ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY CODE,

ATHLETIC & PETONE TO-DAY. Much iuterest attaches to tho meeting between Atlilctic ami Petone this afternoon, and the Kugby Union's weekly note states that a largo crowd is expected to do out to Petone to sco it. With a lead of thrco points Atlilctic appear to have a strong-hold on this year's championship, tho only adverse possibility being that Petone may defeat tlicm, and then they will have to defeat St. James in tho last match of tho season. -Arrangements have been made for a special train to leave Lambton at 2.25 p.m. Tho Petone Municipal Band will play selections on the ground during the afternoon. At tho Athletio Park the Wellington team p'lay St. James, and a good even gamo may bo seen. On.No. 2, Ponekc play Victoria College. SHIPPING CO.'S MATCH. The annual Rugby, match between tho Combined Shipping ' Companies' Staffs and the Union Company will tako place at Seatoun Park on August IG. In the evening a dinner will bo held at tho Oriental Bay Kiosk. Cnptain C. M'Arthur, managing director of the Maoriland Steamship Company, will preside. LEAGUE & LEAGUERS. FINAL OF "KNOCK-OUT" GAMES. The final League match in tho "Knockout" Competition between tho Newtown and Athletic teams will bo played on Newtown Park on Saturday next at 3 p.m. The weekly League noto states that this game is creating excitement, and both teams are confident of winning. Newtown demonstrated on Saturday last, by defeating Petone by a substantial margin, that they have mastered tho fine points of the Leaguo game, and they may bo depended on to put up a groat game. The Athletic team is the actual favourite, containing as it does such lino players as Kelly and Bradley. These two men were considered by the critics iu Australia to bo two of tho finest footballers seen representing New Zealand for many a day. Both teams (adds tho League note) have been training hard, and patrons of tho League gamo will no doubt witness a stirring game. The first representative match is billed to bo played on Newtown Park on August IG, and will be between Wellington and Canterbury. COLONIAL REGISTRATION. "Forward," writing in tho "Athletic News" of Juno 18,. referring to the annual Northern Union assembly, states as follows:—"Now I come to the big debate of the evening. This was the second attempt to question the Northern Union's important resolution concerning the registration of colonial players by Northern League clubs. The full text of tho new standing order is:— That no player who has played football in New Zealand or Australia .shall in future bo registered to take part in League football in England with 'the Northern Union codo until he has a residential qualification in this country of two years. Tho Wigan, Hudderslield, Hull, and Oldham representatives made many points for unrestricted registrations, and 1 incidentally the colonials now on the registers of Northern League clubs were paid woll-deserved tributes. But the opposition made a strong case in the matter of principle, and though, as I expected, tho voting was very close, there-was a majority of three in favour of tho standing order, as given above, being once moro approved." THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR! A WTiter in the "Athletic News," dealing with tho proposed tour of an English' team in Australia, and, writing before the official invitation came to hand, unburdened himself thus:—"Nothing official is known respecting tho reported cablegram from Sydney that the New South Wales League decided to invite a Northern Union team to Australia next season. But thoro is no reason to doubt the matter at all, and if tho New South Wales League, in their formal invitation, liavo forwarded to tho Northern Union a proposal which will afford, a reasonable basis for a mutual agreement respecting the transfer of players, then there is, I think, reasonable grounds for assuming that a team will go out. Mr, Cooke's pointed remarks on the question should give tho colonial League a clear insight -nto the prcseiUT position. There must be no possibility at all of any more Frawley cases, and a business-like Agreement, which must be respected by the colonial League in the real spirit, is just as necessary as financial terms. However, when tlie otlicial invitation arrives by mail, possibly these points will Ixs provided for." ASSOCIATION. CANTERBURY AND WELLINGTON. The Association authorities state that til® match on tho Basin Reservo to-day between Canterbury and Wellington promises to be one of tho keenest yet contested. The visitors bavo brought their strongest team,. and aro confident of oaiTying the Brown Shield south to-night. With such fine players as Fullarton, Bissett, Norman, Ward and Co. playing for the challengers, tho public may bo treated to a very fine display. The Wellington team has undergone some changes, and opinion is very divided over them. As a-curtain-raiser, a match between tho Fourth Division teams ia billed, PLAYER INJURED. During practioe yesterday, K. Connor, who was to have played left-half for Canterbury juniors, put his knee out, and his place will bo taken by Baxter, ono of■the reserves. THE TEAMS ENGAGED. The junior iieprosentativo match will commence at 1.30 p.m., and tho "big event" is to commence at 3 p.m. Following aire tho teams:—Canterbury soniors—Goal, Tuppe. Backs (right), Cornish; (.left), M'Farlane. Halves (right), Baxter;-(centre), Fullarton; (left), Soriven. _ Forwards (outside right). Ward; (inside right), Bissett; (centre), Norman; (insido left), Taylor; (outsado left), Tanner). Wellington Seniors—Goal. Hollis. Backs (right), Cross; (left), Parsons. Halves (right), Shaw; (centre), Roots; (left). Skinner. Forwards (outside right), Loadsman; (inside right), Gibson; (centre), Hughes; (inside left), Barnctt; (outside left), A. Lowe. , Canterbury Juniors:—Bow-den-, [Rollo, Fasse, Niichol, Claphan. Baxter, M'C'ormick, Watson, Campbell, IColly, Spicer. ; AYclUinijton Juniors:—Smith, Henderson, | Gasey, E. Flaws, A. Mai-sha.ll, Wareham, • Biwyalee (Swifts), Thomas, Fitzgerald, Keirby, Read. BOWLS & BOWLERS. THE SEATOUN CLUB'S MEETING. Tho annual meeting of tho Seatomi Bowling and Tennis Club, Ltd., was held on Thursday evening. Mr. W. H. Green, president, occupied tho chair. Tho report (a precis of which was published in this paper on Thursday) and balancesheet were adopted. Tho retiring directors, Messrs. W. H. Green, A. Grigg, C. M'Farlano, H. A. Smith, J. Stephens, E. Vance, and Mr. C. J. Louglman (tho only other nominee) wcro elected. Tire other elections resulted as follow:—President. Mr. W. 11. Green (re-elected); secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. E. Richard (re-elected); auditors, Messrs. N. D. Francis (re-clected) and J. Taylor. Tho chairman announced that Mr. A. D. Crawford had promised a cliallengo cup for competition, and a voto of thanks was passed to the donor. The election of selection committees will tako place at a later dato. BILLIARDS. The final games in the Alcock billiard diner tournament were played at Messrs. Alcock and Co.'s showrooms on Wednesday evening. The results were as follow: —Mr. F. Reade, winner of Group'A; .Air. A. P. Brown, runner-up of Group A; Mr. J. Hart, winner of Group B; and Mr. H. Porter, ruuner-up of Group B. The play in both games was very close, tho winners getting homo with only u few points lo snara in each aama.