RUGBY FOOTBALL.
NOTES ON THE TRADESMEN’S MATCH. When the Fox ton “tradesmen” threw down the guage of battlo to the Levin “tradesmen” to a friendly game of football, they expected to meet a team of good old “has beens” but, judge of their surprise on Wednesday, when they met on the Levin convincing ground — top-dressed by a mob of sheep for the occasion—to find sixteen strapping young fellows clad in white raiment, well versed in the fine points of the game and fit as fiddles, awaiting them. Nothing daunted the Yellows that was Fox tun’s colours—gills and jerseys—decided to practice a serum formation outside the dressing room. Three-two-three was the formation, with Harry as lock, and the ball was heeled out beautifully, except when “the grocer” tried soccer tactics, and was severely reprimanded by the “tonsorial artist.”
The procession on the field of play was both impressive and spectacular, despite one or two rude and personal remarks by some school boys. Cheers were exchanged with great gusto between the gladiators and the immaculately dressed referee sounded the advance.
The game had just started when a descendant of the great Le Rauparaha, of Falstaffian proportions and rejoicing in the soubriquet of “Romeo” uplifted his stcntoiian voice in protest against Levin’s sixteenth man, and U ( white-clad and eonscience-stricken.'opponen^theie-upon ambled to the side-line. “Romeo,” having no Juliet to toy with for the time being, assailed the players with intermittent outbursts of advice, reprimand or encouragement, likewise vociferously challenging the referee’s rulings. The scribe has no evidence in support that poor “Romeo” had his “shirt” on Foxton.
Dear old Harry presented a spectacle which those present will long remember. Just imagine a rotund little figure, clad in nether garments of khaki material, a la Oxford bags, fringed at- the bottoms and reaching nearly to the ankles, a tight-fitting yellow persey (his beloved club colours), a beaming round face the complexion of which was like unto a ruddy ripe apple—and a shining bald pate! His deadly catch-as-catch-can methods of tackling, discomfited opponents and amazed the onlookers, but when lie speeded up —oh, how they yelled! ITis knee-work was superb and as opponents came into contact with the solid little Heicu-les-they went down like nine-pins. A rude spectator yelled: “tackle him low,” but when he was in action there was no “low” to tackle. How absurd! Then a female chirruped: “Fancy, that dear little old man playing with the boys!” An urchin chipped in: “ought to he ashamed of his-sclf.” When Harry left the scrum to recuperate at full-back, the crowd greeted his efforts with cries of “Nepia.” Harry was the champion —the daddy of the match!
A cycle dealer whose name is- not Large, gave one the impression that he had been studying some of Pavlova’s graceful poising. \os, lie was playing wing throe-quarter. The graceful twirling of his arms ■uid wriggling body movements when awaiting to embrace the ball were artistic. Once or twice he did actually manage to embrace the ball, but what to do with it thereafter was his downfall. He certainly gave an artistic display. The two ‘‘Herald angels ’ played for sensational copy, and the honour of the press. They worked offside and on side with strenuous intent and pugnacious vigour and were backed up in this connection by an outfit from the telephone exchange whose delight was to down his man ball or no ball a great grafter. Knight of the Cleaver and the Tonsorial Artist on the three-quar-ter line dashed into the fray on occasion with lightning rapidity and stemmed many a deadly onslaught—but Knight of the Cleaver’s legs gave way on one occasion —cramp or housemaid’s knee. A dashing and dangerous duo on attack.
“Billy the Porter” was one of the shining lights —his stab-punting, “shunting,” “cutting out” and clearing the points kept his track clear of obstacles that the train might go full steam ahead. The two “grocer boys” required no “Tongs” to handle them on the green and they omitted the customary beg pardons when dealing with outside competitors. “Josh Billings,” at full back, found the ball too elusive but he was very interested in the game and thoroughly enjoyed the oranges. The game was a memorable one and its repetition should prove a greater draw than a Charlie Chapfin special, when staged at Foxton next Wednesday week. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY, 20th JUNE. SENIOR: Otaki v. Shannon at Otaki, 2.50. Hui Mai v. County at Manakau 2.50 p.m. Foxton v. Southern United at Paraparaumu, 2.50 p.m. JUNIOR: Awahou v. Shannon at Shannon, 2.50 p.m. Foxton v. Wanderers at Levin Domain, 2.50 p.m.
Hui Mai v. Otaki at Otaki Maori College, 2.50 p.m. THIRDS: Miranui v. Foxton at Miranui, 2.50 p.m. Wanderers v. Weraroa at Levin Domain, 1,30 p.m. Otaki Maori College v. Ivuku at Kuku., 2.50 p.m. Otaki v. Southern United at Paraparaumu ,1.30 p.m. FOURTHS: Levin D.H.S. v. Shannon at Shannon, 1.30 p.m. Foxton v. Weraroa at Foxton, 1.30 p.m.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3050, 19 June 1926, Page 4
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825RUGBY FOOTBALL. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3050, 19 June 1926, Page 4
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