FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 99, 15 April 1908, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE PROFESSIONAL TEAIC

Sydney, April 14. The Professional Rugby League tendered the New Zealand professional footballers a reception at the Town Hall.

Wright, the captain of the team, in replying for the visitors, said tliey had learned many lessons on the tour. One was that the old amateur Rugby game was not the only game in the world. He was sure the public would flock to see the new League game. He did not think there was a player in England who could kick goals as Messenger could.

The statement is made that a Maori professional footba/11 team will leavfe' Auckland for Sydney in about a'inonth'H time. The team will be composed oi twenty-eight men in all, hailing froni Auckland, the King Country Rotorua, and Wellington, the' majority coming from the Auckland district. Some wellknown players will be included. It is suggested that if the New South Wales tonr is a success, an attempt will be made, to send the team to Great Britain during the forthcoming English season. Mr. If/ Wilson (familiarly known by the soubriquet of "blazer"), who has taken up his residence in Manaia, is working enthusiastically for the Warmate club, and is likely to again don the jersey. "*"

THE ASSOCIATION GAME.

The season's prospects in " soccer" ircles are very promising. With tb,e ormation of a club at Stratford there fill now be nine teams taking part in ilie cup competition. It is also probiblc that another club will be formed n South Taranaki before the season' s far advanced. What the personnel ot he various teams will b e is at present laid to say, but there should be sufficient experienced exponents of the sama •under colours" to demonstrate its attractive qualities. A match is being arranged between New Plymouth and Hawera teams, to he played at New Plymouth on Easter Monday. Stratford and Eltham clubs meet at Stratford on the same date. Jvaponga club has clearly opened the season, and probably made an early start with a view to getting in some S/'r" t0 & "»W» against the Diamond Club (Wellington), uida, JJie local club will nave to Iw <■ unce, a 8 tl, e Diamond Club is one of Ue d st s est clubs „uuer the New Union I 8 to be held on Thursday. t,,,,n H P n° POS ?!> Send team Home this year (which, appear* tu T !V et , with «" approval of the British Football Association) ,Jl P'»it U , is [ndeed ttmtU eX ' »*co„a. g ra9e team could bet? 61 "/ getlier that would nas, thl g u * to ' ordeal creditably, asTi, Ugh J tte I'kely that some o L \ ™ orc , thttn "'ould be unablo to lu t 7 beßt . playcrs even second-grade fSS 6 „ fte '«*• And far too soli d g for a nv w " at fc Home is «"■ Such , e 2 ' ° U , r best P prove a finnrL- i l<! woul(I <*rta miy Gonial T? s tf sh t " , 1 1 ,V 10WeV f' intwscope for ti! „ilr - P rovlde am P le and a sLTh Wbles of our P Ia A tion by ST/irr ,? • Co " itt ' ' a BritLi 1 I Union is that to nlav 'fi d^Mde team h ° in^ted f ICSIn New Zealand. thf ■• 1 ln3 - aUt ' e of the popularity of ,eo„le wi? f" XV Ut Ho'i'e. 130,000 mat' m'lf ed thc match leccntly, , lni , 30m ,