THE TROPHY AT STAKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 4

THE TROPHY AT STAKE

•history OF the bijou cup THE GIFT OF MR H. LAWRENCE The Bijou Cup. which will be competed for' in today’s tournament, was presented to the 11 auganui Rugby Union in 1919 by Mr H. Lawrence ot Wanganui, and was alloted in that year is a trophy for the annual seven-a-side , •ontests. I Since presentation the cup has been von by the following clubs:— j 1919, Old Boys, K. S. Svenson. capt). 1920, Old Boys, (R. S. Scott, capt.) 1921, Kaierau, (J. Lockett, capt.) 1922, Kaierau (1 . A. Brookie. capt.) 1924, Kaierau (W. K. Ross, capt., 1925, Technical 0.8. (E. Wylie, cap .)• 19’6, Kaierau (L. Stewart, capt.). Last year the trophy was won by the Wanganui and Old Boys’ Club the personnel of the team being: R. Mu G. Carlson. J. Pawson, R. r« ton P H. Blythe, G. Broad :nd H. New’“in connection with the 1928 tournament Messrs Markham and London have donated seven troph.es to be .warded to individual members ot the ▼inning team. A Good Try-Out. Seven-a-side Rugbv means fast open plav. and affords players an opportunity to fit themselves for the sterner struggles which loom ahem.. Apart from that aspect also, selectors and coaches are given the means to eloseiv study form, enabling them to more readily prepare club teams for the cup fixtures. a. Realising the fast nature of seven-a-side games, club selectors look upon them as being thorough try-outs for prospective players, and. doubtless, todav?s tournament will be instrumental in finalising many of the teams intended to participate in the forthcoming senior and junior cup competitions. A Pleasing Feature. A pleasing feature of to-day’s contest is the fact That three junior clubs aave entered teams —Technical College, Queen’s Park and Aramoho. Under the rules of Rugby, participation in seven-a-side game? does not in any way infringe the status of junior players, thus affording them unrestricted opportunity to pit their skill against more seasoned players in the senior ranks. The sub committee in charge to-day have completed detailed arrangements and it now only remains for team captains. secretaries of clubs, and other officials to co-operate to ensure success. Punctuality on the part of teams will be insisted on to the letter, and delays in keeping engagements will be looked upon as being forfeits and in such cases the committee will proceed with re-arranging the draw immediately, the delinquent teams being relegated to the disqualified list. The attractiveness of seven-a-side Rugby is greatly marred from a public point of view if too much delay occurs between games, and- the players, appreciating this, will no doubt respond readily to the appeal of the committee in charge (Messrs. P. Wilson, A. Pownall and R. Blennerhassett) to be punctual in taking the field. Teams must be at the ground to-day sharp at 1.30 p.m. The draw for the first round is as follows: Marists B v. Technical College Old Boys B v. Marists A. Technical 0.8. v. County B. Aramoho v. County A. Ratana B v. Kaierau B. Pirates A v. Ratana A. Technical 0.8. (B) v. Old Boys A. Kaierau A v. Pirates B. Queen’s Park have the bye. Primary Schools. The primary schools association will oc staging its annual seven-a-side tournament this morning. The boys look forward to this contest with great glee every year and great interest is taken in the fortunes of each team. It is to the schools that the clubs must look for future generations of Rugby talent, and to-day’s tournament among the pupils will give tangible evidence of the .untiring efforts of a live committee to foster the game in a deserving quarter. Their efforts are providing healthy recreation for growing boys who. in after years will appreciate the grounding they arc now receiving in a grand old game.