MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 12

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

CLUB NOTES AND CHANGES. "Scalers will be prosecuted !" This is the edict of the Wellington Rugby Union. "Sports" have been entering Athletic Park on match days by way of the fence, Mid without paying. The union ( proposes to catch a few and prosecute them, in the hope of curing the rest. \

Athletic have withdrawn from the Wednesday competition.

In future, Wellington hopes to arrange matches with Taranaki for June 3. This should be a very payable annual attraction.

There is some doubt as to whether the date of the .Wellington-HaVke's Bay match, is to be played on July 19 or July 26. July 19. is the date.

The old battle for the remission of rates on the Park was mentioned at Wednesday's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union. Mr. E. 0. Hales mentioned it. He mentioned it thus: "Mr. Perry and I attended tho City Council. I may say that Mr. Perry, in a very eloquent speech, put tho matter before them—and the matter was referred to the. Finance Committee." Good old Finance Committee! Isn't it glorious to know that there's something to refer it to !

Lovick, who was expected to be playing for Athletic this week, has gone_ to Sydney for a holiday trip. He will probably be back in Wellington about the time that the second round is commencing. W. Crewes has returned to Wellington, and ho will shortly be playing for his old club, St. James. The Red and Whites are not meeting with much success nowadays, but the feeling in the club is reported to be healthy, and tho lower grade teams are doing very well. ,

"Ho that is down need fear no further fall," is about tho only adage calculated to bring comfort to I'oneke at the present time so far as tlio position of tlie senior team is conccrnul, but tho team and its supporters havo not lost heart. The gymnasium is being kept open every week night, and tho attendance is good, though somewhat interfered with by the demands of Territorial training.

Poncko does not want for good backers, who will rally to its support in -a time of difficulty. For instance, D. Calcinai was on hand with a kit at last Saturday's match, in caso hig'services woro required. Calcinai lias not played regularly since tho memorable occasion when he sustained a broken jaw in a match at Athletic Park, but ho has taken the field now and then, and is by no means on the retired list.

One hopeful feature in the Poneko situation is that the continued services of Mitchinson swm to bo assured. Mitchinson is a good club man in the field or in the gymnasium. .

Most of the Poncko players who have been injured sinco tho season opened have now regained playing form. H. Elliot and Tilyard wore both in the field last. Saturday, aiul Aigar and Brewer have also recovered from the effect of their smash at Jliramar. Bowie, who was. thrown from a horse some time ago, is still incapacitated from'playing.

It may bo all right to boost hockey in its own column, but in this column it can look for no favours. It is therefore recorded with reprobation that hockey has lured away no less than eight members of the promising junior fifteen that Poneke put into Hie fieldat the beginning of the reason. Two clubs have divided the spoil, four of the "backsliders" going to each. In time the damage, will be repaired, but meantime Poiieke will have to put recruiting officers" on every corner in order to repair the shattered ranks of its Jun iur tifttceu.

■While their seniors have gravitated to the bottom of tho ladder, tho Poncko Fourths haw put up-a very different record. So far this season they have played three games and won them all. Their record of points is !I0 for and I against. The points against were obtained by Athletic Fourths last Saturday, and they marked a previously clean shcetj

It is understood that a well-known Oriental player is considering the matter of taking a good team of Wellington players to Marton on June 3, with the object of helping the game in the Rangitikei. IT® has boon "building up" the fifteen for somo time.