ON THE BALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 5

ON THE BALL

THE COMING RUGBY SEASON ALL BLACKS' INTERNATIONAL EFFORT LENDS IMPETUS TO THE GAME. BRIGHT PROSPECTS THROUGHOUT WANGANUI DISTRICT (BY “CROSS-BAB.”) The approach of Winter heralds the commencement of another Rugby season, the arrival of April days giving full rein to the spirit of New Zealand’s national game. This year the eyes of the Rugby world will focus mainly on South Africa where those giants, All Black and Springbok, meet to decide world supremacy. New Zealand prepares for that approaching contest with quiet confidence, realising that, win or lose, her chosen twenty-nine will shoulder their responsibilities with credit to themtselves and to the Dominion, becoming, in ©very sense of the term, Ambassadors of Empire. The departing team, carrying with them best wishes from all, will leave Rugby spirit at fever heat. During their absence, all players, from the youngest midget to the tried and trusted veteran, will shoulder into the fray to mould a wealth of fresh Rugby tradition.

In Wanganui the approaching Rugby season gives promise of providing many a thrill. From the city itself, from Rangitikci, Taihape, Wainui-a-Rua, and every corner of this Rugby district, reports are to hand lending colour to the belief that 1928 will constitute a record year in the annals of the game. Recent weeks have been spent by clubs and Sub-Unions in holding annual meetings and generally making preparations for a strenuous time ahead, and the now prevalent tang in the air affords a, reminder that, ere long, vast crowds will line the playing fields stirring the players on. The spectacular aspect of the game affords Rugby the power to thrill the onlooker in a way which is foreign to many forms of sport. That, and its strenuous nature which demands physical fitness on the part of its participants, form two of the main reasons for its widespread appeal. In these columns | the “Chronicle,” ever with an eye to the advancement of the game, will provide, twice weekly, a budget of news of interest to Rugby supporters. Criticisms of various aspects of the game will be made in the light of fairness, fearlessly and without bias, in an endeavour to uphold Rugby prestige.

All Black Leader's. To Maurice Brownlie has fallen the honour of leading the most formidable side New Zealand has ever put in the field. That there is no player better fitted for the task is endorsed by all. The big Hawke’s Bay forward possesses all the qualifications that go to make an ideal Rugby leader—a strong character, splendid physique, unsurpassed energy in play, and a particular de-

termination when on defence that inspires his team to cool confidence when attacks endeavour to pierce their way to victory. There is one definite link between the newly appointed All Black captain and Wanganui, in that he received some of his football grounding at Hurworth School.

The appointment of Mark Nicholls as vice-captain did not come as a surprise. For many years Mark has demonstrated his generalship on the Rugby field and Wellington—the Pctone Club in particular —owes much to his capabilities in this respect as well as to his prowess in play. He should make a worthy second to a popular captain.

The Metropolitan Centre. The mere fact that 11 clubs fielding 45 teams will enter the Metropolitan Sub-Union’s competitions is, in itself, clear indication of a bright season. The opening day has been fixed for April 21 with the usual seven-a-side tournament. Cup fixtures commence a week later.

The senior competition will be contested by seven teams, Old Boys, Kaierau, Pirates, Marist, Technical Old Boys, County and Ratana.

The re-entry of Ratana into the Wanganui area is a matter for satisfaction, but it is to be hoped that this club, profiting by the lessons of the past, makes every endeavour to keep engagements to the letter. An assuranc has been given that difficulties in this regard which happened previously will not occur again, and with Ratana making a bold bid for victory in their bright inimitable style, players and public will welcome their re-appearance. Reports have it that this club has a strong vanguard which will constitute a force to be reckoned with in the progress of the senior competition.

That the County Club will again be a participant this season is another matter for satisfaction. This young club merited full praise for its sporting behaviour last season in keeping all engagements and maintaining the sequence of the cup games. Light forwards seemed to be County’s main ! weakness then, and reports this season that the club has been considerably strengthened in this respect will be regarded as predicting that a determined bid for laurels is to be made by the holders of last year's wooden spoon. Nothing would be more pleasing than to see County head the senior teams. Among those who will wear the club’s, jersey this year are, the following newly enrolled members: —Lloyd Stewart, C. Hohaia (ex-Taranaki five-eighth), P Potaka, Pcina and Tate. Pirates, Old Boys, Marist, Kaierau and Technical Old Boys will all be participants this season. The usual rumours are circulating relative to the strength of them all. In the end some of these will prove to be authentic, but no doubt most of them will find little to commend them on the first playing Saturday. It is strange how many peerless Rugby reputations are shattered five minutes after the referee’s whistle sounds to open the first game of the season. In Taihape Rugby in. Taihape is on the up-grade and to that centre Wanganui looks for many of her star players every year. Reading between the lines of the reports from that Sub-Union there arc bright prospects ahead. Wanganui still has recollections of the defeat of last year which Taihape inflicted on the city team, and if the chance is made this coming season for the two teams to meet a good match should result, between one team bent on avenging defeat, the other out to retain its position as the champion Sub-Union team in the Wanganui district. To the casual observer it appears as though the spirit of “Moke” Beiliss guides the destinies of Taihape’s Rugby. “Moke’s’’ name looms high in the history of the game right throughout the world, but nowhere is it regarded in higher esteem than in his home town, where his capable leadership and dogged battling on the field have helped in no insignificant degree to write Taihape ’s name into the Rugby record of the Dominion.

Two officials who play their part in the games’ affairs in Taihape arc Messrs J. Quirk and F. M. Marlow, It was largely due To the efforts of these two that the Sub-Union had such a successful run in 1927, ending with a short tour to Hawke's Bay. Their reelection to the positions of president and secretary, respectively, will do much to advance the game still further this coming season. In Rangitikei.

Six senior teams have entered for the Rangitikei Sub-Union’s competition, and it is anticipated that this season will see still greater progress made in Rugby in that district. Under the presidential guidance of Mr R. G. Dalziell, a strong management committee has been elected to carry the season through. Until last year Rangitikei held the Pownall trophy which is, subject to challenge, held by the strongest SubUnion in the Vvdnganui district. Taihape wrested that title from Rangitikei at Hunterville last year and subsequently successfully defended it against the same side. It may safely be assumed that the losers will make a further effort during the approaching season to regain the coveted honour. Wainui-a-Rua. Wainui-a-Rua holds the coveted Maori Shield and if uound preparations count for anything it would seem that this trophy will not be wrested from its holders without a stirring game. In-

terest in Rugby on the up-river localities has increased a thousand-fold within the past season or two and 1928 will mark another year of progress. With such enthusiasm prevailing, which carries in its wake solid training on the part of the players, it is but natural to expect that Wainui-a-Rua will again make worthy contributions to the personnel of the Wanganui representative fifteen. Classification. Correct classification of players has more than its share of troubles. In the senior and junior ranks it is a comparatively easy matter to grade the various players according to their status in the game, but lower down the grades the worries of the classification committee increase at every turn. It savours of something lacking in a club’s sporting attributes when it allows players to remain in the lower grades when their Rugby ability lays claim for them to higher honours. It is unfair to the players themselves, to the game itself and to the clubs with limited member-, ship, who cannot even hope to maintain their lower grades, let alone keep them bolstered up with crack heavy players. That the Wanganui Sub-Union is alive to classification problems was evidenced at its last meeting when the very admirable suggestion of seeking the co-operation of the referees was adopted. Individual referees, apart from their fitness to judge a player ’s capabilities, arc more closely in touch with the ’offending lower grades and reports coming from them to the classification committee should help to materially bridge the present difficulties.

This is only one matter of many, in which the co-operation existing between the Union and its referees, can overcome. Dearth of Referees. *

It is rumoured that there •will be a shortage of referees this season. If such is so it is to be very much regretted. As has been stressed many times, referees are a very vital part of the game, and whe/as the tasks they perform earn much abuse and little thanks, it is a pity that more retiring players do not seize opportunities to render further service to the game. If Rugby is fit to provide them with recreation in younger days, surely it is worth assisting in laecr years when departing youth forbids active participation on tho field. Not that referees do not have an active time. Far from it, but “whistling” is certainly less strenuous than shouldering into the scrum or dashing to score from halfway. If there is a shortage of active referees indicated a systematic canvass of retiring players would perhaps be well worth while. Easter Matches. Many clubs, as a preliminary to the opening of the season, seize the opportunity Easter affords of meeting teams from outside their own centres. This year Kaierau, as has been the custom previously, will meet tho Oriental Club of Wellington on Easter Saturday. Technical College Old Boys expect a visit from Napier Technical Old Boys on the same day. Both these matches will be played in Wanganui. Pirates journey afield, tho seniors and juniors to Palmerston North anct the thirds to Pctone. Aramoho thirds go to Hawera to meet a third grade team from that centre.

PRACTICE REMINDERS

PIRATE CLUB. Practice games for all grades will be held on the A. & P. grounds Wanganui East at 2 p.m. to-day. Those players wishing to make Easter trips are particularly requested to attend. ARAMOHO CLUB. - A practice of members and intending members of the Aramoho Football Club will be held on Atkinson Park to-day at 2.15. It is expected that a large attendance will result. MARIST CLUB. Members of the. Marist Football Club arc reminded that parctice will

be held on Hurworth grounds this afternoon at 3 o’clock. A practice will be held on Tuesday night at Spriggens Park at 7.30.

Members playing against County a'r, Ford cl 1 to-day are requested to meet at the Post Office at 1.30 p.m.

ORIENTAL CLUB’S. VISIT

ANNUAL CLASH WITH KAIERAU. The first football match of the season will eventuate next Saturday on Spriggen’s Park, when Oriental Seniors (Wellington) and Kaierau (Wanganui) meet in their annual clash. In view of the fact that a local enthusiast has donated a cup for competition between these two clubs, members are taking the match more seriously than on previous occasions. Advice has been received locally that the visitors have been in strict training for several weeks past, whilst tho local members have likewise been engaged. Deputy-Chadrman. Mr A. Pownall, who has a long connection with tho Kaierau Club, has ben appointed to act as deputy-presi-dent during Mr J. Moye’s absence ■with the All Blacks in South Africa.