LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 517, 26 May 1909, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

'"'. ' '.■■'- ■ ''"' .'r —<>■-: '.; — - 'f- '■'■!■■■ . - STRONG'TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA. . .•':'■■ NINE ."MATCHES/ARRANGED. . ': During the past month arrangements in connection with, the forthcoming Australian ,tour ■of-,'a-New Zealand '■ Northern Union football team, havo been going forward, and Mr. D. 6. Fraser, of Petone, intimated yesterday that tho personnel of the team-had been finally decided upon. . ; . -'•:-.:.'. '.- • : . :■':..•" ■ : '■■ The Team. ■The teams for the-nine matches to be played in New South Wales and Queensland will be ohosen from the following!— . • ... -.'Backs: G. Spencer, A. Asher, H. Rowe, James Barber, A; House, E. Buckland, B. Hooker, and P.George. '"'-. " : .'- ,,:, ■•..-•■'- ..: ■ .'Forwai'ds: W. Trevartlien, S. Milonuld, 'J. Spencer, 15. : King, 1). Gilchrist, C...Byrne,";A. Lile, and C. J.,Pearce. ■•'■■'■:■■-'■'-■•-■'■.. ■■'£ he full-back, George Spencer, of. Wellington, bejonged to Melrose football Club, and tepTe-. sented Wellington Province in amateur Kugby for-sii or seven years, 'Ho was a member'of. the.All Black team which visited Australia.. . 'As a wing-three-quarter, Albert Asher has, made himself popular, and he has played,brilliantly at times. Formerly n member of City Club; Auckland, ha has represented both his province and New Zealand several seasons. The other wing, Harold Rowe, of Ponsonby Club, Auckland, is a fast! three-ijuarter. He, has. represented < Auckland in amateur teams, .and-toured Australia and. England with the; New Zealand Northern Union, team, 1907-8. : •:. T?or centre, the terffii is taking James Barber, of Wellington, an ex-member of Petono Football Club. 'Barber, while;still .in the amateur game, , represented the province for about eight ■years.!' He was a member of the. professional earn which went Home in: 1907-8. If required, he can fill thepositionof half-back creditably. ; Also a centre-thrco-quarter man; A. House, of ! Petone, and. a member of the local Rugby club, gives promise of -satisfactory development. :He is a young' player; but has/taken, up the Northern Union ganieJn Auckland and. Wellington matches. ■! - ■ ■ ;: ■ -.:' In Tnranaki, E. Buckland, the Eltham fiveeighth, was considered one of the most promising of last season's footballers.- He was in", the .Taranaki Provincial team." ■ r ' Tlie other five-eighth is a Taranaki man also. 8... Hooker, of New Plymouth, ia another promising player, who was brought out last year. He'is a "rep." player. '. •■.-.■•: -: , ■'■.' ' The half is. P, George, of City Club, Auckland, - well-known in-Auckland football circles, and a representative of the province. ."■-■'"•■• . , Prominent among a: heavy forward "pack, is William Trevarthen (Hst.), who, after, representing Auckland.;.for abontfiye. years, ■ joined the . Northern Union team whioh. visited: Australia and England. /After the coming Australian .'matches have'" been decided, , , Trevarthen leaves Sydney to join the Huddersfield Club,' England.: ' .■ ■•■ >;.' : -':;■:::.'::■: '.- ■■■ '' S. M'Donald (12st. 81b.) ,is a promising young Auckland forward, who 'has played-Northern Union football in two or; three matches. ■..'.- .-■ ■::■,■'.'■■ '■'■■■'-. .: A brother of the full-back, J. Spencer (Hst.) is among the forwards. Up till last season he donned '".the .jersey for Melrose Club,' and 'he was a;New Zealand , representative .on the last amateur.tour (1907). ; : ,i. : :' . ; ; "'• Anothor, ox-Melrose*" player, : B. King (12st. 61b.) is-in : the forward pack. Up, till, last year he played for Jiia club, and' represented; tho province for three seasons. ■"■ :•■'. '• ; v D. Gilchrist (13st. 101b.) the team havo ia -first-class .forward." He is an old Melrose player,; and .-has'.- represented.: Wellington in interproyincial. football.; Hβ made.a, trip Home with the Northern Union team in 1907-8.- . ; C. Byrne (Ust. 81b.) is a Potono player, who has.'represented Wellington. .He touredi Australia and. England with. the Northern■: Union team"'two'years ago., ; .■■■■;:. :-'. : .'. : ■ A'. Lile (13st. 1211).), of Oriental Club, has represented Wellington, and Tham.es in.amateur j football;:.;He wns'a Northern Union representative in the-English tourof 1907-8.. ';■-. ,'.;.'. •.•''■, ■ .'■■"• C. J." Pearce (15st. Sib.),' of • the' Albiori : Club, Christchurch; ,is another of'.the forwards.; Ho represented .Canterbury for. about five , years, and 'toured'.'Australia and. England with the professional team:: ':.■.. ■■■'..- ;., ; ; ....'■.> : : iTho. average .'weight of the- players is list., and the prospects, with - the, above cpmbinationi are of the best.,; ' ■; v. ■..":' '■ ■ ■j(r': ■:: .-' : ;, , The Programme. ;-'.- v ':,'.'•'■" The team leaves" Wellington on'.Friday, bj the Moer'aki,: with Mr. .D;G,.' Fraser as manager. .The!.contain will-not be elected until aftei arrival in Sydney; .-. Following ; a .list .of ■ th< fmatches.arranged:— : , '; - 1 ":. - x '■':..'. ■:■'. Satnrday.v- June.. 5,,:; New l . South; Wales v New Zealand, at: Syduey. <■■ ■" -..x ■'■ ■'■'•. .; June! 9, . : N«w,'South. Wales v New-Zealand, at Sydney'... , '.' '■'';.'-!''■■■■.■ .'; ;-, V Saturday, , June 12, .Australia , land.at Sydney.;'-- -. ■•': .-■ ; ' .:■■■ '-. ■7' " , V.Wednesday, ■ Juno , 16,: Newcastle : ,v., Nov Zealand, at Newcastle., '/.:■:, ,;.,;, -'A ■ ■ Saturday, Juno: 19,! Queensland y.'New. Zea ■lands at.Brisbane. - - . • '■■• •'■,■.' '.'■'•'■"■' ' . ■ :' ; .Wednesday, June; 23, Queensland y.'NewZea land, at Brisbane; V . ■~' -.{"-.'■! ■■" ; Saturday, Juno 26i Australia.T. New Zealand atßrisbane. ,;;■::■■ " ; V :.-,''.' '. .':■■'■ -Wednesday, June 80,. New South Wales v New Zealand,.at Sydney.. ;. • ; ■ ■..-;..■.- • Saturday, .July. 3, '.'Australia V.i New Zea land,:at Sydney;. '"■'■',\- •■•■'".■■'il It is "pointed out that the names of the team have been; withheld.'from publication; until the last .minute because .players selected on. the -previous two occasions have been, subjected to influences' .'(particularly'-.in -the case: of Civil Servants), which made it almost impossible for them.to leave with the team. - •"' "■•', ' -,