THE BRITISH TEAM'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 62

THE BRITISH TEAM'S TOUR.

ALLOCATION OF MATCHES. WELLINGTON, February 27. The Management. Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union to night approved of the following itinerary for the British team, which is due to arrive at Wellington on May 18 : — May 23— At Masterton. May 27 — At Wellington. May 30— At Dunedin. June 3 — At In\ercargill. June 6 — Slouth Island, at Dunedin. June 10— At Tunaru. June 13 — At Christchurch. June 17 — At Greymouth. June 30 — At Nelson. Juno 27 — New Zealand, at Wellington. July.l — At Napier. July 4 — At Giebome. July B—At8 — At Palmerston North. July 11 — At Wanganui. July 15 — At New Plymouth. July 18 — At Auokland. July 25 — North Island, at Auckland. The team loaves Auckland on July 27 for Sydney, and returns to Wellington en route for Home, after playing from four to six matches in Australia. WESTPORT, February 29. Footballers are dissatisfied with the failure of the New Zealand Rugby Union to allot a game with the British team -bo Westport. IRELAND DEFEATS SCOTLAND. LONDON, March 1. In the Rugby football match Ireland (two goals and two tries) beat Scotland (two goals and one try). [Last year Scotland defeated Ireland by three goals to one penalty goal. Scotland has now won 22 matches and Ireland six, while three have been drawn.] POR'x CHALMERS FOOTBALL CLUB. The Port Chalmers Football Club held its twenty- fourth annual meeting in the Currie Street Hall on Friday evening. The president (Mr W. J. Wilson) occupied the ohair, and there were over 70 members present. ANNUAL BEPORT. The following annual report will be submitted at the annual meeting of the Port Chalmers Football Club: — Your committee, in presenting the twentyfourth annual report, hae every reason to fe&l gratified with the club's progress for th« season 1907. The First Fifteen played 16 m*toh©s — won 7, losit 6, and drew 3; scoring 114 points for and 95 against. This record is very creditable, it being the club's seoond year as seniors. In the first round the team lost five matches, and one in the seoond roumd, which shows that the coaching of Mr D. Torrance had a good effect. The Second Fifteen played 15 matches — won 2, lost 12, and drew 1; scoring 29 points for and 102 against. This team suffered a great d-a-1 owing to it being drawn on to replace men in tb© First Fifte-eTi. A-notb-ex a»mper -was that the team bad but one game on its own ground. The Third Grade team played 15 matches — won 7, lost 7, end drew 1; scoring 52 points for and 104 against, four matches being lost by default. Your committee entered a -team for the Fourth Grade competition. Its record was — 10 matches play«d, won 4, lost 6, points for 52, against 18. This team started well. Out of the first five matches they won 4 and lost 1, with 52 points for, and but 9 against, but out of the remaining five matches four were lost by default and one by 9 points to nil. The success of the club is due in a great measure to M,r W. J. "Wileon (president), lie having watched the interests of the dub on the committee c-f the O.R.F.U. for some years. Mr D. Torrance is io be remembered also as the club's coach. ELECTION OF OFFICEKS. The election of officers resulted as follows (the retiring president declining reelection): — President, Mr N. Dodds; vicepresidents—Messrs J. Mill, E. G. Allen, M.P.. F. W. Platta, F. A. Hardy, J. H. Crawford, R. Bauchop, F. W. Bastings, P. R. Stewart, Dr W. H. Borrie (re-elected), W. J. Wilson, and J. D. Warden ; secretary, Mr S- S. Moir (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr D. M'Donald : practice captain, Mr W. Connor; coach, Mr D. Torrance; auditor, Mr E. Gcdfred ; General Committee — Messrs H. Healy, A. Kelly, J. Montgomery, C. Slattery, J. Clark, W. Me there, and W. Dougherty; delegates to O.R.F.U.— Messrs J. H. Crawford, W. J. Wilson, N. Dodds (re-elected) ; Selection Committee— Messrs D. Torranoe, J. Grover, and captains of respecth c teams. PKESENTATION. Mr E. G. Allen, M.P., expressed his pleasure at being present, and remarked upon the strides made m the game of football since he first became associated with the club over 20 yeare ago. Referring to tho present po-.it.ion of the club, he thought a good deal was due to the valuable services of Mr D. Torance. who had proved a most successful coach. He hoped above all things that the club would sot, its face against professionalism. If tho national game was to maintain its claim *o public recognition as a clean sport, all clubs would have to keep it an amateur sport. On behalf of the club ho had p-oat pleasure in handing Mr Torrance a gold pendant, suitably in-=eril>o<l. and ako a handsome present for Mr» Torranoe. In reply. Mr Torrancp thankod the donors for their eift - and the kind remarks by Mr Allen. If the club wished to improve its position in the football world, it could only be done by hard work and steady practice. Mr Torrance evoked a storm of applause by doctoring that professionalism in football >hould be strangled in its inceDtion. because if it once got a

hold on tho game clubs which could command the biggest takings would be in a. position to win all the principal fixtures, and clubs lacking influential backing would bo nowhere. The meietiinjy terminated with hearty votes of thanko to the retiring officers and the Refeiees' Ateociation.