FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY CAME. THE END OP TIIH SEASON. The footbal season as fur as matches under Ihc Taranaki Rugby Union Is concerned, was brought to a conclusion on Saturday, when Clltton HI. by defeating Knponga at Eltham, again brought the third grade championship to the river town. Clifton had no difficulty in defeating their opponents, being much heavier and superior in practlcMy every department, nr/tabiy in handling the hall. Had it been a fine day the score would probably have been a larger one. Clifton players were very fit, having had the. advantage of a. large number of games played right up lo the Saturday before the final, whereas Kaponga have been waiting over two months for the match, as the competition in the Southern Division was decided long ago, after six matches. With only four learns competing it seems a pity that three or even four rounds had not been played, instead of only two. The championships this year have been won as follows: Senior, Hawera; second grade Midhlrst; third grade, Clifton. The Star Club paid a graceful tribute to their popular captain, Bob Spence, on Saturday night, when they took occasion of the approaching arrival of his wife from England to present him with a dinner set. "Bob," who has led the' Star forwards throughout the season, was grateful for the compliment paid tim. In view of recent cables from England regarding the possibility of severance on account of the proposed amendments to the rules, the remarks made by Mr. Mcleod chairman of the. Taranaki Rugby Union and president of the New Zealand Rugby UnioH at the first annual dinner given by the Taranaki Referees' Association on Thursday night should prove interesting. -In the course of his remarks, he recalled that for the past Beven years New Zealand had taken the lead In working lowards- making the game more spectacular. That was perhaps not quite the right work, but the intention was to make the game more sporting, even than it was now by taking out the tactics, which tended to slow it up. He traced the proceedings! taken up to the present in (he direction of amending the- rules. The conference held In Sydney in November of last year (New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland being represented, and South Africa by proiy) decided on thirteen amendments which 'were submitted to the English Union and to South Africa. South Africa approved of some and added four mors. The English Union agreed to three and added one. None of these amounted to very much, not getting down to the basis of the desired amendments Nevertheless their approval was a stop. He called attention to recent cables which showed uneasiness in England at (to chance of ft breaking away on the part of the Australian unions. News-which had been recelved indicated that the Unglish Union held the wrnri? Impressions that New Zealand was after prrimionallsm. If New Zealand could make it clearly understood that, all thoy sought ",».i to change the tactics of the game and not to have anything to do with' the profession:'.! game, he thought they were-- 1 likely to get the consent of the English Union before long. Proceeding, Mr. McLe,Od <iaid lie thought New Zealand would decide to r-lny the new game very shortly willy-nilly A conference of chairmen or Rugby Unions had .been held in Wellington three weeks ago, only ..no union In (he Dominion not beta" represented. • It was then unanimously do" elded tint a change ,'hust be made. South Africa, however, had accepted the ImjlH tion to visit New Zealand next April provided She rules m the English rule book were play ed. The New Zealand Union had promptly agreed to this, beany until South Africa onto over here and The matters could be idly fl.seussed will, them, it *as not fair to CTiwrt tl.»» to see eye jo eye with New « V"., >, ," t0 b '' that the South African Union had not been seriously approached regarding the amendments until about the end of last year, and ha<. not had the opportunity of givjrng the matter the same consideration as had been g.vcn by the ,New Zealand and Australian/ tUMons. Therefore Softth Africa would be met under the old code. The visltin" finwould leave New Zealand early in June, and he hazarded the opinion that it would be found that all the Antipodean Unions in'cludmjT, Africa, would soon after be playing 1 he amendments. Mr. Mcleod cmphWtoa Hie point that he did not think this, shonl' or would mean breaking away frxj ro EnE ,, m ,, -il.e moral effect of this alone tfould be bul The basis of Rugby was. taht it was „ amateur pastime, and because of this he thought that England would accept the varia'„7 S , "L the , CO(le nested; they did not effect the rules as to professionalism. Ncw Zealand Rugby stood absolutely for tho English Rugby 'Union's amateur definitions.