ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1124, 11 May 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL,

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION

TWO MEN SUSPENDED,

POLICE ACTION RE LANGUAGE.

A meeting of the Management Committee of tho Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening, Mr. S. S. Brown presiding. There were also present: Messrs. W. Perry, E. 0. Hales, J. Burns, E. Little, J. Sweeney, and W. Hornig. Tha Southern. Club protested against a win by Petono in the fifth-class competition, on the ground that they played- two boys over age. The secretary was instructed to make inquiry into tho matter. '

A letter was received.from the. New Zealand Referees' Association, stating that the resolution adopting the scale of expenses as approved by the New Zealand Union had been rescinded, tho feeling of tho meeting being that referees should only claim actual and reasonable travelling and hotel expenses. The resolution in question was; "That referees be allowed necessary-train, coach, and steamer transit, and 15s. per day all ■ days necessarily absent from home." It was decided that clubs,, which had not forwarded a statement of accounts and receipts, as per cash/books, must send them in before Wednesday n«xi, ami that, should they fail to do so, they bo immediately suspended. An exception was made in the case of the St. John s Club, which was given an extension of time owing to the treasurer being absent "Vletter was received from tho Victoria Colle" Club, asking that they, should be allowed to play Auckland 'University in ffih on June 3. It was decided i match .could not be'played on June 31, and to. suggest June 5 for the W Thfreferee in the Athletic-Wf lington innior match reported having ordered .an Athletic player off the field for harassing k The referee stated that he thought that the matter was due to ignorance of 01 n 1 wls°decided that the player should Str^tw^e^c^LnS: Prefer'Tn tho Selwyn-Oriental innier-match reported having ordered a Pelwvn' plaver off tho field for stnkms an opponent in "the face with his open hand Previous to this, he player m question had been cautioned tor iacklmj a man after he had parted with the bi Th'e player denied the Teforee was right when he said he (the player had struck his opponent. The man alleged to have-been" 'struck' was . a personal friend of his.own. . . After some discussion, during which it ft-as' urged: that the- time had come tor B strong ■ stand. to be taken,. it was deeded -to • suspend' the player for tnreo months, a motion that ho should be sus-pended-for a month, being defeated. ' • The secretary stated that the-poliW! jiad ■ approached him in regard to the complaints as to bad. language .by players on .the polo-ground, and players-hav- i ing undressed in the open. The authorities had stated .they'would stop play altogether, but the secretary pointed but that this,could not bo done. .-The- police intimated that t'hey'would arrest offenders in either of the above.direction*'in the future. .''.'' ."

The secretary 'remarked that players n-ould be asked to undress in the shed next Saturday, and that better accommodation would be provided before tb.e ueit week's matches. . , .

Perry, Brown, and Sweeney were-.appointed to represent the union nt the meeting of. delegates to-day, in reference to fixing .dutes for interprovincial matches. : .

The Melrose. Club, having a senior, junior,. and- fourth team, it was ordered that, the; club nut its fourth class teani up to third class, if it could not put in a third class team. , Messrs. J. Xynsky, H. Thompson, and J. Sweeney were appointed, the union's representatives, selectors. RUGBY PROBATIONERS. ■ . IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ' THE INCURSIONS OF "SOCCEE." The'fact that the men at the head'of the Association football code have been putting in some telling wor,fc during the past.two 'or , three years appears to have at last dawned on the "Wellington Rnjby UnionV" This was emphasised by a Ah-' cussion' : at. last .night's meeting of the Management. Committee of the union. The secretary of the Public Schools' Union wrote apropos of the Jlarist Bros. , ' controversy convoying the resolution passed by the union last week to the effect that it could not.admit schools other than those under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Education Board. Mr. K.. S. Brown, referring to (he. resolution, expressed the opinion that the committee was there for the purpose of. fostering the Rugby game, and, in his ppinion, they should endeavour to do something for the boys. The question was vrhether the union could arrange for theSt. Patrick's College, Wellington College, and Miirist Bros, to enter teams, or whether a Saturday, morning tournament could b9 run. A Saturday morning competition presented many difficulties and would need , the co-operation of the'school teachers. The college boys, might be too bis, but perhaps they (the union) should sea if games could be arranged with them. Mi-. Hornig: "How about the hi»h schools ?" ■ :■ • ' ' . "

Mr. Brown- thought' that these mi"ht easily be brought in.

Mr. Perry thought that the position in regard to school football generally was absolutely intolerable ■ from the union's viewpoint, 'ihey had been to the Public .Schools Union three-times,, aurl <-ch time they lihil boos refusal what they had asked. When tho deputation from tho Wellington Rugby Union waited" on the. Schools Union, on Friday last, the chairman, of the Schools Union informed the deputation that reasons would Iμ given if they desired that the Marist boy.s could not be admitted . No reasons however, had' been given, and he "(Mr* Perry thought that, they were entitled to know wjiy they were refused. From what he had heard he thought school football was in an absolutely "rotten" condition. There appeared to be only four or five masters who took a real interest in the Rugby game.

About three years ago, whon. he joined the. union, there wore.-some. 1200 players, and now the total was about 050. There wero 22 teams, in the third-class championship, and about 20 in the fourth;!ass. , Now these figures had fallen off to something like .11 and 12. Moreover, the club's running teams now could not always put a team in the field. lie did not know the reason for this, but, he thought the Public Schools Union was largely responsible. Teachers took little or no interest, in the game, and the boys were playing Association instead of Rugby. The whole position wns unsatisfactory, and called for action on tho part of the union. The Public Schools Union apparently did not feel inclined to affiliate, or to give any assistance. If they were not prepared to run the gamo tho Eiiirby Union should do it.

Mr. Little agreed with Mr. Perry. A great deal depended on the masters of the schools. lie thought that the Rugby Union should set up a competition of its own.

Mr, Brown urged that a sub-committoo should bo set up to go into tho whole matter, and report to the next meeting. Tho committee might approach the masters, and see if a competition could not bo started on Saturday mornings.

Mr. Little moved that the union start a competition amongst the schools, onrf that tho secretary should find out How manv teams wore likely to enter. Mr. Brown thought it was only right ti recognise the good work the masters had done in the past, but, at tho same, time, it appeared the masters were not anxious to take on further work. Jic thought a sub-committee might wait on the masters and suggest thtit if they did not feel justified in taking control ot Rugby tho matter should be handed over to -the Wellington Vnion. The union might ask the Schools Union to hand over entirely the control of- school lootball. , ' ■

Mr. Little then moved his. motion again as under:—"That this union s-hould torm a schools competition, and that tho secretary be instructed to write masters and fiml out who is willing toplay under the jurisdiction of the union. ' An amendment as follows,was moved by Sir. Burns-.-"That a sub-committee be appointed to wait on the Schools Union Executive, and ask them if they are willing to hand over tho. control 01 school football to the Rugby I'nion. The amendment, was carried. Messrs. Burns, Perry, nnd Brown were appointed a snb-conlrnitteo to wait on the benools Union. ' .

THE WEDNESDAY ENCOUNTERS,

TRAMWAYS-ATHLETIC.

The Wednesday Rugby competition ad.vanced auother step yesterday, when Tramways defeated Athletic by 3 points to nil, after a keenly-contested . game. There was a very .fair attendance for a Wednesday afternoon, nnd, towards the end el the game, a rather lively interest was taken in-the-proceedings. The teams were well matched, especially in the torward division, but tho Tramway backs were a good deal superior to the opposing combination, who could never, be relied on to field the ball with any measure of safety. In the opening stages of the game, play was not confined to any particular ternlory, but was of the "up and down tho field" order, each side alternately attack-' ing and defending. Both sides favoured a back game as a means to score, but, as a rule, there was always someone who, by clinging to the ball too long, rendered the attack ineffective. This was especially, noticeable in tho Tramways rear division. When half-time was sounded, neither side had registered a score. At the beginning of the second spell, .Tramways became aggressive, but, by tight forward play, the Black and Blues gradually worked the ball out of tho danger zone. Off-side play at length gave the corporation men a chance to score, and the kick was entrusted to A. Clark, who sent Over a beautiful goal. 3—o. This was the only score of the day. From this on play was rather uninteresting, until a few minutes before time, -when Athletic, realising that tho day was going badly, and being spurred-on by a number of "barraekers," made strenuous efforts to get even. The forwards, however, were ba<lly supported by the backs, and, when time was called,'they were still assaulting the enemy's line, in a vain endeavour to get across. ASSOCIATION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Mr. B. L. Salmon presided over the meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association which was lield last even jig. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. W. 11. Reid, who took his seat on the committee for the first time, in succession to Mr. H. Waters.

With respect to an application by A. Roots for a transfer from Corinthian to Hospital, it,was decided that the application be granted for the time being, the committee reserving the right to re-open tho question next Wednesday, should Corinthians show cause for objection.It was decided to hold over the matter of issuing a challenge for the Brown ■Shield until after tho next lr.edtiug of tho New Zealand Football Council.

.Permission was granted to the.Wellington Lacrosse Association-to"'use 1 the Association's portion of the Basin R-eserve on Saturday, June 24, for their annual.match against Auckland. " ■' Messrs. II; N. Holmes and J. G. W. Aitken wore elected vice-presiderits of'the N.Z.F.A., and Mr. J. J. Roberts was appointed delegate: St. John's Club was granted permission to transfer L. VibtA from the senior to the second division team.

Mr. Alex. Reid wrote, intimating that he proposed to donate eleven silver medals to the team winning the first division championship', ami also that, n medal would- be presented to the goalkeeper with the lowest score recorded against him for tho season.

Permission was granted to the Bangers Club to withdraw their third division team from the competition, and to the Petone Club to withdraw their second division team, subject, however, to. half the entry fee being paid. The Corinthian Club was granted permission to enter a second division team, which is to play against Y.M.C.A. at Miramar No. 5 on Saturdajv The sum of three pounds was voted to the Johnsonville Club for the purpose of meeting expenses incurred in. marking out grounds, etc. The Brooklyn second division team were granted permission to play a team from H.M.S. Cambrian at Miramar No. 8 on Saturday. Mr. Press, referee in the Thistle-Corin-thian match last Saturday, reported a spectator for alleged misconduct.—Tt was decided to call upon the person concern'ed for an explanation.. SIX-ASIDE TOURNAMENT. " A six-aside tournament, for a ball presented by Mr. E. Bolton, was played by representatives of the Wednesday clubs yesterday. , The games provided good sport for"'a number of spectators, who attended nt Newtown Park. Following are the results: — First round—Hearts A beat Y.M.C.A. B; Y.M.C.A. B beat Hearts- C; Union beat Hearts B. . Second round—Y.M.C.A. A beat Union; Hearts A, a bye. ' ■ Next Wednesday the final will, tako place between Hearts A and Y.M.C.A. A, probably on the Basin Reserve.