MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 14

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

. CLUB .NOTES AND CHANGES. ■ Regret will be felt in all football circles at'tho definite retirement of Jas. Ryan, Petono's great defensive player. Last week ho injured an ankle, but pluckily played oil. Howevor, during the week tho anklo got much worse, and to use "Jim's" own words, it will take "more than all the tea in China" to drag him out under any circumstances. A rather humorous inoident ocouired when. tho Petono juniors took tho field last Saturday. Tho word went round that the two" "hookors-" had gone over to tho. LeagnK , '",!Tho coach was responsible for tho humour, though not for the rumour. As soon as-ho heard it he bemoaned tho fact, and set-up a strenuous search for another about five minutes to;'d]i it in), ejaculating meanwhile: - f <li<lon't object to.'-'em playing ..Eeagne, buKthey might have told mo in good timo.'" : A name which was prominent in Rugby circles a few years back is again coming to. tho fore, viz.—that of Baumber. Tho Baumber in question is a son of "Jack" Ha'u'mW,-' an old Poneke, Petone, nnd Wellingtoir.representative, and ho is playing centre three-quarter for ono of the Poneko teams, for which ho scored three tries last-Saturday. A tendency on the part of several forwards to play half-back instead of "getting into it" was noticeable on the park last Saturday, a couplo of Poneko scrummers being very noticeable in tho above connection. Tilyard, of Poneke, is making good progress towards recovery, and should be in action again in about three weeks' time. After a year's spell, or more, M'Kcown is to iiguro again in the senior Oriental ranks to-day. He recommenced this season, and has graduated up through tho second fifteen, in which combination he played a couple of matches. As a wing-three-quarter he is what is known as a "powerful runner." Every tackier knows what that means. Can anyone solve it? Some of the Oriental players stale that their Match Committee have been liuwise to drop Best (ex-South representative) in favour of Perry. Decision in this matter is a little beyond the giant intellect of "Ariv ;tobulus.''' Suppose they tossed up?

Ha! and also Ho! A southern writer hns something to say in Ms notes about the "all-important position of lock." Now, soberly looking at it, is not "lock" quito tlio most useless position in a team ?

Old timers will be interested to hear that H. Pauling, the brawny artilleryman. who played here in tlio days when Rugby was Rugby, j s -now ono of tlio selectors /or Now South Wale 3.

Complaint is made in somo quarters that a number of juniors are showing a preference for the Dank at tho park instead of the playing arqa abroad. In more than one caso junior men aro said to bo going to the., park with their jerseys, otc., in' tho hope of snatching a game with tho seniors. The safest way to tho senior grado is to work up to it from tho juniors, and selectors snould boar in mind the conscientious juniors when promotions are in hand. Last Thursday night tho southerly rain whioh swept. Petono was (!ho heaviest experienced for years. Still half a dozen heroic footballers turned up at the gymnasium for training. They suffered disappointment, however, as the man with tlio key' yas sensible enough to remain by tho fireside. Although Poneko entered for tho thirdclass competition, they are unable to get a team together, and so will drop out of this championship if possible. A correspondent writes:—"Tho playing grounds at Miramar Park rendered many decisions on Saturday a matter of impossibility, owing to the fact that tho grounds aro not marked out, and no boundary lines aro visible. This matter should receive the attention of the Eugby Union, as it causes no end of dissatisfaction and dispute betweeu players and referees." Cunningham will probably be playing in tho Athletic team to-day. He ricked his knee a fortnight ago in tho Wellington match, but it is now well enough ,to stand work again. Goodbehere will bo back in tho threequarter lino of tho Victoria College senior team to-day. There is said to bo considerable prospect of S ; m, who plays half for the Victoria College juniors, being promoted to the sonior team very shortly. Sim is looked upon as a promising man behind tho scrum. ' H. Elliott, of the Poneko Club, had the misfortune to run. a rusty nail into his foot, which, mishap may keep him off tho field for a week or so. Calls incidental to the training of the youth of the country for defence purposes played .havoc with Poneko Club last' Saturday. Ton players out of tho fourth class team had to drill, and as a result the match in which they were to play had to be postponed. One .senior man, three juniors, and five or six others lielonging to the club were also called on for Territorial work.