ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 866, 12 July 1910, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL. THE AMERICAN TEAM. , .Orai£ to a delay of a couplo of days Hn. the Bailing: of the Warnmoo from foydncy, tho Cahfornian University footballersi mil not arrivo- in Wellington (until lYiday next, instead of on Wednesday as jas originally intended. Details |of an official welcome and'of any subsequent entertainment that may be tendered tho visiting players will be arranged ftt a special meeting of the Rugby Union, to be hold this evening. Tho programme uf games, already published, will be adhered to, and tho Americans will play the hrst match of their Now Zealand tour flSainst Wellington on Saturday next. Ine following is a list of tho players comprising tho Californian team:-C. C*«, captain (California), 13st. 31b.; K. Me, vice-captain (Stanford), 13st. 81b.; IL G. Horton (Stanford), 13st. Sib.; E. R. Minturn (Stanford), 13st. 131b.; A. E. iioth (Stanford), 12st. 21b.; T. Sanburn <Stanford), 12st. 21b.; J. Fitting (Stanford), 12st. 101b.; B. Erb (Stanford), list. ailb.; G. E. Cheda (Stanford), ISst. 131b.; 88. Kern (Stanford), 12st. 21b.; I' , . Brown ((Stanford),. 13st. 31b.; D. Hardie (Califoriiia), 13st. 31b.; A. Swartz (California), B3st. 31b.j A. Elliott- (California), 12st. fflb.; G. Dwiggin (California), 9st. 91b.; IC. Paulie (California), 12st. 21b.; J. Watts ((California), list. 111b.; C. Allen (CaliSornia), 12st. 21b.; J. Northcroft (California), 13st. 31b.; C. Phleger (California), 13st. 31b.; M. Morris (California), QlsL 61b.; L. Levitt (Nevada), 12st. 71b.; lE. Bennett (Nevada), 12st. 21b.

A UNIVERSITY COMPLAINT. . General dissatisfaction is felt amongst £Tew Zealand university footballers at itheir being denied a game with tho visitIng Californians. Efforts wero made to brrango_ that a match should bo played ht Wellington between the Americans and b team representing the whole of the iNew Zealand -nniversities. All possible pressure was brought to bear upon the (Now Zealand Rugby Union, with a viow *o obtaining its consent, but that body (declined to countenance the project. [Cnirersity adherents aro of opinion that (they could have put forward a very good Seam. They instance the fact that uulivorsity teams, notably Auckland, have lately been playing with considerable suc/cesa, and venture the opinion that a (combined university team would have Contested on tolerably even terms with )tb.a men from California. If at worst, pay the university men, one game had (been lost, it would have been no very igreat disaster. The fact that tho visitors jsro all nniversity men is advanced as an additional and cogent argument in supnport of the contention that they should <have been permitted to engage in a contest with local university representatives. It is claimed that in this affair Itho Rugby Union has. been actuated (cbicUy by financial considerations.

Another complaint made, by university men, against. tho union, is that, when INew Zealand was invited to send representatives to play in a combined Australasian university team against tho Californiaus, the Bngby Union objected ,on the ground of expense, and withheld Sts consent.

THE UNION'S ATTITUDE. Questioned by a Dominion represents. itive, Mr. J. D. Avery, secretary of tho •New Zealand Rugby Union, stated that in declining to arrange a university contest, the union adopted the only possible icourso of action. The Californians, it 4s jpointed out, are coming here to learn the Rugby game in its higher developments. Tho union, therefore, feels itself bound, in the selection of teams, to utilise the very inateral available. In any case, the unbn would feel bound to chooso the best players obtainable, and tho consideration mentioned strengthens tho obligation , .

HOW . THE AMERICANS PLAT. According to Mr. it. E. Avery, who ■was a member of the All Black team that Tecenlly toured Australia, and saw the visiting Americans in some of their Australian matches, the Californians have *till a good deal to learn ab'out'some of the finer points of Rugby. Their kicking is good and they are splendid tacklers. When they grip a man they do it in uo uncertain fashion.. On the other hnnd they are. weak.in concerted passing movements. Allowance may, however, safely be made, for a tolerably rapid improyojnent .in their standard. Besides being .new to Rugby they had an eight-months' .'abstinence from football behind them, on commencing their Australian tour, and, all things considered, it is to bo admitted that they have shown themselves ironiarkably apt and promising pupils.