FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 156, 27 July 1909, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS IN MELBOURNE.

P/ Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright

i Melbourne, July 20. Disgraceful rowdyism was evident at r several football matches, the" barrackers expressing their sympathies with blue metal and other missiles. In the South Melbourne-Fitzroy match mounted troopers were required to disperse the mob. •

TEAM FOR SYDNEY.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

i Auckland, Last Night. The Pbnsonby District Football Club | left by the s.s. Victoria this evening for Sydney, where a number of matches will be played. The party consists of 21 players, exclusive of officials. The players who left are:—Backs,'A. Blackey, O. Macgregor, G. Murray, S. Clark, O. Wolfgramm, J. OLeary, G. Bater, F. Morse, C. Webb, J. McDonald; lorwards, G. Sellars, H. Elliott; E. Dervani W. Cunningham, A. Francis, G. Nicholson, J. Hall, C. Savoury, A. McKinnori, J. Grundy, and J. Barrett. Mr. T. Aitken accompanies the team as manager, Mr. E. Wfialey as assistant manager, and Mr. George Gillett will also travel with the team, which will be captained by A. H. Francis. ! '

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME. Auckland, Last Night. L, B. Todd,the well-known footballer, who went Home with the All Black professional team, and who for tile past two years has been playing in the Uld Country for the Wigan club, returned to Auckland via Sydney by the Wimmera yesterday. Todd, when asked if he intended to go Home again, stated that he was at present undecided. He had a decidedly good offer from the Wigan club, and there was a strong probability that he would accept. Todd said the Northern Union game had made great strides in England, and Rugby was not now taken as a serious rival. It seemed to be the general impression that in a few years prolessionals and amateurs would be playing together, and that the popular game would be the Northern Union. From what he could gather, he did not think the English Union would invite another amateur | team to visit the Old Country. The Scottish Union had forced the English Union to an issue on the question of 'professionalism, and it was generally understood that both the original All Blacks team and the Wallabies were classed as professionals, and it"looked as if there would be nothing for th colonials to do but to cut the painter. The Northern Union game had made tremendous strides, and 'in the last few years the clubs had more than trebled their membership, and now some of them bad two and three thousand members.

THE SOUTHERN TEAM. The team selected to represent the southern districts in the second trial match, at Hawera, on Wednesday week, is as follows:—Full-back, Tinney '(Patea); three-quarters, Pini (Waimate), Prince (Waimate), Sheahan (Patea); five-eighths, Beamish (Hawera), Roberts (Kaponga); half, Thurston (Hawera); wing, Swainson (Patea); forwards, Jlotfitt (Waimate), Ryan (Waimate), Crowley (Kaponga), Young (Waimate), Tamu (Waimate), Crowley (Hawera), Shealian (Patea). Emergencies: Back, Luxton; forward, Dewars. The only alterations from the team selected for the first trial is that Mohitt has been put in O'Sullivan's place, and, Whittington being a certainty Crowley is being given a chance. The match starts at two o'clock sharp.

OUTSIDE MATCHES. Saturday's Wellington matches:—Poneke 18, St. James' 7; Petone 10, Oriental 11; Southern 6, Old Boys 5; Athletic 13, Melrose 0; Victoria College 3, Wellington 3. Christchurch matches:-3ydennam l»> Albion 11; Merivale 26, Old Boys 3; Christchurch 11, Linwood 8. Merivale letain their lead of half a point from Sydenham. Each has three matches to Draedin matches:—Albambra 14, Kaikorai 7; Zingari-Ricbmoad. 11, Union 3; Southern 4, Taieri Rovers Oj Duncdm 34, Pirates 5; Chalmers 19, University Waimate" seniors to play Stratford on I Thursday will be:—D. Ryan, Prince, Pini, Burke, Franklin, Birclwll, Christie, Paterson, Jlotfitt, Wilson, Young, lieKay, Tamu, Davis, M. Ryan. Eninrgencv, Howes. Okaiawa defeated Kaponga 11. on Saturday and thereby annex the southern division championship.

" The Buffer," in the Opunake Times, writes in reference to the Waimate difficulty: "I notice a good deal/is written about'the 'previous custom' of the Union in connection with the presei. embroilment. A few years ago, when Opunake came in contact with the previous custom,' they travelled to Hawera and played off a tic ami won; then were ordered to travel to Stratford to plav the championship, and won. Then, later on, by dead of night, they tihe championship away, before Opunake was notified that a protest was lodged against them. That Ib to say, tney were hiing first and tried afterwards. That was 'previous custom, Appeals were lodged and one sent to the New 4ealand Union. The old worn-out uiris.-1 diction,' was the reply. In the meantime j Stratford was given another chance (all played at Stratford), but they did lot win the championship. One of Hie present members of the Waimate team assisted in the injustice to Opunake and when a technical wrong (In Ms eye,) rmeted out to his club I hope he will remember the 'engineering that was done when the chanimonsfoip was stolen from the Opunake club, 1 —■—*»^—MS