FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1930, Page 2

FOOTBALL

The following will represent Excelsior Juniors in their match with Rimu at Rimu on Saturday: —Thompson, Evans, Harris, Preston, Wright,. Cowie, Cooper, Palmer, Hayward, Hughes, Dale, Rutland, Schroder, liowe, Hamilton. .Emerg: Hall, Buchanan and Mitchell. Car leaves Newmans at. 2.15 sharp. Any of above! hot available please notify secretary early. ,

THE THIRD TEST

A MEMORABLE GAME

AUCKLAND,.JuIy 28. In tlie coursfe 'of an editorial entitled “The Great Match,” the Auckland “Star” says : “The .game was memorable for good sportsmanship as for hard, exciting and skilful football, because its generalship was better. Apparently \by general consent the most brilliant back on the ground was the British half-back, Spong, but if it was anybody’s match it was Nicholls’s. The veteran’s judgment did not fail. Indeed, it was a memorable match in the number of famous players, engaged, some of whom are at or near the end of their careers. I hough Nepia was hatdly the Nepia who has been acclaimed the greatest of all full-backs, it is something for one to be able to say thationeJia« seen .Nepia and, Bus-, sett on the same field.

After a match like this, compliments such, as were exchanged between the sides were entirely appropriate, and it is very regrettable that Mr E. M’Kenzie, manager of the New Zealand team, and one! of the hosts of the British team, should have made “a dfcCPirdalit exception of himself. Jliis was neither the time nor the place for suclip a criticism of the visitors’ tactics, and what'Mr Baxter .said early in the tour was no excuse for such a serious breach of the code of good manners. The Rugby officials who afterwards expressed regret at Mr M’Kenzie’s,statement spoke for public opinion as well, as. for themselves.”

" ALL BLACKS FOR FOURTH! J : , TEST..'- j- s !'. ' ■ •• '■ • ;#s•{;/* - ■;■ -1 ; •■- ■< ‘ y ’ f '' 5

1 AUCKLAND, July 28;! ' v• Jt is iindetstbdd that; jtjie All Bluett .team .for the fourth test to ■be -pla'yed. at Wellingon on '' , AugustH)’th. was :d<R bided oil by tlie Selection yesterday; but -no « annbuncelnent whs made before the selectors and. the southern members, of the team left by the second express last evening. -.lt-is likely that the . team'will be annoitn r ed HoHiiiVrrow and it ;is believed-that tiveru will be no alterations. •

SQBEY TO BE AVAILABLE.

AUCKLAND. July 28

Ten members of the British team left ' for "Rotorua by train this morning, and the rest for Whangarei. Those who have gone back to Rotorua are Black, Aar void, Murray, Sobey, Spong, Ivor Jones, O’Neill, Bonner, Beamish and Farrell. They will rejoin the rest of the team at the match at Hamilton next Saturday. After the match against North, Auckland at Whangarei on' Wednesday' the". British : team will come back to Auckland on Thursday and leave the same day for Hamilton. It is announced that W. H. Sobey, the brilliant English half-hack, will he available fo the match against Wai-kato-King Country next Saturday.

• ; '' CONTROL OF BUG BY;' • 'AUCIvIAND, July 28. v;v The. desire,;of 'the New * Zealand Ttngby Union ’to have a voice in the control p* the game by. the International 'Rugby Board, was referred to by' Mr S. S. Dean, chairman oif the •Management Committee of the Rugb}’ Union, and Mr James Baxter, manager of the British team, at, a. dinner .given to both teams at the Hotel Oargeh "oh Saturday evening. Air Baxter passed some criticism on the amended rules played in Auckland. “'Considering that there are men living to-day who took part in prac«. ticaliy the first games played in this country, it can be realised that New Zealand Rugby, although lusty, is still young,” Mr Dean said. “However, in the actual playing of the game we have made considerable progress. Rugby is essentially a. British game, and we hope that the control of Rugby will always be centred where it is at present, in the International Board. We in. New Zealand do not wish to dictate to those who control the game, but we feel that we have developed sufficiently to be allowed a voice in framing the laws and rulings. It is not our desire to agitate, hut our aim is certainly direct representation on the International Board. “With reference to New Zealand’s Rugby aspirations, voiced by Mr Dean. I think I can safely say that the time is not far distant when the Dominion will have a voice in the control of Rugby in the British Empire,” Mr Baxter said. “T make this statement as one who has had some little weight in the affairs of the English Rugby Union, but T would acid Hint there is a strong need of uniformity with regard to rulings. I understand that you in Auckland have faced with certain difficulties. There lias been opposition, but what

you believe to be a roaring lion may only be a woolly dog. “I think that you in Auckland are wrong to require special privileges in regard to the rules to combat this competition. After all, Rugby is a game for the players, The spectators do not really matter. If our game, as It was played at Eden Park to-day, is not a fit and proper game for men and hoys to play, do not worry. Let them play some other game if they feel inclined. It is the man who plays the game that counts, and if he enjoys playing it there is nothing wrong. I sympathise readily with your desire for a voice on the International Board, but until you accept the rulings of the board your voice will not be ‘heard.

“T appeal to you to come into the fold and realise that you are here to play the game for the sake of the game. I have no doubt that your wishes will then be fulfilled.”

REFEREE COMPLIMENTED

AUCKLAND, July 28

Mr W. H. Sobey. vice-captain of the touring side, proposed at Saturday night’s Rugby dinner the toast of the referee, Air S. Hollander, who bad controlled all three test, games. The .team would have to go a long wav to find a more competent and impartial referee, he said.