FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 170, 11 April 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

RUCBY. *,

[Br Arisio'bdlcs.] ;• * So far this season toil new members hay. ■Joined tho 'Wellington' Referees' 'Associa tion. . •'., . 7V'-I'l;-. It was reported that G. Tyler would :pla: for. Ponsonby: this season,, having qiialifiei . by residence,: but this is understood to bi untrue./ Tyler's present intention, is to joii . the ranks of the reforeos.. . .; : ■' "All Black". Booth' will play for Newtowi . (Sydney) during the.coniing,season. Mr.-H. H. Speight,-formerly ofChristchurch . has< boon elected a member op l the Welling toiivßeforees' Association.For some year: - ho '.'was a -'valued member - of-''the Canterbury Referees' Association.- . 1 It.:is ■ understood ;that, aiv English. Rugb] team- will' tour South -America in July. • • , have;been icomplctod for i New South 'Wales team: Jo tour. Great Bri tain,- and'probably-; Fraiice: and Vaucouvei (British Columbia),''calling at:the America! ' Universities;on home. ~ - - BairclayJ- who left Wellington towards - th< jlose. of ;!last season,'has ' returned, aifd; wil. be foiind. tbis year irtfjhis old. position' in the Wellington-seniors. -, Tuftill. playbd in'l'all,; except two' of, the matchos, r ;iii' which the "All Blacks" profesfiional'teani,wer'e engaged,-placed four goals; ;•••• and>alSoVscored.aAryr-a;somewhat.;raro:fcaf . for : a;full : back;; ; i'-V;.;" ': ' ;". - ■. AVitb .;rcfer,chceVtp the . following point, which] will .probably be considered 'at'.thp ( an; nual-meeting of.lthe New Zealand ißeforeds' 'Association,' it; liSsibeeu.decided by'tho 'Wcl- , jingtoii Referees' Association, that a'playei the ball back provided it \ .. has'not-gohe-into touch, y . -•'. :. . / ;■ y ; Tlio; following'' honorary -' ,'members - have , been elected -;to:'the Boys'- Institute Football . Club Dr. Chanple; vicc-prcsi--1 dents,'* Dr.. M'Arthur, Messrs. W.- M'. Haiitiay, C., S. Moore, C. Redgrave, { J. Sim. ■ ,- has consented to act j . as coach.'';■ ■■■■-:■■ 4 Tho roljowing additional remit will be ' . brought .before tho annual. meeting of. the ] ■; "New • Zealand'.-, Referees' "Association. by tho • delegate-/j; representing.-- .tho- .Wellington ■ . try shall. be: al:lo,wed;in jthe case.;of a.playor .being, thrown (' : or ;knobked.' over: (but - noV-tackledjy. irij tho field, ofjjilay, and after, the.ball has come in ,-' .':.;cqntact';.with; tlie groundy ; and, whilst on ono ■ 'knee^jiushes^'qrjplaces^th'e.'.ballV - goal-line." Ohe of tlie weaknesses; of.the "All-Blacks'' . . prbfessio'nal.,team-,w'as the: fact-that' they.'jiad not•?a- l '/class'V*reserve .strength'.. * Men 'like Turt'illj .• Messenger,' ;Sniithj^vWriglejr,. »nd tho baqkl"division,^a'nd.-'it.".isreally . , that'-Turtill' should' have., played ;in -31 out of. , thb;33 gamps;;:arid; never hav;e given, a,weak; -,•"■ exhibition:—"Yorkshire Eost." -~ ' , . . > - rA t ; remarkable. ; accidcnt'; bccur.redi on'.tlip BlundellPark'.Football yGrourid,;::. Grimsby," during .■,a;'gale;;,'"A ..- plate/,was'-blown from:, ■its.*-■'-.•■boarding,- .and crashed ■■'down amongst .;thp' somp ,of;whom\-miraculbusly,'escaped / fatar,injiiry. ■ :;were'. .knocked -, 'doivn, , and pinnea' to.the' boys';were con- ■ veved 'to the hospital ,in''a "seri6us condition,-' instrubtcti . its 'delegates-Mr: to support the . following, resolution if it . is brought : up' at the;.annual .meeting ,of the New Zealand Referees' Association:—^"lf in . .the, opinion: arid loss af time..when, kicking"at^'E6aJ3fte£a„.try has •. been ; - : ■ ~ , , borough - receritly .-by - the death'on the football :field;.'bf:>JKennpthv^ . .The deceaspd,who..,-ij;as^''3l!ikri6wri,*amongst footballers,' wa3vkeepiiig; goa'l;;for : :' Newbor--1 lugh''.WMriesday;yri; a.: match'against A'shwell . on -the;Newby 'Lane gr6und; ':wlien;he' fnll' to; Iho ground .and" died.-,. Heart disease was :th'e, cause.ofideath.. : I. Two burly bricklayers had a disagreement; and; in,a few minutes were fighting, furiously; One finally got the other down on the ground' and triumphantly. ,began jumping oil; ,tho fallen,man's,chest. "Here, '1B1II,"- gasped -. tho last-named,. "that-.ain't fair., .This is . nothiri'but a ■; fight— 7 it V ain't:' football.'.'— "Tho Tatler." ... ' . ",' '' ; . v In the Association- international betweenEngland and Scotland, at' Glasgow, each side scored,one goal. .-Ono. hundred and ..' thirty . thousand ,persons.;'were :prc3ent,. and 50,000 wero turned awa.y. The gate was :a .Tccord,? £7000 being taken.' Forty persons were .injured in the crush. . The previous re- . - sord attendance' was ;110,802, wheii' Sheffield United; and;. Tottenham. Hotspur played off for the: English Association' Cup at the Crys- • tal Palace. . ; . " ' The receipts of the Auckland Union. 'jast . year totalled £1913 :10s.;"including,.a balance .from the previous "year of £672 7s. 8d; The gro3s:reccipts from cu'p- ancl -practice to £479 13s. 10d., and the; next- largest"gate",; was the Wanganui match,'when tho takings were!>£279 3s: Qd.' ■ The expenditure'ran into '£1793 9s. ;4d., leaving a credit, balance of v £l2o'os.,Bd. The , southern tour expense's ... were • . £408 : 0s; ■ id. The sum of £67:05. 6d., was paid oiit of tlio accident ■ fund.' The expenditure .incurred* in ■ with visiting teams was £530' 16s, sd. :. : ,'-U The ;great . feature;of between' Leicestervand Swansea - at S\vansea (says ; "Sporting Life") .was the reappearance of' Dr. E, T. Morgan', the most popular personality .in x Welsh; football; and by far tho , finestf.wing three-quarter, Wales - lias - ever' , - , produced. .-,. Although .he Was naturally . a markpd. man throughout' (such ■ attention is usually. a most decided! ■ advantago; ■ to ;; tho . Other three-auarters), :Dr.. Morgan showed that he has .lost none of his olcl-powers dur- ■' bg his temporary retirement.,-' He ran with all his' old grace and pace; -although, of course, signs of-hii lack of-.practice were in ; . evidence; in • his:'passing. The famous 'three--' ,quarter- back-.formed one 1 of the last- British' team,.thatVyisited,;Australia. ; ; . - The ''Yorkshire 1 Post" remarks"After boiiig, defeated in 14_ matches, some of them': against teams of quite, ordinary calibre, the NoV'V Zealanders . are able to return to the Dominion the'v/inners , of the: rubber in the "test" encounters' with',the Northern 1 Union. This is aii achievement;that will compensate them: for mridh of the'-loss, of. prestige they had' previously- sustained. ■ ■ They came "to- tho , North, of 'England to pliy what was'to-them firacticallv -.a riew . game; they had' much to caril, and still more to Unlearn; . It-, is to their credit that- they quickly 'mastered, tlio technicalities of the: Northern; Union , rules, and that they have been "able to win. two of ''tli£ three matches- against:' teams .-specially chfen to. uphold the; Unioii-s' prestige..ln one' sense the Northern -Unionists' defeat is disappointing. ; It, follows'imon the'loss of the.test matches bv the.Eriglish.oricket team in Australia, and it will/hp cited in the colo-' nirs as another example of tho superibrity of . colonial skill." J . Tho annual report of the Wanganui Rugby Football.-.-Union made "reference to profes-g!on.-.lism, .rid the iNew Zealand Union's' "past administration was' Strongly and , a;I----ve'rsely criticised; . In ' coriuectio'ii therewith . . ' the opinion , was ,oxprosswl that the "grabbing and hoarding" policy of-the New;vZea- ' larid 1 Union' was' responsible'for the-'profps-, ■ gional'movement .havingi'j.Jono so far;/' The nnions had: advanced the Now Zealand Unionmoney to sr.nfl' the "All Blacks" .Home with- ',; out- guarantee of 'repayment.- aiid./with the good fnia'ricial result ,of-tl:>:tour,;;bad -been able only- with great ;diffj':ully, ,to ..'obtain loans' for..-grminds.-': nnd'-vthen-.- ..itifpnbst.'. Tho pnliny..was fllnstratcd bv the New Zca-lnnd"-Uiiinn ; proposing to -;tak'cj/all •, the .net ;' proce'eJs. of the matches agaiiust the British team this vear.- The committof censideml a portion of the, large sum. held by the' Now. y. ;ltniori shinil't; he; ajjoeated to. tho VaffiliaM,.unions ; f.or_.;th'o 'siinport'iof-.amatMir ■ football and oblainin:; grounds. A. motion w»s. narried. to, t'he ofFwt. that tho .fleJogates to tin. 1 New Zealand Unirfn lie instiiicted to nc<i i* 'Ids direction. . / , . ; V " In view of .the projects! risit • to South Africa of an Kngimh t<Nvin in 1901), and having lo t.tu 1 there are no profcasinnal clnbs in South Africa, the Eng-

lish Rugby Union, upon consideration of the important question .of reinstatement of Northern Union players; in that colony, recently. passed the following resolution :V' "That tlio South African Rugby Football . Board should liavo tho right without power • of delegation to ' reinstate Northern- union > players who ■ have fully satisfied, tlio South ■ African Rugby Board that they have not received any remuneration, direct or indirect, , for services rendered to any professional Union's clubs or teams, always provided that 1 the' South African Board shall reserve the 1 right to cancel such reinstatement at their • pleasure, : and that such reinstatement shall '.. apply solely to football players while in South' Africa and under the jurisdiction of the South African Board." • The "Athletic News" observes"Possibly the Northern - Union officials did ob- ■ serve the agreement made at the beginning ,' of the season,, that' the New Zcalauders ■ should not be 'approached' until the conclu- ': siori of ;the official, tour... In : any case tlio proceedings which : took place at Cheltenham between fire and six o'clock were most serious to. the two clubs, concerned, and .when: tho. result. was .announced tho successful representatives were naturally pleased. G. W. Smith, the colonial .vice-captain, was'in most : request,' but■ the favoured;clubs,by'force-of circumstances wero limited to two, Wigan andVOldham; 7 The Central/Park organisation' were popular favourites up ;to Friday' : evening, but the League leaders, were determined, and, after' much persuasion'; Smith signed tho ■necessary form for Olclhani. The. ' -amount paid to '{Smith was naturally, kept . Secret, but.we fancy.we aVojnot wide rif the mark when we.state that the.New Zealand international has probably, received £1,50. The agreement-is to tho end of ,the present - term only, although Oldham; will bo quite content to renew their contract for next season. Smith is 35' years of age, but tho/clos- • ing games; of tho tour,'have, seen him at his ' .best;; and - his'- brilliant 'display, at : Ghelsea •'clinched : matters.'. If he, gets over-.the,, injury- to' his , eye lie;-will appear - for his/new olubV at their important engagement-'with . Wigan on Wednesday. ;■ Another 'agreement which may -.cause' some surprise was; ratified ; on Saturday evening! The .principals :in tbjs case were' also Wigan,'. who, disappointed in : Smith; 'were;; successf-ul . in securing L. : B. '.Tbdd;' .Like - his vice-captain, Todd; lias' shown of his best of >■ late,'arid though l .'tho ambunt. given for him ,is in accordance! with . Wiga'n's, liberal, traditions, the officials 'express, themselvesas well satisfied with' their, - usually played-, at.. ;fivein, the; last ' two gomes: was placed.' at; - wing ' three-quarter.-; and both at; .Chelsea,?and : at Cheltenham, he showed resource and pace.";;. ~- • V' •1 '.The, colours,- of .the' British; touring 'team /will be'' white: and >Ted,- .with a narrow edging' of blue. , . The Southern ; Club's : fourth .class team ,will ,play the Old Boys'-.Club; at Palmerston North on- Eastor r Saturday. ■ • -j ; " It- may.-be interesting- at .tlio present- junc?; turb, to re-publish the. results'of; tho : matches placed -;in 'Zealaud | by ;the ■ 1904 :British 'team-:—Britishers, s"' points—Cahterbury—South . Canterhi/ry—West* .-Coast," 3i points.';. Britishers. 14 point s—Otago; arid Southland $ points. Now Zealand, 9, points—Britisher?,' 3. points. ".Britishers, 0 ' Wanganui-rManawatu. 0 points. Auckland, 13 points—Britishers, 0 points. Totals—New Zealand teams, .'•■■'33 '"•'points—Britishers; : "22. points': ■ To mark their re-entry; to. Senior rank; the Sou thorn Club is _ sending -a strong •' fifteen, on tour' to the Wairarapa district during the. coming.: festival • week. ■ On - Saturday.- April 18, -: a' team ifronvi the'-'i'MaSteTton-'-Foqtball Club will imeet tlio 'visitbrs'in • the iWairitapa capital,-while, on Easter Monday,- the tourists play a\cpmbinedjTteamj[frpm the Rover ■arid at, Carterton. v .Many, old New,'Zealand'.footballer's 'will re-' ■member that it was Mr.': G; .Rowland Hill (ex-Prosident English Rugby. Union), who has •been seriously'iridisposed/'who'refefeed in tho now:,famous' imateh 'that/tho Maori' team' played'against England l during their 1888;89, tour.': Mr. Hill gave moro than one decision'- ' which , did. not 'please the members-' of tho hative r -team, '-three': of' their; number ' leaving the ground-as a protest against his decision.- : However, . tho., English Rugby Union backed . up the .decision"of.their.'referee'hy demapdi'ng an':apology; from ,the -visiting ..team;', stating that his decisions on .matters ;of ,fact -.were . indisputable.—Sydney, "Reforeo." ■'■ • .'■.'■, ' : Welsh"' team' which ,' met 'France on ■March 2 included only one.of the. AYblsh contingent'■ belonging to' the" British - touring team,-/viz., R. Gibbs, but among the.-reserves were .'the. following. Britishers:—J,sL:: Williams, J.:. P. Jones, R: Thomas, and;E. Morgan.' '■ : ''."■ '• ; ■: ■ ■ ; - :''V/ ' \ ...The,-"gates" -in connection ...with tho matches against .the;.-Britishers;.will,-,it-';is confidently- expected, constitute' '-records throughout thfe Dominion. Tho net proceeds arising from the various matches played, ; hy ■ tho . 1904 Engl'sh 'team were -as follows : — N.Z..match,'£ll9B; Auckland, £720: Otago I—Southland,1 —Southland,- £540; Canterbury—South Canterbury—Westland, £.367; Taranaki—Wanganui—Manawatu, £187.; . ■: Tlio New South . Wales . Rugby ..Union decided, at its annual meeting,. (a) "That steps bevtaken .to'insert in 'the bylaws '.of'-the Union-a bylaw providing for granting; allowances to ; players representing ,the' State, incapacitated by being injured- on the 'field of - play, and for defraying medical, 1 , and other oxpenses caused through bsing 'incapacitated ny any such injury \vhile representing tho • State." /-(b) "That the.Council, beTauthorised to frame, such bylaws, and include in- the bylaws of the Union."- It was stated that'tho Council would see 'that the rules , of the English Union, regarding professionalism were, not encroached upon. • ' . I r-< ASSOCIATION. .(By-Cektbe Half;) .' '•/ ' "Soccer" enthusiasts hava been iu. active training for somo weeks, and thcro is prospect' of close especially in tho senior competition this year. , The cup matches commence' oii April 25) and already,. there. are eight senior teams entered. ' Pctone seniors •have been reorganised,. and promise to place a good team on the field. Tho othor, addition to the rainks of senior '"soccer,"'is the Thistle team, comprised principally of members of the Wellington Pipe Band. , In the junior competition, there are eleven clubs entered, , includingi soiiio new , teams. Tho third, fourth, and fifth-class competitions, have tempted a number'of new: teams to enter ,_ and the • number/ of - players/- taking part in .matches under the. auspices of .tlio Wellington Football Association,' shows', a ■marked increase over, past seasons. The W.F.A. have secured atnplo.,grounds to conduct'their matches on this " season. There are two at l'etono, three at Porirua; one-on the Basin Reserve,, and .thirteen;at Miramar.. The ; Association> havei also- applied for' tho- use. of a ground at Newtown Park, .but the matter 1 is being considered'by the Gity. Council. If more grounds are/requir'ed, the' Association can procure them at Miramar.; ' • • . The; Ramblers swill be minus , tho services of R. Paget, their,-right- half, this, season. : The' ; club gave him . a . fitting, send-off last; ' night, prior to his departure for' Australia. H. 'Waters, last year's' outsido left, has decided' not to play this season; his place.in ..the team will bo filled by Bradford,, an exHomo player. -: ■.■'■■', . ■ ; Carde, who previously -played'for- a'leading Loiidori'.;team, has thromi in his lot-with tho Ramblers. Other new players, include two brothers of go.al-lceoper Smallbone,. ot Otago," who, if they play: up to thpir brotlior's. form will be a decided.acquisition to tho club. It is expected that tho Ramblers' two full-; backs will be, M'Laren (Taranaki.Rep.), and Af.'Whannel,..lato of St. Johns.- M'Mahon, •who-played some good games last season, has joined a Rugby team. Tho junior team is .said to: bo very strong. The Petono team has been resuscitated. Cricketer Bryne will. occupy the position of goal-keeper. Tho half-backs will probably, bo E. L./Reriai and a: younger brother, and "Streak"'Hawkins. W. F. Sparrow, late Swifts and St.. Johns, is' mentioned , as a Petoneite. and also I'arrell, late of Swift i'uniors. Hector Renai, who has played many irilliant games for Petone, has retired from,

: the game, and F. Waddell, late centro half of Swifts, who intended to play for.Petone, has finally decided to retire from activo service. The Thistle Club, is mentioned as being in training, but no announcement as to likely players has come to hand. A few predict great things for tho club for this season, but it is rather early to express opinions yet. \ The Wanderers look a likely lot foi' cup honours this season, but tho additions, wliicli greatly improve their team, have consider- | ably weakened tho llovers. Many nasty ; 1 things have becn N said locally about this ■ team, for taking the backbone out of an old ■ established .combination liko the Rovers. Tlio Wanderers toam will be approximately ' as follows:—Goal, lrvino. Full-backs, two • recent arrivals from Homo. Half-backs, . Bruce Jate' Rovers), and Perkes (Pelorous), ■ are mentioned as two of them. The forwards are —Outsido right, Davidson; inside right, Raeburn (lato Canterbury rep., as out--1 side left); centre,. R-cid (lato Rovers); inside 1 left, Ashe; outside left, William. Tlio Wanderers certainly possess lots of merit, and William, as outside left is described as a bettor man than,Mawson. ' : The Swifts team this season has one or two new names in the list, which I know;, would not be there unless it meant improvement. Tho uprights will be defended by Jamieson, who did good work there , last year. \ The full-hacks aro to bo Elson, and either Grant or Cornish. The selection of the half-back division will 'be a difficult matter. J. Pye-Smith, is mentioned as a'cer- , tainty for right half. There aro L. White, Tempest (lato Diamonds), Purkis, Graves, and another, to fill tho two vacancies, and as all of them are good men, the selection committee has not an easy ■ matter in hand. Purkis, howevbr, on his present form should secure the position of left half. The for-. . wards will probably be as. follow: —Outsido right, Scott (late Wanderers); inside right, A.'Lowo (outside right last year); centre, Uren Ante Northern Club, Dunedin); outsido left, Oilier .(Reps. .1907); the'insido left has not bee;i announced. Tho Swifts go to Nelson at' Easter, and play Westport there next, Saturday.. On Easter Monday thoy play Nelson #t Nelson: ■' '■ The' Diamonds team has been altered very little for this season,' and will nrobably bo as follows: —Goal, M. FitzGerald; , full-backs, W. Roberts, A. Barnett.; halves, .Thawley (right), W. J.. Taylor (centre), D. Roberts (left); forwards, J. W. Black (outside right), I).- Duffy; (inside), C. Hathaway (centre). J. Ready, (outsido left), A. Lowo (inside). The only exception that can be' taken to the. .abovo team, _is the inclusion of Lowe,- whoso form in junior ..matches last year, does- not warrant it:. Easter the Diamonds will proceed', to Jiaponga' to' play a - match against*a:local.toam.... ■ .■ Although the -Rovers are' considered, to bo a weak team, their-lino performances, of-last season cannot be' overlooked; They startedbadly, but kept .pluckily on, and . ended .tlio season by-being declared winners of tho Charity Cup, It is expected that Penlingtori will be in. goal, G. Martin and T. Duignan, full-backs, but, Renai, late of this team has -joined the : Petones. Tho two O'Shca's' will be. inoln-led' in the ■ forward division. ,'Reidand Bruce will'be missed, they having gone over to tho-Wanclerors.' Godber.has again notified his intention of not' playing -this season, but I can't tlreat this seriously, and I expect to sob him with his old, club ero the season, finishes. - Veteran Billy Auld, who retired from active servico.tob'soon, threatens' to play, for tho Rovers this season./ The.'. V.M.C.A. Soccer Glub, is making . great strides. Thoy head! tho list with six i teams ,in thb field, ,there being: two entered l for. the fourth-class competition. Tho seniors' wero well up in 'tho°.cup matches last" year, and should givo 'a ' good account of themselves this season. The Y.M.C:A. aro , a team to Hastings, and another'ono to Levin at; Easter. ■. .•■ ■. ' ''■■■ , Tho Wellington Fobtball AssocLition' are ■ considering the- advisability ' of' holding ; A : ; ■^bazaar. about next July, and- tlie committee 1 are now, actively engaged making the. nece's-' s'arv . arrangements.. 'v . ■ . • H. L. Scliolfieldi ; the .Taranaki Rep. forward;'; will play for. Efponga: against. Dili- ' monds 'at Easter. ■■ .Iti.is rumoured' that. ho. .will:be in .Wellington for: this season playing for; Swifts:; .- ■ slr. .-F.(:Spilman', ~fofmerly\ a' .prpininent- . player of the ;Petono; Club', ■ is' at 'present in Wanganu.i. ..-'.fl-lebni'.that- be is endeavouringto- resuscitatei,the gamo there. i'. Our;i Jpcal ■7, authority, . considers.' that. "soccer".:on-'the.-:Basin Reserve this; season! will beca,.,big; draw',, and ; . anticipates that while' hundreds, may the. first, few . games,: thousands : 'will proceed thither towards the close' of . tlio season. . . ' Walter- Jlaiin, of .Westport, ' 'recently' wrote to. a local "soccer", enthusiast, ,ro tho progress of the gamo on tho AVest Coast. It- i 3 well-known in'- local; circles that .ho, works hard ,in , the <.interests' of "soccpr," and, last' year 'formed a club in -Westport. . Shortly after, he wa3, instrumental in raising ; 'an opposing', team, a few miles out. lAt all events, towards the closo of season 1907, there were four clubs going strong, viz., Westport, Millerton; Dennistpn, and Waif team, and'some interesting matches resulted. l , Tho Westport team is to. play tho Swifts at Nelson next . Saturday,' and is arranging for a match at Westport on Easter Moi° ,'day. ,' ' The' management, committee of tho W.F.A. are to be,, congratulated on their thoroughly up-to-date arrangeineiits present season', and, also oil the efficient manner they: deal with thoso obstacles, a3 daily occur in the. governing ..of" so. many clubs, as are affiliated to the Association.