ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 9

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

UNION & LEAGUE. TWO AUSTRALIAN TEAMS HERE. SHORT INTERVIEWS. THAT CHALLENGE MATCH AGAIN. The Australian Rugby Football team and tho Now South Wales Leaguo representatives met in -Wellington yesterday—but not on the field of play, fhey met on the atcamor Pateona at 12.45 p.m. yesterday, when both teams left for the other sido of Cook Strait, the Rugby team to play at Blenheim o.i Wednesday, and tho League representatives at Nelson tho same day. Those games are • practically_ tho final games of both, tours as originally programmed. Rugby Men & Maoris—Match Possible. From tho manager of tho Union team (Mr. Morgan) a Dominion ropresenta- . tive gathored that there was every probability of tho team' playing; a match against tho Rotorua Maori team in Auckland on Saturday .next. Mr. Morgan stated that ho was expecting _ a letter hourly from Mr. Parata containing l ,word that arrangements had been made or tho reverse. The Native players who visited Australia were very, anxious to return the hospitality which they had received in tho Mother State. They, in fact, wanted to "play the game at Auckland and then talco the team down to Rotorua for a day o* two. If arrangements to that 'end could' be made the team would loave Wellington 011 Thursday for Auckland direct, play there next Saturday, go down to Rotorua on Monday, ana leave by the following boat for Sydney. If the proposal broke down, tho team would leave Wellington for Sydney on Friday next.

Leaguo Progress. Before leaving for Nelson yesterday, Mr. S. G. Ball, tho manager of tho Now South Wales League team, referred to tho rattling good time which members of the team had had in New Zealand, and tho hearty and hospitable manner in which they had been treated everywhere. Thoy had won all the ton matches pliyeii, and had scored 360 points as against l l2l points scored against them, which was a . satisfactory record. ■ •' ■ ''Has the tour paid?" Mr. Ball was aslied. ■■ . • i ' ''No, it hasn't, but our loss has been less than it was last year," he answered referring to the visits of the Leaguo teams to New Zealand.

Who stands , the loss? "Tlio League in Sydney—we only get a percentage ?f the gross gate ' What percentage? "Well, I don't know if I should tell you that. You tell me what the union team gets and I'll tell you what we get," replied Mr. Ball, with a shrewd smile. ,

As our representative could not produce the figures on the spot, the point was left in abeyance. <

League Aim In New Zealand. "You see," continued Mr. Ball, "we in Sydney, regard New Zealand as a kind of nursery for the Leaguo game, and are ncjt looking for money when we come this way. Last year wo mado a loss: this year we have mado another loss, but not so heavy; next year it mignt work out oven. We are out to encourago League football, in a footballers' country/, doubt that that is . being, done. This team is better than the one we sent last year —it contains gr.eater,number pf.young, players with plenty of dash and brilliance. It is a really good team, and some of tho teams we -have met have done really well to hold up against them as tliey have done." 1 That Trial of Strength. What about the game with the Australian TJnion'team? asked the interviewer. "What about it? Thntia what I would like to know. I'm looking for it."

You want it to.happen? _ . "Look here —we are willing to postpone our departure to Sydney for a week if the game could be arranged, say to be played in Wellington. Wo are all keen for it, and here we are and here they are I" referring to the groups of footballers standing about the Pateena's decks.

Mr. Morgan, the manager of the Union team, was seen on this point—a point which he himself is said to have indirectly raised—but declined to be drawn on tho matter. Like Brer Rabbit, hb lay low and was uncommunicative, meroly remarking, somewhat facetiously, that the match would bo played on the • steamer _ going across Cook Strait.- It was plain to see that lie had no idea of entertaining anything in the nature of achallenge. Of course, also, such a thing would not be tolerated by the New Zealand Rugby Union.