SHIELD MATCH HAS DISGRACED RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18208, 15 July 1927, Page 1

SHIELD MATCH HAS DISGRACED RUGBY.

WAIRARAPA PEOPLE EXPRESS OPINIONS. MASTERTON, July 15. , Since the Ranfurly Shield match was played at Solway last Saturday the Wairarapa has been visited by the Canadian Association football team. The Rugby game, of course, attracted far greater interest than the Soccer, but, according to reports, the latter found far more favour, since the tactics adopted in the shield game of Saturday last had left a very bad impression. The two exhibitions have given rise to comment which should not be allowed to pass unnoticed by the controllers of the Dominion’s national game. It is reported that Dr Uttlev, principal of the Wairarapa District High School, formerly of Scots College. Wellington, and at one time an Otago University Rugby player, in addressing the boys on the recent Ranfurlv Shield match, stated tha.t if that was the type of Rugby football the New Zealand Rugby Union was going to permit to be played, the only thing he could do was to advise them to Play some other game when they left school. On Tuesday last the Canadian Soccer footballers visited the Wairarapa High School, the manager and one of the players addressing the pupils. In making reply, Dr Uttlev is reported as saying that after the exhibition given last Saturday he thought it was possible that the time was opportune to consider the advisability of introducing Association football into his school. “Association football is in its infancy in the Wairarapa, but from what happened on a recent occasion in Masterton I am sure it will prosper,” said the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan), in extending a civic reception to the all-Canadian Soccer team in Masterton before the match took place this week. The remark was immediately taken up by the public, who received it with spontaneous applause (states the Wairarapa “Age.”).

“I am told that on a nearby paddock on Saturday last they buried Rugby in the Wairarapa,” added the j Mayor, “ and you have come here at j an opportune time to give Soccer i football a great impetus.”