LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1734, 26 April 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

[BY "FiiEETrooT."! THE CUP MATCHES TO-DAY, • Cup matches commence to-day. Four teams have been entered for tho senior championship, and four in tho junior, with the possibility of another two teams in the junior grado by nest Saturday. Tho 6enior ■ teams are evenly matched, and sorno splendid games should bo witnessed. Tho chief attraction to-day will bo tho Petone-Nowtown fixture at Wakefield Pork. Each team will have a number of Rugby recruits, tho most noticeable of whom will bo tho Sullivana, from Melrose, and Strickland, a fast three-quar-ter, who played in senior grade in Sydney last season. These players will bo seen out for Nwtown.' Recruits from, the Rugby Ranks. The Petono team will bo strengthened by the inclusion.of Shnrdlow, Guthrie, Childs, and Parcant ■ from tlio Petono Rugby ranks, all of whom have played in tho senior grado. Parrant is considered to b'e the best "capture," but strenuous efforts aro being mado by the Rugby people to retain his services for tho Petono team, and ho must bo labelled doubtful, although ho has given his consent to play League. Parker, another player, has represented Marlborough in both Rugby'and League, and was considered tho best forward _ in' Marlborough; albeit House, is again going to don the jersey for the suburbanites, and is in great form. House will be about the best half-back playing tho league game in tho city, and ho has had the advantage of an Australian tour. Accessions to Hutt Club. :The Hutt .teams are also considerably strengthened, Buckland.is a fine player, as also is James, from Auckland. Tho latter haa represented Auckland in Leaguo games. Kelly is a last year's Petono player. Pole and Anderson aro also in good form. In tho forwards a new man: is Ireland. He is of the dashing type. Tho Athletic team aro reported to be strong this year, Kolly, Bradley, and Wil'son will all be playing. Canterbury v. Wellington. Wellington are inquiring . about a game against Canterbury, at Wellington about May 10. When'the game takes place the selectors for the New Zealand team will bo present. ' Recent Act of City Council, The League are very disappointed with the action of the City Council in refusing their request for a ground on Nowtowh. Park. Tho ground allotted is too far out of town, and is not the required size, ■■being about ten yards too narrow. The League thinks that junior teama: 'should havo been sent to, play on it. ' Newtown Park, ia central, and the revenue drawn by the trams from it would be considerable, though the League itself could not make a charge. It is thought that tho public would sooner witness a League gome free than pay Is. at 'Athletic Park, but • the council evidently do not consider details, and they certainly cannot be congratulated on their business capabilities. The League, however,; iiopo lot better treatment on tho next occasion on which they make application for grounds. The four clubs affiliated to tho Leaguo have all been able to:secure"gymnasia for training purposes, which is a movo in tho right direction. They are also catering for tho juniors, which is a splendid move. There aro likely to be six teams playing in'tho junior grado in a week or so. Tho Territorial, camp has prevented some of tho clubs putting in an ' appearance on tho fields. Petone are tho worst sufferers. They-havo two teams playing to-day, but they have two boys in camp, and eight men unablo to - obtain leave from their ordinary employment. Thcso I players include men liko Barber, Ashton, ['inlayson, and. 'Comer.