BARCLAYS ABODE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 128, 20 August 1927, Page 9

BARCLAYS ABODE

AUCKLAND OR NAPIER?

RANFURLY SHIELD APPEAL COUNCIL’S SOUND REASONING ••f>ARCLAY was in our opinion under the control and resident within the defined boundaries of the Auckland Rugby Union, between May 7 and June 23,” states the written judgment of the New Zealand Rugby Union Appeal Council (Messrs. J. Arneil, P. Mackie, and J. L. Conlan), which j inquired into Hawke’s Bay’s protest against the awarding of the Ranfurly Shield to Wairarapa. nPHE judgment adds that Barclay reA turned to Napier on June 24. and even assuming that he immediately came under the control of the Hawke’s Bay Union on that date, then the period of three weeks, during which he should have been under its control, would not expire until July 13. BREACH OF RULES By playing Barclay for Hawke's Bay against Wairarapa the Hawke’s Bay Union therefore committed a breach of Rule 43 (New Zealand Rugby Union), which says: “No affiliated Union shall select a player to represent it who has not been a bona fide resident within its boundaries for at least three weeks.” The Appeal Council unanimously decided that Hawke’s Bay’s appeal should be dismissed. In reviewing the evidence put before it the council points out that the laws governing the sport of Rugby football are not framed with the legal conciseness and precision devoted to the preparation of other enactments. The common-sense interpretation of the laws had, therefore, to be the guide. IN AUCKLAND AND NAPIER The documents forwarded by the Hawke’s Bay Union, and other evidence investigated by the council, show that Walter Barclay arrived in Auckland early in April, in connection with a position he was endeavouring to obtain. He played for College Rifles on May 7, 14 and 21, and in the last match was injured, so did not play for the next two Saturdays. During the interval he visited Napier and spent the nights of June 4, 5 and 6 there. He returned from Napier to Auckland, and on June 11 played for College Rifles. On June 18 he was at Eden Park, for a representative game, but stood down to allow another player to be tried. On June 23 he left Auckland. Affidavits forwarded from Hawke’s Bay showed that Barclay retained his room in Napier, telling his landlord that, if he failed to obtain the position in Auckland, he would return to Napier to commence business. HAWKE’S BAY RUGBY UNION’S ATTITUDE MAY LET DISPUTE DROP Press Association. NAPIER, To-day. What is believed to be an indication by the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union that it will not now take its Ranfurly Shield appeal to the Supreme Court was given at a meeting here last night, when it was decided to ask the New Zealand Rugby Union for instructions as to where to forward the trophy. This decision is taken here in well-informed circles as indicating that Hawke’s Bay will hand the shield to the new owners, and then let the matter drop. AUCKLAND RUGBY REP. SELECTION

A CORRESPONDENT’S VIEWS "Sideline” writes: From what one hears, and the remarks that are passed, it is plainly evident that the selection of the Auckland Rugby rep. teams this season has not met with approval from the large followers of Rugby, especially regarding the backs. The playing of Lucas on the wing is a great mistake. He is a natural centre, and even plays a centre game on the wing. He is recognised as the best player we have had in this province in the position since G-. Smith. Sheen, who is selected in this position, is not suited to It. In the first place, he is too slow, and you very rarely see him get into the passing again after the ball has passed his hands. He doesn't possess that centre knowledge of running his wings into position. This was very noticeable in the Auckland-South Canterbury match. Woods, the other wing, has shown the best form in Auckland this season, and! he was simply starved on the wing. The other wing, Lucas, made his own play. "Of the five-eighths, Berridge is the outstanding player in that position. There seems to be no doubt about that among Rugby followers. The other five-eighth position could be 'strengthened by the inclusion of Sheen or Meyer in preference to Badeley, who has slowed up in speed, and is liable to shirk the hard stuff when it comes along, but in any case younger players should be in the position. McManus is the best half we have, and his form this season is the best he has shown since he first donned the jersey. Cashmore should be the second player to him. The latter has played some fine games this season. “Of the forwards, there are no outstanding players, but the scrumming and hooking are not of a high standard, especially the latter. In the game against South Canterbury, the hooking was very poor. The ball never came out clean. On one occasion it hung about the centre of the scrum and when the forwards did get it out it came out the side, and very slowly, which gave the half no chance. What is needed is a few lessons in the art of packing and scrummaging from experienced men such as G. Tyler or W. Cunningham, which would be of great assistance to the forwards in the more important matches to be played.”