FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1900, Page 12 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

George Smith, the well-known Auckland three-quarter, has definitely decided to retire from football, and Auckland will therefore be without his assistance this season on the football Held. Smith has had few equals as a back. He is exceptionally fasc and tricky, and is the beau ideal of an attacking tlneequarter. His record has been a long and honourable one. He has represented Auckland for years, and was included in the last .New Zealand team that visited Australia, where lie greatly distinguished himself. All footballers will be sorry to miss him at Potter's.

Beyond recruits from the junior ranks, Ponsonby are not likely to have much new blood in their senior fifteen this season. Of last year's team, Gallaher, Galloway, Eule (2), and Carder (2) will in all probability don the blue and black jersey again.

City will lose G. Smith permanently, but otherwise their team will be but little changed this year. Asher is« expected to return from Tauranga, while Absolum and S. Brown will play again, as well as Irvine, an old Coro-

mandel representative. City will have to be reckoned with this j'ear.

North Shore will be considerably weaker this year. They will lose Paul, Cardno, Pitt, and the two Frankhams, all of whom have left the district, while it is understool that W. Wynyard, Walsh, Nicholson, Ir\»iijf and Scott will not play.

Suburbs, I understand, will make their usual bold bid to put a first fifteen in the field this year. For years past the authorities of the club have worked hard with little or no result, and it would be a reward for their labours if Suburbs could put a gooJi team in the field all through the season, and render a good account of themselves. Wigmore and Monro have (.vone with the Fourth Contingent, but most of last year's players are still left, and H. Smith, the Graf ton fullbuck, will assist the -club* ■ There are also several promising recruits in Onehnnga, 1 understand.

Giafton will probably lose the services of the Hay brothers. Douglas anl Carlton have definitely decided not to play, but it'is understood considerable pressure will be brought to bear on them, and they may be persuaded to play. Purvus Hay will not play, owing' to ill-health. "Bert" Stirling will also be an absentee this year.

Newton have lost Pillenger (another contingent man) and Woods (who has left the district), while Williamson, the veteran forward, will retire from the game. Coutts, the Thames representative half-back, is the only addition to Newton's ranks, but they have a champion junior fifteen to draw upon, and should have no difficulty in putting a strong senior team in the field.

Parnell, as I said last week, will have considerable difficulty in putting a team in the field. Some seven or eight of their last year's seniors have left the district <wme being in South Africa, and the juniors are none too strong to recruit from. Fred Murray talks of giving \ip the game, but I nm afraid the temptation ■will be too strong for him, as it has been in former years.

This year will be prolific in rep. fixtures, as the principal Southern centres owe us a visit.

Wellington has lost a brilliant player in Wallace, who departed for Dunetlin last week (says the Wellington "Post."). The Poneke boy on last year's form was one of the best allround backs in the colony, and must have been one of the first players chosen in a New Zealand team. He was in great form Inst season, his fine performance in the Southern matches being a feature of the tour. Otago has gained a valuable addition to its ranks which will in a great measure atone fnr the loss of poor Barney Armtt. Wallace will most likely throw in his lot with Alhnmbra. Wallace played centre threequarter for his province Inst year n<rninst Auckland and tlie othor provinces. . :.

The nnminl rpnort nf the New Zenland "Rntrhy Union states that it <« proposed to amend by-law fi in the direction of ompowerinsr tfip Manasrempnt Committpp to deni with disputes nrising out nf the rending of the bylaws of affiliated unions. The com-

mittee thinks it necessary to make such an amendment, as numbers _of disputes in eonnectionwith the reading of different union's by-laws have had to be returned to the unions on account of the New Zealand Union's bylaws containing no provision for dealing with such questions. The balance sheet shows a credit of £22.

The balance-sheet of the Canterbury Rugby Union shows a credit balance of £ 187 17/10. The income on the last season's transactions was £Sl7 1/3, and expenditure swallowed up £029 3/5 of this amount. The Pirates F.C., of Sydney, has disbanded, recognisiug that the time has arrived for the inauguration of district football. At the annual meeting of the Metropolitan Rugby Union, held in Sydney on 9th March, the report stated that notwithstanding a heavy royalty had been paid to the N.S.W. Rugby Union and all expenses, the two English matches resulted in a profit of £174 6/10. It was decided that football competitions carried on by the metropolitan branch of the N.S.W. R.U. should be on an electoral and district basis. Two of the best Irish forwards of twelve months ag-o. W. G. Byron and J. H. McTlwaine (says a London naper of 22nd January) are e-oing to South Africa with the Irish Volunteers, and the hon. secretary of the LHnster branch of the Irish Union, J. McKinley. is also under, orders, and will serve with the Dublin Contingent. Mao-ep. captain of the Trish team last year, has also left for the front. ASSOCIATION NOTES. United will be considerably weakened this year, as they lose four or five, good men. This wil make the competition more even in the senior grade. North Shore gain "Ralston, one of United's best men, but otherwise who was one of their best men last year.

V.M.C.A. will be without C. Hemery, who was one their best men last year;

Falcons, the winners of the junior competition last year, will. T believe, apply for admission to the senior rank.