FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

EHGBT. J REPRESENTATIVE FrSTUKES. ; is—Britain, 2.45 p.m.: Curtain Raisers,! 11-30 a.m.. Public Schools: 1.30 p.m_, Auckland B r. Walkato. Jnly S — Toird Test — Curtain Raisers. 11.30 a-m. sr. Stephen's v. St. Johns. 1 L3D p.m. FraaiiiinV. Auckland B. Atupist 1 — South Cantertmry Aagust S — H.-irlliorongii (sngsestedt Aagnst io — Wellington August 22 — Thames, a: Thames; Junior; Taranaki r. Anctland Angnst 20 — Taninaki j September 12 — Otago Ihe fifteen cnosen Dj Sir. D. Gallaner to represent Auckland against the Brit- ! isil team next Saturday is a good inc.! and it will b<? surprising if they do not '' fnlly uphold tiie reputation of their province. In the forward division the team is a particularly strong one—nearly equal i to the best that can be produced in the ! Dominion, and- on them our fate depends. ! If we axe beaten in front it is pretty safe j to =ay that the Britishers will score a j victory, and they will justly earn it, for ' the forwards who can beat our chosen deserre to win. The .backs on. the whole i ars much, better than was expected, and ' with an ordinary amount of kick will ' probably give a good account of themselves. The exclusion of Miller as full- j hack has not been well received by his I club maces and supporters, but outside ' personal feeling- it cannot truthfully be j eaid that Miller was up to representa- . tive honours. In fielding tie bail Miller is undoubtedly clever and this is bis strong point, but his kicking and tackling and! want cf pace is decidedly against | him, and personally I quite agree with, j 2\Xr. Gallaher in his opinion. Renwiek, -who has been chosen to supplant Miller, 35 not the best that has represented Auckland in the position, but he is a player with plenty of dash, and v.ill probably be a- success. To no- idea the weak spot of the back division is in the threequarter line, and it may be round that the shifting of Murray from th* centre to the wing was a mistake. Magee is certainly useful and bis defence is solid. but he is not np to 'Murray's standard- I Wilson's form has been decidedly erratic j this season, and he may or may not give a good showing. His pace is his strongest point. No fault can be found with the Sve-eighths chosen, and Horse is a decided acquisition- In the practice match on Saturday he gave- a great display, J being very nippy and earning his place I by siieer merit. Eater is clever, and hn •* only to remember not to try and dto too much on his own to be 3. success. So far [ Kiernan has not displayed his true form. | Of the forwards comment is needless: I are the best we can produce. *Geo. Gillett will captain the Auckland team against Britain next SaturdayThe Auckland team mustered in full force for training last evening, and some j good work was got through. The team' aneet: this evening- and to-morrow even- i ong. and are expected to take the field in Srst-class tradition on Saturday-. H. -T. Mynott- has been chosen as emergency back for New Zealand in the third test. The net profit from the CanterburyBritish match amounted to £513 15/10. The proceeds 'totalled £593 14/, and the expenditure £74 IS/2. It has been suggested that the New Z<?alajid team to play Britain in the third j itest be located at one of our seaside resorts, and that Dick McGregor accompany them as trainer and coach. The suggestion is a good one, and it ie to be ihoped tha-t the N.Z. Union can see their ■way to carry it out. It is nnd-crstood that it is impossible for the University team, now in Australia, to return via Auckland, to play the local University. Private ad-vices received in Auckland give the pleading information that Gray, the Auckland member of the University tea-m. now in Australia, was not serious- | ly hurt in the match on Saturday. Gray | is returning home by the Meana, which j arrives in Auckland on Sunday. ! The British team arrive in Auckland to-morrow morning-, and will be met at One'hungn by the officials of the local union, and driven to the Central Hotel, 'where -they will stay during their visit <fcr> Auckland. Ait 2 p.m. the Mayoral • reception will take place at the Council Chambers. The nmoancement that G. Gillett has decided to don -»ne jersey again has been the most pleasing feature during the ■week, and his inclusion will make a difference to Auckland. The N.Z. team for the third test against the British, team was chosen by telegram between Messrs. T>. Gallagher | (Auckland), H. Kelly (Wellington), and M. Harris (Dunedin). Congratulations to H. Hayward on gaining his All Black cap. The wonder is that he liae been overlooked so long. The movement in Wellington to previde a national testimonial to Wallace is an influential one, and it is confidently estimated that a large sum wfll be raised. In this connection a Wellington writer says:—"Cash testimonials may or I may not be tht? best way of expressing a nation's gratitude to one of its lesser leroes. but be that as it may, no one can doubt that in Wallace's case recog- j nition of some kind is called for. I | kope to see the present scheme ardently j mpported throughout the Dominion, and I Juried to success. Wallace deserves *. . .. The Secondary Schools' Championship tas been won by the King's College for he first time since rt was inaugurated h 1896. Grammar School hold the re■xird with 9 wins. 7 being successive. ?fc. John's have held the honour twice, md Sscred Heart once. For the first time in the history of Unglish Rugby. Cornwall was successful n winning the county championship, and :he Cornishmen living in Auckland prowse celebrating the event by giving a •eception to the visiting Cornish memlers of the British footballers (Messrs. Jackett and Davey). A meeting to disjuss the maxter is being held in the Wadtemata Hotel to-morrow night, to winch all local "Cousin Jacks" are invited. The "Athletic News"' is very disgusted, over the aHegations of professionalism -in Weffiogton football made at a recent nreetrns of the Wellington Rugby Union. "And these," it exclaims, "are the sort of! self-confessed wreckers of the laws _ ofamateurism the English Rugby Union have sent out a team to honour for Imperial reasons, Imperial fiddlesticks! In Australia, too, professional Leagues are being formed right and left; a Maori team will visit Sydjioy after the AH Eacks have returned home this month. Vtc are to have an Australian amateur end an Australian professional team ■with ns noxt wtntnr. Which, after these New Zealand revelations, will be the ■onndor sportsmen? Which, line organisation most deserving of honour? .

Although a fortnight has- elapsed since i the A.R.U. suggested August 22 as- a; ■ suitable date for the Auckland-Taranakd j junior rep. match, to be played at Auckland, no reply had been received from the Taranaki Union at the time of writing. Now that the well-known footballer W. J. Wallace has definitely decided to retire from the football field, a writer ia the "Dominion" has gone through his record and compiled the points scored by the Wellingtonian during his career. The record, which is undoubtedly a great one, . is as follows:— As a New Zealand representative in ! England. Australia, and New Zealand: ■ Tries, S3; converted tries, 112: potted : goals, 2: penalty goals, 9; goals from ' marks. 2: tot.-.i points. 3SI. As a Wellington r spresentative from , 1597 to 190S: Tries IS: converted tries, 19: potted goals, 3: penalty goals, 5; goals from marks, 1: total points, 123. As a North Island, representative: Con- ] verted tries, 5; penalty goals, I; total, 13 points. As an Otago representative, 1900 : Tries, 2; converted tries. 2; penalty • goals, 1: goals from marks, 1: total, 17 points. . ; In club matches in Wellington and Cunedin he has scured in all 329 points, < and his total scores for all matches aggregate the large total of 863 points. Wallace has a record to be prnud of. The competitions for the whole of the ; championships under the Auckland R-ug- j by Union are now closed, the list being as follows:— ' DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. Senior Grade—Ponsonby. Second Grade —North Shore. Third Grade—Ponsonby. Fourth Grade—Newton. Ponsonby also win the silver football j for the season- ! SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Seniors—King's College. Junior—Grammar School. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. "A" Grade —Devonport. "B" Grade—Parnell. "C" Grade— Kpsoc JUNIOR FOOTBALL. The final of the first junior enampionship played last Saturday between North Shore and Newton, was not a good exhibition of football, both sides making the close and eonnniriEr it princitially to ; the forwards. Why North Shore should have adopted these tactics it is hard to understand, as with their speedy backs one would have thought it be good - policy to throw the ball about a bit. On I one or two occasions they did send it out I a.n.d fron3 one nxn their score was J registered. I am sure that the North Shore team will now have to admit that i the remarks appearing in these columns ■ some time ago, anent their scoring abili- ' ties, were perfectly justified. One re- ] grets to have to record that the game was unnecessarily hard at times —"layers should remember that pointing It- not football. Had a referee of less experience been officiating things may not have gone off so weQ. The principal feature of the game was the display of the two full Tay- I lor and Healey, both of whom got j through a lot of work in good style, their kicking especially being first-class. Wyn- | yard, at five-eighths, also shows promise, but is inclined to the opinion that it is his ' duty to play the whole of hi 3 opponents I on his own. Apart from this fault he did a lot of useful work. 'The A.R.U. is suggesting August 1 as a suitable date for the playing of an Aackland-Waiuku jnrror rep" match at Waiuku. The_match on Saturday between City and Newton third juniors for the championship attracted a large number of specj tators; there was a great deal of barrack- j ,ing on the line, which was frequently en- ' ! croached upon. Some of the specta- j j tor 3 made use of ungentlemanly lan- I guage at times, and fortunately there I were no ladies present. The behaviour of the crowd as a whole was good. \ j The fact that on the two previous oc- ! i casions they have met a draw resulted ■ I makes it hardly necessary to add that • j the game was an even one. Both sides played spiritedly, and, while neither side played roughly, the tackling was of the deadliest. There was no score in the first spell, but early in the second ! half Newton secured a penalty goal, i and, after that, City were never dangerous, except for one brief occasion, when Newton experienced little difEcultv in driving them back. City had the "best of the play in the first half, and NewI ton in the second spell, when their superiority was far more marked. The Newtcn team held a social in the club's i training shed on Saturday night to com- j memorate their victory, and the members of the City team were present by invitation. North Shore and Newton have had the junior championship to themselves during the past six years, North Shore win- ; I ning on five occasions and Newton once. North Shora have now won three years in succession. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. i An A and B trial match was played at j Victoria Park this afternoon. The teams were as follows:— A Team. —Backs: Valvoi (Pitt-street), Westbury (Parnell), Alison (Devonport), Gornaga (Normal), Hancock (Parnell). Bartlett (Mt. Eden). Wolledge (Onehunga) : forwards: Woolley (Devonport), Edwards (Epsom). Vaughan (Richmoindroad), Rodgers (Devonport). Foreman (Pitt-street), McEldowney (Onehunga). Rupert Harty (Devonport), Gardiner (Newton East). B Team.—Backs: Page (Nelson-street), Colgan (Onehunga), McLancaiin (31t. ■ Eden). Higgins (Newmarket), Wynyard (North Shore), Olsen (Napier-street); forwards: Bollard (Avosndale), Hobsoa (Newton West), Baker (Napier-street), Sellars (Napier-street), Crawford (Normal), Leckie (Parnell), Ridley (Ponsonbv), Hogarth (Grafton), Philson (Remuera). Emergencies. —Backs: ilcClure (Newmarket), Peach (Ellerslie), Wine (Ponsonby). Slater (Remuera); forwards: Gray (Epsom), Pateman (Parnell), Prestour (Ponsonby), Reid (Mt. Eden), Fraser (Parnell), Harty (Devonport). After the game the team to play the Goldfields' Schools on Saturday will be chosen. ASSOCIATION. The weather is at present a more than usually interesting subject in soccer rircles it being responsible for the suspen-si-n on Saturday afternoon of the first division matches, all of which were to be SSU at Eden Park. The itoUiood ' tl»t tins ground w* as on East ocea-

sions; largely disappear from view- mr ex- 1 cessive- rainfall has been: troubling? the I minds of the AJTJt, and when Saturday's i dawn; to view an area better z adapted for an aquatic- carnival than 1 for football, countermanding orders were t hurriedly issued. i The Auckland Football Association, at 1 last evening's meeting, decidrd to -ir*- < pend the competitions ia. all four i divisions for the nest two Saturdays, J on the occasions of the British- Rugby ! matches- ; The Ponsonby player required to at- • tend the- meeting on a count of rising "language" was allowed to depart with i a caution. 1 THE AUSTRALIA?? 6AXE. ' By defeating Austral on Saturday, the t Newton Club scored their third succ.es- < sive win, and. from the way they accom- = plished it I would not be surprised to ] see them finish the season, without < another defeat. The team is in rare * fettle at present, and they are playing. 1 the best football in the Senior grade. ' Wain, in the ruck, was probably the ' most serviceable of the reds on Satur- I day, and. he did a tremendous amount of 1 work, and never seemed to tire. Marshall, ' the skipper, played a fine game, and, in 1 addition, handled his men in a proficient ' manner. The two wing men, E. Smith * and D. Brown, were clever and effec- ' tive, the former in particular. He has ' a rare turn of speed, and handles a ball ' nicely. Wilson played his usual solid ' game, and Roberts, O'Shea and S. Wain ; were at their best. The Austral Club were ' without the services of their captain, * Tongue, but they had a very good IS ' in the field. The black and whites ' were much nonplussed when they found ' the game going against them. They ' strove hard, especially in the last quar- * ter. to stem the tide, but their efforts ' were futile, as they were out against a J better team, and the reds appeared to ' hold them safe right through the piece. * Monteith. on the centre line, appeared ' to mc the best of the losers, and he ' played a fine game. Gillett played a good hard game, and he would have J shown to better advantage had it not been for the amount of attention that ' was given him by the N"ewtons. What a fine kick Gillett is, and in this de- ' partment he easily outshone all others. Abfalter ahowed "form in the last half of the game. In Tongue's absence he ' was elected captain. <tnd displayed good judgment in handling the team. Bettie, Cairns, and Liversidge -were the best of the others. At Victoria. Park, Eden had no difficulty in accounting for Imperial. The maroons were in their opponents' territory during most of the afternoon, and ran out winners by 57 points—a rather severe defeat, to be sure. The final round in the. local competition opens on Saturday next. Austral and Eden meet at Victoria Park, and Newton and Imperial on the Domain. The first-nam-ed match will, in all probability, decide ! the ultimate fate of the premiership, and I considerable interest therefore attaches Ito it. Both clubs are now level on the list, and as a defeat will put one or other out of court, it is safe to say the game will be well fought outI understand there is a little dissension in some quarters over the selection of one or two of the Auckland reps in the N"ew Zealand team, and the non-inclusion of several others. Speaking generally, the selection haa given satisfaction, but it would, of. course, be a matter of impossibility Ito please all. Flayers like Wilson, Lawj son, Frith, Cole, and Clayton all had excellent chances of inclusion, and their merits were well and fully discussed before they were discarded for others, J and the dissatisfied ones would do weil to realise that they could not all be chosen. I have heard it remarked, that Darby wrs selected on one match, and ■would remind the entic who made the statement that it is contrary to fact. Darby has been seen in action on several occasions, if not by all the selectors at least by most of them, and he certainly showed form enough to folly J justify his selection. i The -whole team will leave Auckland ;on Monday, August 3, by the Moana, j the Southern contingent arriving here I the day previous by that boat. The serj vices of Condon, well-known in senior football circles in Melbourne, and at prei sent attached to the Richmond Club, J have been secured as coach to the New ; Zealand team, and three weefcs under his I valuable tuition should well 3t the team I for their arduous engagements. PREMIERSHIP MATCHES. POSITION OF CLCBS. Played. Won. Lost. Dm. Pts. Austral ..9 6 2 1 26 Eden 0 6 2 1 38 Newtoa ..9 4 5 — 16 Imperial 9XB — 4