MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 12

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

SOME OF THE CLUB HAPPENINGS.

It is believed that Oriental will shortly lose tho services of H. Paton, who may return to /Otago. Two questions that are being asked: How long, after tho Wellington-Southern match did Southern lodge tho protest about time being short? What induced that protest? Marchont, a former member of the Old Boys' Football Club, will bo playing among the Wellington forwards at Karori this afternoon. ' Followers of the Poneke Club are strongly of opinion that Gardiner is in his right place now that he has changed from the side of the 6cmm to the wing threequarter. . Cambridge University is claiming W. G. Salmond, wing three-quarter for victoria College. He will leave by one of the Home boats shortly. Is "Dropkick" in tho "Weekly Press" sarcastic? He 6ays: "There are few tetter tempered players in senior football in Christchurch than J. Harvey, the Linwood wing-forward. On one occasion on Saturday I noticed him in a loose rush carefully pull an opponent clear of the ball, before ho continued his progress." Reported that Cliff Ramsden, of Pctone, is. laid up. It is also rumoured that on epidemic of mumps has broken out in Petone suburb, and that football players havo not escaped. Somowhat serious was tho knock on'the head which P. Grey (College full-back) sustained in the Southern match. He will probably cease playing after the vacation absentees return, H'Kenzie may not bo in his plaoe in tho Wellington back division this afternoon as he lias been out of town for some days, and at the time of writing it was not certain that ho would be back in time. Curtayne and Do la Mere had tho jersey on for College last Saturday. _ Not having played so far this season, it was supposed that they would not "foot it" long if tho play were fast. The reverse, howOver, proved to bo the case, They were on the ball nearly all the time. One of the old "pillars" of the College team—J. D. Brosnan—intends helping to fill the breach during the midwinter vacation. He will be«with his old'fifteen to-day. The Poneke fifth-class boys, who aie tio with Petone for tho fifth-class championship, havo a grievance against the Drawing Committee in that for the second time this season they are set down to meet Petone on tho suburban club's ground. In the first round the teams played at Petone, and the Poneke boys contend that the second match should have been played on any ground other than Petone. Sim, the Poneke senior full-back, has been replaced by Edwards, who played five-eighths for the junior team. The latter is a player of promise. G. Mttellar, All Black and old Wellington Club man, is still showing good enough to warrant his inclusion in the South Island team. It is said that only one "winger" (Hall) was nominated for tho North Island team. Ready (Petone) expects to start playing next Saturday. Wm. Ryan, of the Petone first fifteen, is still suffering from "bad kneo." Tho question of referees' appointment has always been a very vexed one (sayo tho Sydney "Arrow"). In the early days there was no official with tho whistle, and the captains of the sides agreed as to penalties, a tries, goals, etc. Thon oame tho necessity for the appointment of officials, and it has gono through various phases. First of nil there were three, and afterwards one, in charge of tho game. It was moved ,by Mr. B. A. Hansen, at tho Inst meeting"of tho Association, that the time has arrived when the appointments should bo mado by tho Referees' Association; but tho referees evidently are satisfied with the present system of appointment, as an almost unanimous vote, defeated tho proposal. The whole trouble is a feeling that one set of referees should not always havo first grade matches, and that the third grader and second, grader should bo promoted to a senior fixture on occasions. This has been tried a good deal this season by the Appointment Board, but it has not altogether been successful, and tho procedure seems to have been to promoto only thoso second and third graders who have somo length of service behind them.

La<it Monday tho matches of the country teams in Sydney at the University Oval created a good deal of amusement by reason of the attempt of the country men to play the ball. In some instances the country men wore sandshoes instead of the properly sprigged boots, ami consequently .could not keep their footing on tho wet turf.—Tho "Arrow."'

Says "Full-Back" in the "Otaßo Witness" : The Zingari Club (Dunedin) is about to lose ono of jfs oldest and most influential members, and Otago ono of its cx-rc-prese-ntatives. I refer to R. Abbott, 'who is under ordors for transfer to Wellington. Abbott has been a player and committeeman of tho Zingari Club for many years, and has always oxercised nn influonco for good in the club. As an Otago representative ho did excellent service in tho voam 1903 to 1000. J Forsyth, who figures in tho Auckland representative team this season, was formerly a member of the Alhambra Club, Dunedin. W. Johnston, the old Alhambra player, Otago representative, and member of tho famous All Black team, who "wont over" to tho Northern Union game, and has played several seasons in England, is returning to Dunedin, and will not be available, for next season of Northern Union football at Home.