LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2169, 6 June 1914, Page 12

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

FRIEND, FOE, OR JESTER?

(By "Fleeifoot."!

Mysterious Message. "Rugby football—all Lcaguo matches postponed." Tlius ran a notice posted ,in,Willis Stroot last Saturday, just about 1 o'clock, :aud in ample time to prevent town players from journeying to Petono. It caused some surpriso, inas much- as tho Itugby code matches were to be played, and tho grounds at Potone, though not at their best, wore nevertheless lit for play. It transpires that the Postponement Committee- was not responsible for tho notice. On inquiries being inado it w;aa found that sbino individual represented himself as "Mr. Webb" and telephoned tho office in question to the above effect. Mr. Webb is not a member of the Postponement Committee, and he informed the Writer that the committee is at a loss to know who sont the mesaago. Obviously, it is tho work of some individual who belongs to ono of two classes. Either ho is a jester whose ideas of the lighter side of life are somewhat peculiar and his methods in giving effect thereto a triJle — juat a trifle —crude. Or perhaps, in tho sporting world, ho may bo included in that category of persons whose blind enthusiasm in their own particular department of sport narrows their idea of giving other branches "a eporting chance." Should our friend belong to the latter family, well, the soonor he quits the athletic arena the better. Persons with stunted visions and dwarfed principled in the matter of fair play are well left out of the sporting world. New Zealand League Council. The motion of the Auckland League, that in future visiting representative team 3 should receive 50 per cent, of tho takings instead nf 57] per cent., will lip dealt with by the New Zealand Council at its next meeting: As the motion had to bo su imitted In thi; other bagues in New Zealand, notice of Inotiou thnt the existing ruin bu nltcred had to bo tabled at tho last meeting

of the council. The Canterbury League has approved of tlio new suggestion'. Ccneral Jottings, Wangahui has issued a challenge to Auckland for tbe Northern Union Cup. The date of the aiatfch lias not- j-.tt bee a decided. The Taranafci League has neeeptcd August 15 as the ante for its pmtch against Auckland. George Glfleiit, who for several years was one of the- foremost members o.f tie Auckland rejwegeiiiativo &\ighy Unimi team, and ttttcf tiireiv ia hie lot with tho League, may bo Seen in the fieiti again this s&isqß. Eβ ia a life aeinber of the Newto.n {Auelfla-nd} Club', but lias applied for a tf&rcsW to the City Club. Consideration of Ins applicfttioa has been- deferred by tJjft Ausklftiid League owing to im. oversight on. Gil* lefct's part ift not communicating ijis intention to the Newton Club. The Canterbury League lias. iiivitpd tLo Auckland .Le«ii*ae to seiitl a teiuft to Ohristchtirfth this season., bivt pehd-* ing information, fjom the Boutterrs pro* vinoe as to ■ivli.a.t giiarjintee will bs forthcoming, a definite. anj3sv-6.r has not been given. The Tnraaafci tepr-esetttativigs/ wfl-J meet Auckland, at AiK&l&nd, jhv the Northern Union Cur> on Atigtist J6 ( The League- game is ovidefttlj* grtfts-wg in popularity in anaofigst junior, players. At the- last toeetjjj-E .ft| |h.e Auckland executive fhse. Graftoa and City Clubs each asked permission -jio place another team in. Ili<J fourtli graflto competition. Batlj apjilkfltvo.n'6 ivere granted. The LeaßUsi giae h_ag g.eoUted a footing in Palmersion jforth, jhkh fiow has four teased affiliated vi'iih Wsnga--nui. A cllii) has afeg beea forjiied at Tokomaru Bay, wMeJi will piiphably affiliate with Poverty Bay. '3\' l>. Kenny (Tanmaki), M. J. Rearfon (Wβ , - lington), and Dt. iH. T. J. Thactef (Canterbury) , haye. beeft lap.ppiti.ted vice* presidents of Now Zealand Leqgu& A new club has been fferifled at Maiißatoki, Tlie prospeote. or tho club are saia t-o bfe $<x>i, The Leaguo game is now oil a good footilig. in that province j.iyhioh. promises to bte come one of the leading ie.JV.tles l.n Nssw Zealand.

In the matter of Wtttol of spectators Auckland has . its ttoubk-s. Thfe Auckland "Itarald" <if Saturday '-antains tho foilowitig ejiftnot bo made to last S.itiu.rdity's happeftings in the Nortlie.Mt.'Unio.n ga ; m© without first mention being grven to tho ?-fi> Rrettable incidents, wliiuh -fflnrked tire close of the game betweeij City Rovors and North §iio*e Albiqii, It was .anticipated that tlw kx-tee would create a large amount of interest, but c*6ii thoso who dreara of itlthtiato clicking turnstiles and foafiiig cjoirds i<:v tho Northern Unioit gante eolqjd hardly haii'e expoct-ed so big "fth attcndmje.6 -ivs that which steadily fiHwcd on to 'he Domain. Admitting that the .game was exceptionally , fojerily fought, and that there were ineieterrts calculatSgl to Jjtit the torch to tho .partisan spirit of thecrowd, that W-asr hafdly j.ustiffcatitin for tho unsportsnianl.i&o action </f a ia'gg. section of the. spectators in encWachfflg on the playing ftcM,. seriously l-tjideriii-g tho game, anil setKhg the olfii.iih nt defiance."