RUGBY NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 138, 17 July 1914, Page 2

RUGBY NOTES.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Kugby football enthusiasts in Christchurch should be well pleased with the fare placed before them during the current fortnight—the Christchureh-Meri-vale match last Saturday, the High School-Christ's College match on Wednesday, and to-morrow the clashing of Old Boys and ChTistchurch. The onepoint defeat which Christchurch administered in the first round to the team which is now at the top of the championship table, and the subsequent victories of both teams against Merivale, combine with the closeness of their positions in the championship table— Christchurch and Merivale level, one point behind Old Boys—to make the match very interesting. And it is a game unusually distinguished by the glorious uncertainty of Rugby. The Christchurch team seems to have a peculiar temperament. As a rule it plays moderate football against moderate teams, and sometimes against strong teams, but it is always likely to "break out" and play brilliantly against—and defeat—teams that are stronger "on paper." So to-morrow's game is awaited with a great deal of eagerness." ".., I All the matches set down f6r tomorrow promise tq produte close and interesting, games. Merivale and Linwoo&Tare to meet on the south ground at Parky and: although Merithe first match rather easily, it i& likely, on recent form, to have a difficult task in settling Linwood 's redoubtable forwards. Albion's late improvement makes that team's engagement with Sydenham, on the west ground at Lancaster Park,-promise a keen and interesting contest. On the Albion Club's ground in south Hagley Park the MartstsA fifteen should give University a pretty busy time. At the time these notes were written, ! it was [probable that some changes would be found in the Christchurch ;team which is to meet Old Boys. L. W. Tosswill has come back to the city, from the Hurunui district, where he has been playing in good form, and-a place may be found for him in the Christchurch backs. B. P. Murray, who is going on the land,' may be absent tomorrow. In that case Eric Harper will take his place at full-back. • Old Boys will play three three-quar-Boag, arid &uthrie—rtbis" tSngy with B. G. Hickmott as second five-eighths. E.vC. Taylor will plity/ as half-back, and L. F.,Parson as wing-forward. Several members of the Managing Committee-of the Canterbury, Rugby ; Union who visited Waiau* last SaTiur:day;lwere agreeably surprised by the ■ standard of play shown by clubs under ithe.' gurisdiettdn of the recently-formed The play was jknd open.and of a good standard, and isome, of the players were really good; ■They'also found that a fine sporting spirit exists among the Hurunui Sub l union's players, many of whom have to Ifeycle or ride\ or drive many miles over Very rough roads, an,d ford numerous order to play. A contrast between i;he spirit of these men and some-; city. players struck- the visitors lemphatically. It is pleasing to find at or five members of .the C.R.Uj Committee —in fairness to the others it imusti! be said that other /committeemen could: not go to Waiau last Saturday— 7 interesting themselves; so : much in country football. ; . - ■•: "The powers of a referee; to-day are wide as compared with those of a few years ago," says "Pull-back" in the "New Zealand Times," in referring to the rough play which had taken place in the Oriental-Poneke match of the previous Saturday. will remember the mateh played between Wellington and an English team on the Basin., Reserve a number of years back, when every second player received injury in some form or other. Rugby football was then practically in its infancy |n New Zealand, and the Natives who were among the spectators, evidently thinking that the greater the darhage the greater the victory, could be heard:calling out when a player was pjaeed hors de combat, 'Kill them!' 'Kill them!' The match last Saturday did not reach this standard, but it approached within the vicinity of it." •Thus a Dunedin writer: —"The Otago Rugby Union, at its meeting on Moriday night, took up a very generous and sporting attitude in regard to a request from the Marlborough Union that the Otago team to go north this year should extend 1 its tour, to Blenheim, the northern] union offering to pay all the expenses'of the Otago team from the time it left Wellington until its return. The Otago team plays its final match — against Wellington—on Saturday, September 19; but on its being pointed out that the Marlborough players did not receive many visits from outside teams, and that interest in the Rugby game would be further excited by such a match; as that asked for, the local union decided to extend the northern tour, and to offer to play Blenheim o'n Tuesday, September 22. In the discussion which followed it was pointed out that Tuesday was not a holiday, and that the Marlborough management would therefore possibly not be in a position to get a large enough 'gate' to pay the expenses of the Otago men. ; A rough calculation showed that the requested visit would cost about £3O, and the Otago Union therefore decided that if the Tuesday were acceptable to the ' northern body it would not call upon the latter to bear any of the expense, arid a? telegram was forwarded north to ; thji|i effect. A true sporting spirit, calculated to foster the best traditions of aniateur football." TheVffafcti thas Nunn, the Wellington half-biek, who was selected as the emergency for the All Blacks' team now Australia, was passed over; in favour 1 of E„ Roberts, another Wellington half-back, on a vacancy occurring, caused the Petone Club to send a deputation ;to the New Zealand Rugby Union to ask "why Nunn had been turned down at the eleventh hour.' ' After the deputation had been heard and had retired, the following motion was passed by the; Management Committee;— f'That tile deputation be informed that information was received that Green

was not available shortly before the team was to depart. The, committee had reliable information 1 that Nunn was medically certified as unfit for military duties, and therefore could not.'Ve considered as physically fit to represent New Zealand without a medical examination, and time would not permit of this.'' Mr Welch (a member of the deputation, which had returned to hear the verdict) remarked that ; he knew Nunn was unfit, and when/Roberts, who wais also medically unfit, was j selected, tie [considered there must:/be -some other reason. The chairman replied that there was absolutely no.; other reason, and it was not a question of character. After expressing satisfaction ;with, the answer the deputation • withdrew. It may be remarked that the general opinion is that Roberts • should have been in the team in. the, .first,place. Curious that circumstances lhav'e caused the personnel of the New Zealand team to '■ become something like the original selection should have been! • -.