THE NATIONAL GAME.

Shannon News, 23 April 1924, Page 3

THE NATIONAL GAME.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. .Last Saturday saw the opening oi tiie 1924 loottnni season in the iiurowhenua union, a total of 22 teams uihuig the item out oi tne 33 nominated inrougnout tine union. liie ouastaiiumg feature of the day was Weraroa’s success in securing a draw against Hut Mai, a fact winch demonstrates cleanly tile great improvement in the team since last season. Weraroa played without Mackereth, who wiouid undoubtedly have pulled more than his weignt nad he

I neon in the team, so that it becomes \ apparent that they must be looked 1 upon as a serious claimant for mterciub honours. Their success in raising themselves to this position will be looked upon with gratification by all lovers of the game throughout the district, who will wish them the meet reward of their pluck in keeping on through two very discouraging' seasons.

The Wanderers-Foxton game played on the Levin Domain, did not provide a very high exhibition of football, neither teauv showing much combination. Wanderers were considerably the heavier team, Foxton it is stateu having had id bring in several juniors to fill out the fiiteen. Even with tins handicap' they looked at the commenoement us it they might succeed by superior play in beating their heavier , opponents, but tine difference in quality was not sufficient to. enable them to overcome the disadvantage. , ,

wanderers opened the game' without any attempt at coinbinatiqn, but in the absence of a serious opposition found themselves later in a position to remedy this defect to a certain degree, their passing especially improving considerably in the back division. '

For .Wanderers Jacob played wingforward with his usual ability,, and although he did not make a hard game of it, showed that he was in excellent, form and had lost none oi ms old coolness nor heady play. Other forward players who were noticeable were j.ismitii, Tataria, and Mansfield.

Smith Especially, who lias, only recently got his transfer from the League code, looks as if he would quality for rep. honours. He played with noticeable dash, 'and using both feet with equal facility, is a decided acquisition to the team. L. McDonald, played full, lias returned to the gaine alter a spell of two seasons and proved that he has not by any means forgotten the tricks which, made him formerly one of Morovvhenuiu’s pranier backs. He played, an eminently" safe, . sound game, and should strike his old lorin early in the season. A new player who shows decided promise is MoOlison, who played secon five-eighth. Mbllinson, is a South Island rep., halving, represented Ashburton County all through last, season and also gaining a place in the northern division ! of the Canterbury Country Unions team, in the match to pick a team’ to play Christchurch. Despite his youth he plays . a heady game, has a nice turn 'of speed, and handles a ball prettily. His tackling On one or two occasions proved further that he is not afraid to get down to it, and he should prove a useful addition to the Union’s back division.

H. Ransfield as first five-eighth also played a sound game. The passing right through the backs was good in the second half, and some pretty passing rushes figured; Wilson, Moilison, Nicholson, and Jacob from the forwards being prominent. ■Nicholson, who played wing-three-quarter played with conspicuous dash and shows plenty of initiative. He has the; too-commotn fault, however, of hanging on to‘the ball when he might safely and advantagely transfer it. Such play, proving either selfishness or lack of coolness on. the part of a player—both equally senous faults—is to be regretted in a man who otherwise Showed up well. One of the worst features of the game was the poor kicking displayed by Wanderers. Their 21 points were secured in seven tries, the kicks failing in each instance as well as two •free kicks. .Several of these lucks were from positions which made the misses even more conspicuous and it would pay the team' to devote some time to this branch of the game, which in a close contest often means the difference victory and defeat.

Arrnngemnts have just been completed by the three senior 'clubs in' Levin to hire the Drill Hall from, the military authorities on three nights per week, each team to have one night’s practice in the week. The Drill Hall with its earthen floor is admirable for the purpose and the improvement in the standard of local play as a result of the practice should be considerable.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Uni,op Management Committee, a .protest was entered against the action of Rovers Thirds who were to have played Foxton on Saturday and who defaulted, noit notifying their opponents of their inability to get a team, with the result that the Foxton team waited uselessly on the grounds from 1.30 to 3 p.m. It was decided that the Rovers Club be asked to forward an explanation to the Union.

A question which evoked considerable discussion at the management committee’s meeting, was that of players who in the opinion of their clubs wore capable of playing senior and who refused to go up from the junior grade, these being men who had missed classification at the end of last seasoti. It was decided that in such cases, these men’s names be taken so as to insure their classifications this year, general condemna-

tion being expressed at the lack pi sportsmanship of such players. Regarding the rights oi a senior team which finds itself short of a lull team, to take men from a junior team as a right, it was stated definitely at the inanagement committee’s meeting that senior - teams were exceeding their rights in these oases and that junior players could refuse to play. It was mentioned at the meeting that the controllers of the League game in Wellington were canvassing the Horowhenua district for players, one man halving been offered £2 for each game lie played if he would come to Wellington. Whilst the existence of professionalism was deplored the members of the committee expressed the opinion, that there was little chance of local players forsaking the aruateur code.