THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Age, 29 July 1925, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

NEWS, NOTES AND PLAYERS

BY

“POSTER.”

THE CLUB COMPETITION.

DRAGGING ON FOR SEVEN WEEKS. The senior competition for the present season has never at any stage excited much interest, due to the fact that from the commencement of the second round two teams practically drew away from all the others. With but two games to play, the competition will not be completed for another seven weeks, and this raises a very important issue. One of the most unfortunate features of the heavy representative programme for 1925 is the manner in in which it has interfered with the •completion of the club matches. It is all right for representative players who are getting games continually from now on at the rate of two each week, but fer all those not fortunate enough to gain higher than club honours the position calls for considerable personal sacrifice in keeping in form without their weekly game. The matter is one in which the Union might well investigate and see if in future seasons something could not be done to terminate the club

premiership before the representative programme is commenced. Knowing the heavy list of fixtures ahead it would have been an easy matter this season to have grouped the four teams having a chance half way through the second round and let them play off. The position is not likely to be so acute in future seasons as the Commission set up by the New Zealand Rugby Union to bring down a report on the arrangement of rep. fixtures will ru doubt suggHt a solution for the present congested situation. Club competitions are Ao life of Bugby interest, and if mere attention was paid to this department, and less to representative engagements, the game would undoubtedly progress with greater support. Wellington has found this out, and is stimulating the club competition as much as possible, while offers of representative matches have been frequently turned down. As things are at present the 120 players in the senior competition are merely building up a fund to send the select 15 or 20 away for an annual holiday, and also to entertain any visitors. It is several seasons since a Wairarapa B team had the privilege of a tour in recognition of their services to Rugby, and are the men in this category not as worthy of consideration as the top 15 f

THE NEW BEP. TEAM. NEW BLOOD INTRODUCED. Two new players have won their first rep caps for Wairarapa, and the selectors in the announcement of the latest team to represent the district have decided on a shuffle up of the players who met the Bay in the first match at heme. Hood, the Bed Star full-back, has convinced the Big .Three that he is worthy of the custodianship of the Wairarapa line, though his effort in his last club engagement (on which the selection no doubt was clinched), was hardly up to representative standard. Hood has played some fine games during the season, and if the promise he gave materialises, the selectors should have no reason to regret the change.

The three-quarter line has undergone a considerable change. Bandal Booth retains his place, but Stringfellow has been shifted from wing to centre, being replaced on the wing by Ferguson, who played centre against the Bush at Pahiatua at the beginning of the month. Jury, who played centre against the Bay, has been reinstated to his old place at five-eighths, and against the Bush should show up prominently if .given plenty of the ball. Flaws was originally selected for the five-eighth position, Frank Booth being dropped, probably on liecount of his indifferent exhibition against the Bay, but as Haws is suffering from an injured shoulder, Booth will get another chance' by filling his place. Neighbours made such a good job of his game against Hawkes Bay against big odds, that he looked certain to hold the job down, but the selectors have decided to try out Nunn, who was not available for the last match. Both have played in one match, and both have done well, so ifo-fiay’s' game should almost decide who will hold the position for the rest of the season. The selectors evidently arc satisfied with the forwards, for the only difference in the teams is the replacement of Ronaldson (hooker) who was injured, and is unavailable. The selection of Chapman, as his successor, must be pleasing to the Martinborough Club.- Though they have failed to put themselves on the slate, the southerners have battled away pluekily, and Chapman has been the conspicuous forward of every contest. The reward is thoroughly deserved, and if he reproduces his club form he should have little difficulty in holding the position. f. TO-DAY’S ENGAGEMENT. BUSH NO MEAN QUANTITY. The Bush team which meets Wairarapa at the Memorial Park to-day'is by no means a Weak combination. They won the Bebbington Shield for competition among minor Unions in 1923, and have successfully defended it for the past two seasons, their competitors being Horowhonua, Rangitikoi and Southern Hawkes Bay. In their class the Bush have proved that they arc as good as the’ next, and

r when Wairarapa visited them on July 1 this the Greens found it all they could do to win by five points. Certainly the conditions were against good football, and gave no grounds on which to judge the merits of the teams. If the ground is dry to-day Wairarapa will win, but they will bo kept at it by the bustlers from the Bush, all of whom are fresh from a tour north and in good condition. The game wifi commence at 2.30, and will be preceded by a curtainraiser, Wairarapa Primarj; School reps versus Wairarapa High School fifths. Mr H. J. McKenzie will control the big match, and Mr W. Darvill the curtain-raiser.

SHORT PUNTS. Hamua have .won the Bush senior competition. To-day marks the 29th contest between Wairarapa and Bush: Scores: Wairarapa 25, Bush 2, drawn 1. The Canterbury Rugby Union’s contributions to charitable objects during the past five years amount to £2071.

Owing to a difference ef opinion over the guarantee, it is doubtful whether the Maori team will visit Christchurch.

A half-caste Zulu, aged 18 and weighing 15 stone, is playing in Ashburton, and is considered to have*’a great future.

Of the 2.1 matches played between the North and South Island North has won 12, South 7, and two have been drawn. Points for: North 280, South 186.

The value of Craven (Danncvirke) to Hawkes Bay is lost owing to him being unavailable for any. but Saturday games. He was one of the best forwards on the ground against Wairarapa in the shield match. Mr Harold Baker, the manager of the New South Wales team to visit New Zealand shortly, is a brother of the well-known “Snowy” Baker, and is a celebrated boxing referee. In his prime ho was a prominent Rugbyite and athlete.

When the Canterbury Rugby Union were discussing the challenge which had been iforwarded by Auckland one of the members said “If by any mischance we should win the shield ” But that was as far as he got, as there were cries of “Wfiat’s that!” fromall quarters of the room. To say the least of it, Auckland had a.“hide” to forward a challenge to Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield' in the event of our team lifting it from Hawkes Bay (says “Line Umpire” in the Lyttelton Times.”)' It savours of expecting somebody else to do the .“dirty work” and then perhaps Auckland would have a good chance of picking up the plums. No, if Canterbury succeed in Hawkes Bay we want at least to have a look at the shield, to say nothing of opportunities of defending it on our own ground. ,