FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 598, 28 August 1909, Page 10

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINOTON. This afternoon, at tho Athlotic Park, iio annual representative fixture between , Auckland and Wellington will bo played, and judging from the amount of, interest displayed thero should bo a largo crowd to witness tho match. Tho Auckland team returned from Blenheim on Thursday, and have since bcin putting in useful work in readiness for this afternoon's struggle. The team appears to be a vory strong one, and,. despite their defeat by' tho Marlborough team,' the Wellington men will'have to go very hard indeed if they are to . repeat: their performance of 1907. The local team have been training consistently during- tho. week, and may ho.expected to play tho gamo of their lives. Owing to an injury Groen is ..unable to play, and, Fred. Roberts will be seen in his . old position behind .tho scrum. H.' Roberts, -tho young , St. Jamos player, gets his reprisentative cap for tho fifst time, and his performance will'be watched with a deal of interest.' If ho reproduces his club -form, little or no fault' will be found with' his play. Some interest is being taken in the early gamo between the Wellington ond Manawatu referees, and, it is .perhaps regrettabl« that these "old timers" cannot at snort notice revivo their , ono-time "condition," in order that their tactics might be. seen as' in« ; deed they onoe were soon. Anyhow, it will be ;an interesting' mateh—of very special interest to some.' A considerable portion of tho' grandstand his been reserved, 60 a cjowdicd stand is assured. . • ... In connection - with- tlw Auckland' match, if is intdr&ating to note that the provinces have met on 19■ previous occasions.- Of'the:rarioui battles, Auckland has won 9 and Wellington '8, whilst ono resulted ma; draw;.. , : i • ALLEGED PROFESSIONALISM. ' There' are persistent rumours that the New Zealand Rugby, Union will bocalled' upon shortlyi to investigate the affairs of an Auckland club ' team,' whose recent tour to Australia, it i 6 stated, resulted in the combination' making a clear .profit of about XiO per man..

SCHOOL RUGBY. - ; ••An- interesting contcst to-day should be the inter and -.district..Schools. Rugby match, Wellington v. Mahawatii. which is tocomincneo at 10.30- atn. on the' l'olo, Ground>.-Miraniar. The Manawatu boys arrived in..town 'lastevenin- g'in " charge of Mr.- Lyon. : The .visitors were officially: welcomed at- a deception neldivatGodber's, Cuba Street; when they ;wefe '.the guests .'of; .the Wellington ■■.Schools' Rugby vU^ion.,and the Wellington representahve. fKflOols■ tpftm. .v;A ..nnmber. of the city teachers were present, and r Mr. C. Watson, 8.A.. Headmaster of the To A»o School, presided. Apologies for absence were received from his Worship the Mayor (Dr. A. K. Newman), and-Messrs. T. E. Fleming (Chief Inspector of the, Wellington .Education Board). _G. Macmorran (headmaster of the Terrace School), J. A.. Cobles (Training College staff), G. Flux (headinaster, .South Wellington School), and. J. It. Hbpkirk (headmaster, Brooklyn' School). ■The gathering was a very enjoyable one. . The chairman-gave a short address ,of welcome and encoui-agement to the visitors, his felicitations being responded to by Mr. Lyon, on behalf of the iMauawatu ■ boys.. . . : : ' /The respective teams are as follow:— •. Wellington—Sullivan (full-back)! .Matin, Routley; Anderson, (three-quarters), Gray (fiveeighths), : Gelhori (half); Mulcahy, Elliot (hookers), Dixon, Martin, Smith (second row). O'Brifen,' Lynneberg (back row), Natusch and Savage (wing-forwards); 'emergencies, TeiupldW)n/(bacK), Davis and Walker (forwards). : ' Manawatu.—Fitt, (full-back), Haywood, 'R. Bryaht,' J.; Lunn (three-quarters); B. O'Malley (five-eighths),; Rl; Burbush (half),' and Weekes (wings), Creucher, Glcdhill (captain); o. ' Bryant, ,Lang, Boon, Irvine, and Mellis; emergencies,': Brougham, • Jewell; ; Brightwell, Whitehead,; and M'Coriliackii'-; >; ;

' A match' was played at Kewtown Park between teams representing St. Patrick's College and Blenheim High School, the former winning easily by 33 points to 8. For the winners. Burns, Kane, and Doherty, of the backs, and Mahoney : and Sullivan, of tho forwards, were most prominent, .while Geyrman and .Dundon playea well for the losers. Mr. Quinn controlled tho game. The visitors were afterwards entertained by St. College. :, ' A^(ftL3SQE.; i^ATQH. . (By, Telegraph.—Press'Association.) * Chrlstchurch, August 27. Nelson College "beat the , Christchurch Boys' High ,School to-daynby, B,points to 5.