RUGBY N.Z. UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23318, 29 September 1945, Page 6

RUGBY N.Z. UNION

Jubilee Programme (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. Tire Council of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-day considered suggestions for next season’s programme and adopted a draft programme for the Union's jubilee celebrations. It was decided to write to the New South Wales Union to send an Australian team to New Zealand next year. The chairman, Mr S. S. Dean, said the executive had drafted a programme for the Union’s jubilee celebrations at the end of next season. This included matches between New Zealand and Australia, Maoris V. N.Z.E.F., Maoris v. Combined Universities, and Maori matches for the Prince of Wales Cup. It was agreed that the Union should hold its jubilee celebrations in 1946. The draft programme was approved and the executive asked to present a detailed programme to the next annual meeting of the Union. The following motion was carried: “That Council recommends to Unions that before resuming their pre-war interprovincial tours they should, before the next annual meeting, decide on the extent of their programmes, taking into consideration the fact that club competition matches should not be unduly impaired by playing representative matches too early in the season. By prior consideration considerable help and saving of time would be made when the fixtures committee meets at the 1946 annual meeting. At the same time the Council realises that all Unions will be busily engaged next season in building up club football, thereby giving players the time and opportunity to qualify for higher honours.” It was also decided to recommend to the next annual meeting that Ranfurly Shield and trophy matches be resumed. The Geraldine Tournament is the chief activity among footballers to-day, and with good weather the venture should be successful. Record entries have been received, all the district clubs being represented. With the exception of the Allan Cup game to oe played at Waimate on October 6, the tournament will see the curtain run down on the 1945 Rugby season. Harris Cup Celtic is to be congratulated on winning the Harris Cup for this season. At one stage they looked like winning the Skinner Cup and although they failed to do this their victory over the Beri Cup winners was well deserved. Strange as it may seem it was the winners’ backs who decided the issue. Both teams were much below full strength. Mackenzie Win The victory of the Sub-Union over South Canterbury will be most encouraging to Fairlie supporters and players. Though the visiting team was much below full strength the back line played as it was selected and this fact makes the win of the Sub-Union team all the more meritorious. It was indeed a fitting reward for those responsible for the revival of the game in the Mackenzie district. Morrison Conspicuous T. C. Morrison, although a veteran in experience and perhaps in age, is still taking his place with distinction in North Island football. Playing fullback for Wellington against Taranaki last week, he gave a splendid display

of kicking. According to a North Island newspaper: "Morrison on occasions came into the backline as an extra man with telling effect. His try when Tindall worked the blind side was' one of the gems of the match. At the opportune moment he slipped inside the threequarters and scored with the winger outside of him. He also kicked a field goal.” Wellington won by 13 points to 9. Left Foot Inside Most athletic events beyond the short sprints are run anti-clockwise; that is, athletes circle the track with the left foot on the inside. Why? The question has been raised by a Sydney' writer. "It is just a custom," most runners say. contending that they could make equally fast time running in reverse. Professor Harvey Sutton. Professor of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Sydney University, however, does not agree with the popular theory that it makes no difference which way an athlete runs. “Most athletes.” he says, "are rightfooted. They are able to negotiate turns better when running anti-clock-wise, which is left side. When running' in a clockwise direction it is is more difficult to negotiate turns. You have to kick harder with the left side and pull harder around the turns." The professor said that when at Oxford. where they run in a clockwise direction, it took him a year to accustom himself to that, style. “I was right-footed and found it better to run left side in." he added Former distance champion Alleyne Gainsford contends that it makes no difference in which way an event is run He says that he once ran in the "wrong" direction (clockwise) at Sydnev University Oval, and broke the New South Wales 10 miles record.