FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 3 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

i THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR. ARRANGEME*N'Fs~IN ENGLAND t, COMPLETE. -> Received 2nd, 4.38 p.m. London June 1. (he Northern Rugby Union has completed arrangements for twenty-seveu matches against the New Zealanders, and banked .t:3000 to meet expenses.

PROSPECTS OF THE ENGLISH TOUR. NORTH COUXTRYMAXS ROSY ESTIMATE. llr 11. Bolton is enthusiastic about the prospects of tht> proposed professional football U'lim for England. Ho in ft Manchester man, who lias only recently '■nine to Wellington to resido; and bis acquaintance with tha sphere ruled by the .Northern Union entitles hint to some consideration.

"I think,-' he said to n Times reporter recently, "that a New Zealand profea•■■loual learn would have a very successful tf.iir. The All Blacks played most of ilieir matches (except the internationals) in which 1 would call the country towns —in the agricultural districts. The professionals will play theirs iu a thicklypopulated area. Within a circle of fifty miles around Manchester there are seventeen millions of people—mostly of the ""iking classes. They do not play foot--I>.Ul themselves; they are essentially spectators. They could not afford to pay the enormous rents required for the few grounds that are available. The only way to finance football there is to devote the few available grounds to matches by men of the best available skill-professionals. The spectators at the Rugby matches varv from 5000 to llt,(l(IO.

"The New eZaland matches? They should average at least 10.(100 spectator*. Interest cooled? Xo. The interest in the New Zealand matches in the Northern counties would be very keen—that is, if the New Zealanders played a good game, as 1 am convinced they would. "I have never missed seeing the best Wellington games since I came here, and I believe some of your best teams— Poneke,, say—would put np a good game with the best Northern Union teams, but 1 take it that the selected team would be bettor thnn your best club teams. There is evcrv prospect that the* matches of tho tour would be such open! questions as to attract very largo fet-'-' tendances. The All Blacks never vißited the Northern counties; and the Northern working men could not afford the ex-* pense of travelling to the Southern towns to sec the matches. The North- 1 cm counties people, therefore, would eagerly welcome the professional visit The scope? There is plenty of scope for six months' play, if necessary. There are oyer thirtv first-class teams playing in the district., each of thera worthy of u match, iu addition to the coinliinatons. If the New Zealanders

play a good game and take care of themselves, they will make money. A thoußamj pounds ouch? That ia rather a high. estimate; and there are expenses to be considered. Hut it will lie substantial. "Xurlheni I'liion play? That ia difficult to ftunjre as against the amateur teams, because, of course, there has never been a teat match between amateurs and professionals. But T consider the professionals arc the best teams. The forwards are heavier, brawnier'men than l lie amateurs, and the backs arc much smarter and more accustomed to making brilliant splints. 'J'hcy have o few 'Wallaces' in the Northern counties. The Xew Zealand games will be great events. Professionalism in football has justified itself in the Northern counties, and it is bound to spread. It will come before long in New Zealand."

SOUTH TAKANAKI MATCHES. (Special to "News").

Patea, Ju ne ].' Paten seniors beat Kaponga by 14 points (4 tries, one converted) to nil. Kaponga juniors beat Patea juniors by 28 to nil. ' Paten thirds beat Kaponga thirds by '<s fi to nil. • J*l _ *$

n , . . Hawera, June 1. 'M Okniawa juniors beat Hawera by }2'v'sf point, to 5. The winning team waj|/-,?I composed principally of Maoris. VuitsVfi Okniawa Koru, Olivers ami scored tres, and Koru kicked a penalty-IMF goal. For Hawera Villnrs scored aadjfflgL cymes converted. "'4B?

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