BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1467, 15 June 1912, Page 12

BANK GOSSIP.

[BT AsiBIODULUe.]

RUGBY CLUB HAPPENINGS,

The attendance at the big match last Saturday—Petone v. Oriental—was 4095. It is said that the letter, published in these columns a week ago, about tho mixed state of affairs in Hawke's Bay, has hastened an inquiry by the Now Zealand Union. Telegraphed ndvico from Hawke's Bay is lo the effect that the Hawke's Bay Union has had its attention officially drawn to the letter. Tho position is most interesting.

It will be a much changed Potone team that will take tho field to-day. Judd, who ha 3 been playing on tho side of the scrum, is dropped. Arrowsmith goes in as a hooker with Parker. Parrant takes Judd's place on tho sido of the pack—he has previously been a back-ranker. Taplin has been shifted from hooker to backranker. Altogether, theso changes amount to a reorganisation of the Petone van.

Veteran "Jack" Baumber, who figured in many a representative struggle in the middle of tho 'nineties, has joined tho referees. He made his first) appearance at Sharpe'e paddock, Potone, lash Saturday.

Claimed by some of the Oriental supporters—and also by some of their team— that one of the Petone scores last Saturday was really a case of off-side. One gathered that much by watching "Fred" Roberts when the score was in progress. He was in a good position to tackle, but did not do so, evidently expecting to hear Petone hauled up by Bj blast of the whistle.

Probably the members of the Wellington senior team are as good sportsmen as the majority of players, but it is not to be wondered at that some complaints aro being heard about the team oeing constantly played in the suburbs. One or

two members of the club are annoyed at the action of one of their own officials, who to have an unholy dread of the team being seen on No. 1 Athletic Park, and has certainly not done anything, to help them to get there.

Poneke have "roped in" a new back in P.' Rogers, of Carfierton, who is expected to strengthen the Red and Black rearguard.

Old style: College are thinking of playing two wingers in future, and one back less. The reason is that they hare sufficient forwards to call on, but are short of backs.

What a really good sport is Mr. H. J. Palmer, of Petone. Every match, in which the redoubtable suburban men aro engaged, sees him present, and ho never comes empty-handed. Oranges for tho team at half-time is a usual thing, but even sherry and whipped egg has, at times, been supplied. At least it is so recorded in the Petono archives.

Survey work, somewhere in tho Featherston region, is going to take A. Sandel (five-eighths) away from Victoria College. Besides being a College player, Sandel represented Nelson province in a match against one of the English combinations that toured the colony.

It is stated that Poneke have a fifthclass back who is worthy of a plnco in tho senior team. But for the fact that the lad is on tho light side, and would .probably get hurt, and that the boys would revolt if he were transferred, he is keeping to the lower grade for the present. To use the words of an enthusiastic supporter of the club, the boy is "a snorter."

"Footballer's knee" has finally convinced W\ Salmond (College wing three-quar-ter) that looking on is the best part of the game. At all events, he has had enough football pro tem.

What's overtaken Petone juniors? It seems that they have ceased training, perhaps because their line has not been crossed this Eeason. If the non-training habit .continues it will certainly not bo long before they hit a whole iceberg of trouble.

Grace, it is definitely stated, will take his place in the Wellington team when they take the field against Petone next Saturday. The old club should then havo a good crowd of backs, and a really solid set of scrummers.

"Best fight we have made this year" is the College version of their clash with Melrose. They think that the recent win at Auckland gave their fifteen more elan and confidence than it has shown heretofore.

, Bitterly cold and gusty aa the day was last Saturday it was noticed that tho grandstand at Athletic Park contained quite a number of ladies with babies in arms. Perhaps wo aro a Spartan generation nfter all.

J. Prcndeville, formerly full-back for the Poneke eeniors, was in town during the week, and left yesterday for Sydney. R. Butcher, forward, who has been absent in Auckland for some weeks, is back in Wellington, and will probably have the College jersey on again to-day.

Cook was in fine form for St. James last Saturday at tho Hutt, and made several good rums on the greasy ground. On three occasions ho was within an ace of scoring when brought down by Millard.

As the Wellington 6enior team has drawn a byo to-day, a match has been arranged for them against a team from the warship in port. It will be played on the polo ground at Miramar.

Stainton did not turn out for College last week as anticipated, but will probably figure behind the scrum to-day.

Ready, Petone forward, who has been aid up withi an injured hand for some lme, will have the jersey on again when the second round begins.

ITenvale is leading in the Christchurch senior competition, having played eight matches and won them all, ecoring 172 points and having only 17 points scored against them.

At Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon a man appeared to "ct his nose broken through merely trying to look at a football match. He was hurrying up the steps to the grandstand, when he missed his footing on tho wet and slippery 6teps. He appeared unable to save himself, and tho bridge of his noso struck tho edge of a step. For some timo he was rather dazed, and the force of the impact suggested that tho bone must have gone. A bystander helped him to a seat, and, pluckily, he sat out the whole match.