FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1102, 15 April 1911, Page 12

FOOTBALL.

£Dy Akistobdlds.)

' RUUBY.

The Mosaic of the Sovon-a-sido. The events at the seven-a-side day formed a mosaic. Tho dash (such as it ■was) of Athletic was the red in tho mosaic. Tha' grey was Poneke B and Melrose in one of tho preliminary games was • -the grey.' They presented the -close game in its worst aspect. They must, indeed, be courageous persons indeed to come before a tired public with that kind of football. The general sickness of Rugby 'hit tho eye hard on a field where everything - could be seen. But, here and there, ono , saw both dash' and skill. Elliott, of Poneke, when that team was pitted against Petono, made a splendid dash from the distant twenty-five to the goal-line, gtit through, and scored. Pyle, of Oriental, was another apostle of lone-hand BCoring. The Athletic backs, of course, were second to none, and, in that small constellation, the Wilson and Evcnson stars, stood oat": a good deal from the rest. Ah! That Old Cadaver! Hear them .apologising now! And, foi tho poor'play! The old, old corpse— ■who should look eti uiitl who should play —is on its feet once more. Listen to the president of the Northern branch of tho New South Wales Rugby Union (Jfr. T. H. Raysmith), at- a recent gathering:— Ho reviewed the position at great length. Unfortunately, lis said, following the example of the parent union, they were led into the same false position in which .. they (tho parent union). placed themselves, and that was i:i departing from tho original intention of a Football Union for promoting the game of football. They were IshT into imagining • that ■it was their business to provide entertainment for the public, and they gauged their success not by the number of players who nlayed football, and ■ the number of' clubs which fostered tho game, but ruthor by the size of the crowds they could draw to witness the eames played under their auspices. He finite expected the parent union ■. had realised that their mission in life 1 .was not to provide amusement for the public, but to . promote the game • of football amongst all those who were ■ willing to play it and support it.' To measure the gamo by the size of tho crowd was wrong altogether, and departing altogether from the province of a Football Union. ' Too Many Mediocre Seniors. The clogging up of the senior competition with a number of inferior teams which should never, on their merits, have been graded as seniors, has placed tho Rugby Union in an awkward position. Last year the union had to draw its .fixtures, so as to prevent these weaker teams holding sway and ruining the town gate receipts. This year the union, apparently hoped to get out of its predicament by tho proposal which was to have been discussed at the annual meeting had time to tho effect that the senior . Teams should bo divided into "A" and "B* .. . divisions on certain j conditions. That i there is certainly'room for an improvement in the scheme for running the senior championship few who saw last year's "-'matches will combat, but tho union only, ihas itselfito thankifor the pass in which . Ht finds "itself. One of the arguments used when the Management Committee's scheme was being explained was that the weaker teams were-, now sometimes discouraged through being pitted against strong teams at the beginning of the season. The pity is that some of them could not bo so far discouraged that they would drop back to junior," and allow the sprinkling of good men they havo entrapped strengthen the other clubs.

The trouble has arisen through admittedly weak teams which'have done fairly well as juniors becoming ambitious and '"being allowed to enter the senior ranks. ■Each team that has been allowed into senior ranks of late years, with the exception of St. James, has weakened the front rank of the game. Some of them have given displays Saturday after Saturday which would have "justified their being classed as poor juniors. Each new club as it came up to senior ranks sapped some of tho strength of the older clubs, the' Tesult being a levelling down all round. What is wanted as a levelling up, and this can only be sained by limiting the number, of senior teams and recruiting from the junior ranks, as good juniors qualify. Eight senior clubs of quality would do the game infinitely more good than fifteen teams made up of a few good men and many mediocrities, such as formed too many of the teams last year. It is not good for the game to keep a host. of superior juniors clogging the senior wheels. Club and Other Gossip. Among the Easter fixtures to be decided in Wellington this afternoon is that between Christchurch Club and Wellington Club. It is not known at the time of writing.what sort of a team is coming from the south, but the local club ought to be ablo to place a fairly good team in the field. Among tho new men playing for Wellington this year is the Southland five-eighths, Christophers, who should certainly strengthen the senior team. Clarke, of Balclutlia, who was to play for the club, has been transferred from this city. This is rather a stroke of ill-fortune for Wellington Club, as Clarke showed promise in practice. Bradley, who played centre three-quar-ter for St. James last year and gained inclusion in the representative team, will, it is understood, wear the colours of tho Southern Club this season. Oriental smior club are losing two of their leading players in Sturrock and Murray. Ivinvig gave notice of his intention to leave the.active ranks, but his club mates have hopes that ho trill reconsider his decision not to play. Among tho new men to wear the Athletic colours this season is F. Kerr, formerly of Marlborough, who has been out of active participation in the game for a couple of seasons. Victoria College have, on paper, an excellent senior team to commence the season with, and if tho club does not sustain some serious misfortune it ought to do well this year. Among the backs are Poananga, Duncan, Fair, Ryan, Hurlo, (formerly Wellington Club), Lomas (Otago 'Varsity representative), and Johnston (a promoted junior). The winger will be Morrison (Wanganui Collegiate School), and the forwards will be Brosnan, Jackson, Dundon, Curtayne, Robertson, Quilliam, and Fathers or Brown (Wanganui College representative).

ASSOCIATION.

(Bγ Centiie-Half.) Champion Teams Meet. An interesting game resulted from the meeting of last year's senior first and second division champions at tho Menial Hospital, Porirna, on Saturday last. The result was a surprise, tho Hospital winning by 5 goals to 2. Both teams were trying neiv players, the Hospital Seam bein* less affected by changes than the Ramblers. A hard ground and a lively ball mado the game rather trying, but a fast "first half" resulted in Hospital scoring three goals. The score was the outcome of some fine combination and accurate shooting. Phillips (2) and Davis gavo Webster no chance of saving. The second half was token very easily. Hospital, by reason of better condition, held thsir own, and scored two further goals, for which Phillips and Morgan were responsible. Hart and Johnston scored for Piamblors towards the end, Somo General Notes, It is said that the Mental Hospital team have unearthed a goal-keeper who will take some beating. Cqckbura (that is his name) displays good judgment. He

seemed to have nn excellent- knowledge of the game in (ho match against Rambkrs on Saturday last. Taken'on the whole, the game between Ramblers and Mental Hospital was not productive of good football, but naturally both teams showed signs of want of condition. It was stated last week that they should go up into senior ranks, nnd now coi'nos the edict from the secretary of the club that they intend doing so. From 2 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. players who have to 50 to Miramar would da well to make it their business to meet at Courtenav Place and catch the cars there. If they did so they would not suffer the inconvenience which they have experienced in the past. Every Saturday, between the times stated, the City Council has trains waiting there to take players cut to their game's. Players should leave the time-table cars alone, and take the "specials" which are placed at their disposal. . Diamonds have "signed on" three exAucklanders. Staples, who was playing in junior football in the "Queen City," looks easily good enough for our first teams down here. Thistle and Rovers are both out after Rowan, as a goal-keeper. The latter club holds his signature, however. Hovers play Feilding to-day, and Palmcrston on Monday, while Swifts travel across the Strut. M'Ardlo is likely to be the.Blue's custodian this Eeason, and a likely-looking man he is. The "Corinthians" were at practice last Saturday, and good things are expected from the newly-formed dub. Swifts must start the championship matches well. Their team is experienced and well balanced, und they are sure to make points early in the season.