FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL

TO-MORROW’S GAMES. All Blacks v. South Africa. Inter-Unioii match: West Coast v. Buller at Westport. JUNIOR. Arahura v. Excelsiors at Arahura (Mr. A. B. Perry). Ivokathi v. Ross at Ross (Air A. Cutbush). Kiwi v. Rimu at Hokitika at 3 p.m. (Air H. AleAranaway). NEAVAIAN SHIELD MATCH. Hokitika School v. Greymouth Technical School, No 1 ground at 2.30 p.m. (Mr E. W. Hetman). SECOND test. The isecond test match All Blacks v. Africa is set down for to-morrow at Johannesburg. On the performances of the two teams during the past, few weeks there appears every probability of the colors of the All Blacks being again lowered. ,

INTER-UNION GAAIE. To-morrow afternoon the return in-ter-Union match West Coast v. Buller takes place at AVestport, when a good game should . result. Tlie Coast team shows two defections from the first ■selection, but should lie strong enough to hold their own if the forwards get together early. On the last occasion the two teams met it was the breakaway, fast following up forwards of the Buller team that nearly spelt disaster for tlie Coast in the first spell. When the Coast forwards got into it with their weight in the second half the game was not in doubt. The Hokitika section of the team left at mid-dnv For Greymouth en route to Westport.

ON GASS SQUARE. The special attraction on Cass Square to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2.30 o’clock‘wi.ll be the Newman Shield match between teams representing the Hokitika State School and Greymouth Technical School. These inter-school games are always interesting, and generally give a good exhibition of Rugby. There is considerable interest being shown in the present fixture.

Ilf mu Juniors v. Kiwis on Cass Square at 3 p.m.—Growcott, Gardync, Wall, 11. Broadbent, L. Ogilvie, Carson, Kelly, J. O’Connor, Hutchison, W. O’Connor, Dale, J. O’Connor, Pfalilert, K. Ogilvie. Emerg.: D. Keenan, E. Broadbent. Kiwi team v. 11l mu:—Hall, Keller, Perham, AVbite, Paine, Dawson., Fowler, Groufsky, Huxford, Davidson, Hall Milne, Lnrcombe, Sutherland and Chisholm.

Excelsior Juniors v. Arnhura at Arahura : —Webb, Ainuri King, Harris, Hughes, Palmer, Evans, Gay, King, M. Davidson, O’Brien, Stevenson, Herring, Thompson, Glover, Stopforth. Emerg: Preston and J. Wright. Cars leave Newmans Garage at 2.15 sharp.

v INANGAHUA REPS. The following team will represent Inangahua in their match against the West Coast:—Smith, Gibson, Adams, Gallagher, R. POwley, Lythgoe, Hunter, Kelly, S. Smith, O’Donnell, Patterson, Hindmarsli, McCormack, Reid, Hunt. Emerg: 0. Hoy (back) ; H. Hunt (forward).

RANFUBLY SHIELD. . (By Telegraph—-Per Press Association.) MASTER,TON, July 19. Regarding a message which lie telegraphed to the Wairarapa reps at Christchurch about dropping the Ranfurly Shield overboard on the ferry run to Wellington, Mr Jordan (Mayor of Masterton), himself an old footballer, who played in all grades of Rugby from fourth to senior and as a rep.; explains that what he objects to is the suliordination of the playing of the game to team-touring, spectacular rep matches and big gates. Rugby: said Mr Jordan, is a game to be played, and the measure of its success is to he gauged by the number of m'eh playing it. The game is being commercialised. There have been no regular senior games in Wairarapa since June 30th. My point is that it is not right to shut down the competitions at such an early stage in order to go chasing that Shield !” OTAGO’S STRONG TEAM. DUNEDIN*, July 17. The Otago (Rugby back team to meet

'Wairarapa is virtually a University side, for liesides Stevenson (full-back), Webb, Nicolson, and McClymont (three-quarters), Brfldanovitch (fiveeighth) and Holden (scrum half), Ross (five-eighth) was a ’Varsity player last year, and an Otago, representative. It is a strong attacking combination, and with a young and vigorous set of forwards, Otago should be a hard team to beat on its own ground this season. McMeeking, who missed a trip Home with the 1924 team owing to injury, and Sonntag, who was unavailable for the 1928 All Blacks, are the only two forwards of old standing in tho team. Sonntag will play lock. University have also two forwards in the team, Martin and Morete (wingforward). Stevenson is an ex-New Zealand fullback, and like liis club-mate, Lindsay, with the. present All Blacks, is a great place kick and good all-round player. Holden, tho scrum, half, was regarded as unlucky to miss the trip to South Africa. He is playing as well as ever.

N.Z. RUGBY UNION. N.S.W. ITINERARY. WELLINGTON, July 18. A meeting of the Management. Committee of the N.Z. Rugby Union was held to-night. The following reinstatements were approved : Eric Cottera 11 (Auckland), J. Ramsden (Otago). J. S. Connolly (Ashburton), and J. Noble (Auckland), The disqualification for twelve months of D. Bailey, of the Maungatuki junior team for disputing i the referee's decision and adopting a threatening attitude towards the official after the game at Manukau on May 25th was confirmed, and made general. The Hamilton Union wrote asking for a ruling on the replacement of injured players. “My Union,” they wrote, “ is not quite clear as to whether there is a ruling dealing with this matter, or whether it is left entirely to the opposing teams to mutually come to nn arrangement about it.” The Chairman said there was no rule dealing with the replacement of injured players. The International Rugby Board of Great Britain did not permit replacements, and in New Zealand it was a matter for mutual agreement. “I consider we should have an understanding on the point,” he added. The Vancouver Union wrote asking if it would be possible for a British Columbia University team to visit New Zealand in 1929. It was decided that

it would lie impossible to extoud an invitation next year, as the New Zealand Union would have its hands full in preparing for the visit of the British team in 1930. With regard to the visit to New Zealand, while deeming the itinerary ex- < client, the N.S.W. Union suggested certain alterations. “It appears,” ran a letter from N.S.W., “that you have set us a difficult task in arranging the first and second test matches on a Wednesday and Saturday respectively with the long journey between Wellington and Dunedin to be overcome in between. We appreciate the fact that you probably ■ have good reasons for arranging the itinerary as you have, but beg to suggest that you give consideration to amending the fixtures to provide longer periods between the tests and to reduce, if possible, me travelling between games.” Tlie N.S.W. .Union suggested that the match against Wellington should he played on Saturday, September Ist, and that against Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday, September stli. They also suggested- that the matches against Otago and Canterbury should he reversed so that the second test could be played on September Bth, and the third test- on September 15th. The Chairman stated that the New South Wales itinerary had been most carefully drawn up, and was a much better one for them than that- which was now suggested. It was decided to adhere to the itinerary as drawn up by the N.Z. Union. It was decided to rsk the N.S.W. Union if they were prepared to allow their team to play two additional matches on the N.Z. tour, against a Maori fifteen at W ellington, and a match against Horowhenua at Palmerston North.” “ I cannot understand,” remarked \lr A. C. Kitto, “why we have not had a report from the manager of the All Blacks. We have had absolutely nothing from him concerning the health of the players, and know nothjn<r ns to how the team is faring.” Air E. Wvlie stated that the manager of the'N.Z. team had had some hundreds of letters to answer the very first dav he arrived at Capetown. Mr Kitto: “ Even so; but that need not have prevented him from sending us a brief report upon the health of 'the team.” Mr T. A.' Fletcher: “Yes, and I consider we should hare something to say concerning the agreement which was signed regarding the rules which should he played under in South Africa. I, for Site; don't see wty tee

should have signed away our chance of getting the hall from the scrum on the South African tour.” ’ The Chairman (Mr S. S. Dean): “If you are going into that matter,:! think we should go into committee. It is scarcely fair to sit in judgment upon the manager of the New Zealand team in public before, we have had the facts.” .Further discussion on the subject was taken in committee. It was decided To cable to the manager of the All Blacks asking for a report upon the health of the team.