LEAGUE GAME

(By "Goalpost.") The Wellington Rugby Football League has shared in the bad luck of other organisations in the matter of weather, and so far, in four weeks has only been able to get off four matches, on two Saturdays a fortnight apart. The juniois have not had iji game at all. Whether the weather will be any better for today's matches it is hard to say at the time of writing, but the weather prophets, who, for all their good feelings towards winer sports, aro not able to perform miracles, wear gloomy faces. The Auckland League opened its season last Saturday with three fine games, in which much interest was shown. The League has recently been strengthened by two new senior teams, Grafton and Otahuhu, which made their first appearance on the opening day. The new Otahuhu Club has secured the services of the big goldfields forward, King Hyde, Baskerville, of Wellington, and Coleman, a very well-known Taranaki player. In addition the country team will also have George Cooke, the Auckland threequarter, and there- is also a possibility of Reke, the Rotorua and New Zealand five-eighth, being persuaded to appear with tho team. The following dates have been fixed tentatively for the inter provincial games, arranged by the ■ Auckland League :•— Auckland v. Taranaki, Bth August; Auckland v. Wellington, 15th August ;- Auckland v. Hawkes Bay, 22nd August. On 29th August Auckland will probably meet Wanganui, Canterbury, or Nelson. W. Kelly, the Wellington centre three-quarter, who figured in all Now Zealand's fixtures last year, and toured Australia with the New Zealand team, has takea up his residence in Sydney, and is playing for Balmain. His showing on the opening day of the season last Saturday week gTeatly pleased the critics, one of whom remarks: — "Kelly was far the best centre three-quarter c-n the field. He made lots of openings by hi 6 agility in running, fending, and sidestepping, but his supports were evident ly lost in admiration of his efforts, liko the crowd, since, as a rule, they neglect cd. to follow him and got into position to takei the pass." BIG GATE IN SYDNEY. North Sydney's runaway victory against Balmain (24 to 3) the other' day was largely due to the fine handling of the ball by their back division and the strenuous and solid work of their forwards. Upwards of 10,000 people assembled at Birchgrove Oval to witness the battle, and they got as much excrtement as they paid for. From start to finish North Sydney were the con queroro, and JBalmain had to be content to see the score piling up and endeavour to look pleasant. Both Taplin (N.S.j and Fraser (Balmain) at full-back did their work well, but the back division of tho winners was far and a.wa.y supenoi to Bnlmam's Tearguard. Repeatedly Scully, Wheatley, Deane, and Broomham galloped over the other sido, and they were ably supported by their lorwards, not tlio least conspicuous of whom was Con Sullivan, the cx-Now Zenlander, who eeems to be as vigorous as aver. In his Union days iv Now iSualand, Sullivan jros a remarkably iige

stamp of forward, an exceptionally goodnatured opponent, and a man who bore a very fine reputation as an all-round bport. It ie clear that ho has lost nono of these- characteristics, and his ' dashing forward play is always good to look upon. • THE ENGLISH TEAM. The following is the complete personnel, with ages, weights, and heights, of the English team to tour Australasia this season :—: — Full-backs.— A. E. Wood (Oklham), age 29, height sft 6£in; weight, 12st-31b; George Thomas (Wigan), 21. sft lOijin, 12st '61b. Centre Three-quarters. — H. Wagstaff (Huddersfield), 22, sft 9in. 12st 61b; F. Hall (Oldham), < 23, sft 6in, list lib; Bert Jenkins (Wigan). 29, sft Bin, 12st 101b ; H. A. Da vies (Leeds), 23, sft lOin, Wing Three-quarters,— S. Moorhouse (Huddersfield), 22, sft 9in. 12st 61b ; K. Williams (Halifax), 22, sft 9%m, list 101b; A. E. Francis (Hull), 23, sft 6in, lOst 101b; J. E. Robinson (Rochdale), 28, sft 9in, list 101b. Half-backs.— J. Rogers (Huddersfield), 21, sft sm, list; F. Smith (Hunslet), 29, sft 6in, 12st 61b; W. S. Prosser (Halifax), 24, sft 7in, 10s t 61b; J. 0 Gam (Widnes), 22, sft 9gin, 12st. Forwards.— D. Clark (Huddersfield), 22, sft Qiin, 14st illb; F. Longstaff (Huddersfield), 23, sft 9in, 14st 101b; J. Chilcott (Huddersfield), 26, sft ll^in, 14st; R. Ramsden (Wigan), 27, 6ft lin, 14st 101b; A. P. Coldrick (Wigan), 25, 6ft liin, 14st 21b ; J. W. Guerin (Hunslet), 20, 6ft lin, 15st 61b; J. Srnales (Hunslet), 25, sft 9£in, 12st 121b; W. Roman (Rochdale), 31, sft 9|in. 15s t 81b; D. Holland (Oldham), 26, sft Bin, 12st 61b ; J. L. Clampitt (Broughton), 29, sft 9in, 13sfc 21b; W. Jarman (Leeds), 27, sft B£in, 13st 81b; A. Johnson (Widnes), 23, 6ft, 13st 21b. The team is undoubtedly a very strong one, and includes many players of repute. Thomas, Jenkins, Rogers, and Chilcott are all English internationals, and Wood, Wagstaff, Hall, Smith, Clark, Longstaff, Ramsden, Roman, Clampitt, and Johnson have all' gained their Welsh international caps. The visit of the team to New Zealand should give a considerable impetus to the game.