Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 211, 16 July 1904, Page 19

Rugby Football.

But little interest was taken m the senior championship matches last Saturday. As was generally expected, the Oriental team kept the Petone team going all the time to keep their lead foi the championship, the final figtues being 6 to 3 in favoui of the Petone team. Poneke defeated Athletic by 24 points to 5, and the Old Boys stiLl kept in a winning humour by defeating Wellington by 6 points to nil. • # » Auckland and Thames play at Auckland to-morrow (Saturday). Auckland papers to hand give no indication of the players implicated in tfht "football sensation" there last week. The committee held their inquiry with closed doors. A oo i respondent in the "Evening Post" advooaites the inclusion of wingfcrwards in the New Zealand team. I believe with him that it is the game we

know best in this colony, but, having flu 1 constitution of the New Zealand Selection Committee in view, I venture to predict that there will be no possible chance of his suggestion being earned out. Three out of the four are opposed to wing-fonvardis, and thei fourth is not very particular on the point. The New South Wales Rugby Union seem determined to arrange a matdh in .Sydney between the British team and tho New Zealand representative team. Their offer — published on Wednesday morning — to pay all expenses of the New Zealanders, and allow the New Zealand Union 50 per cent, of tihe gate money, isi a handsome ona, and, in view ef the projected l tour Home next year, should be accepted if at all possible by the New Zealand Union. The meeting of the Petone and Poneke teams to-morrow (Saturday) is beinc keenly looked forward to. It "will be played on No. 1 Athletic Park, and if the elements prove propitious will be an excellent exposition of the Rugby game. Should Petone win, they will be the winners of the senior championship. On the other hand, if Poneke come out on top the two of them will be level. I incline to the opinion that Petone will win the match and the championship. I fail to see what earthly reason the Referees' Association had for declining to accede to the request of the Poneke Football Club for that body to appoint e'lther Mr. P. Mackie or Mr. J. Laughton leferee in the. Poneke-Petone match to-morrow afternoon. It was pointed out by Mr. Ewmg, in making the request, that the Petone Club had acquiesced in the letter being sent to- the Association. I know this to be a fact, a,s I personally carried Mr. Hardham's message to Mi . Ewmg. Surely, the wishes of clubs should weigh with the Referees' Association, ©specially when they leceive intimation of the club's desire before the appointments are made. The "Timeis" has still got that bee in its bonnet. On Monday morning, it came out with a long screed albout disgraceful conduct in the train by travelling footballers. From enquiries made I find that there was singing indulged m on the 5.15 train to town from the lower Hutt, but until the train reached Wellington the most carping critic could not find fault with the wording of the songs. Between Wellington and Te Aio one of the boys did attempt to sing a song that one hears sometimes at ■"aoideville entertainments I—a1 — a bit on the suggestive side — but he only got two verses out when he was promptly howled down by his comrades. A spirit of fair play should be inculcated in that "Times" reporter. Continued on page 20.

"You're nice fellows, you aie, you think you have got us by the wood, and jou are lubbing it 111 aocoidingly !" This is not exactly a veibatwn copy of a remark I have heaid made anent tilie Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, but it expresses the feelings of many enthusiasts. Personally, I have no objection to the New Zealand Una cm ohaiging five sliulhngs for reserved 1 seats on the grand stand — if people want special favours they should pay foi them. But what J dio object to is the charge of two shillings made at the gates. "Is it fair that a match of this description should be placed on. all-fours with an ordinal y inter-union representative mateh p " casually asks a member of the Committee. Supposing we agiee with him, what right lias the Committee to say to the other Unions in the colony — "You mustn't charge more tham a shilling admission to your games?"— the inference being that the British team's match against New Zealand, at Wellington!, is their only star appearance. For a body composed of such sensible men as the members of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, their actioms in connection with this tour seem to be inexplicable. For instance, they have a row with the Athletic Paik Company here, even going as far as to interview the City Council to secuie the Baisin Reserve for the big match. And now, when their charges for admission are advertised, the Athletic Park Compaar- are in exactly the same position as when they made their first offei— the concession the New Zealand Union was striving for was a myth, made so by them cwn actions. I am assured that the tour of the British team through the colony will cost the New Zealand Union £1300. This sum includes travelling expenses and the expenses of the various matches, but, all the same, I am of the opinion that if the New Zealand Union cannot finance the tour without imposing on the general public, they sihould abandon it altogether. * * * A few week* ago I asked a question as to whether Gus Carlson was still placing the game — the Bush papers were a bit obscure on the matter. A correspondent writes •—" Playing for the Dannevirke sub-Union against Hawke s Bay on the 6th instant, Carlson was the best forward on the ground, and the first singled out of the sub-Union for inclusion in the Hawke's Bay team to play against Wellington on the 2nd Ausrust. His line play scrum J™rk, and his game in the loose weie all that could be desired. He is plavine better than when he was offered a place m the 1902 North Island team." My correspondent says he has good authority for what he states le Carlson's form', as he has seen him play for the last seven years, and he is also one of the selectors of the Dannenrke subUnion Personally, I have ever held a good opinion of Carlson — both as a footballer and athlete. He is about the finest specimen of an athlete this cclony can boast of— hardy, strong, and vigorous, though with it as gentle as a Jamb. I advocated his claims for inclusion in last year's New Zealand team. And, on this occasion, I have no hesitation in asserting that "Gus" will fil. the bill as lock in the colonial pack. The selectors may fare worse if they go further. * * * Wellington's representative matches for this season have now been definitely arranged, and they are 1 as follow — 23i d ,luW Wairaiapa," at Carterton , 27th July, Southland, at Wellington 30th July Manawatu, at Palmer^ton North 2nd August, Hawke's Bay at Natnei , fith August. Auckland, at Auckland f>th Ano-nst. Horowhenua at Wellington- 10th Au<mst, Tai-aniki at Hawera 20th August. Canterbury at Wellanerton 10th September, Otago at Wellington. *• * • Dan Toohill secured a place in the three-quarter line of the Hawke's Bay team that played against the Danneyirke sub-Union on the 6th July Would you believe it? The New Zealand Union does intend to hold a practice match for its representative team before the match with the British team. At least, I am assured that is their intention. We shall see. Judging by his form in the Mana-watu-Wamganui match, "Paddy" McMinn must have a great chance for a place in the front row of the New Zealand scrummage. lam giving him my vote, anyhow. Reid, three-quarter back in the Southland representative team, is stated to have a good chance for selection in the New Zealand team. Against Wellington last year he played a fine game and, although Stead and Murphy were both playing in the matoh,_ he received a cap a® the best back in the team. The cap was presented by an Invercargill business firm, and was voted to Reid at an entertain ment that was held the night of the match.