NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS ABROAD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9022, 8 January 1908, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALLERS ABROAD.

A TEAM IN VANCOUVER. ' PROGRESS OF THE GAME. Mr A. C. Holms, formerly of ' Teatherston, writes from Vancouver •under, date November 24th, as follows:—"The advent of five players —S. Smith, W. Turnbull, J. Crowther, T. Burke, and the writer—per the s.s. Miowera, last month, has led •other Australasians residing hereto •organise a team. The new arrivals, together with eight others, have played this season for other senior teams, but with the permission of •the union, have joined the new combination. (The Antipodian Club, which is to ■be Ifnown as "the Southern Cross •Rugby Football Club," was formed •at an enthusiastic meetirig held in the Australasian Club, on November •Bth. The election of officers resulted: —President, Mr R. H. Kingsford •r Smith, New South Wales; vice-pre-'•"'TSiden'iS, Messrs W. S. Morrin, New Zealand; A. B. MacMillan, New Zealand; J. lorns, New Zealand; W. Smaill, .New Zealand; J. J. Miller, New South Wales; G. JL Gregory, New South Wales; R. D. Thompson. 'Herman House. Canada «nd .NewjZealand; bon. secretary and .treasurer, Mr E. Kingsford Smith, .New South Wales; captain, Mr W. Cburtpn, Auckland; vice-captain, Mr •J. M'Kechnie, Southland; coach, Mr A. B. MacMillan, Wellington; management eommittes, Messrs W. 'Turnbull, Wellington and Feather.ston; S. Smith and A. Holms, Wairarapa; N. Lee, Masterton; C. Simp•son, Queensland; E. A. Pooley, New South Wales and Auckland; representatives on union, Messrs W. Smaill, Southland, and A. Holms. The other players will be:—T. Burke, Southland and Wellington; T. Crowther, Wellington; C. Lawson, Auckland; Dr. Minogue, Wellington; E. Brice, A. Mann, C. S,teed and A. B. Needham. The standard of play is not by any means up to the first-class of New Zealand, but a number of players Would find al place in the best teams. The "rep." team will be a strong ■one, as fifteen good players of the j style maintaining here are obtainable, and although several of the rejSjfnt arrivals from New Zealand Jtave played country "rep." football, i; is doubtful whether any will find a pace. One team here plays the Maorttand style—or attempts to; the j others adhere to the old four three- j quarters, two halve?, anJ three-two- | three scrum formation. Rugby is played at Nanaimo and Victoria by several teams, and in several of the Eastern towns. I The game is making great headway in California, the matches played by the "All-Blacks" against British Columbia, in San Franciscc, being responsible for its introduction. In a match played between the Stanford and Berkeley University teams recently, for the championship of California, attended by about 13,000 people, the gate receipts totalled 22,000 dollars (about £4,400); the expenses were 600 dollars (£120). Stanford won by 21 Mints to 11. , 'The Stanford team t'lrill play matches here at Christmas time, playing Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Victoria (the latter two combined) teams. The visitors aie being guaranteed 1,800 dollars (£450) towsirds expenses. The Vancouver representatives played Berkeley and Stanford, in California, i last month, and won one of the three matches played. International matches between British Columbia and California have not as yet been j •arranged, the union in British Col- j umbia being "dead letter," and in California there is no union; An endeavour/is to be made to secure a I visit from an "All-Black" team in j 1908."