FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 776, 28 March 1910, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

AUCEXAND RUGBY CRISIS. (By Telegraph;— Special Correspondent.)' Auckland, March 27. Signs were not wanting at the conclusion of the last football season in Auckland that something in the nature of a crisis was imminent in the Rugby world. Meetings were called to discuss' methods of bettering the state of club competitions for this year, and there were many advocates for the abolition of tho district scheme. Tho overwhelming superiority 'of the Ponsonby and City district teams for several years past has caused the weaker clubs to lose heart, and, for the past three seasons at least, all the interest -in the club contests has been confined to two matches. Last season the position became accentuated by Ponsonby's abnormal superiority over all clubs in the contest, and a meeting of supporters of the game was the outcome of . this, and of the invasion of Auckland by the ■ Northern , Union game. The principal object of the meeting was to find some means of levelling the.senior competition, and an amendment to tho district qualification was decided on, which made it, compulsory for a man to reside in tho district months before be could play for, a. club. According; to | recent developments, . however,' the amended by-law' is, not likely, to ,oome into force, and' it .'has been freely stated by officials and players that.tho. North! Shore, Newton, and City clubs -were not likely to place'senior teams in the field, while GTafton's prospects are no better.

As an outcome of this situation, a petition has been presented to the Auckland Rugby Union, by the City, Newton, and North Shore clubs asking that a special meeting of the union be convoned to consider the advisability of amending the rules by the deletion of all clauses therein making residential qualifications necessary for members of clubs. The purpose of this petition is the reversion to. the club system, and, judging by present indications, there is a probability of.the petitioning clubs' wishes being agreed .'■to. The union will meet on April 8 to discuss the matter. ."' ' PONEKE HEAVILY DEFEATED. !By Tclecrana.—Press Association.) Chrlstchurch, March 27. The annual match .between Albion and Poneke (Wellington) was played at Lancaster Park this afternoon. The ; weather was fine, but the nor'-wester which was blowing made it much too warm for such a vigorous pastime as . football,. and as most of the players were ' not properly trained, the heat told on them as the afternoon woro on. The ground was also very hard, and totally unfit to play on, and the display of football was nob first class. Albion won by 23 points (a goal from a try and six tries) to' nothing. A WIN,FOB ST. JAMES. . The annual match between St. James and Pirates Club (Napier) was played at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a win for St. James by'l4 to 6. M'Grath, Healy, and Brown scored tries for St. James, M'Grath converting one, and he also kicked a penalty-goal. W. Johnston and J. Johnston' scored for the Pirates. Mr. Simpson officiated as referee in "an able manner. ,