RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3818, 14 July 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ALL BLACKS IN RHODESIA

SEEING THE WONDERS OF NATURE. TRIBUTE TO AN EMPIRE BUILDER, Victoria Falls, July 12. During the last few days the All Blacks have revelled in the wonders of the Matoppo Hills and the marvels of the Victoria Falls. On arrival at Bulawayo the team were motored 28 miles to Matoppo Hills, where a picnic lunch was eaten in delightful bush surroundings. After lunch the party climbed the steep grade to the grave of the founder of Rhodesia, Cecil Rhodes. With bared heads in the blazing sun of the Rhodesia afternoon, the All Blacks paid tribute to that great man.

That night the team left for the Falls. Every member of the party was staggered with the amazing spectacle of one of the greatest wonders of the world. They were amused at the antics of the monkeys, which peered inquisitively from the bushes.

The All Blacks walked through the famous rain forest. The Falls proved a delightfully restful place, and the spell should do the.team a world of good. A SPELL FROM TRAINING. Victoria Falls, July 12. The team have not touched football since the last match. No training will be done till after Saturday’s game (against Rhodesia, at Buluwavo). Those suffering from influenza are quickly recovering. Harvey is fit again, and has started training. He may play on Saturday. There is much speculation as to New Zealand’s next Test team. The side will be picked after next Saturday’s match, in which the Test team may be played. SPRINGBOK’S SIDE CHOSEN. Victoria Falls, July 12. The Springboks’ side for the second Test is as under: — Full-back, Tindall; three-quart-ers, Todd,' Van der Westhuizen, Stanley Osier, Slater; fly-half, Bennie Osier; scrum-half, Devine; forwards, Mostert, Kruger, Van Druten, Danell, Van Wyk, Pretorius, Nel, Potgieter.

The team is undoubtedly stronger than the first Test side. The side has been strengthened in the backs by the change of the scrumhalf from De Villiers to Devine, who was unable to play in the first Test, Van der Westhuizen is in the centre, and Prinsloo has been dropped for Todd, making the threequarter line equally sound on attack as on defence. The forwards are unaltered. HORQWjHENUA MATCHES. It is probable that the Bebbington Shield match between Horowhenua and Bush will be played at Levin on Wednesday, July 25th, instead of on Saturday, the 2Sth, as previously arranged. No definite information has been received from the Dannevirke Sub.-Union as to the most suitable date for the playing of their challenge, which the Horowhenun District Council had provisionally set down for Saturday, .July 21st, at Levin. The A and B senior return games against Manawatu will be played at Palmerston North on Saturday, July 28th. COMMITTEE MEETING. A committee meeting of the Foxton Football Club was held in Walls’ Rooms last night, presided over by Mr. 11. Hutchins (President). Also present were Messrs C. Rand, A. Walls, W. Currie, T. Tuna, and Clio secretary. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. Procter and R. Cochrane. The Union forwarded a receipt showing that the gate for the Bebkington Shield match was £3B. The Union complimented the committee on the manner in which the ground was marked out for the.rep. match. The Union wrote notifying that the Junior trial game would be played in Levin on July 21st, and that the junior rep. match, Manawatu v. Horowhenua would be played at Levin on the following Saturday (28th July). On the same date the seniors, A and B will play in Palmerston North.

Tt was decided to notify the Union that 1.30 p.m. would be a suitable time for Foxton representatives in the trial game. The Huia Club, Rangiotu, wrote, asking if a friendly match could be arranged with the local Juniors this month. —Regretted not possible this month, but an endeavour will be made to arrange same next month. The 'secretary brought up the question or arrangements made by the Union in connection with local players on various occasions. The Union had not been in the habit of making arrangements for local players with members of the local committee, and as a result the players concerned had been put to considerable inconvenience. On one. occasion two Foxton members of a team which played in Levin were left there stranded, and had to walk home. On other occasions where arrangements had been made without the knowledge of the Foxton committee, by the Union for local players to attend Levin for practice purposes, they had been left to get over as best they could. Only last week the two players selected for the Manawhenua team had been left stranded in Foxton, and when a Union official had been communicated with on the matter he said

that a promise had been made by a member of another Club that the Foxton players would be attended to. The whole trouble appeared to he in the Union not getting in touch with the Foxton Club representative on such matter.

Other members endorsed the secretary’s' views and it was decided to write the Union, asking that in future any arrangements in connection with local players be made through the Foxton Club. The question of holding a dance at an early date was discussed and held over.

The Juniors to represent the Northern district in the trial match .Pc-xt Saturday will be as follows: Picard (M.), Croon (M.), Ross (Fx.), Thompson (Fx.), Stevenson (Fx.), Goodwin (M.j, Hartley (Fx.), Gray (S.), Farrell (M.), Anderson (Fx.), Pratt (S.), Vertongen (M.), Whyte (S.). Reserves:— Backs: Huff (Fx.), Mabey (M.); forwards: Warman (S.), Curran (S.). Players are to take their own sox and will travel to Levin with the seniors. No expenses will be allowed. The team’s colours will be green and white.

Primary School lost to Levin today at Levin by 6 points to 5.