RUGBY GAME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1728, 19 April 1913, Page 13

RUGBY GAME.

IMPORT OF NEW ZEALAND UNION. TWENTY-FIRST YEAR. TOM! OF' THE AUSTKALIANHThe annual meeting of the New Zealand Kugby Union is to bo held in tho rooms ct' tho Wellington Amateur Sports Federation on May 8. Tho report (o bo presented on that occasion is as follows:— "Thero is nothing of an exceptional nature to chronicle for this, tho twenty-first annual report of the. union. Kugby throughout is iu a satisfactory position, still holding premier place among winter sports. Added interest in tho game may bo expected this coming season owing to tho projected visit of an Australian representative team. Laws of tho Game. "Sonio alterations in tho laws of; the game, as already notified to unions, havo been nndo by tho International Board. As instructed by meetings of delegates last year, certain suggested alterations •were subinitted to tho English Union. Thcso did not meet with their approvnl, but our representative, Mr. Palliser, will again submit them for consideration at tho annual meeting of that union to bo held in May this year. Inter-Island Match, "In accordance with the direction given at the previous annual meeting, the annual North v. South Island match was played at Napier on July 13. The result was. a win for the North Island team by 12 points to 8. Twelvo of those matches havo now been played, tho North Island representatives having won seven and tho South Island four, one game,being drawn. America. "Somo correspondence has passed in regard to a proposed visit of a New Zealand team to California and British Columbia. At present nothing definito has been arranged, and it is uncertain whether a tour will cveniuato this season.

Country Representative Teams. The representative) teams known as tho North Island country- team awl South Island country team again played a series of matches at the larger eentres, but a departure i'rom the former practice was made, in that the South Island team toured in the North, and the North Island team toured in the South, tho two teams meeting at Wellington in a test match, which, however, on account of tho weather, was abandoned after the first spell, when tho scores were: North Island, 14; South Island, 3. The matches played and results thereof wero as follow :— South Island Country (3) v. Auckland (29); South Island Country (3) v. Taranalri |31); South Island Country (16) v. Wangnnui (20); South Island Country (18) v. Wellington (27). North Island Country (10) v. Canterbury (11); North Island Country (3) v. Otngo (G); North Island Country (6) v. Southland (3). Interchange Of Visits With Australia. "It is with some satisfaction that the Management Committee has to report that, arrangements have been made for tho resumption' of tho interchango' of visits . witn Australia. An Austialinn team will _ visit New Zealand this year, leaving Sydney on August 20, and playing its first match at Auckland. Following are tho dates of tho team's; fixtures:— Wednesday, August 27.—Versus Auckland at Auckland. Saturday, August 30.—Versus Taranaki, at New Plymouth. , ' Wednesday, September 3.—Versus Wanganai, at Wanganui. Saturday, September 6.—Versus New Zealar.d, at Wellington. Wednesday, September 10.—Versus Southland, at Invercargill. Saturday, September 13.—Versus NewZealand, at Dunedin. Wednesday,' September '17.—Versus South. Canterbury, at Timaru. Saturday, September 20.—Versus New Zealand, at Chnstchurch. Wednesday, September 24.—Versus Marlborough, at Blenheim. A How Zealand 'team will make a return visit to Australia in 1914. Ranfurly Shield. "Tli.e Ranfurly Shield is still hold by the Auckland Union. Unsuccessful challenge , matches wero played by tho Taranaki, Wellington, and Otago representatives. No "special" challenges wero made, t School Football. "Last season tho sum of .£l3O was distributed among affiliated unions for the encouragement of Eugby .in' primary schools. The following grants were made:—Wanganui, Wairarapa, South .Canterbury, and Southland, .£ll each; South Auckland, .£10; Marlborough .£9; Bush Districts, Jlanawatu, West Coast, Bullor, and Taranaki, >£S each; .Nelson. .£7; Bay of Plenty, £&; Hawkc's Bay, £5; Poverty Bay, £&; and Horowlienua, J!4: total, JfilSO. . Finance, "The finances for the year again show a'de'Mt, as will be seen from the accompanving statements. An adjustment with tho'"!Nen- South AVal.es Union regarding tour accoiyits has been arrived at. by means of a conference between representatives of that and this union. The following amounts are now on loan to vnrious affiliated' unions-.—Auckland, .£350; Hawkc's Bav, JSB-15; Otago, .£500; Southland, JC2-JSO; Taranaki, xC225; Wanganui, £500; Wellington, £1025: total, ,£6495. Thanks, "The thanks of this union are again due to Mr. C. Wrny Palliser, our representative in England. Thanks'are also due to the selectors, to tho.members of the Appointment Board, of the Appeal Council, and of tho Appeal Committee, to the managers of teams, to various referees, and to the officials of affiliated unions who have assisted this union. "To the incoming Management Committee, the members of the outgoing committee tender their best wishes for a successful year. MATCHES BEGIN TO-DAT. Mutches tor the senior championship, und'!r the auspices of the Wellington Rugbv Union, commence to-day. Full referenco to tho nature of each engagement is made in "World" of Sport." Tho attention of patrons is directed to an advertisement elsewhere regarding season tickets and reserved scat arrangements.