POLITICAL FOOTBALL CUP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 8, 21 September 1943, Page 4

POLITICAL FOOTBALL CUP

Sir.—The competition opened with <! match between teams representing the Labour and National Clubs. The Labour team took the field looking fit and well under their welll and tried skipper Peter Eraser, whilst the Nationals were championed by Holland, they having pinched quite a number of Labour's gas jets meant, to run their opponents, off their feet., Peter kicked off in the middle of the field, the wind, what was left of it, being in liis favour. Holland missed the ball on the full and managed whilst waiting lor the bounce to extract the b.adder. Labour's policy being .stripped of its inflation the empty case was returned. Mrs Dreaver who was fast fol« lowing up over-ran the ball and was penalised for being oil' side. Holland produced what was supposed to be a new ball but in reality was the. old one oiled for the purpose. The game being resumed, Im user obtained lrom a scramble near the line and passed to Skinner ho having kicked high over Holland's head and following up fast nearly scored .in the corner. Doidge tackled however and lie was rehabilitated 'in touch in gaol.

Doidge 'who has been playing erratic games endeavoured to dcceive his opponents by working the blind side of tiie scrum however lie sent Bill Sullivan away and Bill iinished up by booting the ball on to the top of Parliament Buildings where it landed ,ia Peter's summer house. The game was now getting ex~ Citing and whi.st the ball was being retrieved Holland to keep the players moving introduced the ex-* tracted bladder from the original baU which had been inflated again but this was soon punctured. A young playet Drummond, with a roving commission put a spike in the bladder, to find that the inflation comprised affidavits signed.by members ol' the National team agreeing to play the game according to the dictates of the National Executive in Wellington, the Old Tory Clubs representatives.

Peter complained to the referee Unit the game was not being played strictly according to rules, but the referee ruled that as. lie, Peter, took the field -vvitli a new ball, inflated by the Trade Union pump, and Holland having extracted the bladder he was entitled to inflate with the pump he acquired from the National executive.

Darkness was now intervening and the player Drummond having scored the only points, should with a lew more games give a good account of himself. Doidge, Bill Sullivan and Broadfoot are seeking representative honours. Broadfoot and Doidge having played in the old Tory Club will find the rules extracted from the Labour Club a bit irksome. They are clear cut and cannot, be 1 misrepre-: sented they were easily made applicable to a good game. A report of the representative match and a casual view of play and players will be given before the 25 th. Yours etc., P. MORA.