FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12734, 2 April 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

MEETING OF N.Z.R.U. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. CRITICISM RESENTED. rPer United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 1. The management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to write, to the New South Wales and Queensland Unions suggesting an early conference of the three bodies to amend the laws of the game. The annual meeting of delegates is fixed for May Tith. The committee resolved to aek the Otago Union if newspaper reports of Mr Hutchison's recent speech reflecting on the management committee of the New Zealand -Union were correct. v. [In. the course of his presidential address Mr Hutchison was reported by the Otago Daily Times as alleging that "The check which had now been given to the movement for the improvement of the game was apparently due to the fact that the committee of the New Zealand Union, was unsympathetic, and had done nothing to facilitate the carrying into effect of those recommendations, and had by its apathy actually thrown obstructions in the way. This was not the only instance during the past twelve months in. which there had been cause for complaint against the New Zealand Union. Something was necessary to check the power of the Union, •which had in the past been despotically and tyranically exercised.] BY "DODGER.' Kaierau v Wanganui to-morrow — the first match of the season. All members of the Pirate Football Club are requested to roll up to practice tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, in view of the match against Wellington Athletics on Easter Saturday. Many local football enthusiasts will remember Mr Duncan Blair, who a few years ago was such a prominent' player hero, anJ they will be interested to learn that he is now located in San Francisco, where he is doing- very well in the real estate biidi-ipss. In the course of a very chatty .ftter to the writer, the popular ex-Wanganiii player, under date of February, 16, says: — "Rugby in California is almost in its infancy yet, but as the ma r tcrial, sn t)i<> shape of some magnificent athletes, is here, this State, in three years or so, will bo able to hold its own with any Rinjby tourist aggregation that ever ventured this way. The forwards are heavy and fast of the "rip-tear-bang" sort, but, owing to laok of experience, "are not heady enough in the scrums or line-out, but show up well in tackling, and "kick hard, follow-up" style of play. The backs put very little devil into their play, are not at all tricky, and either pass with one hand, or a late,, high, over-head throw, seldom making those short snappy passes so characteristic of a good New Zealand team. The great drawback, to the success of Rugby here ia that the State schools do not take it up, preferring the American style of game, consequently there is no recruiting ground for the club teams, and the Universities have to rely upon recruits from a few of the colleges which have begun playing Rugby lately, lnerefore when a youth starts in to play the British game he cannot forget his early training, and bullocks away for dear ifo, gaming little but bruises and broken imbs— for never have I seen co many men aid out as in some of their close games hero A medical student with plaster bandars, etc., is as necessary an adjunct na the line umpire. However, a few such lnctnicfive games as those given by the Australians, will do more than a few seasons rlay, to show them the finer points of the game, though unfortunately each of the matches against Stanford and California Universities was played in mud and a downnour of rain. Several English, Auetrahan and New Zealand players have bean the means of fostering the game in and around San Francisco, and a few o has-been* ' like myself, have given up our time as referees, and acted M J nucleus of a managing body. The An*, trahans have an ' aboriginal war-cry but Maon yell. an d to cap their plagiarism - at a smoke concert they followed it by giving the NX "Komate, Komate" cry then sang "Tena tangata r-ni rawa atu 1 "' (I' or he s a jplty .g^feW'-njlrewwOl aeqnamtawe" with Jas.^eMalion, their mannorer who rttasfA- ftiH-toack in that match , Wanganui Manawat.. versus New houth Vales, in Wanganui in 1894, when we beat them by 13 to nil." *, ' T ),'; Tlk ",. f>ondß h" kindest regards to a 1 the hove who intent remember him Poneke Club (Wellington) will be robbed or the sterling services of Magee this season, and the unfortunate accident which befel this player at a Miramar pony meeting will probably keep him out of active tootball for all time. At one time it was f^nred he would lose his lee. but a splendid constitution wap responsible for averting this calamity. Magee had the makings of a top-notcher. "Seobie" McKenzie, the ex-Otago and Auckland representative back, will coach Old Boys (Wellington) this season. The tall fellow should make something of the capital material there is to work on in the whites' vanguard. It is understood that Woodier, the New Zealand amateur sprint champion, who has

played Rugby in the bush districts, will assist St. James' Club (Wellington) in its senior engagements this season. The Wellington Athletics are expected to send a team up to meet the Pirates here next Saturday, when an interesting game should be witnessed. It appears probable that there will be only three teams entered for the Senior Cup here this season, viz., the Wanganuis, Kaieraus, and Pirates. It may be that the Collegiate School will again enter a team, but it is thought hardly likely. Mr W- S. Glenn, who has been appointed as sole selector of the representative team, has had ample experience to fit him admirably for the position, and the probabilities are that he will give as much satisfaction as anyone else who could have been chosen. It is to be hoped that he .will be given a fair chance to see^ what the country players are like, and .this can only be done by making arrangements for h|m tp, .visit Marton, Hunterville, and Tai; ,hape occasionally to witness the games, .tfcere. The Wanganui and Eaierau senior teams are both likely to be much stronger this year than last, and there is every prospect of the Cup contests being much more even and exciting 'than they were last season, when the Pirates had things practically all their own way. It is understood that the blacks will. have much the same team as won the Cup in 1906 to rely on this winter, and no doubt will be very hard to beat, though the Wanganuis are said to be very hopeful of success, while the Kaieraus will have to be seriously reckoned with. The general opinion is that each of the three clubs mentioned will put particularly strong teams into the field, and that some first-class football should be witnessed before the Cup is decided. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. Saturday will be the final practice before Easter, and all players are requested to lie on St. John.? Hill (Victoria Park;, ground by 2.30 o'clock, ac two teams will be .selected for practice from players present. Thursday players are requested to note that owing to the bad state of the Queen's Park ground at present, practices will bo held on Victoria Park until further notice. Any enthusiasts desirous of acting as referees are invited to hand their names to any of the club secretaries.