RUGBY NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 150, 25 June 1929, Page 4

RUGBY NEWS

ROUND THE DOMINION NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE Joe AfcAuliffe, erstwhile Kaierau five-eighths and skipper, has been transferred from Invercargill to Christchurch and is apparently playing at the top of his form in his new centre. The Christchurch Btar has the following to say about him: McAuliffe impressed as a heady and game player who knows the work expected of a second fiveeighths, and carries it out. He is another great man on defence. He should show to better advantage on attack when the Christchurch inside combination settles down a bit. « * « «

Souter, the second Otago man chosen for the 1929 All Blacks, has an excellent record in Rugby for a young player. In 1926 he was a member of the Otago junior representative team, and the following season he was in the Alhambra first grade team. In his first year in senior football he was picked to represent the province and was a member of the Otago team that toured the North Island at the end of the 1927 season. In addition to being a good hooker, Souter is a splendid forward both in scrummaging and in the loose, and another qualification is that he is a first-class place kick. # • • •

They have produced some real Rugby fliers in Canterbury of recent years, including “Jocky” Ford. Another racehorse, at least, in the making, has been unearthed in George Hart, who learned his football at Waitaki, and since playing in Christchurch has impressed the cogniscenti. According to a southern writer, Hart has astonishing pace, and each year sees him in the limelight with spectacular tries. As he is only a little over 20 years of age and has grit and stamina as well as pace, Hart may develop into the Gloaming class of All Black . ••♦ « ”

The wrong spirit is abroad in pre-sent-day Rugby—that is the studied and frank opinion of a South African commentator. “Perhaps,” he adds, “the international games between New Zealand and South Africa last season arc to blame, for in those matches the policy of win-at-all-costs was given full rein. At any rate, I noticed That even towards the end of last season a lot of unpleasant little tricks crept into the game. For instance, the line-out work was far from clean in the sense that the Rugby rules meant it to bo; there was a lot of obstruction in the line-outs which escaped the notice of the referee.”

Hazlett will bo available for Southland this season. It was thought at first that he would

be able to play only against Otago at Invercargill, but he has now stated that he will be available to tour i with the Southland team. • • •

It is reported that Walter Wilson, the big Alaori forward, has returned to Hawke’s Bay. Wilson, a member of the New Zealand Alaori team that toured England, Wales and France in 1926, and represented Hawke ’s Bay in interprovincial Rugby in 1927-28, recently migrated to the Wairarapa district, where he has been living for some weks. Contrary to popular anticipation (says the Telegraph) he did not win a place in the Wairarapa team to play

Hawke’s Bay, but when the visitors commenced to lose men through injury he was beckoned down from the stand, where he had been sitting in the role of a spectator, and donned “togs” ready to go on if required. It was generally thought that he would be in the Wairarapa team for succeeding matches but all these speculations were upset by the return of Wilson to Napier.

The, following will represent Waikato against King Country at To Awainutu on Wednesday, July 6, at 2.30 p.m.:—Full-back, 8. Thomas (Morrinsville); three quarters, P. Quin (Waipa), P. Clarkin (Hamilton), M. Anderson (Morrinsville); five-eighths, Kemp (Hamilton), Story (Matamata); half, Mitchell (Hamilton); rover, L. Kay (Waipa); front row, Robinson (Cambridge), E. Holmes (Waipa); lock, Fleming (Hamilton); break-a-ways, Simpson (Morrinsville), Halstead (Hamilton); back row, W. Bourke (Cambridge), Edwards (Waipa). Reserves: C. Thomson (Cambridge), T. Ensor (Matamata).

Fleming, the lock in the above team, was at one time a Wanganui player.

The Wairarapa Union has notified that its representatives would be unable to visit Auckland this season, as the management committee could not over-ride the decision arrived at by the annual meeting of delegates that the union should play only home-and-homc matches. * • ♦ •

Over 15,000 spectators saw Ponsonby defeat Training College at Auckland on June 15. Ponsonby got to work very quickly and put on three tries in a very short time. At half-time they had a lead of 22 points to nil, but in the second half the students rallied and had all the game. The best they could do, however, was to score a goal and a try, Ponsonby win nig by 22 to 8. Ponsonby, by the way, arc the only club in New Zealand to contribute three players to the 1929 All Blacks —Palmer, McWilliams and Hook.

A. Kennedy, three-quarter, was the outstanding player in the Australian back division (says a northern writer commenting on the New Zealand and Australian University game). An elusive runner, he caught the eye frequently with his sharp, penetrating dashes. His run toward the end, when he burst through and threaded his way solo right ,through the opposition, only to be overhauled a few yards out and grassed was a gallant effort. He was decidedly unlucky in not scoring, and if the extent of the applause was any indication ho had the sympathy of the crowd.

The Canterbury Rugby Union has debarred one of its senior B grade selectors from holding an official position in the union for the remainder of the season The referee in the Lin-wood-Merivale senior match, played at Woolston, reported that the trouble arose out of a disputed goal—the only score in the game—awarded to Merivale. The selector, who is also the Linwood coach, protested. “As we walked off the ground/' continued the report, “this coach was referring to the referee, and making other objectionable remarks. I warned him that if he persisted I would report him to the union. He replied: * You should read the rules. lam a selector to the union’; to which 1 replied, * A very poor example of a selector.’ ‘ What’s that to do with you?’ ” The referee appears to have answered that question with point and emphasis.

FOR NEXT SATURDAY METROPOLITAN RUGBY GAMES. REFEREES APPOINTED. The Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Union’s Cup competitions will be continued next Saturday, two Senior Cup matches being set down to take place on Spriggens Park. Following is a list of the referees set down to control the various fixtures: — Senior. Marists v. Wanganui and Old Boys, on Spriggens Park, at 1.30 p.m. —Mr J. Richardson. Pirates v. Kaierau, on Spriggens Park, at 1.45 p.m. —Mr J. S. King. County v. Ratana, at Ratana, at 2.45 p.m. —Mr J. B. Rowe. Tech. Old Boys have the bye. Junior. Ratana v. Araque at Ratana at 1.30 p.m.—Mr N. Reid. Imlay v. Kaierau on Racecourse No. 2, at 1.30 p.m. —Mr A. Slight. Collegiate v. Pirates on Collegiate No. 1 ground at 2.30 p.m. —Mr R. Hamilton. Tech. v. Wanganui and Old Boys on Tech, ground at 2.45 p.m.—Mr W. Mutton. Tech. 0.8. v Marist on Racecourse No. 4 ground at 1.30 p.m.—Mr W. H. Rowe. , County have the bye Thirds. Marist v. Kaierau on Racecourse No. 1, at 1-30 p.m. —Mr W. Briggs. Pirates v. Collegiate on Collegiate ground No. 2 at 2.30 p.m. —Mr L. Gilberd. Old Boys v. Tech. 0.8. on Racecourse No. 3, at 3 p.m. —Mr S Cass. Fourths. Imlay v. Tech. A on Tech, ground, at 1.30 p.m.—Mr W. McElwain. Tech. B. v. Marist, on Racecourse No. 3 at 1.30 p.m. —Mr K. Waite. Kaierau v. Collegiate IV.. on Collegiate No. 3 ground, at 2.15 p.m.—Mr G. Thrush. Pirates v. Tech. 0.8. on Racecourse No. 1, at 2.45 p.m. —Mr T. Waite. Araque v. Collegiate 111. Collegiate win by default. Fifth. Araque v. Imlay. Imlay, win by default. Kaierau v. Collegiate VII., on Collegiate No. ,4 ground, at 2.15 p.m. —Mr R. Phillipson. Collegiate VI. v. Tech. C, on Collegiate No. 4, at 2.15 p.m. —Mr T. Pongi. Tech. B v. Tech. D, mid-week fixture Pirates v. Tech. A, on Racecourse No. 2, at 2.45 p.m. —Mr W. Stone. Collegiate V. have the bye. Emergencies: Messrs F. C. Atkinson and L. Hartley. Line Umpires: Spriggens Park, 1.30 p.m., Messrs G. Barnett and W. Day; 2.45 p.m., Messrs J. Thompson and R.