LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

TBi "FiEETroor."! THE THACKER MEDALS. Successful Winners. There was keen competition amongst members of the New Zealand touring team to secure one of the medals donated by Dr. Thacker, of Christchurch, for the most brilliant players. The medals havo now been awarded as follows: — Backs: Kelly, • Bradley, and Ifwerson. Forwards: Hay ward, King, and Walters. Returning Home, The North Island members of the New Zealand team returned from Christchurch on Tuesday morning, and northern members left the some day for their respective homes. All the members who received injuries in Australia have recovered. The team showed some groat football when they defeated Canterbury last week. Members are loud in their prpise of the managership of Dr. Thackor and Mr. W. S. Brice. Representative Matches. The following representative matches will be played in Wellington this seasons Wellington v. Canterbury, August 16; Wellington v. New South Wales, September 13; New Zealand v. • New South Wales, September 2U. Wellington representatives aro going to Auckland on or about August 23 to play for tho Northern Union .Shield. Referees and Refereeing. Tho League Referees' Association is in a fair way to being formed. A meeting i'l connection with tho matter will be held in the Central Hotel this evening. Mr. W. S. Brice, ono of the managers with the New Zealand team in Australia, told the writer that tho refereeing in Australia was an eye-opener to the New •Zealanders. Further, he added that, if the referees in New Zealand were to act like M'Alahon, the leading referee in New South Wales', the people hero would thiuk they were too slow with tho whistle. M'Mahon watched the game, and took every opportunity to allow the "advantage" rule, which meant that the offending sido were not penalised unless the advantage went to them through their infringement of the rules. Line-umpires in New Zealand do not act up to the rules in the way in which they do in Australia. In the last match between New South Wales and New Zealand, said Mr. Brice, the New Zealanders put in a'brilliant passing rush, and Brad- | iey scored between the posts. Tho lineumpire ran out with his flag up, away down the line, and tho referee went over and spoke to him, then disallowed the try. It appeared that several minutes before, someone'-'had obstructed Frawley, the Australian captain. The referee did not seo the incident, but he upheld the line-umpire. Return of Williams. Percy Williams, the Auckland forward who has done a great deal to make the name of Aittstralasiau football famous in the Northern Union football of England, returned to New Zealand with the touring team last week, atter an absence of three years. AVilliams brought tidings of the doings of other men from this section of the globe, and 'his praise of their prowess demonstrates that the colonial power in linglish lootball is still undiminished. There are a number ( of New Zealand men in the Wigan team, of which AVilliams was ft member, including Charlio Seoling. "Boiler" Francis, and Lanco Todd. Seeling and Williams, it appears, made up their minds to return home at tl.la end of last season, but something kept Seeling back for another year. Williams, however, adhered to his determination, and has said good-bye to the mud and snow of England s gronnds for ever. The ardent and raucous-voiced miners of Wigan will cheer him no more. Todd will remain away for another four years because of business reasons. Of the other Australasian players who have at different times figured in the game foT English clubs, Williams says ' that Archie Waddoll has a tobacconist's business in St. Helens, and that Turtill is tine paxyprietor of an hotel there. Little Kelly, another New Zealander, was followed by bad luck all the time, and did mot play mnch football. Ho. was engaged in an iron foundry. Eenwick, also of Auckland, was captain of Warrington, which club had put up a great fight in last season's enp ties. During his tliTee years with Wigan Williams secured nine medals for competitions—something unique indeed. It was Williams's knowledge of scrum work that so materially assisted- New Zealand 't<j victory against Now South Wales recently. "Dally" Messenger. "Dally" Messenger, the man who draws larger crowds to football matches in Australia than any man, played against the New Zealanders when the latter were on tour. Speaking of Messenger, Mr. Brico said that in the first game ho played against tho New Zealanders he did not play up to form, but was improving with every game. His goal-kicking, however, was phenomenal, and especially was this the case in tho last match, when he kicked! some, niarvellaus goals, with a wot, greasy ball. The selectors in Australia stick too much to the known men like Deane, Messenger, Frawley, and others, considered Mr. Brice. There wero some rattling players in the country, who were only waiting a chance to come out as "stars." Sydney Competitions. The first round of the Rugby League, premiership in Sydney closed with Eastern Suburbs unbeaten. The last matcfti between Eastern Suburbs and Glebe was a brilliant exhibition. When Glebe put on three trie 3 in succession in the second half, while playing with a strong wind, their supporters were worked up to a high pitch of enthusiasm, in 'expectation of a thrilling finish, and possibly a victory ftw tho Reds., But, beautiful as had been the movements in which Glebo scored their tries, tho Red, White, and Blue eclipsed them with dazzling allround football, in which the backs played tho more striking part. On iigures it was a very great win; but the Glel>e made a far more praiseworthy. effort to stem the progress of the premi-M's than 28 points to 9 imply. We may sav, states a Kvdnoy writer, "Well (loiie, Eastern Suburb?, to win by : such football, and go through the first round un?eatlied!" But we must also say to the Glebe, "Well done, too!" for lheir3 was a good effort in a game finite on a nar with the New South Wales v. New Zealand contests.