Selection Of Fourth Grade Rugby Reps.

Chronicle (Levin), 29 July 1949, Page 4

Selection Of Fourth Grade Rugby Reps.

"TTNRTAR-Rn "

"FAIR PLAY."

(To the Editor) Sir,— May I use a little of youi yaluable space to draw the attention of .the sporting public to what I consider is a grave injustice to yout'hful foouballers in our district. On looking over the selection to represent Ilorowhenua fourths 3 notice that seven Rahui players are iricluded as against two Foxton, two College A a.nd one each from WanJerers, Shannon, Paraparaumu and College B. When one considers ihat the unbeaten College A team has scored 200 points in plub games chis season, it is hard to understand why only two of its members are considered by the selector as vorthy of representative honours. While not detracang from the merits of the two Co lege B players (one in the team and one emerSency) who have been picked for :he reps, one is forced to the eonelusion that the selector fias used the privilege of his position to offer a studied insult to the College A team. One might well wonder if there is any connection between this and the unsucc.essful appeal to the N.Z. Rugby Union regarding the recent club match when Colege A gained the decision over Rahui by a narrow margin. In justice to followers of the sport, I think the selector of the fourth grade reps should, through your columns, give his comments on the following points, which -are exercising the minds of many players and supporters of the fourth grade teams: (1) Is it correct that players and supporters of the Rahui team assisted with the selection of the fourth grade reps. last Saturday? (2) Is there any connection between this incident and the number of Rahui players selected? (3) Is the se'ector not a strong supporter of the Rahui C!ub?} (4) Will the selector give his reason for the exclusion of Lamg, a place kicker of proven abiiity, from the team? — Yours, etc.,

Levin, July 27. Sir, — In Tuesday night's "Chronicle" the Horowhenua fourth grade rugby representatives to piay at Levin on August 6 were announced. The team reads as follows, emei> gencies omitted, and for those unenl'ightened followers of the sport I have included the n&me of the club to which each player belongs: Morgan (Rahui), Brotheson (Foxton), Roach (R.ahui), Newth (Shannon), 'Whiteman (Rahui)-, Warren (Wanderers), Connolly (Rahui), Mudge (Rahui), Coutts (Foxton), Best College A), Roach (College A), McLean (College B) , Ashworth. (Paraparaumu), Waldron (Rahui),, and. Fox (Rahui) . • On looking down the list you see seven Rahui, one Wanderers, one Shannon, two Foxton, one Paraparaumu, two College A and one College B player, noo a very varied selection for a representative team. Being rather a keen foilower of fooiball for football's sake, I fail to see why a player who has for his own team scored 75 points off his boot alone this season, and that in ten matches. does not warrant a position, according to the selector, in this choice selection. Apparently the selector had eyes only for his own end of the rugby union's district, namely, Rahui. The player in question is Lang, of College A. Lang7 in my opinion has proved' his consistehcy as a safe and sure kick, which is more than can be said for any of the team. Is it because he is only a College boy, or is it because there is a better kick in the team? — Yours, etc.,

Levm, July 28.