FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

(Bγ' ABisTOBTn/oa.) Of "All Blaok" Booth) who is now playing for Leicester, a Home critic recently wrote: — "Booth, the New Zealander, an acquisition to the three-quarter line, and liis tackling was a feature of the game." "The probability is wo have seen the end of colonial teams for some years to come— at least so far as the Antipodes are concerned."—"Athletic Nows," Following is an interesting comparative ' table of the results of colonial visits to the '' Old Land:— ' Point 3 P. W.D. L. For Agt. 'Australians (1903-9) ... 80 2-1 1 5 425 1« South 'Africans (190&-7) i.. 29 26 1 2 603 85 ' New Zealanders (1905-G)... 33 32 0 1 BG3 47 ' Maoris (1888-9) 74 49 S2O 805 394 / There will be practically no fresh' b'ood in . the Old Boys 11 team this season. It was hoped that tho services of Burdekin, oxWollington, would have been available, but ho has been transferred to Hawora. M'Loan, who was a wing forward some years ago, has returned from tho West Coast, and rejoins tho team. After, further consideration A. M. Thomson, who had docided not to play again, has changed his mind. Hl3 position this season will jprobably bo wing three-quarter. An analysis of tho tour of "The Wallabies" gives the following results :— \ W. D , L.TI. Internationals 2* 0 1 3 Welsh clubs and counties .... 5 1 3 9 English counties -.../ .' 11 0 1 12 , Other English fixtures ...■" ... 6 0 0 6 Totals 24 1 • i> 30 •Inoluding Olympio Tournament fixture v. United Kingdom (Cornwall) at the Smdium. According to tho "Athletic News , ' only four of the "Kangaroos" were secured by League Clubs—Dean, and Anlezark, with Oldham, and Eosenfeldt and Walsh with Huddersneld. Bplewskrand Frawley weTe in communication 1 with a- West Lancashire club. In a conversation with a prospective buyer it was learned that the "Kangaroos" have put a big pricO'Upon their services, and the fact that none were desirous of signing long agreements led one to i believo that few ' more players will bo secured. By the way, a curioiis position of affairs was revealed in the -relations between Tom M'Cabe and Wigan. The,colonial was on tho League leaders' register. Will Wigan need to pay the Australian League £23 for his transfer if M'Cabo - iiemains? - * * ' ' Thu3 a Sydney journal :—Tho explosion ■ of the_ N.S.W. Eugby League made a noisy end picturesque beginning for football this ' eeason. In one night the revolution happened. It was well managed, and pushed to rho fitter'end. Tho revolutionaries made a clean Bwcep and wiped out the old committee, lock, • stock, and, barrel. Threats of withdrawing bank guarantees were flung about recklessly, but the rebels took no heed. The old management had been shocking—so utterly ruinous 'thati any, change was for the better; but, oll'the same, demoralisation reigned throughout the dubs. Tho .Union had a splendid» opportunity to kill the Northern Union game in Australasia by declaring a general amnesty ' for all who camo in within ,tho week Such a proclamation would have brought the'flower of the League trooping in. But, though some , of the officials proposed ■ such a course, the , council was afraid. It knew that to bring (back the Leaguers would havo roused the dre of its own rani: and file, The reason is not hard to see. There is no room for the flower of the League except by displacing in ( the first-grade matches a lot of tho flower of the Union, jjttjjvhioh tho "flower oflthe Union, would have objected. Sydney has/more firstclass footballers than tho clubs have for, eo tho Leagturwas'loft to go on _ toiling up the ottep, reorganisation.