Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 463, 19 September 1928, Page 11

Rugby

—_The Game and it? Player?. — s

Referee Meredith | It is being mentioned in several quarters that ••Bill'’ Meredith will again take on the whistle next season. It is to bo hoped that there is some foundation in this, as referees of the calibre of Mr. W. J. Meredith are by no mans plentiful. Varsity or Ponsonby Providing the game is N not again drawn, the senior championship will be decided on Saturday, when the two leading teams. University and Ponsonby, will play off at Eden Park. Two excellent games resulted on the two occasions when these teams met this season. The last game, which was drawn, was one of the best games seen at Eden Park for many seasons, and it will long be remembered. Both teams are steadily preparing for the contest, and given fine weather another exciting game should result. * * * The Big Alley A South African critic note on G. T. Alley, just after the All Blacks' first match with Border: “He has proved an absolute tower of strength to the New Zealand pack, and there is probably not another man in the side

powerful enough to have equalled his feat of playing as lock-forward in 11 of the last 12 matches, and playing, moreover, so consistently well.” At the time that was written Alley had a touch of influenza, and he had to stand down for a couple of matches. Cooke Kept Under Whenever A. E. Cooke got the ball in the course of the second Rugby Test match at Dunedin, last Saturday, the crowd stiffened up eagerly in anticipation of seeing “the wizard” wiz, so to speak. But the New South 'Wales players watched him so closely that he had no chance to get away with anything beyond an occasional bit of good play of the orthodox kind. In short, so much being expected of aim, Cooke’s first appearance at Carisbrook was looked upon by most of the spectators as something in the nature of a failure. Such is fame! ♦ * * Popular Waratahs The New South Wales footballers now touring the Dominion bid fair to win a reputation akin to that carried away from England by the last band of Waratahs. Although they had distinctly bad luck in being beaten in both the first and second Tests, the players from across the Tasman took it in that “all in the game” spirit that distinguishes the true sportsman. Skipper S. J. Malcolm’s remark at the after-the-match dinner in Dunedin last Saturday: “Personally I don’t much care who wins so long as the game is played in a clean sporting spirit,” is wonderfully refreshing after witnessing those fits of the sulks which are all too frequently indulged in by members jof defeated teams.

The Spirit of Rugby Imagine the yell there would be if Morrie Brownlie or Phil Mostert were to open out on these lines: “We don’t worry so very much who wins, so long as the game is played in a good sporting spirit.” But this is what Syd. Malcolm, the Wa-ratabs’ captain, said in Dunedin after New South Wales’s unlucky defeats by penalty goals in the first two tests. Well played, Waratahs!

' The New South Wales touring: team is playing Marlborough at Blenheim to-day. * $ * The Auckland Rugby Referees' Association will hold its annual meeting on Monday, October 1. * # *2= After the game at Blenheim to-day, the New South Wales team has two more matches to play, against Wellington on Saturday and against Manawlienua next Wednesday. * * * Bland in Action Again Geoff Bland, the New South Wales forward, who broke his nose in the first match of the tour at Auckland, turned out in the final test at Christchurch on Saturday, wearing a nose guard. The injury to this line forward was a stroke of real bad luck for the touring team. Only 22 years of age, he is one of the best scrummers seen in recent years. Taranaki on Saturday “On September 22 Taranaki concludes its programme with what promises to be the hardest match of the year, against Auckland, at Auckland, states the “Taranaki Daily News.” There have been some homeric struggles between the representatives of the two provinces, and this one promises to be equally as keen. Represented by the strongest fifteen, Taranaki should keep the Northerners moving.” This year Taranaki has had a fairly successful season, winning seven out of its nine representative matches. Against Waikato last Saturday, however, Taranaki only won by eight points (a converted try and a penalty goal) to six points j (two tries). Against Auckland on Sat- i urday the side will need to do much better than this to defeat Auckland. - AUCKLAND UNION MEETS N.Z. UNION’S PROTEST A letter reecived from the New Zealand Union by the Auckland Rugby Union Management Committee, which met last evening, expressed displeasure at New Zealand players who could not complete a tour being sent forward. The New Zealand Union considered that P. C. Minns, who was apparently suffering from an injury, should not have been sent down to Wellington for the test match. The committee resolved to inform the New Zealand Union it was under the impression members were available for all tests, and the committee sent Minns to Wellington in good faith. He had not played on the previous Saturday owing to an injury, but was sent down on his own assurance that he was quite all right. He played in Auckland three days after the test in Wellington. The University Club was granted permission to send a team to Ngatea on Saturday. It was resolved to send junior representative teams to BLuntly and Pukekohe on Saturday next. Mr. H. Frost presided over the meeting. GAMES FOR SATURDAY Following are the fixtures for Saturday next:— Representative Match.—Taranaki v. Auckland, Eden Park No. 1, 3 p.m., referee to be selected. Senior Grade.— Ponsonby v. Manukau, Onehunga No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. E. Pemberton; College Rifles v. Marist, Showgrounds No. 1, 2.30 p.m., Mr. J. Sweeney: Suburbs v. City, Showgrounds No. 3, 3 p.m., Mr. E. Dudson; Marathon v. Technical Old Rpys, Showgrounds No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. C. F. Fowler. Junior Grade.—Hamilton Old Boys v. Grammar Colts, Domain No. 6, 1.45 p.m., Mr. S. Fowler. Third Grade Open.—Ponsonby v. Kohimarama B, Outer Domain, 3 p.m., Mr.! L. H. Briggs. . Third Grade Intermediate.—Ponsonby v. Manukau, Eden Park No. 1, 1.30 p.m., Mr. M. Kronfeld. Fourth Grade.—Marist "V. Otaliuhu, Outer Domain, 1.30 p.m., Mr. J. G. Wales; Technical Old Boys v. Present Boys, Showgrounds No. 2, 1.45 p.m., Mr. V. Keefe. Schools Game.—Onehunga v. Te Papapa (final, Speight. Cup), Onehunga No. I, 1.45 p.m., Mr. G. Agnew. House Matches.—Nathan and Company v. Abbot, Howie and Armstrong, Showgrounds No. 3, 1.45 p.m., Mr. E. Dudson; Tattersfleld, Dimited, v. George Court and Sons, Showgrounds No. 4, 3 p.m.-, Mr. A. .T. Wakefield; Vacuum Oil Company v. Northern Roller Mills, Showgrounds No. 4,2 p.m., Mr. A. J. Wakefield. Reserves.—Mr. C. F. Strafford, Mr. F. E. Edwards, Mr. W. Warden, Mr. K. Riddell. The names of the following referees are to be submitted to Taranaki for the representative fixture:—Messrs. F. E. Sutherland. G. Peacf*. P. Stubbing, M. Kronfeld and C. F. Pauli. The following law and insurance annual matches will he played on Monday: —Juniors. Eden Park No. 1,2 p.m., Mr. A. J. Wakefield: seniors. Eden Park No. 1. 3 p.m., Mr. J. G. Wales.