FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8896, 16 August 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

The Australian Tour. Comments by Mr GalbraithPress Association. Weijjxotox, August 15. The members of the football team who returned, to-day are-Wylie, manager Wallace, Roberts, Mitchmsou, J. and G. Spencer, tranter, Myuott, Hogan, Eel:hold, Patou, McDonald and Oasoy. The Auckland division was to leave Sydney lor Auckland .yesterday. Fryer vriu leave on Saturday and Booth and j O’Sullivan intend returning via Melbourne. Jolmstou is expected to •join the professional team. . Speaking o£ the tour of the football team Mr Galbraith, who accompanied them, says, “It was form that beat our men. With accidents and the epidemic of influenza it was a most disastrous trip. The w’hole time the men were suffering more or less. 1 consider that not in one single match did the team show their true Now Zealand form. No form was shown as good as that witnessed in the match against Wellington or' in the mter-Island match The Australian forwards beat ours in the last match. In my opinion, however, the New South Wales men have not improved at all in comparison with the team that drew with us in 1905, but there is quite an- improvement among the backs. They have learned cutting-in tactics in their passing attacks, and this is quite a new thing over there. Mr Galbraith principally went to Australia to attend a conference of delegates to discuss arrangements for future intercolonial campaigns. The old agreement of 1901 has expired and New Zealand desires .better terms in any future programme. In the past Now Zealand has taken the gale money for matches played here and has paid its own team’s travelling expenses abroad, New South Wales has followed a similar policy which gives Australia much the bigger end of the stick. New Zealand’s enterprise has helped to put the New South Wales Union in a strong financial position, and it is maintained that the Island colony should be able to get a better recompense. The delegates wore generally inclined to the opinion that New Zealand should receive more favourable treatment, but they did not reach a definite agreement. The matter will bo a subject for further correspondence, and Mr Galbraith doubt this country will get something considerably bettor than it has had in the past. , , ~ Probably the next team from Austra.ia to invade New Zealand will be a Commonwealth combination. There was a certain amount of difficulty 1 about refereeing, because it was found on ■ the field that the Australians were play--1 in a- under some decisions that were two ■ years. behind time. It was discovered - that either by tho neglect of the secretary . of tho English Eugby Union or _of tho 1 Commonwealth’s representatives in Lon--1 don, case law rulings received in New • Zealand a couple of years back had not reached Australia. However, as tho vai suit of tho recent AusLralasian Confer- ■ enceof referees, at which New Zealand ■ was represented by Messrs "Wylie and s liobb, this undesirable state of aftairs is not likely to bo repeated.

The following will represent _ Eangitikei against Horowhenna at Levin next Wednesday:—Full hack, Boon (Rata); three-quarters, Jago (Huutervillo), Oapstick (Bulls), Sugdeu (Marten); five-eighth, Hill (Huntorville), Homlcrsou (Martou); ball, Eaton (Huntorville); wing forward, W Carter (Bulls); forwards, Stratford (Huutervillc), Henderson (Bulls), Hunt (Mar ton), Bishop (Huutorville), W. Green (Bulls). Northover (Martou), aud Parkes (Huuterville). Tho following will represent Martou school team against Taihape, at Martou, to-morrow:—A. Blair, H. McGregor, J. McOhesney, J. Nuttall, G. Davey, D, Wysocki O. Stafford, J. Campbell, J. Oldfield, L. Harris, S. Martin, O. Thorburu, D. Follett. 0. Stafford, P. Bound. Emergencies: McDonald, Blair, Henderson, J. • McDonald. This should prove a good game, as the Martou team are winners of Eangitikoi school championship aud Taihape are putting a strong team iu the field. •,