RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15359, 6 October 1923, Page 16 (Supplement)

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

(By “Drop-Kick.”)

Next Saturday City and Waitoa will contest the Binnie Cup, which is held by the Hamilton club. This will probably be the last important game of the season.

It is understood that negotiations are being entered Into with the object of getting Auckland’s first selection to visit here. Of the drawing card such a game would be there can be no doubt, but the lateness of the season makes It very problematical whether the Aucklanders would undertake the trip.

Waikato was engaged with three outside Unions during the season, and had its Rugby prestige maintained by securing wins against the Maoris 14-11, Thames Valley 15-16, and Wellinigton 13-11. A tour next season must be one of tbe matters for serious consideration.

There has been ample evidence during the past season that touring teams have not been able to produce their best standard of play. Practically every province gives illustration that at home they are very markedly superior to what they are on foreign playing fields. At Thames this afternoon recognition was made of the great record in football achieved by H., "Circus" Hayward, who, was evergreen in the game for many years and who as late as last season was a prominent factor in the Thames pack. 1 “Circ” will be remembered as one of the finest forwards turned ont in New Zealand, and a popular man both on and off the field. Last Saturday he was an interested spectator at the Peace Cup game, and one may be pardoned for reading Into his thoughts, “a sigh for

the days gone by ” In playing quality I It appears a pretty general cry up and down the Dominion that there has been too much big football this season, which has had a detrimental effect upon the club play. There is no doubt that it has been perhaps the greatest season, numerically, In regard to inter-provincial and intercolonial contests. The ill-effect upon club play, too, can be recognised, but there has been much at stake this season in view of the fact that the Dominion is to send its Rugby strength abroad early next term.