FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 127, 29 May 1909, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY.

Mynott, the well-known "All Black," reported to be showing good form in the Tiiranaki district.

The English Rugby Union have sent out invitations to the home unions for a conference to consult over the alterations suggested by tho Colonial unions.

The Rug-by match between the seven brothers Williams of Haverfordwest, and the seven brothers Randall, of Llanelly, was decided at Caermarthen recently, when the former won by onr- goal and 1 try to nothing. The game was .a decided novelty, but it is to be hoped there will be no repetition of a football match for a bet.

The English Rug"by Union's annual meeting- was held on May 27. The Exeter and Devon Albion Clubs were putting forward the following proposal:—"That the following shall be the mode of scoring —a try shall equal three points, a goal from a try shall equal 2 points, and a drop, mark, or penalty goal shall equal 2 points."'

In the opinion of an " AthleUc News " writer, Chapman, who came out with the British team, is a player who has not had his deserts this season. " Ono of the best threequarter backs in Knrjland," is how ho describes him, Continuing, he adds: 'He is very fast, he has with his pace a fine swerve, he can kick and he can tackle. Rut he was fated to be on a North side that payed 50 per cent below their form against the South, and were badly beaten."

At the last meeting of the Now Zealand Rugby Union committee th? South Auckland Rugby Union wrote that their district, if admitted to aflHiation, would include the whole of Raglan and Waikato, and the southern portion of the Ohinemuri county's boundary. The matter was referred to tho Boundaries Committee, consisting of Messrs. Lu3k, Isaac? and Meredith.

Prominent players retired from football in New South Wales this 3 ear are: W. Burlcigh, who played against Queensland in l!>04, New Zealand in l!) 05, and Western Australia in l!) 07: Uaro.'d Judd, whose record is a remarkable one, played against Queensland in 1900, 1001, 1902, 1903, 1905, 11)06. I'JOT; New Zealand, IHOI, 1903, 1905, England, 1004; and Stanley Wickham, whose first-class career rivale that of Judd, and who first played in big football in 1895, when he visited Central Queensland. In the same year he played against Queensland, and aJso in 189"), 1901, 1902, 1903, ISJO4, 1C0.,,, and 190G: New Zealand in )897, 1893, 1901, and 1903; and England, 1904.

A correspondent of a Sydney paper, in commenting on a recent game, said: 1 do not think I have seen a finer forward game in my life than that played by .J. Phillips, of Western Suburbs. Hi3*position is break-away forward, and in lineout, scrum and loose work he was everything to be desired. I find that his ability a3 a forward has never been recognised, and now that the metropolitan teams are short]}' to be picked, I am sure on his merits he should find a place. His game on Saturday last was equal to that of that great player James Hughes in the Glebe, v. University game. I have seen very few finer exhibitions than that given by Mr. Phillips on Saturday last. And I have seen great games by Mr. Seeling, of Xew Zealand, and Mr. Harding, of Wales. One of the notices of motions to he. submitted to the annual general meeting of the English Rugby I'mon was as follows: "That this meeting is convinced that professionalism exists in the Rugby Union, and that the Committee has not consistent!}' enforced the professional laws. What has become of the local Northern Union footballer this season? asks a Dunedin writer. Last year 1 was told in all seriousness by one who should know fhat the new game, was going to kill the Rugby code in Dunedin. It is surely time the Northern Unionists made a start—not to kill amateur Rugby, but to get the ].'i-:iside going. In commenting on the introduction of the Northern Union game last season. 1 Mated that it was the best thing that could happen Rugby football, and I am of that opinion still. If We an , to have the three eodci played in Dunedin. by all means let them be played; there is surely room for all. I would rather see the youth of tho town playing Northern Union football, Association, or Rugby than smoking cigarettes and looking on at these games. What we want is not so much the class distinctions in football, but the players to play. It seems to mc, though, we are breeding not a nation of shopkeepers, but a nation of lookers-on. That is fatal. Wherefor, welcome any decent game which takes our youth into open spaces.

The draw for the Wednesday third grade (the weights for which were fixed at 9st. 7lbs.) resulted as follows:—lune 0, P.T.R. v. Drapers and Bakers, Butchers and Grocers, a bye; June Iti, P.T.R. v. liutehcre and Grocers, Drapers and Bakers, a bye; June 23, Butchers and Grocers v. Drapers and Bakers, P.T.R., a bye.

R. L. ("Snowy") Baker is a great athlete. He can row, swim. box. and play football and cricket better than most men. Having become a, professional boxer, he has. been disqualified as an amateur in that sport, and that being so, he cannot now compete as a rower, swimmer, or any of the athletic exercises. The question has been raised whether he can play in the so-called amateur ranks of Rugby football. The forming of a federation of all amateur sports had one great ideal. It was that an amateur in one sport must be an nmateur in all. It sounds all right in theory (?ays the "Sydney Mail"), but it is difficult in practice. Baker, by his own act. became a professional in all sports, including Rugby football. It i.s well known, however, that quite a number of footballers are professional athletes. The attempt to put Baker out of Rugby may lead to a lot of trouble.

For the ninth time in twelve years Leicester havo won the .Midland Counties' liujjrby Football (.'up. Of "Hugger" inter-club competition*. thi> event appears to attract the most attention. The. Yorkshire Cup tournament is but a shadow of its former r-i-lf, and there is no national excitement about the other county competitions- Coventry, who were the Midland Cup holders two years ago, made a brave show against Leicester, and it \va3 only in the last few minutes that the victory was gained. If K. J. Jackett, the English "fullback, had not played at the top of his form during a lengthy period in the second half, when Coventry pressed continuously, the result might have been reversed.