ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 824, 24 May 1910, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. THE NORTHERN UNION. COLONIAL PLAYERS. ' TWO YEARS' RESIDENCE ESSEN- . - . ... TIAL. . Writing in the latest "Athletic News" ''Forward" says:— "That any player belonging .t'o any League Club: in membership with the Northern Union League, tho Australian League, and tho New League shall not be allowed to play in cither of tho other leagues witliout the consent of the club to which he belongs, euch consent to be obtained .through the league of which each club is a member. In case of a player wishing to leave one league for another, and; his transfer bein,7 refused by the club he is leaving, such player shall bo allowed to play in the' country of his adoption after a residential qualification of two years; any touring players' qualification to date from the completion of the tour." . This was the resolution adopted on-No-vember 9, but subsequent events demonstrated the fact that whilst league players were protected, a clear field was ' left for Rugby Union flayers. Several colonials ' have been registered by English 'clubs, and, some time ago 1 called attention to tho matter. The spirit of the resolution was being broken, for the object of . officials both here and in tho' colonies was to effectively prevent further immigration. If the game was to develop in the colonies, "real progress could only bo ' made through the stalwarts of the amateur game being retained to assist in the natural development. Thus when prominent players outside the colonial leagues commenced to communicato with English clubs, and the immigration coni tinued, the futility of tho resolution was realised by the New Zealand League. As I stated recently in response to the; note of inquiry' by tho Northern Unioii, the Now Zealand League were anxious to extend the resolution and include all Rugby players in tho colony. The"All Blacks" realise that the emigration must cease, and their appeal was •considered at a special meeting of the' anion. The situation was thoroughly discussed, and although the New Zealand proposals were criti'cised by some, the future outlook had to be considered, and in effect the New Zea.land proposals were practically agreed to .unanimously. " The new resolution comes into operation at'once, and from now on no placer, from New Zealand, even though he is not attached to a club under the jurisdiction of the Colonial League, can in future bo registered in the Northern ' League: without first being subject to a two -years' qualification in England. During this qualifying period the colonial will not be allowed to talco. part in Northern Union' football in this country, and Northern League clubs 'who persist iri the immigration will thus be forced to the'expense of upkeep for the full period, and _as the risk is great, for football form is ever precarious; New i Zealand's - resolution is . thoroughly prohibitive, and should be successful. Australia is not included, for neither the New South Wales nor Queensland leagues have asked for further protection than that given by the first resolution. I may say that three exceptions are made, for, as was exclusively announced in the "Athletic News" some time ago, two Lancashire clubs were in'; communication with three colonial players. Tho negotiations have been completed, and a forward, a full-back, and a half-back will in due course be registered by Warrington and Wigan. After these registrations •'• are completed, no. further' concessions_ will be made. I also learn that W. Johnston; _ the "All Black" forward ■will return with tho new men, so that appearances point to Wigan having three more colonials' available next September. FIXTURES. FOE SATURDAY. i The following are the Rugby fixtures, grounds, and referees for Saturday, May Seniors-.—Poneke v. St. James, at Athletic Park Nu M l, Mr. J. Francis; Athletic v.-Jlelrose, at Karori No. 1, Mr. T. Martin; Old Boys v. Wellington, at Polo No. 1, Mr. A. Thompson; Oriental v. Victoria College, at Polo No. 2, Mr. C. Bell; , Petone v. Southern, at Hutt No. 1, Jlr. R. Fordyce; Hutt, a bye. Junior:—Hutt v. Oriental,' at Sliow- - ground No. 2, Jlr. E. Tregea; Melrose T. Old Boys, at Polo No. 3, Mr. H. Suin'merhayes; Petone v. Wellington, at Hutt No. 2, Jlr. W. Meredith; Poneke v. Victoria College, at. Polo No. 4, Mr. L Simpson; St. Jimes v. Southern, at Miramar Park No. 1, Mr. A. Neilson; St. 'John v. Selwyn, at Jliramar Park No. 2, Mr. C. R. Roberts; Athletic, ■ a bye... . Third Class A:—Johnsonville v.-Mel-rose, at Johnsonvillo, Jfr. J. Russell; Porirua. v ; Exchange, nt Porirua, Jlr. J. Hmes; Athletic v. Victoria College, at •Miramar Park No. 3, Jlr. G. Butler; Oriental v. Southern, at Jliramar Park No. 4, Mr. T. Sununerhayes; Poneko v. mi ? . n !?i East ' s No - 4 > Mr - R - Evenson. Third Class B:—Petone v. St. Patrick's College, at Athletic Park No. 2, Jlr. F. . A. Laws; Wellington Bv. Selwyn, at : East s_No. 5, Jfr. L. Keys; Wellington A v; Karori, at Karori No. 2, Jfr. ' W. Church. Fourth Class:—Athletic v. Petone, at Petone Recreation Ground, Jfr. H. Johnetou; Hull v. Oriental B, at Showground No. 3, Jfr. C. P. Broekelbank; Jfclrose v. Oriental A, at East's No. 6, Mr \ . Standen; Johnsonville v. Old Bovs at Johnsonville, Jlr. L. Sievers; Poneke v Victoria College, at Newtown Park, jj r . G. Jloran; St. James v. Southern at Karori' No. 3, Mr. J. ,T. Jlalionev; St. John v. Selwyn, at Anderson Park, Jlr. M. Gauntletf. Fifth Class:—Ponekr. Petone, at Showground No: i, .Mr. A. Jtoller; St. James v. Melrose, at Athletic Park, 1.45, , Mr. n. Larway; St. Patrick's College A , v. Hutt; at. Showground No. 1, Jlr. J. ]}. Fraser;. St. Patrick's College B v. Athletic," at Duppa Street, Jlr. J. Manning; v. Southern, at Athletic Park, 1.45, Mr. A. C'onnell. WEDNESDAY FIXTURES. Tramways v. Star, nt Athletic Park No. 2 Mr. J\. Talbot; Butchers v. . Oriental, at A'aletic Park \'o 1 Jlr L - Simpson; Oriental li v. St. Patrick's Coll , lege, at Duppa Street, Jfr. G. Howe; Star B.v Butchers B, at Newtown Park, Mr. \Y. Hornig. WAIItARAPA RUGBY UNION. The Wairarapa Rugby Union held a Meeting on Saturday night (writes our Carterton correspondent), Air. A. B Charters in the chair. Transfers were granted to S. Hender- \ eon from Gladstone lo Carterton, and to . A. -Rzo?ka from Carterton to Dalefield thirds. _ It was resolved to reply to a letter nf inquiry I hat spare footballs couid be held on the line at matches and used to save time. A. vote of thanks was accorded Messrs Thompson and Payne, of Masterton, for ' their donation of a ton-puinea shield for junior competition, to be won three times in succession or five times at intervals. The following schools are to be given 6ixteen special passes to football matches; . Carterton, Jfasterton, ■ Greytown, and Hikurangi Jlaori College. A vote of foiir guineas was mado to the Wairarapa Referees' Association. AN "ALL BLACK" SUSPENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, Jfay 23. At a meeting of the Otago Rugby .Union to-night, an inquiry was held into a report by a referee thet Jlitchel] (Alhambra) had struck a University player in a match between these teams on Saturday week. Jlitchell ndmitted . 6triking Dansey, of the University team, , and Dansey admitted striking Mitchell. Both were suspended until the end of the first round, to complete which six matches have still to bo played. Jlitchell is a member of the New Zealand team ,{nr Australia,

ASSOCIATION FIXTURES. The following nro fixtures and referees for Saturday's games i— First Division.—Y.Jf.C. A. v. Swifts, Basin Deserve, Sir. 11. Godber; Diamonds v. Rovers, Kelburne, Mr. .T. Davidson.

Second Division—Porirua Ton v. Hospital, at Porirua, Mr. E. Windley; Webb Street Primitive Methodist v. Swifts, No. 3, Jliramar, II r. W. S. Press; Fetone v. Y.M.C.A.. l'donr, No. 4, Mi. I'. U'addell; Wanderers v. Brooklyn, Duppa Street, .Mr. W. E. Wells; St. Augustine v. Berhampore, Fetone, Rev. Mr. Russell; Marist Old Boys v. Diamonds, Newtown Park, Mr. 'W. Auld.

Third Division.—Diamonds v. Brooklyn, No. 1, Miramar, Mr. E. C. Hayton; Wadestown v. St. David's, No. 3, Petor.e, Mr. H. Smith; Y.M.C.A. v. St. John's, No. 5, Miramar, Mr. T. H. Jones.

Fourth Division.—Fetone v. Newtown Congregational, No. 3, Fetone, 2 p.m., Mr. 11. Smith; St. David's v. St. John's, No. -1, Petone, 2 p.m., Jfr. F. Waddell; Swifts A v. Diamonds, No. 9, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. S. M'Lean; Ramblers v. Y.M.C.A-. A, No. 7, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. H. S. Bernard; Y.M.C.A. B v. Jlarist B, Newtown Park, 1.45 p.m., Mr. W. J. H. Reynolds; Marist A v. Rangers, No. 4, Jliramar, 3 p.m., Mr. S. Fisher; Brooklyn v. Khandallah, Seatoun Park, 3 p.m., Mr. S. Guy; Swifts B, bye. Fifth A Division.—lsland Bay v. Brooklyn, Island Bay, 3 p.m., ifr. J. Ferguson; Y.M.C.A. A v. Rangers, No. 9, Miramar, 2 p.m., Mr. S. M'Lean; Marist A v. South Wellington, No. 5, Miramar, 2 p.m., Mr. T. H. Jones. Fifth B Division.—Swifts v. Ramblers, No. 7, Jliramar, 2 p.m., Jlr. H. S. Bernard; Y.M.C.A. B v. Newtown Congregational, Basin Reserve, 1.15 p.m., Jlr. W. F. Clark; Jlarist B r. Wadestown, Miramar, No. -1, 2 p.m., Mr. S. Fisher; Institute v. Y.M.C.A. C, Miramar, No. 2, a p.m., Mr. S. Woods.

Sixth Division.—Porirua v. Y.M.C.A., Porirua, Mr. J.'Windlcy; Institute A t. Brooklyn, Kelburne, l.'iS p.m., Mr.. A. F. Newbold; Institute B v. Rangers, Jliramar, No. 2",' 2 p.m., Jfr. S. Woods; Seatoun v. Jlarist A, Seatoun, 2 p.m., Jlr. S.' Guy; Jlarist B v. Island Bay. Island Bay, 2 p.m., Mr. J. Ferguson.