FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

I'KOI'KSSIUNALS IX AUSTRALIA. DKSIKK To AIIAXDOX KKST OF HATCHES. (By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright). Received 23rd, 12.4fi a.m. Sydney, May 22. Owing to Mr. A. 11. ]in-«keTville's death, the All Illacks are desirous of abandoning the Italanee of the matches in Australia, but the Xew South Wales ltugbv League, having been put to considerable expense, could not See its way to sanction this. Six members of the team, including Mr. Palmer (the manager) accompany Mr. Baskerville's body to New Zealand. They are leaving by the Moiiowai tomorrow. THE OPENING 01? TIIE BIUTISIIEUS' 'i'OUK.

l'er Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. The whole of the British team, except IT. It. Vassall, went up this afternoon to Masterton, where the lirst match of the tour will take place to-moWj-.v agaiust Wainirapa and liush Unions. The visitors' team will lie as follows: Full-back, E. J. Jackett; lhrcc-c[iiailcrs. It. A. (Jibbs, I'. McEvedy, J. l'outy •lones, <l. L. Williams; inside half, Jl. Laxlon: outside half. J. Davy; forwards, A. T. llanl.v. 11. Dibble, E. Morgan. AV. Oldham. .1. I''. Williams, (!. V. Kyrke, T. Smith, and A. J. Kit-oil.

mUTISJUMS WKLUJMISL) AT MAttTJiKTON. l\»r Tress Association. Masterton. La-I Xighl. A great reception was ucv"rd< , d Up-Kiigli-di team li'Te to-night, vny great enthusiasm living shown by over HMii) people. The tram wan escorted to tin* town and drill hall, where a parked. audience listened to addresses ul welcome by various speaks, to which Messrs liaruetfe (manager) and Harding (captain) replied. The weather i-. \»tv pvomisini:. and the ground iu splendid order l'or the ! play to-movi'uw. It anticipated that I tile largest crowd ever seen in Master* I ton will assemble.

According to a contemporary, football in the Wairarapa js not of a very high standard this year, and the British team will certainly meet nothing like the players who opposed Stoddart's com-' bination. In those and for many subsequent veav*, Wairarapa was a strong sid". 'With the IVvrys, Welch*, Udy*, and not forgetting Whatman, probably in his day the forward in the colony, and "who broke his leg in the match against Stoddart's team in Wellington, and ".lake" Baumber. Wairarapa had a team which took a lot of beating. Then followed Archie DWvey, now in Sydney, 'Willy'' "Watson.

"Klrody'' (Iray, Dan I'dy. all of whom represented the colony, "Jumbo*' Udy a player who weighed between fifleei and sixteen stone, and was one of I'fn kindest, c|uietest, and most gentle play ers who ever trod a football Held, llarn Wrigley. and many another player whos ; names will be recalled bv old football

La»t week*> liiiHelin, referring lo tli<' New South Wale- Xrw Zealand professional match, *ays ot' A. if. l>a>k< i rvilU*.! wliu died in (Queensland tlic other day: - Maskervillo, the leading spirit of the enterprise, played on Saturday, and -hownl that in hi* \»l«iy \w is a< porf**vt a footballer as hi* well-written book imitates him to he. Cnnsually fast ' atid full (if vsouivi'. In- playcil a name I that >bone bvinhtly by contract iu a ti'iini that mostly relied upon liard l»ullo* l"'»v sm-n-p, < 2O. /00 people paid admission tV«»s. ami tno new iranu' 1 luis Vrt'i'ivi'ij a cMii-idci'ablr lilt by the I visit oi tliu Maorilamleiv. ;

T)Cci';hihl was a all-rmmd ;i, bIt'lo, and liad jmt up -<>nn' prrf«>rm-aiM-Ofj on tin* luniiinn 1 ratk. lb- was alio an eiilhiisiasiir wrilrr. and ]u<{ bot'oro tli': prot>>sif,tial team left l'<»r Kn^ - - lali'i wi'll-writtcn b"ul; on footbulb lYom lii-j jtcn. was plac< l d on tin' l» al market. lie wh about 2S yeai - jf age. and Ms parents re-side in Wellington.

It is slated that the Star Club's thirci grade team will protest against the l'.ltham team which defeated them liy ■l7 to nil on Thursday, alleging that two of I lie Elthum players were not resilient in the Klthain district.

'J he team to rcpre-ent Xew Zcalam iu the tiist test, match against tin Anglo-Welsh comhination at Dumdiii is to be picked to-night a! Wllinglon. The Taranuki selector; have lorwurded the following noiiiinatiuiis:—Mynotl, Hunter, Cameron, Cole man, and \\ liittington. Ilardgraves intimated his inability to make the journey, although it is generally believed lie ivoulil have been a certainty i'or the position of lull-back. It is to lie hoped lu* will be available for the sum".ding test games on 27tli .lime at Wellington and 25th .Inly at Auckland.

A young fellow made himself objer tionable while watching the progress ol the senior match at \Vanganui Recreation tironnd last Saturday, and has been forbidden by the Rugby Union to witness any of the football matches for the next three Saturdays.