ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 10

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES, DATES AND TOURS. The country Rugby player is. to be given a. chance lo show that he is as good in the pack or in the :open as the eity-lircd. footballer, and no aspirant for representative honours.is now to be allowed to hide his light behind a bushel. In days of yore "the country"—which means anywhere ten miles away from a first or second-class town—has yielded some admirable miiterinl for the Rugby field, anil when it hns been polished through con'net with that finish in tactics in which the city players do (or should) excel, preal. results have accrued. The New Zealand Rugby Union, some time ago. resolve:! to exploit the country players in order to test their texture in content with-provincial representative tenuis (which are as a rule selected from the players of the principal city or town in the district'), and so endeavour to, raise the standard of play in Ihc country districts. To . effect this, two country representative.teams have been selectedone representing the North and one the South Island, both of which teams aro j(i) lour early in August. These teams aro as follow:— North Island. Downing, -Mitchell, Baily (Hawke's Bay); Montgomery, Dougnll (Bay of Plenty); Miller. Thompson, Winter (Poverty Bay); is. Dauby. N. N. Morgan, ,1. Tniscott (South Auckland); H. Mested, ("{. Smith (Bush Districts); N. M'Kenzie, 11. J. M'Konzie, P. Barry (Wnirarnpa); O'Connor, Stalker, Carroll (Mnnnwatu); N. Winiata, W. Wininta (Horowheiiua). South Island. King, Trussing, M'Kay, Smith, Best (Nelson); J. O'Brien, (.'. Manning, J. M'Donnld,: E. - Forbes, G. Forbes (MarlliDrough); E. Irving, V. Anderson, .T. Christie. A. Brown, J. Morrison (West ' Coast);" 0. fircpli, S. Blight, ,T. Nolan, J. Tannahill (Buller); anil another yet to bo selected. Details of Tours. It has been definitely decided that the North Islnnd team's tour will commence on July 29, on which date the country representatives will meet Auckland. Tho other dates are:—Versus Tarn.nnki, August 3; Waiigiimii, August 5; Wellington, on Wednesday, August 9. On the succeeding Saturday- (August 12) the two country teams will fight out a grand finale on Athletic, Park. Tho tour of the South Islnnd team will commence at Christchurch on Aiijust 3, when it meets Canterbury. , The other , matches will bo versus Otago, on August 5, and versus Southland, on August 9. The only imiou which declined to nominate any men for inclusion in the country team was the South Canterbury Rugby Union, which considered that tbo loss of some of its best players would upset home arrangements too much, and so interfere with the cup matches. TRAMWAYS-THE KOIIN SHIELD. The contest for the Kolin Dominion Shield, competed for by the tramways representative, teams of the Dominion, promises to be of particular interest this year. It has been arranged that , the matches this season will be played in Wellington' on July 18, 19, and 20, nnd the games have been drawn as follow:— July 18, Wellington v. Auckland; July 19, Auckland v. Christchurch; July 20, Wellington v. Christchnrch; The tennis will'play in the provincial representative colours—Wellington, black; Auckland, blue and white; Christchurch, red and black. ' The We'lUnßton. Tramways Band will be in attendance on all three days of the matches. HOROWHENUA REPRESENTATIVES. Tho following will represent the Horbwhemia Rugby Union v. .Manawatu at Levin on,Saturday:—King, fcewoiy<Tahiwi (2), Pilntiirii", Wiiiiata (8), Hopa,~ Wilson, Read, Gobo, Martin, Rehmia, Ropata. ASSOCIATION. DOMINION COUNCIL MEETS. A special meeting of the New Zealand Football Association was held, last evening for the purpose of selecting a referee fnr the ■ forthcoming Otago-Canterbury Brown Shield match, which is to be played at Christchurch on Saturday next. The Canterbury Association wrote saying that they did not wish a Christchurch referee- appointed to- the match, and so it was decided , that Mr. R. S. Lithgow, a member of the Wellington Referees' Association, should officiate. He will leave Wellington on Friday evening. TEAMS FOR TO-DAT. Owing to Newtown Park not being available, the Hearts A v. Y.M.C.A. fixture will bo played at Duppa Street. Following are the teams taking part in to-day's games:— Hearts A v. Y.M.C.A.-Cat-jon, W. O'Shca, H. Algar, Fnllenil, B. Algar, Robertson, Mawbv, Bolton, C. O'Shea, M'Callum, Ormerod, A. Mowat. Hearts B v. Union, at Basin Reserve. — Dobfon, Campion, Parsons, Robinson, Wilkinson, Re.iling. Deans, Hartley, Davey, Turner, Kettlewell, Anderson, Alexander. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. Tho following aro the grounds and referees fer Saturday's games:— First Division. Y.M.C.A. v. Diamonds, at Kelburne (1); Mr. J. B. Paton. Swifts v. St. John's, at Duppa Street (8); Mr. K. C. Hayton. ' Corinthians v. Thistle, at Basin Reserve (ti); Mr. J. M. Wilson. Wanderers v. R-amblers, at No. G Miramar (ah Mr. 11. Smith. Hospital v. Rovers, at Porirua; Mr. A. Williams. Second Division. St. John's v. Wanderers, at No. 1 Miramar; Mr. J. luce. Brooklyn v. Wadestown, at No. 2 Duppa Street; Mr. B. L. Salmon. Rovers v. Corinthians, at No. 2 Miramar; Mr. A. E. Wells. Y.M.C.A. v. Diamonds, at No, 5 Miramar; Mr. W.S. Press. Toa, a bye Third Division. Swifts v. St. David's, at Petoue; Mr. J. Munachen. Johnsonville A v. Brooklyn, at Johusonville; Mr. T. Thompson.

JohnsonvilU B v. Petone, at Petoue; Mr. W. F. .Clark. Y.M.C.A. v. St. John's, at No. 9 Miraniar; Mr. R. Hutcheson. Fifth A Division. Swifts v. Brooklyn, at Duppa Street, No. 1, Mr. K. C. Hayton. Y.M.C.A. v. St. David's, at Petone; Mr. W. J. Meares.. Marist, a bye. Fifth B Division. South Wellington v. Marist, at Basin Reserve; Mr. J. M. Wilson. Institute v. fiangers, at Miramar, No. 9; Mr. R. Hutcheson. Y.M.C.A., ft bye. Sixth Division. Porirua v. Y.M.C.A. C, at PoriniajMr. E. Windley. ■ Marist v. Institute B, at Duppa Street, No. 2; Mr. .1. Pye-Smith'. , Karori v. Y.M.C.A., at Karori; Mr. F. O'Connell. Institute Av. Y.M.C.A., at No. 1 5, Miramar; Mr. C. K. Diclt. Seatoim v. Brooklyn, at Scatoun; Mr. C. Webb. ■ • hockey: REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. The following are the hockey referees appointed for various matches on Saturday : — Senior.—Day's Bay, No. 1, Mr. J. Cienilnll; Day's Bay, No. 3, Mr. J. Carver; Karori, No. .'>, Air. Forrest. .liini'jr.-Day's Bay, No. 2, Mr. XI. Luckie; Day's Hay, No. S, Mr. C. M'Kcn■/.ii<; l!i»in lfcervi'. Mr. A. W. I'trindrod; Duppa Street. Mr. Collie; Miramar, No. li. Jlr. Manning; Karori, No. I, Mr. S. M'DoK-all. Third-class.—Miramar, No. 2, Mr. F. Rv.nu; Day's Bay, No. i, Mr. Disher: Hutt, ilr.'Austin. •

TO ALTER Till-: RULES. A special ycncral inreliiiß of the Wellington Hockey Association hns bocii eon-■yi-nwl for un early tlMe. At this meeti'iik Mr. W. .1. Organ will move lo amciul Rules 3 and u. LADIES' ASSOCIATION. The following aro the Indies' hockey matches and ground:, for Saturday Ural :- Senior.—Victoria College v. Wellington, In bo played :it end of round; Pcione v. College Old Girl.-, at Day's Hay, No. :!; llinemoa v. Ramblers, at Day's Bay, Xα. I. .Itinior.—Celtic v. College OW Girl?, at Day's JJay, No. 1\ (Jills' College v. Ramblers." at Day's Bay, No. 4; llcrewliini, a bye. LAWN TENNIS. THE WIMBLEDON■MEETING. By TeluL'raDh—l'ress AssniMntlnn--(Viiyrlirbl London, July 3. At the All-England tonnis tournament at Wimbledon, Pockloy and Doust, in the third round of the Doubles, beat Thomas and M'Nair, fi—l, 7—5, 7—5. In the Singles, Decugis beat Heath, 10-8, G—i, CRICKET. OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE MATCH. By Telegraph—Press Associal'on—Copyright London, July 3. In the University cricket match, the Oxford players are all out for 203 (Le Couteur 11). Irelaud took five wickets for 2.5 runs, including the "hat trick.". Cambridge has lost seven- wickets for IG7 runs. Collins (sou of Dr. Collins, of Wellington) made 57 runs. ENGLISH TEAM FOE AUSTRALIA. London, July 3. Tho Mavylebone Club hns asked Fry to captain the English cricket team for Australia. , Warner, Spooucr, Foster, Strudwiek, Barnes, Hobbs, and Rhodes have beeu invited to join the team. COURSING. The Wellington Metropolitan Conrsinß Club is to have a field day at »\allaceville ou Saturday, when the Exhibition Cup, of 60 sovs., will to vun, to which has to be added a silver cup presented by Mr. W. Nidd. The ground is reported to be in capital trim, and the best hares (from Canterbury) have been trained by Mr Cress., A number of nominations have already been received, but entries do uot close until 8 p.m. on Friday night at tho New Zealatuler Hotel in Manners Street, where the secretary (Mr. _.l. O'Donnghue) is prepared to supply ail information. BILLIARDS. Playing at the WorkiiiKinen's Club, Napic'r, on Monday evening, Mr. J. \\. Read was in splendid form, diving a start of :!50 in 750 to Mr. Mawson, the club's best player, the champion ran out when his opponent's score was 432. His \>*--t breaks were 19S. 177, 139, 7G, and 50 unfinished, and his all-round exhibition is said to have been tho best ever seen in Napier.