LATE SPORTING.

NZ Truth, Issue 64, 8 September 1906, Page 6

LATE SPORTING.

RUGBY CHAT.

Writing to a Wellington friend, a follower of the sport m the Old Country, who is m close touch with prominent officials of the English Rugby Union, says that it may be taken for granted that a combination selected under its auspices will visit New Zealand m 1908. Leading players have already been approached on the matter and satisfactory replies have been received m most instances from (hem as to their making the 16,000 miles sea journey. Profiting by experience from the tour of Sievwright's team through New Zealand m 1904 and the "All Blacks" triumphant success m G-reat Britain last year, the E.R.U. is determined to despatch a powerful combination to the colony, particular attention being paid to the forward division. A number of crack Welsh players have signified their intention of accompanying the team, if selected, including Winkfield, who played full-back m that Homeric struggle with Gallaher's men. Th^ team will probably consist of 28 players. The writer says that there is just a possibility of the veteran Rowland Hill, for many years lion., secretary of the E.R.U. and now President of that body, journeying with the Britishers.

Reports • received from Wellington and Southern visitors at the Welling-ton-Auckland match last Saturday are not very flattering as regards the impartial behavior \of the crowd. One writer says the reception dealt' out to the blacks was most reprehensible and was particularly noticeable whenever their opponents were penalised. "Talk about a 'one-eyed' lot," says another ; "they beat anything I ever saw m my natural:" A Masterton gentleman, who was one of the 1 crowd, expresses his deepest disgust at the treatment accorded to the Wellington, men , and he, , goes so far as : to. say that 'the referee was, seemingly overawed by what he. terms the senseless horde of blue barrackers. On three occasions Peter Mackie, he alleges, gave decisions against Wei-, lingtbn which admitted ol no possible excuse, one of which rolsbed the black, combination of an almost sure try. Manning's try, which was disallowed m the* last three or four minutes of the game, was (says a Christchurch sport, present at the match) quite legitimate, but the line-umpire got excited, and fiddled and fuddled with his flag until he didn't know where he has!

The New Zealand Rugby Union is asking Manawatu to show cause why it should not be suspended for playing ''men residing outside its boundaries'. '< The Manawatu Union wants to see copies of correspondence respecting this matter before a reply is sent. A proposal that Winiata stand down from' the representative team until the matter is settled was not entertained by the country Union's executive. • ■ « . - The Auckland Rugby Union Is taken severely to task by the newspapers for the unseemly scramble on the stand at ' the Wellington-xnd match,' brought about entirely by the reprehensible practice m which the Union indulges of selling more tickets than ' the stand will accommodate.

C. Birkett has Gleam very, well at present. Out of three starts at the Marton meeting the Daystar mare was ; twice first and once second.

Waikato broke his long spell of bad luck by winning the. first race, on the second day of the meeting. On the first day Russell's prad filled second 1 position behind Gleam m the Crofton Handicap. Boniform has made a great hit with the Randwick. touts who are all unanimous m their praise of Sungod's brother's galloping. For the Epsom and Metropolitan' double Pompous and Collarit were supported last week to win £13,000.

The Rawson Stakes wifl be run. at Randwick to-da^ The Maorllamd horses Solution and Maniap'oto are both entered and to have a chance m. the Metropolitan they will have to show; up m the big mile and a. furlong go. The Bulls., mare . Splendid Idea is very well at present and won ; the Flying -'at Marton man easy manner. Her connections are reported to have, had a royaler over their mare? s sue. cess. Capulet, who was purchased for hurdling at the last Masterton meetinf w,on the first jumping event he started m. A local bookmaker execute a commission on- him m Wellington and his brother pencillers are a lot. poorer m consequence. ' .

Breh'da, who was~ the cause ,of a lot of trouble at the recent Hawke's Bay Hunt Club meeting; won the Hunt Club Cup at Marton and returned her supporters a £3 3s dividend.

The Dorchester mare, Helen Portland, never.. gave her opponents the semblance of a chance m the Trial Plate at.Marton. Harry Jackson has a good one m Helen and that is beyond question. Apa, 7.8., started m the Crofton Handicap and ran unplaced, but on the second day, with 4lbs less on his back, he won. Sure.lv this was inconsistent and should have been enquired into. The Hutt. trained Pytchley. was second to Rosegrove m the Electric Handicap, and thjs pair never gave the ■hi" 1 field a chance with them. Clarence O'Neill is now able to walk about on crutches. He is a regular visitor to Caulfield to watch the training operations there. A subscription list m aid of Clarence O'Neill has been started m Melbourne. , The hurdler, King Paul, has arrived at Caulfield and is a regular worker, on the tracks there. The owner of Lord Soult had a good win over »the Final Scurry at Marton.

Ski Reid rode Gleam m her winning essays at Mar ton.

Bonheur won the Trial Hurdles after a n-ood finish with General Peel. This was the mare's first essay over hurdles, an-d she impressed all by her resolute style nf Him pint 1 .

Mr R. Patterson \s Destruction (Torpedo— Nymph) leaves for Sydney by iihe Monowai m charge of Mr (fiis. Davis. Destruction will go into the stables which at present shelter .Alution m Sydney.,