ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. THE MID-WEEK COMPETITION. ATHL ETIC-ORIENT A L. At (ho Athletic Park yesterday Oriental were easily defeated by Athletic by la points to 3. When the game commence a cold drizzling vain began to fall, ana thi,s affected tho players and, consequont!y, the game presently resolved itnoli into an nnintercsfiug forward scramble. Iho forwards wero fairly evenly matched, but the Blue and Black backs were superior to those of their opponents. Athletic put on 12 points in the first spell, scores being obtained by Anderson (two tries), and Mownft (two penalty goals) On the resumption of hostilities in the second half Oriental got to work quickly and, by a determined forward rush, curried the bnll down to Athlctic's line where Knnkin scored. The kick at goal was unsuccessful. ".This was their only effort mid, till the call of time, the game was as dreary as the day. Before the whistle sounded .Tones scored another try for Athletic, making their total In, to Oriental's 3. Mr. liowo was referee.

WELLINGTON UNION MEETING. •V meetins of the Management Committee of tho Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening. There were present: Me«rs. E. O. Hales (in tho chair;, W. Perry, E. Little, J. Burne, J. Sivecney, W. F. Hornig, and W. G. Talbot (secretary). , .. , It was reported-that, as it was behoved that the usual holiday on -Juno 3 woukl be changed to June a (Monday), arrangements had been in hand to fix the Marl-borough-Wellington match for the latter date. These arrangements, however, had been upset by the decision to observe tho holiday on Juno 3. It was therefore resolved to write to tho Marlborpugh Rugby Union, explaining that, as June i lalis on a Saturday, the union could not see its way to arrange the representative match, for that date, and also to invite Marlborough to send over a team to play hero on June 22 (Coronation Day). Local championship fixtures are to be played on Tho Melroso Club wrote stating that they would be unable to enter a thirdclass team for the cbampionsaip. The Southern Club inquired as to how their fourth-class team would stand in regard to the match played against Melroso on Saturday last, in the event ot Melrose being classified as a third-class team. It was decided to inform the Southern Club that the Melrose fourthclass team had not yet been re-graded. In tho event of their being raised to third-class grade, all matches previously played by them would not count. In connection with the protest lodged by the Southern t Club against the win of Petone fifth-clnss-team on May C, on account of one of the players being over age, advice was received that tho player referred to was only 1G years of age. It was decided to notify the Southern Club accordingly. Applications to withdraw fourth-class teams were received from the Athletic and Victoria College Clubs.—Granted. Intimation was received from the Rev. Father Tymons, of St. Patrick's College, notifying "that the midwinter vacation had been postponed for n week, s.i that tho boys wpuld be free to play :n-the inter-collego game on Juno 21. A letter was received from the secretary of the Wellington Referees' Association suggesting that tli-s rope should be extended along the length of both grounds at Ivarori, s:') as to keep the spectators from encroaching. It was re?olv«l to ask the Karori authorities to extend tho rope if possible. Messrs. M. Welch, J. .Brown, and V,. Fraser were appointed junior selectors ior the present season. It was reported that the St. James Club had not been playing a third-class team, ami it was decided to notify fho club that, unless thev nhyed a thirdclass tenm, their fourth-class team would b? classified as third erode. The Er;ch.ini?o Foothill Club notified their intention of chansinff the club's colours to red-nnrl yellow hoops. It was decided that, unless Lower Tlntt and Upper Hutt Clubs font their books in to tho union by Saturday nest, both clubs would be suspended.

THE BLIGHT ON THE GAME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Nelson, May 17. At a meeting of the .Nelson Rugby Union yesterday it was resolved to send a letter to the Minister for Education complaining'against (ho State Industrial School electing to play the League same and affiliating to tko League, pointing out tho danger of professionalism in sport and tho hardship indicted on the boys' future lifo by fceint? debarred from amateur football. The union points out tbat the school would bo eligible to compete in the sciools championships if it was under the union rules, and attributes the action of. the manager to the lack of knowledge, of tho fundamental differences between League and Uniu'ii principles regarding; amateurism and professionalism. There is strong feeling in football circles regarding the rival games, and every effort is being made by the union to hinder tho development oi the league.