FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8523, 28 August 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

THE NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL TEAM. LIST OF FIXTURES. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, August 27. The London correspondent of the \ Star supplies the following-list' of, fixtures of the New Zealand pro- \ fessional team Wednesday, October 9th, v. Bramley. Saturday, October 12th, v. HuddersfielH. Wednesday October 16th, v. Widnes. Saturday, October 19th, v. Broughton Rangers. Wednesday, October 23rd, v. Wake- ( field Trinity. Saturday, October 26th, v. Leeds. Wednesday, October 30th, v. St. Helens. Saturday, November 2nd, unallotted. Wednesday, November 6th, v. Keighley. Saturday, November 9th, v. Wigan. Wednesday, November 13th, v. Barrow. Saturday, November 16th, v. Hull. Wednesday, November 20th, v. Leigh. * Saturday, November 23rd, v. Oldham. Wednesday, November 27th, v. West Lancashire, probably at Liverpool. Saturday, November 30 th, v. Dewsbury and Battby combined. Wednesday, December 4th, v. Swinton. Saturday, December 7th, v. Rochdale Hornets. Wednesday, December 11th, v. Rancorn. Saturday, December 14th, v. Halifax. Wednesday, December 18th, v. Yorkshire, at Wakefield. Saturday, December 21st. v. "Warrington. Wednesday, December 25th, v. Hunslet. Saturday, December 28th, v. Salford. Wednesday, January Ist, 19D8, v. Wales. Saturday, January 4th, v. Kingston Rovers. Wednesday, January Bth, v. Cumberland, at Workington. Saturday, January 11th v. England, at Wigan. Saturday, January 18th, v. Lancashire, at Oldham. Saturday, January 25th, v. Northern Union, at Leeds.

Thirty-two matches have been arranged so far for the English tour of the New Zealand professional team which will last about 18 weeks. It is intended that the New Zealanders shall play several of the weaker teams first in order that they may familiarise themselves with the slight alteration in the rules of the Northern Union, one of which is that the team comprises 13 men. It is expected that the colonials will return to the colony in March or April next. The intention is to play a series of matches in] Australia, while there is also talk that the professionals will make a bid for public approval in the colony; in fact, in some quarters it is stated that professionalism will be in full swing in New Zealand, or at least in the North Island next season.

The following team will represent . Wairarapa against Bush, at Mangatainoka, on Saturday next:—Fulli back, E. McKenzie; three-quarters, D. Thompson, J. O'Leary, Kinzett; , five-eighth, Minett; half-back, Adams; wings, A. Gray and Hender- , son; forwards, Todd, F. Johnston, Lyall, Wynes, S. Mason, C. Ross, Spackman. Emergencies Back, Haigh; forwards, Brenchley and Collett. The team will leave by the mail train on Saturday, and return the same evening. Mr Webster will accompany the team as manager, and will take out all tickets at Masterton. Members are requested to be on the station at 11.45 a.m. This has been arranged in view of the Wellington match on September 7th, at Masterton. The following .team will represent the W.F.C.A. in a match with Messrs J. Graham and Co.'s employees on Thursday next: — Russell, Smith, Hall, Schubert, Pragnell, Scrimgeour, Whitt, La Roche, Ralph, McFarlane, Dickson, Fairbrother, Home, Henry and Jago. Emergencies—Richards, Fleming and Kelly. Hukanui defeated Mangatainoka, at Mangatainoka,* on Saturday last, by 3 points (a try) to nil, and Konini defeated Nireaha by 6 points (two tries) to nil. The final match for the ! Bush championship will be played ■ between Konini and Hukanui.