MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 12

MERELY BANK GOSSIP.

CLUB NOTES AND CHANGES. Rather wondersome, and a little humorous, is tho consideration that Wellington forwards have.run nowhere.in the race for the 'trip to California. In tho old (and gold). days," Wellington .used to be .very remarkablo 1 for tho strength of its pack.'' .' " ■ . ■It is understood that frakaranagi and Winiata, who accompanied the Maori team to Australia, have now. definitely retired ircm tho ganio.

Athletic will . hdvo its full team in .against Petone, and the Blue and Blacks anticipate an "easy victory, whidi will give them the* championship for tho season. •

In the column over which "Aristobnlus" presides, it .'is . not often that superfluous Ixmquets are handed out to players; but congratulations seem to bo very much in order to "Teddy" Roberts on his inclusion in tho team which is to represent the kiwi (let us call it that) against tho American eagle. In connection with tho inclusion of this sterling lialf-back in tho All-Black combination, one may bo permitted to remark that there aro only two classes of players in the game, just as there 'are only two classes of men in the World. And theeo two classes aro not "good" and "bad," as some may suppose, but original men and mere imitators. Which of these classes this clever player belongs to tliero is, possibly, no need to specify.

The, appointment of. manager to tho Australian team to visit New Zealand has been deferred ..until the next council meeting of the New South Wales Union.

Oriental won the third-clats championship in Wellington last year, and this year they are leading in tho same grade. The other Oriental teams are not doing go well, and tho enthusiasm of the club i 9 therefore confined to tho third fifteen.

"The New Zealand Rugby team will bo very lavishly entertained by the British Empire Club, .and'other patriotic societies in California," so writes the American! correspondent of tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph.'

Almost all that can be said of tho Wel-lington-Maori match appeared on Monday. The most interesting phase left untouched was the play of the Wellington men taken individually.

The' star performer of the who!? thirtywas Mitehinson, the man whom Mr. V. ]!. Meredith (Wellington's selector) semehow omitted from tho batch of nominees lor the Californian tour. As a threequarter, Mitehinson lias no equal at this end of the island,, and it would take a Buper-eliarapion to excel him on his recent games. The writer's opinionis that Mitehinson is as good to-day as ever.

Mr. Meredith's oiriissioii lias resulted in an injustice being done to a player who hits thoroughly earned liis place. In the flrst place, lie should have been Dominated for the North Island team; anfly secondly, one must not forget that the Auckland' selector (Mr. D. Gallagher) could hardly say too much in favour of Mitchjiison after his line display in the Auckland-Wellington niaicu. Anyone who could not grasp the fact .that Alitnhinsoii was in Jirst-class torni, and fit for ariv team, knows nothing about liusby/nnd (as this can certainly not bo alleged against Mr. Meredith) # one can onlv conclude that the caso is one of oveisijrM. If this extrjordinary omis-

sion. can be rectified, amends should be made.

Of the other .Wellington backs in tho. Maori match, Twomey and Nunn showed a capacity for standing up to heavy forwards. and Parker gave a good display at full-back. E. Kyan, right-wing-three-quarter, was quick and clover, but was given little to do. Sullivan and Tilyard, tho five-eighths, found tho Maori forwards mors than they could effectively deal with in the second spell.

Damo Rumour has it that Petone's chosen are very "ready'' for Athletic today, and the interest of tlio energetic suburb, where the Blue men. come from, is proportionately high. In the first encounter botween these clulw the form Shown by Athletic backs wns rather unexpected by Petone, but, this time (so it is said), the suburban men are prepared for anything that may happen along.

Petone Club has one representative in the team which is to go to California. M'Kenzie; has -already received congratulations from friends, and his inclusion has given general satisfaction. Had Kamsden not been unfortunate in hurting his lcneo early ,jn the season, he would probably, have been chosen. The two five-eighths work well .together.