FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 30 May 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

FIXTURES FOR TO-DAY. SENIORS. Clifton v. KHluim (Sptmlle) at Waitara.

Star v. Stratford (Proctor) at the Racecourse, New Plymouth. lnglewood v. Tukapa (Julian) at Inglewood.

SECOND CRADK. Eltham v. Clifton (Ilopkin) at Eltlinm Stratford v. .Star (Crilliths) at Stratford. 'Tukapa v. lnglewood (Kivell) at Western Park, New Plymouth. THIRD GRADE. Tukapa v. Clifton (Way) at New Plymouth. Eltham v. Star B (Eocli) at Eltham. Stratford v. lnglewood (Martin) at Stratford. Star A a bye.

THE PROPOSED PROFESSIONAL TOUR. Per Press Association. ? Dunedin, Hay 2!l. The Star says: "A letter was written to 28 secretaries of the Northern Union Clubs last January, in which it was promised that a better combination than the original New Zealand team would be sent Home. ft catenated from a Wellington player, who looked forward to becoming' assistant manager of the team. There were to be 25 players, and they were to play for six months. There was a chance of playing for several seasons by putting in the summer at some big sports meetings, and they might possibly take from leu to twenty thousand pounds. Many prominent players, including some of the 'All Blacks,' were prepared to go, and the finances were to be procured by the wealthier members putting down sums of from CIO to £2OO and debentures. All the profits were to be shared. Then the .Yew Zealand Union stepped in with their bombshell."

AWJOTT SICNS. Per Press Association. Wangitnui, Hay 20. It has been generally reported that L. L. Abbot, of Wanganui. a member of the "All Rlack'' (cam, had refused to sign the allidavit re .professionalism. The secretary of the Wanganui Rugby Union to-night wired to the secretary' of the New Zealand Rugby Union as follows: -"Abbott been ill; have now got his affidavit. Forwarding to-day."

DECAY OF PROFESSIONALISM. Per Press Association. Wellington, May 20. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received advice that Bradford, one of the strongest Yorkshire professional Rugby clubs, has succumbed for want of support and its ground has been taken over by an amateur club.

(Bradford is almost the centre of the professional district in England controlled by the Northern Union. The club's collapse is interesting in view of the proposed tour of a professional New Zealand team.)

Saturday's Auckland senior matches resulted:— Paruell 22 v. North Shore 0: Ponsonby 0 v. New ion 0; City 27 v Crafton 0.

iVell'lingtoii ma'lclies: Oriental 12 v. Melrose 0; Poneke 1-1 v. Athletic 11: "OKI boys" S v Wellington 3; St. ,Tam>s' 0 v. Victoria College 0. Christ church matches: Albion 20 v. "Old Boys" 12; Sydenham 13 v.Meriva'e 0; Cliristi'iiureh .'1 v. Limvood 0; Canterbury College a bye. I'miedin matches: Xingnri (Richmond 14 v. Taieri Hovers .1; 'Southern l;i v. Alhambra f): Univer.-.ity 33 v. Kaikorai 3; Duncdin (1 v. Pirate's 3; Port Chalmers IS v. Union 0.