FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 31 May 1907, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THURSDAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. EKETAHUNA v. ALBION. The Eketahuna and Albion senior teams met on the Masterton Showgrounds, yesterday afternoon, when Eketahuna won by 6 points to nil. The game was not very interesting. Eketahuna had slightly the ;best of the game. In the first spell Clarke kicked a penalty goal for the visito v s, and in the second half Anderson scored a try. One of the Albion players had to retire at half-time, and they played wii 'i fourteen men in the second spell. Mr F. Pelling was referee.

The senior football matches, which were to have been played to-morrow, have been postponed. The junior matches will, however be played. The following is the Hukanui team to play against Hamua, at Hamua, on Saturday next:— Foss, Main, Morris, Twentyman, Tunnecliffe, Popplewell, Stephens, Quainlan, Barnes, Leinberg, Wells, Pratt, Henry, Hawkes and A. Benge. The following team will represent Wairarapa Thursday Seniors against Wellington Wednesday Seniors, at Wellington, on Mondny next:Masson, Holms, V. i airbrother, McGuinness, Whana, G. Hall Tidswell, baiith, Hunter, Fuge, Levick, Phelps, E. Fairbrother and Tait. Emergencies—E. Kempton, Watson, and Kilmister (2). Owing to the Secretary of the Eketahuna Club neglecting to forward the names of players available for selection none of the members of that Club have been included in the team. Mr A. C. Holms lias been elected Secretary of the Wair. rapa Thursday Rugby Union, vice Mr F. O'Connor, resigned.

By Telegraph—Press /ssoiiation. WELLINGTON, May 30. Writing to the New Zealand Rugby Union, the Union's representative (Mr Palliser) in England says with reference to the vi?it of the English team to New Zealand: —The matter is well on the way, being r?iECUssed at a Committee meeting of the Union. An announcement will be made at the annual meeting of the ' Union at the end of June. "I think," states Mr Palliser, "you cen take it that the team will visit you during the coming year." A letter has been received by the N-jw Zealand Rugby Union from the Soith Afri-an Union stating that it wa3 not thought advisable to send a team to New Zealand , a3 it was considered that the next few. years should be devoted to improving local footoall.

THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

AUf ULAND, May 30. Twelve A 'jckiand football representative. -i»o refused on Saturday, signed the declaration last eyening. Mr V. Langsford, secretary of the local Rugby Union, pointed out the necessity of the Rugby Union taking up the attitude it had in requesting all representative footballers in the colony to sign the declaration* All Elack playars pointed out that they had objected on Saturday because they could not conscientiously sign the declaration, inasmuch as when on a tour of Great Britain they received moneys from the New Zealand Union itself. It was also explained that those of the twelve who had not been members of the Ail Black team had not signed becaufee they realised the position of the New Zealand representatives. Mr Langsford added a clause to the declaration which removed the risk players thought they were running. This clause then read that they had never received any moneys except moneys received by members of the All Black team from the New Zealand Union during the tour of the New Zealanders to Great Britain. With this amendment all the twelve players signed the declaration. They also framed and signed a letter to the New Zealand Union, in which they pointed out that they had never in their long service abuse 1 the confidence placed in them, and also expressed the opinion ithat the step taken was uncalled for in their case. None of these players will be able to play in the North Island team, but when the declarations are accepted by the Union they will be eligible for future representative matches.