FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S BIG MATCH.

WILL LIVE LN FOOTBALL HISTORY

Saturday s match between the representatives of South Africa and Taranaki will live in football history. It was a great occasion, a great sight at the picturesque park, and a great game. Taranaki sat out to prevent the visitors from breaking their line; to hold them, and to rely upon any weakness they developed in their play to score. TaraDaki did not draw blood, though they went very close to it on three occasions, but they effectively held the Springboks, who proved a stronger team than was eommonly supposed. If anything, Taranaki had the better of the luck, but a draw accurately reflected the merits of the respective teams on the day’s play. Both sides were “full out” from the Word go to the finish. It was a hard, Strenuous game, a test of endurance, a 'battle between two divergent systems or play— one a close, forward, defensive same; the other an open, back, attacking game. The one countered the other, and Taranaki have every reason to be I satisfied with standing up so well i •gainst- <uch a strong international i SOUTH AFRICAN EXTENDED. Captain Pienaar stated at Masterton j that his side was fully extended at | New Plymouth, which is a tribute to the play of the Taranakis, whilst the | manager, in a chat with the writer after , the match, said he had only seen one i other team, that tackled so strongly and played such a successful forward game, and that was his own team at Kimber- j ley against the N.Z. Service All Blacks,' who were beaten on that occasion for the first time on their tour. “Those for- ; wards of yours,” said Mr. Bennett, “fought like tigers. They are a great i lot, and if they are a sample of what I we will meet on the tour we will have ’ to put our best feet forward.”

An a matter of fact, the South Africans will not meet a better set of forwards. It could scarcely bo possible. The Taranaki vanguard of Saturday could hold their own effectively with any other set in the Dominion to-day—-if, of course, they played with the same spirit and dash, and displayed the same form as characterised them on Saturday last. Not one can be singled out for special mention. It would be unfair (o do so. They all worked like Trojans And never let up once. ‘‘■SPIRITED FORWARDS. This spirit was shotvn by Campbell, who early in the game got a nasty smack that it was subsequently found had broken his collar-bone. -He played the whole of’the game practically with a broken collar-bone—and such a game! Then ‘there was “Mick” Cain, tne old battling hooker, who for years past has helped to keep up Taranaki’s end, and is still going strongly, as clever as ever in the scrum, and throughout using his “nut,” guiding his confreres, and doing the right thing throughout. Then there were Fdgarty, the solid, dashing forward; Masters and West, the heavy-weights, Lire nimble and full ■ of go; Spratt and Ki veil, tireless and game as pebbles, not to speak of the übiquitous McAllum. on the wing. They were a great pack, and kept together, and playing together they will yet do big things for Taranaki this season. A LIKELY TEAM. The selector has got together a splendid three-quarter line. Dick Roberts showed on Saturday that he can general n team as well as ever, can take and rick with the same judgment as of yore, ■ tnd play to feed his wings, though massing was not a marked feature of iheir programme. "* Sykes is a dashing, capable young slayer of the material from which champions are built. He has a great turn of foot, collars well, takes unerringly, and .kicks with great power and precision. He had hard luck in not scoring when he got away last Saturday. Another few inches and he would have been over, j He could be as dangerous as Van Heerden is reported to be near the line. Hickey proved him-elf worthy of a place in the representative team. He, too, just missed scoring, dropping a goal from the field at no easy angle, disallowed, however, because of tfig whistle sounding just before.

A CLEVER FULL-BACK. Kingston’s full-back play was superb. Time after time he saved his side, and but for him Taranaki might easily have been beaten. He was never bustled; he took everything as coolly as possible, and got in some great line-kick/. His attempt at goal was a really fine effort. It was one of those opportunities that come but seldom to a full-back, or any other back. He vindicated his right to the position of full in the New Zealand team . Surely there can be none better in the Dominion to-day.. It was interesting to watch Kingston’s methods. When the African came tearing down he did not rush up and make a dash for him. He shepherded him towards the side line, as a good sheep dog would shep'herd sheen, and got him jambed up against the line, and then he made sure of his quarry. A less experienced and good player might quite easily have lost his man—and the match.

THE CONNECTING LINK. [' Taranaki’s weakness was the connect- I' .ng link between the forwards and the I' hree-quarter line. The province this 1 ear ia weak in halves and five-eighths, nd possibly the men in those positrons j‘ n Saturday were the best available, j' Atkins played much above his usual form. He missed one or two op- , portuniries when the Taranakians were assaulting the visitors’ citadel ' in the beginning of the second half, by . ■ butting into the ruck, and passed out like a beginner, but it must be said to I his credit thar he stopped some ugly snd dangerous rushes when in his ow.it quarters, and collared like one thing. ' ‘ Coutts was an experiment at five- f eighths. His work was somewhat in < and out. But on the defensive he, too, ' did wonderfully well. He made mis- • takes which, on two occasions, at least, . ( he brilliantly retrieved. B. Roberts made his debut in repre- I • tentative football. It was a gruelling ( ' test, but, on the whole, he came out ! j well. He is safe if not brilliant, and <

with mora experience he may turn out quite a rep. player. Wynyard was passed over for the fiveeighths position because of an accident to his leg in training. He shaped excellently against Wanganui, cutting in. drawing off his opponents from his own men. and initiating much good work. He may be the five-eighths Taranaki is Rooking for, and, with a resourceful half.

laranaki could face the best of the provincial teams with every confidence. THE OLD MAORI TEAM. Wynyard’s father, by the way, is the redoubtable “Pae” Wynyard,, the old Petone stalwart, in his day one of the best footballers in the Wellington district, and who <-aptained the Maori team which toured England in 1888. “Pae” was a tricky and resourceful player, and hi;< son has many of his attributes.

That old Maori team, with its three Warbi icks, two Wynyards, Davy Gage, Pat Keogh. Ellison, and other notable players, played 74 matches at Home, winning 49, losing 20, and drawing 5. They scored .394 points, and 188 were scored against them. They also played 13 matches in Australia, and woh every

i Sykes’ father, by the way. was in the I old Petone team of "Pae” Wynyard’s •day, and a dashing forward “Alf” was lin a team noted for their vigor and i success. THE SOUTH AFRICANS. The two outstanding backs in the : visitors’ team w’ere J- P. Miehau (half) and Clarkson (centre three-quarter). Morkel fed his men consistently, and .once or twice fooled his vis-a-vis. He kicked with power and judgment, and j was particularly sound in defence. He i got knocked about quite a lot whilst •lying on the ground. | Clarkson is a fine player, his work al- | ways having a finish io it. He kicked ! splendidly, ran swiftly, strongly, and i with a swerve that once almost gained jaim a try. | Van Hecrden, the Olympic champion hardier, did not have a day out. Sykes and Kingston were on his trail th rough'cut. He attempted his hurdling, but it 1 was the last. Henry Morkel, on the other wing, showed plenty of pace, and got within striking distance twice. The visiting forwards met their j match. They held the upper hand for , a time until the local men got their j measure, and then they had to play secI ond fiddle. They were beaten in scrum tactics, and in the loose scrambles. On J the line-out the advantage of weight 'possessed by the giants, J. P. Miehau J and Royal Morkel. did not avail them much after the first quarter of an hour, i The pace was a cracker, and towards |the finish of the game it began to have iirs effect upon the big men. Really it ' v as wonderful how they stood up to the I pace as long as they did.

I OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED. 1 The visitors, were obviously disap- , pointed with the result of the match, kind friends at Auckland had told I them that Taranaki were a second-rate i team, and would not be able to put up I much of a game against a really good • team. Perhaps the estimate was a just one on the pei i ormanees of Taranaki I representatives of recent years, but thjj J northern folk had failed to appreciate j the fact that Taranaki arc capable of ex- ■ tending T?.e best of teams when they really make up their minds to do so. . They were keen on holding the visitors, i and felt confident of doing so after their week’s hard training and practice. It is doubtful if Auckland or Welling” • ton could have done better on Saturday’s •play than the Springboks against TaraInaki, who played the best game they have played since the days of 1914. So the South Africans need not have taken their reverse—for that is what it ■ amounted to —to heart. They met as strong a provincial team as they are likely to meet in the Dominion.

TO-DAY’S MATCH AT WELLINGTON

The Wellington critics depreciate the ability of the Springboks, declaring they won’t be able to stand up against their men to-day. Let us see. If the [ground is tolerably dry, the Springboks i will shake them up severely. The Athletic Park is the result of the filling in of a gully, and holds the water. If much rain has fallen, therefore, the ground will be heavy and slippery, and that condition will favor Wellington. Wellington has forwards no better than Taranaki, but it certainly has a half and five-eighths equal to the Springboks. Every match will improve the South Africans’ form and combination, and Wellington will have no soft thing on to-day. They will need to “go for their lives” to beat the South Africans.

* Wellington, it must be admitted, has ja strong team. Five’Now Zealand representatives have" places in it —Aitken j (centre threequarter), Al. Nicholls (fivei eighths), E. Nicholls (half-back), Hughes and Moffett (forwards). The half, five- ' eighths and centre threequarter is a j formidable combination that will make its influence felt in the match. The (forwards are a fairly hefty lot, but | will have to play "some” tn equal Tara- • naki’s vanguard on- last Saturday’s firm.

I FROM THE LAND OF SMUTS. I “Hartebeeste” writer in the Auckland Observer: Tiie presence of a large num'her of gigantic Dutch Afrikanders, who ! can play football like angels, reminds (a New Zealand kerel of the days when i the fathers of the present l ean) were | Boer commandants and veldt kernels, land the hefty ones were probably either fitting in their little pra/ms masticating j-Boerbrod or were being taught by their ! fathers to use the rifle which is the j pride of every little Dutch Afrikander. I There are names in this splendid team of fellow Imperialists which recall some of the greatest incidents in a threei years’ war that had effects which were ian astonishment, to the world, and particularly to William Ilohenzollern. An (excellent football writer in an eontemI'porary says “many of the names included in the list have a strong South African flavor.*' My friend might just | as well declare that Smith. Brown, | Jones and Robinson were names with a atrong New Zealand flavor. They are Dutch and Hugenot French, and many South African history, fought niggers Jof the forefathers of these boys made 'and lions and more than anything fought the trackless veldt and water.less kopje, sung hymns, trusted in God. and commanded the black man. These t young men come from the land where (the great Louis Botha first fought like' ; a, clean sport against us and then fought ! for us. They come from the land of Jante Smuts, who is in the same category and who is an acknowledged Brit--1 ish statesman nowadays. They come from the land of that wonderful old Piet • Cronje, the implacable old farmer who was one of the natural soldiers of the 'last century and from the country of ; Christian de Wet. the nimblest guerilla j leader who ever pulled a trigger. There (is Imperial history in these young Dutch ' Afrikanders, and what is better, there, ‘is the friendship of the sport that has done much to link the parts of the Empire together. 4 GREAT PLAYER HORS DE COMBAT.

Football followers will learn with rejiret of the state of Kissick’s health. It is unlikely the distinguished Kaponga player will be able to play again this season, owing to sciatica. It was the newspaper John Bull that described him

as “the greatest living forward.” This is high praise indeed, but it is certain no better man ever donned the jersey for Taranaki.

And Taranaki has produced some great forwards in its day. One recalls t he Goods, the McKays, the Thomases, the O’Sullivans, the Hugh Mills, the Lambies, the Glasgow, the Hawkens, the. Wells, the O’Dowda-s, the Hughes, the Youngs, the Glenns, all men that left their mark not only on provincial but colonial football. But it was in the backs that Taranaki more particularly shone. Think of the galaxy of players in the days of the Baylys, the Goods, the Hamptons, the Humphries, the Mynots, the Hunters, the Allens. They were giants in the game.

Alf Bayly, what a perfect three-quar-ter he was! He was not only a fine player, but a man who was never known to do an unkind or unsportsmanlike action on or off the field. The “Alf Bayly” scholarship, it will -be remembered, was inaugurated by Taranaki footballers to his memory, and is competed for annually by the secondary school boys of the province. A finer example of character than his could not be set before the boys of the province. Fred Bayly was a hefty player, gaining his rep. cap when 14 or 15 years of age. The other brothers were Charlie, Walter, Ernest, Frank and Harry. All represented Taranaki at different periods. It is a great record for one family.

The Goods were another fine combination—Harry, Hugh, Alley and Billy. Harry was a great runner and an allround ' forward. It was lie that scored the try against the Englishmen in 1887, thus winning the match, the first team to beat them. Hugh had a great turn of speed, -with a strength that carried him frequently over the enemy’s line. He was reckoned to be the hardest man to bring down in the Dominion. Alley also was very fast and a bright allround player, while Willie, though not as brilliant as his brothers, was a consistent player who ever kept up his end THE FIRST REP. MATCH. Talking of old times reminds one that the game was flourishing in and around New Plymouth in the middle seventies. An Auckland team was the first provincial team to try conclusions with Taranaki. The match took place on the Poverty Flat ground, where the Central and Technical schools now are. The' game, according to old chronicles, was very “willin,”’ and ended in the total rout of the visitors. The Taranaki Union has the victory “on the list.” but the Auckland Union ignores it, making out that it was a prehistoric event in the football world! In this match the reports appearing in the Taranaki papers of that period —the’ News, by the way. goes back as far as 1857—as "Mister.” For instance, “Mister made a capital shot at goal.” During the parly eighties the game made steady progress, but it was not until 1887 that Taranaki shot to the front as a leading football centre. In that year a Taranaki team visited Auckland, and lowered the northerners’ colors again by 1 point to nil (a try was a point in those days). In I'BBB Taranaki again surprised the rest of New Zealand by defeating Lillywhite and Shrewsbury’s team of Englishmen. The matgh took place in splendid weather, on the New Plymouth racecourse, tn front of the grandstand. Taranaki securing a try to nil. In the following September, after the Australian tour, they again played Taranaki, this time at Hawera, and the visitors were victorious by 7 to 1. . A TEAM OF N.Z. CHAMPIONS. In 1894, under the guidance of Alf. Bayly and others, they were the champion team of New Zealand, as the folJowing record shows:—v. Wanganui, won by 22 to 5; v. Manawatu, won by 8 to 0: v. Auckland, won by 14 to nil; v. N.S.W., at New Plymouth, won by 21 to 6; v. Wellington, Avon by 6 to nil; v. Canterbury, won by 17 to 3.

( It was a great team. They -were;— [Backs: L. Allen, J. Lang, T. Hempton, A. Bayly (captain), H. Good, R. B. Lusk, A. Humphries; forwards: A. Good, W. Bayly (wings), A. George, M. McMillon, D. Hughes, W.-Wells, C. Watson, J. Livingston, W. Sangster, F. Pearson, J. Cullen, J. Lambic. The 1896 team was equally successful. At about that time New Zealand drew heavily upon Taranaki for its rep. teams —Alf Bayly, Hugh Good. Alex Good, L. Allen. W' Bayly. D. Hughes, A. Humphries. D. Watson, W. M ells, H. Mills, B. O’Dowda —players who upheld the prestige of their province as Avell as of their country.

The team that met and defeated the British team at Pnkekura Park by five points to nil in August. 1904. were: Full back, E. F. Fookes; ihree-qunrrers, H. J. Thomson (Wanganui), J. Hunter (captain), 11. L. Abbott; five-eighths. 11. Mynott; half. B. Frewin; wing forwards, W. A. Guy and F. Glasgow: forwards. A. McMinn (Manawatu), H. A. Wilson (••Blazer”), J. O’Sullivan, W. Glenn, R. Douglas, .1. Thomas and W.

("Suit”) McKay. The team was a composite ohe of this coast, and included one. .Manawatu and one Wanganui player. WHO WON? Many people did not quite know what was the result of the game until they reached town. They were confused by Hickey’s goal and what appeared to be the try awarded to the Springboks. 'Even the visiting players were not quite sure as they came off the field. Quoth one: "We won by a try.” Replied another: “No, we didn’t win. They won. They got a goal from the field. We got a try. So they won by 4 to It was rather extraordinary that there should have been this confusion, but there, it wan.

PUKEKURA PARK. PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT. SATURDAY'S ATT EX DAN CE. The first estimate of the. attendance at Saturday’s big match were on the high side. It was given as between 14,000 and 15,000. The authorities have

since gone carefully into the figures, and make the. attendance a little over 12.000. This knowledge is interesting as showing, the capacity of the ground. It is certain that at a pinch another 2000 can be got into it.

The sports committee which control the ground (which, by the way, had a welcome win over the match) have an idea of remodelling the which are regained as too high, making two where one now is, and by this means hoping to find accommodation for tbou?ands more.

The playing ground will require' attention as’ well, for it does not drain as w T ell as could he desired, due to it being lower thaii_the lev>l of the top of the lake, ante it will be necessary to bring it up another two or three feet. It will be a costly work, but it should pay in the long run. At rhe same tims

a pavilion with a gymnasium attached could be built. The money for this no doubt could be raised. The town is badly in need of athletic training facilities, and there can be little doubt but tliat the proper location for them is alongside the playing field. It is-probably correct to say that there is no place quite like Pukekura sports ground anywhere. It is a natural ampitheatre, and affords practically everyone, even on a day like Saturday, a grandstand seat or view. The South Africans were charmed with the picturesque ground and its beautiful surroundings, .freely exclaiming that they had seen nothing to equal it in any part of the world. The ground should be the pride of New Plymouth—or really Taranaki, for it is a Taranaki asset — and it is hoped the efforts of those controlling it to make it more suitable and worthy of the province’s athletic sons, will lie rewarded as fully as they deserve.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. MATCHES PLAYED. v. Wanganui—Won by 6 points to 3. v. South Auckland—Drawn, 15 points eacl". v. South Africa—Draw, no score. MATCHES ARRANGED. July 28—v. Wanganui, at Stratford. August 3—v. Canterbury, at Hawera. August 13 or 20—v. Wellington, at Wellington. August 17 or 24—v. Manawatu, at Palmerston North. August 27—v. Wellington, at New Plymouth September 3—v. Auckland, at Auckland. September 10—r. Otago, at New Plymouth. September 24—-v. Auckland, at New Plymouth. THE SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. RESULTS TO DATE. v. Wanganui—Won 11 points to 5. v. Taranaki—Draw, no score. v. Wairarapa—Won 18 points to 3. MATCHES TO PLAY. July 23—v. Wellington. July 27—r. West Coast. July 30—v. Canterbury. August 3—v. South Canterbury. August G—v. Southland. August 10—v. Otago. August 13—v. New Zealand, at Dunedin (first test). August 17—v. Manawatu. August 20—v. Auckland. August 24—v. Rotorua. August 27—v. New Zealand, at Auckland (second test). August 31—v. Hawke’s Bay. September 3—v. New Zealand, at Wellington (final test). September 6—v. Nelson and Marlborough. POSITION OF THE TEAMS. A GRADE. f i i s s J Clifton 11 8 2 1 7-1 42 18 Hawera 10 7 2 1 95 29 16 Stratford 11 5 3 '» 81 74 13 Okalawa 10 5 f 4 53 39 11 Kaponga 11 5 .15 94 5G 11 Tukapa 10 3 2 5 51 55 8 Opunake 11. 4 7 50 103 8 Waimate 11 22 7 64 .84 6 Patea 11 2 1 8 59 106 5 B GRADE. Inglewood 9 G 2 1 45 16 14 Star 9 5 22 45 3S 12 L'ltham 10 3 3 4 64 52 9 Old Boys 9 3 1 5 63 53 7 Okato 9 1 2 ’ 6 30 68 4 TO-DAY'S MATCHES. A GRADE. Tukapa r. Stratford, at New Plymouth, Mr. P. Skogluud. Hawera v. Opunake, at Hawera, Mr. F. Julian. Clifton v. Waimate, at Waitara, Mr. E. Burke. Patea v. Okaiawa, at Okaiawa, Mr. A. H. Guy. B GRADE. Old Boys v. Okato, at New Plymouth, Mr. J. Johnston. Eltham v. Star, at Eltham, Mr. A. Neilson. The cup competitions, which 1 were broken into last Saturday by the vislt/of the Springboks, will be resumed to-day. Stratford and Tukapa will meet at Pukekura Park, and this shculd provide one of the brightest displays of club football seen in New Plymouth this season. Both teams possess fast backs who make the game open. As a. curtain raiser Okato will play Old Boys, and as the coastal team has shown improved form of late a good game should result.

At Waitnra Cllftoh will meet Waimate. The Plainsmen seem to have gone otf considofahly since they drew with Clifton at Manala in the first round, and the leaders should hold them safe. Still, football is an uncertain game. Most interest wJU centre on the meeting of Hawera and Onunakc. The coastal team is in great form just now. and with three wins on end this round Is sanguine of lowering the colors of the amber and blacks, who are equally confident of repeating their first round viclory. |j. should he a game worth witnessnig. At Okalawa the iocal team will meet Palea. At Eltham the, local team will “meet Star, and the wearers of the black and white are confident of lowering the towli team's colors. TUKAPA V. STRATFORD. The ft ’lowing players will represent Titkapa Club to-day:—Seniors v. Stratford, Recreation Grounds, at 3 p.m.: .1, Priar, K. Hooker, fl. Oliver, G. Hart, G. Ennis, it. Oliver, L. Whitaker, C. JHcAllum, R. -QulckfaJl, K. McLean, T. Crone, I’. Allen. X. Mclntyre, F. Wilson, P. Atkinson. THE WANGANUI MATCH. The next, engagement that the Taranaki team have to fulfil is (he return match against Wanganui at Stratford next. Thursday. When, these teams met at, Wanganui on .lune 3 Taranaki won by 6 points to 3, but there was not much merit, in the win, as Taranaki’s points were represented by. two goals, whilst Wanganui's consisted of a try. Since then Wanganui has considerably strengthened its team, and so has Taranaki. Indeed, if the local team can only reproduce last Saturday’s form there is no question as to where, the victory will lie. The Taranaki team is' so erratic, however, that it is not. safe to prognosticate. Taranaki can always be relied upon to play a great game when up against it, and if they can only be prevailed upon to realise that Wanganui is a solid proposition, and play accordingly, an Interesting game should ensue. Wanganui of to-day is indeed a solid team, as the riverside union has some strong sub-unions to draw upon. The Taranaki team will probably be the same as that which did so well on Saturday last, though there is a possibility that Dick Roberts will not be playing.

THE OHURA VISIT. The visit of the Ohura. footballers to Taranaki this week should assist in further cementing the goodwill that exists between this portion of Taranaki and the hinterland. The present-day footballer who will not play unless a motor-car Is sent to his door to fetcli him cannot realise the conditions under which the back-blocks player participates in sport, but his elder brother of fifteen years ago can. In those days players used to walk, ride, or drive over 50 miles to take part in a match each Saturday, and thought nothing of it. So it Li in tiie Ohura to-day. The pldyers ride miles ever rough roads to play thslr club matches.

This visit should also prove of great benefit to the Ohura team, who are mostly young players shotting promise, who only require experience. That they aro keen is shown by their playing three matches iu one week, namely, at Okaiawa on Tuesday, at Eltham against the Taranaki B team on Thursday, and today at Kapo'hg’a against Kaponga. The team on Thursday did remarkably well when it is considered that at the last moment Dick Roberts, Glasgow, and Ford were unable to play, necessitating re-arranging the team, besides which Dick Roberts’ generalship would have been an ■ invaluable asset. As it was, Cole had to be moved up from five-eighths to half to replace Ford, who was taken ill, whilst Robinson was taken from the serum to fiveeighth. He acquitted himself wjell. In the first half Ohura were Securing the ball from the scrum, but their backs were unable to handle it, so in the second spell they kept the ball close and got off some fine rushes. Westlake, Boswell (until he was injured), Kouri, and England were the pick of tiie forwards. Of the backs, Brennan, at centre three-quarter, an Auckland player, was the pick, kicking and tackling well and running straight. Peebles and Robinson were also solid, the latter being always on the ball. Of the wings Freeman appeared the better, though Bartholomew also did good work, despite the fact that he injured his arm early in the game. Taranaki backs threw the ball about Well and in the early part of the second spell gave a bright display, handling the greasy ball in good style, though at times their work lacked finish, and of course the tackling of the opposing side was a deterring factor. Still, had it been fine they probably would have put up a much bigger score. Berg, at half, got the ball away smartly and shows great promise. Dlmmock was the better of the five-eighths. Lusk, at centre three-quarter, did a lot of work. He cuts in nicely and is very solid, but at times is apt to hang on too long. Wilkinson showed what a great scoring man he is if given an opening. He was not quite at houne with the greasy ball. Hart, on the other wing, did a lot of work. He is nippy and a very tricky runner, but the going «as against him. Dinford, at full back, had a lot of work to do, and did it, saving his side on numerous occasions. Of the forwards, McKay, McCullough (who took Fuller’s place when the latter was injured), Murphy, and Norgate were the most prominent.

N.S.W. TEAM’S TOUR. DOMINION FIXTURES. Following is tiie proposed itinerary for the visit of the New South Wales football team, subject to approval by the visitors: Arrive Wellington August 8, play Marlborough at Blenheim on August 10; play West Coast at Westport August 13, play South Canterbury at. Tlmaru August 17 ; play New Zealand at Christchurch August 20; play Manawa tuat Palmerston North Auugust 24; play Poverty Bay at Gisborne August 27; play Hawke's Bay at Napier ugust 31; play Bay of Plenty at Rotorua eptember 3; play North Auckland at Whangarei September 7. WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIPS. The following tables indicate the relative positions of clubs in the Wellington senior and junior championship competitions respectively : Senior Championship.

Matches. Points, Ch. W. L. D. for. agst. pts I’etone .... 10 2 0 212 84 20 Poneke .... 9 3 0 116 58 18 Orion tal ... 8 4 0 134 117 16 Bothampore 7 5 0 111 87 14 Athletic ... 6 5 1 136 118 13 Marist O.B. ..... - 4 6 1 -o 76 9 University . a ■ aa 3 8 0 91 123 6 Selwyn .... a a aa 9. r q 74 13” 6 Wellington . • ... 0 9 2 44 190 *> Junior Championship. Matches. Points, Ch. W. L. D. for. agst. ptR. Old Boj's .. It 0 1 216 66 23 Betone 8 1 3 141 63 19 Hurt s ** -j -.- 44 Berhampore fi 2 2 120 .82 Selwyn .... 7 5 0 91 59 14 Oriental ... a a a a 7 5 0 82 82 Lt Athletic .a aa C 5 1 69 ‘ 67 1 :i Johnsonville a a a a 6 5 1 98 80 13 Wellington . a... 3 8 1 68 94 7 Marist O.B. i 9 0 51 114 4 University . a a aa n io o 32 192 Poneke .... 0 12 0 2j 208 0