FOOTBALL NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9084, 8 May 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL NOTES

(Contributed.)

"The various competitions under the jurisdiction of the Wairarapa Rugby Union will be continued on Saturday. The principal match will unquestionably bo that between Masterton and Carterton, which has been set down for decision on the Showgrounds. Both team* have played two matche3 ■each of which have been won. That •fixture will be watched with much -interest, and the result will serve as -•a guide as to the probable result of the Senior Championship. On Saturday two teams chosen -from clubs engaged in the Bush Union's Senior banner matches will <*play a game at Pahiatua. The object «of (the match is to enable the selectors to chose the best men available . -for the coining representative match Wairarapa v. Bush districts. Judging from the good material to selt-ct -from the Bush Union should be able "to place a strong team in the field •■when conclusions are tried with the r -local representatives.

;,. Some little dissatisfaction has been 'displayed by the Bush Union in conn.cton with ths Wairarapa Union's decision not to divide the gate takings at the forthcoming match. The northern bo.ly appears to be much annoyed, and it 3 action in applying ?t j the New Zealand Rugby Union for ■a ruling on the matter cbarly shows that every effort is being made to •sucurs its quid pro, quo. Whether the governing body l will alter what Jhas been a long standing custom remains to be seen. It is, however, "very doubtful if the Union will in•terfure in any way in the matter. -For years past representative «iatcae3 have bean played between the Unions in question, and this is the first occasion that the complainants have taken exception to the methods adopted in connection with financial side of the fixtures. From what can be gathered a precedent waif laid down some years ago to the effect that whenever a match was ;played at Masterton the net gate re•csipts less tho cost of entertaining •the visitors wenr, to the Wairarapa Union, and when a match was played the two bodies on a Bush Union ground the gate takingn were •-appropriated by that Union. The ;reply of the New Zealand Rugby Union to the Bush Union will aft'trcl interesting rfading.

U§ It is harJly necessary to state at • length the extreme disappointment we—"Atlibtic Maws"—feel regarding the of the side to meet New Zealand this year. The task of Mr Hur;;ett has not been easy. Applications to. join the .party were invited, and plenty ;of players announced their willingness to make the journey. The best of these have been chosen, but candidly, -with few exceptions, the standard is : far from high. Not one of the men would be chosen for a .representative [British team of to-day; some of the player 3 could not find places in the . second team of a first-class Welsh •club, so how csn the pick of the men be expected to fight successfully against New Zealand when performing in Maoriland? Mr Harnett is reported to have said that folk never can tell how a team may fare. There may be doubt in some cases; but it :.is evident ere £hey set sail what will be the fate of the Anglo-Welsh party •of 1906. That fate will be unhappy. There was a distinctly humourous . side to a case investigated at the last meeting of the Gloucestershire ' County Association. A referee reported a member of the Deaf and . Dumb Mission Club for using offensive language towards him. The • committee were in a quandary over ' the matter till a letter from the ■ secretary of the club 'was read, in which he explained that the player in v question was not deaf and dumb, and ■ occasionally assisted them because he was interested in the mission. This cleared up one point, but he raised i, another difficulty when he added that his players were greatly upset because the referee would persist in talking and laughing with their opponents. This was the secret of the •whole trouule. The punishment was , not severe. English newspapers class the Anglo-Welsh Rugby Union team now « on its way to New Zealand as weak. Colin Gilray, the Rhodes scholar, ;. andlthe ex-New Zealand representative', three-quarter back, at present in England, is reported to be showing f good form for Oxford, and the Lon■don Scottish.

The vice-president of a Yorkshire Eugby club promised the players a 'ton of coal each if they "'on a cer tain cup. Stimulated by this, the team went through the various ties with success, and reached the final. In that match the team, who were in the minority, gained a try; which, if converted into a goal would have won the match. The kick was entrusted to a half-back, who, perhaps through nervousness, missed the goal altogether.