RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GAME AT MARTON. Per Press Association. MARTON, Sept. 18. Taranaki B defeated Rangitikei by 17 points to 3 in an uninteresting game played to-day in pouring rain. The home team was the weakest fielded this season, and little interest was taken in the fixture. WIN FOR EAST COAST. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Sept. 18. East Coast scored a win over the Taranaki touring team at Ruatorea today by three points to nil. The game was unexciting and slow, and was played on a hard ground. There was a slight breeze, which had no noticeable effect on the fortunes of the day until after half time, when it gave the visitors a slight advantage and spoiled two of Nepia’s kicks. The match was singularly free of casualties, there being only one replacement when Wclfo (Taranaki’s outstanding forward) sustained a kick in the back and was replaced by McLean in the second half. East Coast’s score came about midway through the second spell, Raroa making a spectacular dive and flying over with two tacklers attached to his legs. Nepia appears to have regained some of his old form and Harrison, the Coast half, was prominent. Of the visitors, Watson, on the wing, Wolfe and Clark in the forwards and Idohaia, at half, were outstanding. WELLINGTON BEAT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, Sept. 18. Wellington met Wanganui to-day under wretched conditions, rain falling for three-quarters of the period ot play. Tlie ball was greasy, but the ground in fairly good order. In tlie circumstances, the teams produced a good exhibition or Rugby. The visiting team revealed an allround superiority, though Wanganui, especially in the 'first half, was bi ’Giant at times. The final score was 27—19, though the home side led 11 —5 at half time. From this point, Wellington put on 15 points. Then Wanganui took a turn and brought the score to 19—20. In the last stages, Wellington came again and with a potted goal to finish, walked off victorious by 27 points to 19. ‘‘MOKE” BELLISS. GREAT RUGBYITE’S LAST CAME. OPPOSES PORTER IN FINAL FLUTTER. “Moke” Beiliss, of Taihape, in a letter to Dr. G. J. Adams, president of the Wanganui Rugby Union, intimated that yesterday s match against Wellington (captained by Porter) would be his last unless Wanganui was absolutely stuck, when he would don the jersey to oblige. Beiliss, who is 34 j'ears of age, has had a long and wonderfully fine career in big Rugby. He first came into prominence as a player in the N.Z. Army team in the inter-services touring at Home in 1919, and quickly earned a reputation as one of its best forwards. His subsequent reputation entitled him to rank among the best players oft this country, and he played some great games against the Springboks, also against New South Wales, both in the Dominion and in Australia. Beiliss has represented Wanganui on many occasions with credit to himself and the union, arid his generalship many times has been ’the deciding factor. . Beiliss always played for the team rather than for lnmself, and his unselfishness was characteristic of the man, says an exchange. E. A. Beiliss represented New Zealand in the King’s Cup series in Britain in 1919, and also in South Africa later in that year. He was a N.Z. Rugby Union representative in 1920, 1921 and 1922 (captain in Australia). NEW ZEALAND UNION. QUESTION OF SHIELD CHALLENGES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. A meeting .of the management committee of tlio New Zealand Rugby Union was held to-night. The Wanganui Union wrote asking for permission to fulfil its challenge for the Ranfurly Shield this season. It pointed out that its challenge was of long standing and its committee was of opinion that the fact that the shield had changed hands should not prevent existing challenges from being fulled. The letter was received, the chairman remarking that the New Zealand Union should lay down a rule that no challenge should be issued until a union actually held the shield. The South Canterbury Union wrote agreeing to fall in with the suggestion that its challenge to Southland for the Ranfurly Shield should he deferred until next season on the understanding that it should receive prior consideration next year. The chairman announced that no replacements would be allowed in either the North Island versus South Island or the Now Zealand versus Maoris matches, as both games would be played under international board rules. Mr K. Tahiwi, on behalf of the Maori Advisory Board, asked the union to define what constituted a Maori in view of the selection of the Maori team to play the New Zealand team at Wellington on Wednesday next. It was decided that the definition of a Maori should be in accordance with the definition laid down by the Maori Land Act, 1909, which limits Maoris to not less than half-castes.