RUGBY NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 559, 16 June 1933, Page 6

RUGBY NOTES

"Lock")

THE POINTS TABLE LATE STARTING OF GAMES SHOULD BE CHJECKED general j-ottings

* (Notes by

The chief topic of conversation of riote in Rotorua,' Rugby circles f or the past few days has been the lateness of the starting of matches and the claim that Waiariki was very fortunate in its win over Whaka since'spectators state that the last two tries came from a forward pass and a knoek-on respeetively. Whether they did or not is questionable but no one could texpect a referee to see what happened in the dim light. If the Union wants to xetain the patrona-ge of its speotators it will ha.ve to tighten up on these late starting games. At its last meeting the union more or l'sss threw the burden of takdng1 action upon the referee which is hardly fair since the control of the game is purely in the hands of the union. Really only one example needs ■to be made and a imatch called off and the fcrouble is not likely to recur. * * * » The representative programme is heginning to need attention and dt was a p'leasant thing to hear a member of the union at the last meeting showing solicitude for the junior players. From the ran-ks of the juniors come the future repres&ntatives and all the fostering possible is needed to fill the gaps caused' by Father Time and other causes. * * *

It' is understood that a challenge for the Tainui Shield has been, or very shortiy wjll be, received from the North Auckland (Ngapuhi) Maoris and this should be a match worth seeing. # * » The points table shows Waiariki with a useful lead over Rotoiti and it will be diffieult to dislodge the Greens from their position. In the junior ladder four teams are within coo-ee of one another, Old Boys A, Waikite, Whaka and Rotoiti A and the next few giaanes will miake a deal of difference- iin the competition. * * » It is unfortunate that the High School-Takapuna Gramimar match clashes with the Rotorua Hunt Club's race meeting but apparently no other date will suit either body. ♦ # * Ex-All Black George Hart made a sensational re-appearance at Christchurch last Saturday. Playing his first game this season, he found his way over for three tries and clinched the game for his club. He had not really intended to turn out >and was picked as isecond emerigency for his club. When a player was dnjured he went on with happy results' for his side. * * * Lilburne is evidently far from a spent light yet for according to Wellington winter®, he is shaping well for the fullb'ack position. With Fuller in the district, there should be a struggle for thd "possie." .j * » At the momient, Ponsonby are on top in the A.R.U. competition with a bare point lead of 'Varsity, Marist and ■Grammar Old Boys. The position is therefore full of interesting possitrlities. Jamieson, for the Ponies, seems to have found his proper form and has been opening up the game brightly with plenty of support in the forward? by Solomon. Freddie Lucas once told "Lock" that Jamieson would be his legitimate successor, but injuries took a lot of sting out of him two seasons ago and he seems now to be getting back to the early promise. » V * Over the other side, the1 sudden emergence of Victoria: into the 'Rugby Union firmament nearly caught N&w South Wales napping. The Welshmen just scraped home by a p'enalty in a 17-14 game and then only after all four of the Victorian three-quarter line had been dnjured land were either on the side line or limping afoout. Of course it is as well to remember that New South Wales has sent a lot of dts best players away with the Wallabies but even so Victoria ds minus one or two of its stars also. * c * Tailking of the Wall'abies, one ncies that they suffered their first defext when they met Reef and Country at Joihannesburg. The team is one which was not played .either by Britain, Au-s-tralia or New Zealand previously out seems to have been a solid fast side. The score was 13-6 in the home ter.;n's favour and mishandling by the Wrllabies was the cause of their1 def jat. Perhaps the fact that the match was played at a high altitude may have something to do with it. * * * * The Peace Cup d-raw is of course not yet out but when 'it doe> come will be eagerly soanned by fol'owers. Probably Rotorua will have to meet Putaruru in an elimination game as last year. ♦ * * The next dtem on the rep. programme is the game v. Waipa on July 1 and it is h'igh time the selectors had a score of players picked for training purposes. It takes time to get a rep. side into a knowledge of each other's play and a fortright is little enough. ♦ * * * Thames beat Hauraki Plains by 19-3 last week and by mutual consont the game was an eliimination one for the Peace Cup. According to letters received from the minimg town the Blue and Black pack ds stronger than ever and it has several muoh improvea backs, especially in the five-eighth-line. Points Table

P. W. L. D. Pts. Waiariki 6 5 0 1 11 Rotoiti 6 2 3 1 5 Waikite 5 2 3-0 4 Whaka ' 5 2 3 0 4

Seniors'

P. W. L. D. Pts. Waikite 7 6 10 12 Old Boys A 7 6 10 12 Whaka 7 5 2 0 10 Rotoiti A 7 5 2 0 10 Awahou 6 4 2 0 8 Kahu-kura 6 4 2 0 8 High School 7 3 4 0 6 Utuhina 7 3 4 0 6 Kaharoa 7 3 4 0 6 Rotoiti B 7 2 5 0 4 Ngongotaha • 6 1 5 0 2 Old Boys B 6 0 6 0 .0 Okere .... 3 0 3 0 ft

Juniors