28. Ponsonby 18, Grammar Old Boys 3. Grafton 12, University 6. Marist 38, College Rifles 6. Manakau 16. North Shore 12. Training College 11, Citv 6. WANGANUI, April 29. Pirates 5, County 3. Old Boys 27, Ratana nil. Marist 24, Technical Old Bovs 5. MASTERTON, April 28. The following are the results of the Masterton senior games:—Old Boys 38 points beat Red Star 11, Carterton 23 beat Gladstone 10, Greytown 12 beat United 8. WELLINGTON. April 29. University 20, Berhamnore 11. Poneke 14, Marist 3. ’ Old Boys 14, 3. Oriental 26, ‘Petoi.e 10. Athletic 15, Eastbourne 3.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. Old Boys 19, Merivale 11. Christchurch 9, Linwood 6. University 23, Technical 8. INVERCARGILL GAMES. INVERCARGILL, April 28. The Rugby season was opened here on Saturday in wet weather conditions, a drizzling rain falling throughout the afternoon. The grounds, however, were in excellent order, and some splendid first-of season football was witnessed. A number of new seniors was seen out, among whom were Porter (ex-University) and Stubbs (ex-Union), both Dunedin men. All -of the new blood showed promise. Pirates (last year’s premiers) defeated Invercargill by 12 points (four tries) to 6 (two penalty goals), and Star defeated Southern by 18 points to 5. The prospects for the season are good, nad already it is predicted that Southland will field a strong representative side. PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ DRAW. The following is the draw for the primary schools’ matches on Wednesday:— B Grade.—Arthur Street v. Maori Hill, at Bishopscourt; Normal v. Kaikorai, at Montecillo. Bantams.—George Street v. St. Clair Y a^ey v - Maori Lilli, at North Ground; Arthur Street v Musselburgh A. at Oval No. 2: Normal v. Kaikorai A, at Oval No. 3; Forbury A v. Macandrew Road A, at East ParkCaversham v. High Street, at Bathgate Lark; Forbury B v. Musselburgh B, at Tahuna. WIN FOR WARATAHS. SYDNEY, April 28. lhe Waratahs defeated the Rest of New South Wales by 28 points to 17.