Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 37, 16 March 1901, Page 21

Rugby Football.

The Wellington Club elected thirteen new members a1 its annual meeting; The annual meeting of the Alhambia Club is stated to have been a record gatheung for that club. It is said that McPike, the Auckland three-quarter, arrived here last Saturday, but the lumour lacks confirmation The Oriental Club elected 14 new members at it& annual meeting, while four of the old ones resigned — an actual gam of ten. Paul, who was full-back in Stoddart's team that visited the colony in 1888, was seriously ill when the last mail left Home, but the nature of his illness is not mentioned. The Poneke Club hold its annual meeting on Tuesday night. The °ld horses— Roberts, McAnally, and Wallace—despite rumours to the contrary, are putting the jersey on again. Armstrong, the burly wing-forward from Grey town, is another probable Wairarapa man to don the jersey in Wellington, and his services are stated to have been secured in advance. "Vinny" Meredith was re-elected captain of the Wellington Club, and is deserving of the renewed confidence shown in him by his club mates. Charlie Bird, who is said to be donning the jersey again, was elected secretary. Wrigley is joining the Melrose Club, the inter-association of that club with his old club being stated as the reason. Marsh, another promising Wairarapa three-quarter, is desirous of coming to the city, and would if he could find a job to suit him. Sandy Caldwell is likely to have another try, and a younger brother of his is also joining the red and blacks. A likely forward in yet another OBrien is said 'to be coming along, so that present appearances point to the Poneke Club having a strong senior fifteen. My congratulations to Edgar Wylie on his election as captain of the Oriental Club. The club could not have made a wiser choice, for he has all the necessary qualifications — popular among his comrades, a rattling good player, and courteous to his opponents. Mr. Weir, who acted as manager of the Hawke's Bay team that visited Wellington in 1899, has settled in town. He was one of the prominent referees in Napier last year, and joins others of the good men in that line the Bay has given us— notably, Jack Norris and Mitchell. W. H. Woon was re-elected secretary of the Oriental Club. When the club lost the services of "Cash" Freeth, the mantle of ofhee fell on Woon, who has done good work, and thoroughly deserves the confidence again placed in him "Billy" knows nothing but Oriental, and when you meet him you can rely on hearing something good about his boys. The Athletic Club, with the influence it possesses in the Torpedo Corps, has added Gerrard, the promising Auckland three-quarter, to its list of members, and he should prove a tower of stiength to them. It is said that if he had not come to this decision, Gerrard would have been amongst a batch ot transfers to another part of the colony before the season opens. Mr. W. Coffey, so well and favourably known in Rugby Union matters here, was elected a delegate from the Alhanibra Club to the Otago Rugby Union on Tuesday night His past experience should prove of value to him in tho Southern city, and he can bo relied on to do good work on the Union for the cause of Rugby football, while rendering faithful service to the club he represents On Mr. Galbraith's initiative, the Wellington Club decided to strike off its roll all its members whose subscriptions for the past season are not paid within a fortnight. This is a move in the right direction, but I am one of those who think that, if it is likely to affect the playing strength of its first fifteen, some way will be found to get beyond the four corners of the motion. These ideas and piopositions die \ery good in theoiv and at the annual meeting 5 !, but mv experience is that those who are not urgenth needed are passed out, while the player who is worth his place in the team is kept good on the books by no exertion of his own If the Wellington Club carries out its resolution it will establish a precedent as far as local clubs are concerned Can its playing strength afford it p