LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

[By "Fleetfoot."! ' NEWS AND CONTROVERSY, Wellington Matters. Marlborough liave offered to play Wellington on" Monday next, Dominion Day, but, owing to cup fixtures. on Saturday and steamer arrangements not being suitable, the Wellington Association have had to decline for tho time being. Next Saturday will see the final match for the Sigall Shield, and a match on that date would also bo impossible. So it seems that a" match this season, is out of the question'. ■ Fairly Launched in Christchurch. The game is now considered to be fairly launched in Christchurch. The League has first eay for the Show Ground next season. This ground is convenient to the town by tram—a 2d. section—and it has a splendid grandstand and good space for about five playing grounds. A feature of the Wellington-Canterbury gamo at Christchurch was the number of ladies present. Dr. Thacker stated, at the dinner given, to the Wellington and Canterbury teams, that the game that afternoon had been the means of converting two of his lady friends—who previously nad been constant spectators at tho uuion games. .A- good gamo should eventuate this afternoon between Newtown and Athletic. Both, teams contain seasoned and experienced League players. On tho Petone Recreation Ground the local teams will play Hutt and the winners will play off on Saturday next witlu the winner of Newtown-Athlotic game for the Sigall Shield. Some Warlike and Outspoken Notes from Auckland. A correspondent, writing from Auckland, gives some warlike notes from the, Queen City. Re the Dean case, ho says: Angus Campbell, the referee, rather Jost control of tho.gamo very early, and many small items were'allowed to go unchecked on both sides, Frawley being particularly aggressive. The.public were, excited at tho prospect of a local win, and when Curran tackled Dean, Dean (on top) ran his forearm across Curron's throat and pushed him down when lio attempted to rise. The crowd "boo-hooed" and Dean was made scapegoat for both sides. Curran's evidence was against the finding, and the sentence was out o'f proportion to tho offeuce, but to show wjiat weakkneed management we have they immediately granted Dean permission to play again. The public asked "Why, etc.," and said nasty things, and so Dean is burred again, humiliated a second time. The New Zealand Council will have to tako care lest it becomo it laughing stock. To-day's _match, Now South Wales against' Auckland, will bo very keen (in fact, bitter). On it fine day Now South Wales will win, but, with a wet day, the Auckland forwards will bo hard to beat. It will bo incumbent on the referee (Mr. Forguson) not to lost , control of the game. Ho is a very young roforce, und will havo to "watch out" hard.

It ecenis w<4l worth while drawing at? tention to the fact that there is no Wellington representative on thq .New Zealand, League, Council. At tho formation of the New Zealand League Wnng.uitii were granted provisional repit'sontation on fho council until such time as Wellington should form up. Wollington formed, and paid their feo (which was ncceptwl), but have not been granted representation yet. Mr. Brice, manager of the late team from Wellington, was assured that it would be "immediately fixed up, etc.," 011 August 20. Since that date the Auckland people havn dono as they pleaded with the Now South Wales team. They have Direr- Auckland selectors to pick the N'ew Zealand team, etc., and 110 outside League has anything to say but Auckland. Now, as tho game is spreading soiith, it is hiifli timo that tlu! niniiasi-ment becomes more central, and Wellington H the only place. Dr. Tbncker, of Chrislchiircli, strike mo as the best possible president we could have.