NOTES ON THE GAME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 4

NOTES ON THE GAME.

TO-MORROW ’S MATCHES. (By “Onlooker.”) Interest, in the national winter game is developing strongly in every part of the Dominion, and to-morrow will witness the opening of club competitions in many districts. The Poverty Bay championship competition will not be commenced for another week, but in the meantime the dubs are taking opportunities to develop combination, and friendly games have been arranged for each of the senior teams. The most important of the engagements of local clubs is that of the Old Boys, who arc going to Tokomaru to play the sub-Union representatives there. Hovers have a meeting in prospect with the Y.M.P. team at Mamituko, and a couple of junior teams will provide a curtain-raiser for them. H. 5.0.8. are to visit To Karaka, and Celtic have a match arranged for Motuhora. The side which will meet the Tokomaru representatives should not be short of training, for the past month lias seen regular assemblies of the players, and the victory over the New Plymouth learn, at Easter, encouraged them to further efforts. One or two alterations have had to be made in the complement of the team, owing to injuries and defections to other clubs. Thomas and Woodward will hook, with Morrison to bind the pack, Charles and Hansen lending side support, and Little and A. Smith putting their weight in from the back row. Matthews will again play at wingforward. and Balcomb will be at the base of the scrum. Mouat and Langlands will co-operate at fiveeighths, the three-quarter line comprising Allen, Sutcliffe and Maude,, with Preston at full-back. The balance of powers certainly lies with the forwards, who wall doubtless be relied upon to make the openings. MORE REFEREES. 1 The strengthening of the Referees’ Association membership is a good sign, and will result in lightening the duties of the older members. The bulk of the work fell on the shoulders of a few referees last season, and the occasional addition of the country competition to the obligations of the. Association rendered a reinforcement urgently necessary. A really firstclass referee is born, but practice in the control of games yields a degree of expert ness in the majority of cases, and tlie standard of ability among the Poverty Bay referees could have had no better testimony than was afforded on the occasion of one big match last year, when an outside official gave a comparatively poor exhibition. Ma lv men who know the game thoroughly hesitate to offer themselves as referees, through self-consciousness, but once joined up, they find the support; of experienced officials behind them, and rapidly acquire that confidence which makes all the difference. THE RANFURLY SHIELD. The contests for the Ranl’urly Shield will probably prove as interesting this year as last, and the movements of the All-Black stars are being closely watched, in an effort to guago the respective strengths of the provinces. Hawke’s Bay should bo hard to beat, for though one or two of last year’s champion side are not available this season, the province has secured the services of A. E. Cooke, late of Auckland, who was hailed as the greatest opportunist of the All-Black side. If all Hawke’s Bay men conic up to last season’s form, the shield will probably remain in their hands, but what may be looked for is a surprise victory oil the part of some province that has not, boon advertised by the possession of All-Black talent. Poverty Bay should bo able to put up a creditable showing, and it will be disappointing indeed if our foremost players are not given an opportunity of meeting Hawke’s Bay, if only for the experience. Tho prospect of a new All-Black selection for the Australian tour should enliven one or two local players, while others have their chan-, ces of inclusion in tho Maori team for France. Big football will give thorn the best means of advertising their talents.