MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 12

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

CLUB NOTES AND CHANGES. Tho inter-island fixture is to be played at Christchurch this day fortnight. For several Saturdays, the Melrose Club have been unable to get their best senior fifteen in the field, but this weelc, it is expected, the team will be playing at full strength. Fred IJobbs, brother of Arthur Hobbs, one of Canterbury's best three-quarters of a few years back, passed away in the Christcliurch Hospital on Monday but (fays a Christch-.ireli paper). He inet with air accident recently, getting his foot badly. crushed. Blood-poisoning set in, and he never recovered. Hobbs was •■nn of the'safest and best kicks in his a

day. Ho played for the old East Christchurch Club, and will be remembered for his coolness. Ho was a great rurinpr in Ilia time, and carried off many races when the sports were held on Haglev Park. Some yory amusing letters are read at each meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union Executive from players who have taken part in the Northern Union game, but who are now anxious to be reinstated. The applicants a'o unanimous in asserting that they now recognise the Rugby Union game as the better one, and always deolare that if reinstated they will stick to tho old game for ever. One player wrote last week to say that the reason of his "going over!' wa's tho inducement of an Australian trip, but he never received any payment, and' the "biggerest" game ho ever played in was an inter-union fixture. Another explained that he had no personal desire to play under Northern Union rules, but I;as- father was a miner, ■ and insisted that ho should. He was now over twenty-one years of age, however, and able to decide for himself. He favoured Rugby, and wanted to be reinstated. The position of 'full-back has been a very unlucky ono this season, as of the eight players at the start of the season only one, J. Bain, of Old Boys, has played right through (says the Christchurch "Press"). Several received •which will not allow them to again don' tho jersey this season, among the number being:—Doell (Sydenham), Norrie (Canterbury Collego), Hullins (Christohuroh), SeaTxiurne (Marists), Howell (Linwood), and Smith (Merivale). Henry (Albion) also received injuries earlier in the season, and for several Saturdays was unable to play. ■The Oriental-Athletic match this afternoon should produce some hard, fast forward play. Twomey, the Melroso five-eighth and skipper, may be playing again this afternoon. He was recently disabled by an injury to one of his hands. Victoria College cxpect to be able to , put a fair team in the field to-day. Several of their best, of course, are away in Australia with the University team, but, with the return, to the ranks of one or two men who have recently been absent through injuries, it is reckoned that' a good fifteen can be put in the field. Stainton is away on .holiday, and, therefore, will be absent from the ranks of tho green-jerseyed brigade. ■' Vacation has not robbed Victoria Colleged of many senior men this season. It was rumoured during the week that Fred. Roberts would emerge from retirement thiis afternoon to' help Oriental against Athletic. There seems to be little likelihood of the story being well founded. One might believe it if Oriental had a chance of gaining the championship of the season. Stewart M'Farlane, the ■well-known place-kick .of the Petonx? team, has been transferred to Palmerston North, and left last Monday for that place. , Stated (by one of themselves) that the Petone teams have grfcat hopes for next Saturday's matches, both in tho junior and senior grades. He adds: "Judging by their form at the 'Gym.' on Thursday night the team should do well on Saturday. Tho absence of a match last week has not affected them in the least."