WAIHI FOOTBALL.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1032, 5 July 1904, Page 2

WAIHI FOOTBALL.

TO TIIK EDITOR, Sir,-I think it is About tiuio that tho Waihi Rugby Union endeavoured to exorcise its functions (if any) in tlio direction of protecting tlio public against the abject prostitution of tlio game, as demonatrated last Saturday, by annuibor of foot" bailors who evidently lack tliat sportsman-; like and manly element which marks the true sport all over the world, When that is absonf, sport is simply mado the exercise ground (or puro personal interest of the worst stamp. The footballing sports-J men (?) who flagrantly deserted thoir own club last Saturday—somo openly, others from tlio morpst trumpery excuses—doservo tlio censnro of the Union (if it has a censure), and tlio only remedy to oura this is disqualification for life, or, in the ! alternative, let the gatno go by the board, with tlio result that the public will soon sicken of such exhibitions and lack oi grit on tlio part of both Union and player, and stop away altogether, Simply because ft club cannot win tlio covoted Cup itsolf, a number of its representatives throw up the spongo and givo iit-a most manly act indeed, and committed by mon who call themselves sports, It is woll-known locally (lint on overy Saturday porsonal feeling is brought out on tlio football fiold and tlio result is playing tho man instead of the ball, and tho public aro about sick of the whole thing, and consequently are keeping away. Thoso who attended last Saturday aro doiidedly of opinion that if tho Union makes a charge for witnessing the gnnn they should protect tho people they levy that olinrgo upon. All praise is duo to the very plucky manner in whioh tlio remaining men 011 tlio deserted sido fought out tho game; these are tlio truo sports, who pt'ofbrrod to sco tho tiling' out to tlie ond rather than be branded with an ugly title. It in no wonder that tho pnhlm are highly incensed, and if tho Union cannot p.-o!,c' il.c gnir.e from its worst enemies, (lieu it should put the shutters up without delay. It is to bo hoped that tlio selector, when taking into.' consideration tlio nnines of players for tho forthcoming representative matches, will carefully craso from his list thoso foo)*' ballon who so ens'dy cy " enough/' for such a spirit could nover win a ojoso iinifli, Before concluding this I would like to ask anyone who witnessed Saliu' lay's oxbibition if they could guess the correct number of non-triors who ap« pcared so conspicuously on ouo particular side.—l am, etc., s ' One of the Public, ;