FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 6

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S' GAMES,

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY

SENIOR

Kiwi v. Brunner, at Hokitika (Mr D. Heenan).

United v. Excelsiors at Grey (Blr BlcIntosli). Blaketown v. Stairs at Grey. Colxlen v. Rivals lit Hokitika (Mr A. Cutbush).

JUNIORS

Excelsiors v. Ross, at Ross, at 3 p.m. (Blr J. Biora). Rimu v. Aralnini, at Arahura, at 3 p.m. (Blr Kearns).

The senior competition will be carried through a further stage to-morrow afternoon. There will he two senior games on Cass Square. The Kiwi team should make a good game of it against Brunner, while the Rivals will be seen in action on the local ground for the first time. At Greymouth the Excelsiors meet United, and the winning sequence of the red and blacks should not be interfered with unless something unforeseen happens.

At the meeting of the . West Coast' Rugby Union on- Wednesday evening tbe writer was astounded at a statement made by Mr Ryan, a selector for the Union, wlien after stating that lie had hot considered the matter of the dispute with the Excelsior Club when coming to his decision had definitely decided that it was impossible to nominate J. King as a possible among the other'West. Coast nominations' for inclusion in the South Island team. It is remarkable after the Nelson tour selection experience last year when it was generally recognised what a palpable blunder had been made, that a similar mistake should again occur. It was noticeable that the meeting,- for this reason or some other, did not show its confidence in the selector, as a ballot resulted in his being defeated for the position of the Grey district teams selector.

The junior games set down for tomorrow are Excelsiors v. Ross at Ross, and Rimu v. Arahura.

In the third grade competition the opening game will he Rimu v. Kokntalii at Kokatahi.

Kiwi Seniors v. Brunner on Cass Square to-morow: —Macfarlane, Hay-' Mackenzie, Keller, Walker, Stopforth, Stevens, Breeze, Lane, Kelly, O’Connor, White, Davidson, BlcLean, Broadbent, Hagar.

The following will represent the Rival Seniors to play Cobden on Cass Square at 3 p.m. too-inorrow :—Carter, O’Brien, Rfahlert (2), Bloiik, Muir, Pawson, Pierson, Pryce, Fleming, Dennchy, Best, Bloynihan, Wilson, Houston, Larcombe, Morris,. Hutchison.

Excelsior Juniors v. Ross at Ross:—. Preston, Thompson, Jferguson, Palmer, Preston, Rowe, Cowie, Evans, Hayward, Hughes, Wright, Dale, Thompson, Schroder, Buchanan. ; Emerg:

Cooper,: Groufsky and Blitcliell. Car leaves Newman's at IMO sharp.

The Hi mu Third-Grade team to play Kokatahi. to-morrow will be selected froim the followingD. Kerr, D. Thorpe. J. Spargo, Olsen, Hewlett, Wei>h, S. Tainui, T. Tainui. H. Mason, 0. Stoop. C. Ogilvie, L. Patterson. D. Keenan. T. Hutchison, N. Dale, A. Muir. J. Freitas. L. Wells.

"BRITISH TEAM,

WELLINGTON CIVIC RECEPTION

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, May 15

' The visiting Rugby team was accorded an-,enthusiastic civic reception here this afternoon, the Deputy Mayor, Mr M. F. Luckie, presiding. Mr 'Luckie-■' read an apology from the »Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, re- - getting that circumstances made it impossible for the Government to be represented, and expressing his petsonal good wishes for a happy stay in the Dominion. Mr -Luckie assured the visitors that a welcome would be extended them just as fully in other parts of New Zealand as in Wellington, and that everything would be done to make the tour a complete success. He was sure the highest traditions of the game would be maintained, win or lose. - . The President of the N.Z. Rugby Union (Dr G. Adams. Wanganui) mentioned that 1930 was the diamond jubilee year of Rugby in New Zealand. It was just sixty years ago that the first authentic game was played in Auckland. No more worthy representatives could come to our shores to honour the occasion, and be hoped the visit would precede a much greater happening in Rugby, that of an Emnire code being olayed under Empire management. He was sure that when the team left New Zealand it would appreciate not onlv our loyalty to the Empire, but also to the International Rugbv Board of Control. New Zealand looked forward to the foundation of true Empire Rughv. and be hoped the team would help the country i’n its effort to attain at least a little representation in the management of Rnrrhy in the Empire.

Other speakers wpre Dr. McEvedv ('President of the Wellington Rugby fTpionl. Kinei Tnhiri fMaori Advisory Board representative on the New Zea-

land Union), and Councillor W. F. Bennett (Wellington City Council). in' his reply, Mr Baxter, the manager, said the occasion was “embarassingly delightful.” Ever since the Rangitata had dropped anchor, it had been one long sequence of meeting delightfully kind people. He knew the team was up against a “tough proposition,” and would have to train assiduously. His views on*Bugby control were well-known, he said, adding that the team was here primarly to play football, and he could not discuss matters affecting control. The team would play hard and * fair. It would natuarally be pleased if victory; came its way, but if defeated it would take off its hat and say “Good luck to you!” . ,

Mr F. T>. Prentice, the side’s captain, also briefly expressed the team’s appreciation of the welcome given.

SYDNEY, May 15.

The New South Wales Rugby Union decided to invite the-French Union. to send a team to Australia in the near future.