ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1541, 10 September 1912, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

LEAGUE ■-PLAY. ~ DS-.THACKER ENTHUSIASTIC. THE START DOWN SOUTH, ■ [ AT LEAST 25,000 PBESENT... fßy Telegraph-— Spociat Oorrespondont.) •■•■■• ' Christchurch, September 9. Br. Thiicker, the president of tho Karth Canterbury Rugby League, is jubilant at the prospects of the Leaguo game' in New Zealand. - ■' "This was the first gamo played in tho j3outh Islaud of Now Zealand," he said to £i reporter, referring to Saturday's gamo, f'and it was on absolute success from pvery point of view. There were at least 25,000 spectators, including well-known football critics and old' IJujfby Unionists, who carpe equipped with a fund of keen sarcasm, and, perhaps, a still keener appetite tor n good game. There was more enthusiasm'.and applause, in. five minutes there than there would bo at • Lancaster Part in six ireelcs.. The ladies, who attended in large numbers were charmed by the absence of all slogging, struggling, and mauling. The Chance For the Linht Men. "No replacements had to be made on. either side, and each, injury was so slight :hat the; most serious kept tho player off the ne)d for iivo minutes only. It was • brought home forcibly to those present what an opportunity the League game offers to the 'light clever -men, who are , kept in tho junior grades of the Union .game, owing to tho brute force which it demands. These are now going to got a. chance to climb, right to tho very top'in' ' ioottall. A champion export trainer will be procured from Homo at ouce," The. Bogy Word—"Professional." The doctor went , 'on to say Hint tie nso of the. word "professional"-' to 'decry League fdotball was misleading. "Does » cricket professional mako all the teams •ho plays in professionaj ?" he asked. "He playswith them ami against them, and •-~~is Paid by them, and,' may be, at times la 3 a sporting 'go' with them, but lio does not .make them professional. Look nt our amateur jockeys at gallops, and our amateur drivers at tho trots. The eamo in Canterbury is goius to bo pure nmateur sport for the people, and played by tho people. Ability, sljill, and 'the Jiervons system are going to be educated. Instead of tho gross, -uneducated, heavy, rnusoular animal force, the training will be up-to-dato. The consumption by players of alcohol will be reduced to a diminishing minimum. '..■'. League's Future in Canterbury. "Later we intend to'have central club rooms, with baths and other requirement's. I intend to advocato tho presentation, of Ivorth and Souths Island shields—each to be won in its own island—and the two shields to bo played for■'alternately in the Jfoi'th and South- Islands." Dr. Thacker continued-.—"Nest Paturclay's gamo against New-South'Wales will bo an exhibit/on of perhaps the most expert' skill_ in League rules against an aspiring collection of crude material. Canterbury has a future fixture this season with Hawke's Bay,'-nnd will pi-obably piny a return match with Wellington. After that a campaign will be initiated in the . suburbs, and the country districts to establish a'club for next season. The public /schools in and around Christcliurcn will attract tho closest attention of tha comroittco.and its delegates, and the'game will bo kept clean."