FOOTBALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 164, 15 July 1903, Page 4

FOOTBALL

Just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday Mr Allen received by telephone from th*e Secretary of. the Taranaki Rugby Union the names of a team to represent North Taranaki against the S:urh in a match proposed to be played at Hawera to-day. As this was the first intimation, needless to say that although he lost no time in seeing all thosa chosen that he could find, he found it impossible for the men to get away at such short notice. It would seem that a contest of this kind should have been advertised and tbe players notified in good time, instead of allowing it to fall through. IJtJDRBD PL&YERS CANNOT BE REPLACED. Tbe decision of the Committee of the Otago Rugby Union as to the right of the clubs to take on fresh players in the place of any who may be injured in matches having bsen questioned by certain referees, the matter was remitted to the English Rugby Ution by the Sew Zealand UnioD. A cable forwarded on Tuesday asked " Can players replace injured men ?" and the reply " No " came to hand yesterday. It is estimate! that one million pounds is spent every year in Europe on the gime of football; and to such an extent is its popu'arity increasing that no one will begrudge a million more. The Otago Rugby Union advertises as follows :—' Notice is hereby given that betting is strictly prohibited on all football grounds under tbe jurisdiction of the O.R-F.U. Auyone caught betting will be prosecuted.' It was in a Lancashire village where football reigns supreme that two worthy matrons met on a Saturday afternoon. One of them wore a distracted and perplexed expression. 'Why, whntV the matter wi' thee, Betty ?' «Aw'm puzz'ed, Hrrriet.' 1 How's that, Batty?' ' Well, you see, my Bill's in ta futball team, and when ta team wins he treots me to summat nice for tea when they loses he gies me a tbrashin'. 'Eb 1 but what's thee puzzled about, lass ?' ' Weel, you see, ta mafch ended in a draw!'