SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 9

SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

D. C. Nixon will not be playing for Old Boys against Christchurch on Saturday. lie went out for a run last week and found that his ankle would not stand the strain. >: :: x The following Auckland players have lieen nominated for the New Zealand representative hockey team to tour Australia:—L. Spiers, C. J. Spiers, G. Rinch, G. Cole, A. Seccombe, C. Watts, 11. Hookham, and J. Carter. Mr W. Beattie, the referee who ordered a player off the field last Saturday for striking an opponent, is to be congratulated on sticking to his guns, despite a little cross fire from the player concerned and from members of the executive body. It needs only one or two of these cases to put down the rough play that has been in evidence in the senior games this season. Colin Deans is still playing a good game of football. He has been selected to represent Hurunui against North Canterbury at Amberley. Deans was one of the five-eighths who played for Canterbury in that famous game against the Springboks at Lancaster Park six }*ears ago. :: >: R. Leak, the English forward of whom Jim Parker holds such a high opinion, has been chosen to represent North Canterbury against Ilumnui on Saturday. It is a pity that this game clashes with Charity Day in town, when one of the most important games of the season will be played, otherwise the Canterbury selectors could have availed themselves of the opportunity of going out to sec this sub-unions match. Patrons of Rugby in Canterbury will be pleased to learn that the Payne Trophy match is to be played on a Saturday. Otago’s original suggestion was that it should take place on a Wednesday. The date chosen, August 13, will clash with one of the day’s racing at the Grand National meeting, but experience in the last year or so has shown that the public will not forsake football for a race meeting. Canterbury Rugby referees are evidently not satisfied about the interpretation of the rule regarding the kick from a mark taken beyond the twentyfive. The construction put on it by the New Zealand Referees' Association is that a player can retire behind his own twenty-five and kick the ball directly into touch. This ruling, however, appears to be contrary to the spirit of the law, and it will be interesting to see what the New Zealand Rugby Union has to say about the matter. It was mentioned at the meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening that a number of the teams had made application to have their matches played early on Saturday week, July 2. It was not stated, however, whether they desired an opportunity of seeing the Soccer test which will be played at Lancaster Park on that date, or the annual match between Boys’ High School and Christ’s College which takes place on the Christ's College ground on the same afternoon. X X K The "Star's'’ Wellington correspondent telegraphs :—“A senior player waited on the Rugby Union Committee yesterday and deposited a pair of odd boots upon the table. He explained that these had been left at a dressing shed in Athletic Park on Saturday in place of his boots which were missing when he came in after the match. He asked if lie could be compensated for the loss. “A committeeman said that a Petone player had had his boots and socks Stolen at the Petone Oval on Saturday. "The chairman said that the union would create a dangerous position i*f it were to compensate players for articles stolen during the progress of matches. All they could do was to communicate with the police. The union would willingly pay a reward to anyone apprehending the offender.”

The Rugby League selectors for South Auckland this season are Mr W. Taylor (Hamilton) and Mr Wilson (Taupiri). The Wellington Rugby League has obtained a ten years’ lease from the Petone Borough Council of a fine new ground just opened at Petone. Nothwithstanding the inclement weather over 7000 spectators assembled to see Ponsonby receive their first defeat this season in the Auckland League Competition. A closely contested game was eventually won by Devonport by 9 to 6. Now that W. Cunningham has made a decent showing in the Old Country it is to be hoped he goes on with it. If he strikes his best New Zealand form he will make all the/difference to the bowling strength of the team. X 3 3 In discussing the issue of honorary members’ tickets, Mr J. A. Fraser, chairman of the Hastings Rugby Sub-union, stated that the position was most unsatisfactory, and accommodation for holders of such tickets should be provided on the new stand and in an elevated position. Honorary members were life-long and loyal supporters of the game, so the Hawke's Bay Union's treatment of them was tantamount to an insult. The accommodation at present was unsuitable and in uncomfortable surroundings. There were evident signs that a commercial spirit was creeping into the union’s policy. The dispute between the Thistle Club and the Management Committee of the Auckland Football Association over the wording of a letter was carried a stage further last evening (states the “Star’s” correspondent). With the exception of one member the officers of the Thistle Club attended the management committee’s meeting. Mr F. Pickering headed the deputation. The chairman stated that there were serious charges against the management committee in the wording of the letter protesting against the suspension of J. Christie, a Thistle senior player. The management committee objected to the discourteous way the letter was worded and was of opinion that the letter should be withdrawn or re-writ-ten. Mr Pickering, in explaining the attitude taken up by the .Thistle committee, stated that there was little doubt that the club secretary had been injudicious in his choice of words, but the club held to its opinion that the Christie affair had been dealt with unfairly. The chairman adopted a conciliatory attitude and suggested that Mr Pickering should confer with him on the question of re-drafting the letter. The spokesman refused, and after a short conference the club resolved to stand by the letter and to withdraw nothing. Decision was deferred till June 28. XXX N. C. Bass, who was injured iq the City-Ponsonby League game in Auckland has—acting on medical advice--an-nounced his retirement from the Bass has a sporting record to be proud of and his premature retirement *-ilt be regretted by thousands who nave been thrilled by his exploits on the football field. At school Bass was a reresentative at football, cricket and swimming. On leaving school he joined the City League Club, playing for their fourth grade in 1911; he then joined Newtown and played for their fourths in 1912 and 1913. On the outbreak of war he joined the Garrison Artillery, and while abroad played in various New Zealand arm}’ teams. Upon returning to New Zealand in 1919 he joined Newtown and in the same season represented both Auckland and New Zealand. In 1920 he represented Auckland and New Zealand agapi. The following year he gained reprdien tative honours with Auckland ifna South Auckland, Hamilton and New Zealand. In 1922 he returned from Hamilton and joined Marist when he again represented Auckland and New Zealand, and also Australasia. lie captained Marists and Auckland representatives in 1923 and 1924, North Island and Auckland representatives in 1925, while last season he captained the A team in the New Zealand trials.