FOOTBALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 115, 17 May 1916, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

UPS AND DOWNS IN U.S.A. One of the best footballers England has ever produced is the Rev. M. Molyneaux, who piloted the celebrated Rugby team through Australia some years ago, and who is at present in New Zealand from San Francisco. His I earnest desire is to get to the front, cither as a chaplain or in any other capacity the authorities think suitable. For some years past be has been in charge of the Missions to Seamen in San Francisco, and had it not been for the rather unsatisfactory financial basis of the institution he [would probably have gone to the war /before this. The reverend gentleman | told an Auckland reporter that his ! idea in coining this way was because he thought that Mr. J. Wylie (also well known in New Zealand football circles) would accompany him, but at the last moment Mylie was unable to get away. Speaking of football in San ' Francisco, Mr. Molyneaux said that | the standard of play in the States had j improved considerably. Practically ! all the high schools were playing rugby, as well as the Universities of Stan- | ferd and Santa Clara. California had I gone back to the American game, but j this was chiefly on account of the j principal masters of the college being i enthusiastic regarding that code. The j students, however, were very' keen on Rugby, and probably the season after next California would be back again. One thing that weighed heavily with j those in charge of the universities was the question of the gate, and the profits from the big football matches usually kept the other sports going. I When California went back to the j American game they arranged a match with Washington, and sent i emissaries all over the country, but the gates were not coming up to expectations, and this would probably be the biggest factor in inducing them to revert to Rugby. Mr. Molyneaux added that he had offered his services to the@military authorities and was awaiting their pleasure.