FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2774, 21 August 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NASII CUP COMPETITION. FOXTON’S WITHDRAWAL CRITICISED. The Levin Chronicle in referring to the above fixture says: “The Nash Cup knock-out competition opened rather inauspiciously on Saturday •when the game between Hui Mai and Fox ton failed to eventuate owing to the lattr team deciding to withdraw from the ci.nlesl on account of alleged unfair treatment by the Rugby Union.

“The. reason given for Fox ton’s ill-considered move is that the Foxton team as holders of the Cup. should not have been asked to travel to Hui Mai to defend it. Whilst according to Rugby usage there is something in the contention, the point loses much of its force from the fact that the Cup is not held as a challenge trophy, hut is decided merely ns the result of a series of games, as is indicated by the name of the competition. This being so there was no course open to the Union save to draw the matches in the ordinary way. and as Hui Mai had already travelled to Fox ton this year, Foxton defaulting when their (urn came to play the return game, ir was hardly right to ask Hui Alai to travel twice to Foxton. and not to insist on Foxton travelling at all. Possibly Foxton considers that what occurred during the course of the championship competition should not he allowed to influence the knock-out competition, hut even this does not get over the fact that as the Cup is played for,as a competition and not by challenge, the holders have as much right to travel as an voile else.

“The trouble underlying the whole of Foxton’s dissatisfaction with the Rugby Union—and it i> a longstanding one —is their own isolation. Situated nt a distance from the railway. it is costly for the team to travel: the Foxton team is invariably weak when playing away from home, and to tin* consciousness of these facts must lie attributed much of the trouble which periodically crops up in that iptn.icr. “The talk of League in Foxton may also be attributed to tlie same causes, although to all appearances the suggested cure will he worse than the disease. Despite vvliat l as been said in Foxton, the question of going over to League iias never been seriously discussed in any other part of the Union, and the proposed change would only make Foxton’s isolation complete. The whole agitation may safely be left to ‘Time, the Healer,’ to deal with. If Foxton can only leant that its isolation is the cause of its not receiving more attention, and not the effect of a studied policy of repression by the Union, a basis will be reached for a settlement of standing grievances.”

There was a fair attendance at Levin yesterday afternoon to witness the llorowhenua-Nelson representative match. The game ended in a draw. Nelson scored two tries and Ilorowhemia a penalty goal and a trv.

The curtain raiser plaved between the north and south third grade reps, was won by the north by 16 points to 5. Included in the winning team were seven Foxton boys, viz., W. Hynes, G. Perreau, T. Proctor, (_-. Anderson, H. Huff. G. Hartlev and C. Shaw.

A general meeting of members of the Foxton Football Club will be held in the Town Hall Supper-room to-morrow (Friday) evening at 7.30 o’clock to discuss important business.

The Bush Union won a double event against Dannevirke Rugby representatives at Dannevirke Yesterday, winning the senior game by 13 points to 12 and the junior game 1 1 v 14 to 5.

In a representative Rugby match, King Country drew with North Auckland, 5) points all at Taurnarumii yesterday.