FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1920, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

. j THE RUGBY GAME. ' VISIT TO CANADA SUGGESTED. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 26. The South African Kugby Union replies to the invitation to send a team this year that it finds it impossible, but will favorably consider one for next year. The letter speaks in terms of appreciation of the New Zealand army team which recently played in Africa. The Vancouver Union wrote asking for a visit from a New Zealand team next season. It was suggested that enough clubs played Rugby in Canada, and California to make the visit worth while, and even in New York and Boston. A reply was sent that if the expenses were guaranteed the New Zealand Union would not look for any profit. fhe question of the amateur status was referred to a general meeting of delegates. A letter was received from the Olympic Council for New Zealand pointinj out that New Zealand, having been granted separate representation on the International Olympic Council, any points won by New Zealand at the International Olympiad would now count to New Zealand, instead of, as heretofore, to Australasia. The New Zealand Rugby Union was invited to affiliate with the Council and co-operate with it in sending New Zea- | land representatives to the 7th Olympiad, to be held at Antwerp in August next, New Zealand contestants at which must leave the Dominion not later than April next. The chairman and Mr. Howe were appointed representatives on the New Zealand Olympiad Committee. THE HAWERA CLUB. At the annual meeting on Wednesday evening, the report stated that the credit balance is £93, there being a profit of £34 on the season's workings. The following were elected members: Messrs. 'G. Cleeson, F. Crompton, H. Honey field, If. Coombe, F. Given, F. Muggeridge, J. Anderson, H. Greig, W. Isherwood, L. Pepperell, P. Donnelly, W. H. Chadwick, N. Chad wick, W. Ryan, ,1. Wylie, N. Patterson, and Mrs. Strachan. ' The following officers were elected: Pati'on, Mr. A. Hunter (re-elected) i president, Mr. R- Greenbanks (re-elect-ed) ; vice-presidents, Messrs. .T. G. Nichol, W. Jury, and Mrs. G. H.. Gibson; club captain, left to general committee to appoint; secretary, Mr. L G. Beamish (re-elected); treasurer, Mr. J. Goodwin (re-elected); auditor, Mr. R- F. Page (re-elected); delegates to Union. Messrs. Beamish, and Goodwin (re-elected); committee, Messrs. Ure, J. Franklin, Given, 0. Murphy, Kueebnne, N. Chadwick, G. Gomer. H. Whittington, C. Thurston, Donnelly, Douglas, ' T- Franklin, W. Grant: selection committee, club captain, field captain, and secretary. It was decided (hat the first practice be held on Saturday, April 10. It was agreed to enter three teams for the competitions, first, second, and third grade. Mr P. Donnelly, in order to encourage juniors, offered a modal for the licst junior forward, and Mr. .T. G. Grant, V.C., also promised a medal for the best junior hack. The secretary said that Mr. J. Russell had again given a trophy for the best senior back, FIRST INTERNATIONAL. WELSH PLAYER'S GREAT TRIUMPH. London, .Tan. 22. a What do you think of the player who, by individual effort, scores sixteen out, of the nineteen points registered by his side in a Rugby international match? This was the record feat of Jerry Shea, ♦ lie Newport centre three-quarter, for Wales against England. The triumph of Wales in the game at Swansea was complete. England led by a. goal from a try to a penalty goal at the interval, after havupg had -the help of a strong wind which drove rain with it. but the play did not justify this advantage, and it was not, long after the cross-over that all doubt as to the result was "dispelled. The Welshmen gave a fine displayt and yet it. is doubtful whether the backs were up to the pre-war sfanrtard. One, of course, makes an exception of Shea, who dropped two goals, kicked a penalty goal, and placed a goal from a try scored by himself. Truly this International of 1020 will go down, to history as "Shea's match." There is n little irony in his triumph. Originally he was chosen on the wing, where lie would scarcely have been such a matchwinning force, but when Hammett elecl'cd to play for England instead of Wales Shea was moved into the centre. UNPRECEDENTED RECORD. It. would be idle to make excuses for the poor display of England, but I think •the match proved the selection committee had not made the most of the material at their command- They were certainly responsible for a curious decision before play began. The English team, as chosen, dressed and went on to the field in order' to pose for the photographer. Then, on returning to the pavilion; W. M. Lowry, the Birkenhead wing three-quarter, was told that he would not be required to turn out; his place would be taken by H L. V. Day. The dropping of a man in this summary manner was not only unkind, but created an unprecedented record. The reason given bv the committee Tor their action was that Lowry did not. handle the ball well in wet weather, yet there was no evidence to prove that Day was more capable in the prevailing conditions. Lowry's absence could not be thought to have affected the result, inasmuch as Day scored ICitrliind's solitary try. The committee miirht plead that they were justified, but it is clear that' a player in the future cannot lie sure of his cap until after the ball has actually been kicked off. EXCELLENT FORWARD PLAY. Wales' success could be traced to the excellence of their forwards who controlled the scrummages and got the ball from about four out of five. Greenwood, the English captain, made heroic efforts to rally his men in the second half, but they were outweightcd and the response could not he made Behind the scrummage the play of the Welshmen, as I have said, was not up to the old standard of the Principality, and, but for the individual efforts of Shea, the margin of points in their favor would have been considerably less, They must, however, have always deserved to win. ENGLISH PACK TOO LIGHT. One imagines that there will be a «Jwrou<sh overhauling of the English fif-

teen for the match against France, which takes place at the end of the month in London. The pack must be stiffened with heavier men, and it is scarcely likely that the centre three-quarters (Hammett and Krige, the South African) will be retained. NOTES AND COMMENTS. « The annual meeting of delegates to the Taranaki Rugby Union, which was held on Thursday night at Stratford, ' was the best that has been hold for many years, and the keen interest taken by the various delegates 13 a reflex of the increased interest that is being taken throughout the district by ; the members of the various clubs. It i augurs well for the future of the game. ; Now that many of the boys are back i prospects for the coming season indicate i that there will be more footballers in ■ Taranaki this season than ever. All ■ clubs report increased membership, and ■ some propose to enter two teams, where ■ only one was entered last year. A new club, United, from the Fitzroy end of ? New Plymouth, has entered the list, and f proposes to enter two teams. It behoves club officials to see that - their members get into form early. Pracr tiees cannot begin too soon, and in this i direction it is pleasing to note that some i clubs have already had their initial ? practice. The competitions will be com- - mcnced early this season, so as to give t the selectors an opportunity of pro- ■ perly gauging the form of the various players prior to the selection of the. s representative team, which will meet J Wellington, during Winter Show week at • Hawera. Additional interest centres rn i- this match this year, as it will give it Taranaki an opportunity of securing the h Ranfurly Shield, and provided the n players get busy right away there is r. no reason why the coveted trophy s should not be left in Taranaki by Wei- [- lington, who wrested it from us just after the outbreak of war. ' It is satisfactory to note that the Referees' Association have been granted direct representation on the Committee, This should tend to remove any misy understandings that have existed in the s past, and should be to the mutual ad- -- vantage of all. The provision that the representative should not vote in award- ;: ing punishment on any player reported I. by a referee for a misdeamour seems tc F. be a fair one. f. While on the subject of referees, y, clubs should endeavor to nominate as ti, many suitable men from their district 3- as possible, for there has always been a dearth of referees in the north, mak--1: ing it particularly hard for a few tc 1 carry out the work- Football is greatly t- indebted to these gentlemen for their i\- unsparing efforts in the of the i; game. je Congratulations to Mr. A. Lees, oi a- Okaiawa,, on his elevation to the posl[l- tion of president of the Union. Foi re about 18 years Andy has been connect■s. Ed with Taranaki football as president v of the South Taranaki Referees' Asn, soeiation and as a member of the Man0. ageine.nt Committee. He. Iras done n, valuable work in the interests of the P. game, and as president will be more p. than a figure-head. Messrs. T). .1 Malono and J. S. McKay, vice-presi-;c dent*, are also well-known figures in Taranaki football circles, is Mr. .T. Oreig, a valued and enthustasid tie meivJier of the Hawera Football Club, lias not missed an annual mcetinn ;•. of the club for over twenty years, a i(i record to be ptoud of.