FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 109, 7 May 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOOTBALL.

The championship matches started this afternoon. The match last Saturday between Newton and Rotorua attracted a few hundred people, the gate receipts being £2.3. The game was a willing one, but not at all a good display of the game. However, New- # ton showed enough for.ni to indicate that

they will be a formidable team this year. The forwards are a heavy, hard-working lot, but the backs strike one as being rather light. Phillips, who plays centre, played a sterling game on Saturday, and should be of great assistance to the team. Our old friend, D. Pillenger, formerly of the Xewton Club, played a safe game at full-back for Rotorua on Saturday. The Rugby Union should take some immediate steps to provide extra accommodation for the coming big matches. The English match will, oi* course, be under the. control of the X.Z.K.U., who should bo approached with reference to the matter. When tlw Englishmen came here liefore there was an enormolis attendance.

aii'.l it is quite certain that if the weather is at all fine this iiine tho crowd ■will amount to at least. 1.5.000 people. A temporary stand right along the north sid*? of the ground is \vhnt is wanted. Besides the English match there will be several interprnvincial marches, and it is certain tlnii tlie present accommodation is quite inadequate. It is expected thai the new traiiiiiigsli'pd for tlie North Shore Football Club will he linished in about a fortnight. The. building, which will be an iron one, is be-

ing built by Mr. Frankham. tin old Shorn | forward, whoso contract price, £140, was the lowest received. The club al first intended having a sawdust floor, but I believe an effort is being made on the part of some members to have this altered to tan, to come Into line with the city clubs. Already the players are attending practices more regularly. Footballers will note with satisfaction that, on the completion of the new training shed at Devonport it is proposed 1o place a I the disposal of visiting teams the. Hniall shed on the football ground, which last year was used as a dressing-room by both the Shore team and visitors. Accommodation for the press representatives would also be very acceptable. Dr. Fookes. i.s playing again this year, and ■will probably be available for the

inter-provincials.

The , Wanganui Rugby Union regret that they are unable to contribute towards the cost, of sending a 2sV\v Zea-

land team Home. <;. U. Uray. five-eighth* of Albion first iiftecu, Chviisteliurcli, and "Wellington rep. last season, is not likely to be a regular player for his! team (says a Clnisteliurch paper), as it is difficult for him io obtaiu the necessary leave of absence at present. The English Rugby Union is to be asked that the New fjouth "Wales Union be represented at a meeting of referees, to be held in London in August. It is

hoped that , the important alterations in the rules of the game, as suggested by the conference of New Zealand, Queensland and Xew South Wales representatives, will be placed before the meeting. —"Town and Country Journal."' The New South Wales Rugby Union has decided (says the same paper) that the following recommendations with regard to duties of referees shall come into force this season:—"Knock On: That the referees carefully distinguish

between' rebound and knock on.' There rnu.st be some movement of hand or arm, forcing the ball in the direction of opponents' in goal to coustitute a knock mi or throw forward. Touch Judge: That each touch judge shall carry two Hag:-, of different colours, to signal by which 3iJe the ball is to be brought into play. Charging: That referees should strictly enforce law 10 as to charging, and in this connection their attention .should be directed to the fact that under law 10 players must not encroach in the slighted degree beyond the goal line or the line through the point where the mark was made, until they are allowed to begin the charge." Our London correspondent, writing on March 2oth, says: '"On Saturday last, at I Edinburgh, the chosen of England and Scotland met to decide in which country jthp '"'Calcutta Cup,"' emblematic of the International Rugby Championship, shall

J vest for the next twelve months. The rtsult was that the Cup remaiii.s ovV'i the border, but the Fcots did not achieve victory until after oiip. of i»hc ruost stirring and determinedly fought games seen for many a day, and in a sense they were decidedly lucky to win. Like the pump at Belfast, when the Irishraei overcame Wales, the issue at Edinburgh l'emained in doubt until the last fey minutes. The Scots won the toss fo: choice of ends, and in the first half the? had a strong wind behind them. To be | gin with, matters progressed fairly even ]y. Then a series of rushes by the Scottisl forwards pave them the advantage. One inside tlieir rivals' quarters, the Scot tish three-quarters and half-backs show ed pretty combination, and 13 minute after the start, C'rabbie scored. Th< place-kick failed. Hereabouts the Scot: back division were in irresistible form Frequently they were within an ace o adding to" their score. But the English men battled stubbornly, althoug! Daniell was so badly hurt be had t leave the Held. After a long series o scrums near the English goal-line th .danger "was averted, and at half-tim England were still only three points b« hind. With the wind favouring ther there was hope for the Englishmen. Th tinal half was replete with excitement an thrilling incident. The Scots wer

quickly up by their rivals' goal-Jine, bu England now did better, and ten minute had only elapsed when they equalised th scores.' Vivian getting over under th bar. He, however, missed adding th i major points, for his kick, carelessl ! taken, hit the cross-bar —a bit of ba< luck for England. For a time th visiting team did well, and on severs occasions should have scored, fault; 0

>assing twice leading to the loss of vhat looked like certain tries. Then the ■Scots gained the \ipper hand, and the ■Southerners' line was in dagger. Vivian ittempted to relieve with a kick, and iis kick -was charged down by Macdonild. who rushed over just inside touch. It was a debatable point whether he iud scored, but the verdict was in Seotand's favour, and the try not being concerted the Thistles won a hard game and the championship by six points to three. Dr. Fell, the New Zealand medico, was unable io assist Scotland, owing to an injured leg, and his place was taken by Crabbie, who scored the first try. Of the :il international meetings Scotland has now won 12 to England's 10, nine games having been drawn." At the annual meeting of the Waiuku Football on April 23 the following officers wefe elected for the ensuing year: Pre&ident, Mr J. E. Makgill; vicepresidents, Mr W. V. Massey, M.H.R., Dr. Aldred, Mr E. Jones, and Mr D. Wilson; captain, Mr J. E. Bennett; vice captain, Mr A. James; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. James; selection committee, the captain and vice-captain; delegates to the union. Messrs G. Web ster, W. MoXnughten and the captain J. Bennett Avon Mr T>. Wibon's cap foi the best forward, aud L. Barriball Mr W Johnstone's for the best back. Adams, Ihr University centre three quarter and Ota go representative full back of last season has left, Iho pro i vince and taken up his residence in Wei I lington, .-ays the ''Witness. ,,