FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

3.TTGB-S - . The everlasting tendency of the executives of Kugby Unions to consider the financial side of the game as paramount ha 3 been very forcibly illustrated on one •or two occasions of late (says a -writer in the "Press"). New Zealand Kugby Union's Management Committee supplied one instance last week, when it dec-lined to arrange a match between the American University playere and a team representing the New Zealand University, the. principal objection offered being that it would cost too much to bring the New Zealand team together. For a body in such a position as the Sew Zealand Rugby Union, this seems a painfully weak argument, and one only worthy oi a struggling body which finds it dimcult to make ends meet. 'Admitted that the bulk of its funds is locked up in loans to various 10-cal unions, the New Zealand Union need have no fear of being forced into the Bankruptcy Court for some time

yet, ami it -would have been & gracefu-! concession to tlie colleges affiliated to the New Zealand University to have arranged a fixture for them" with the American students, who would doubtless have Gppre-ci-.ii.ed the compliment. Xlie American players have come to Australasia to learn l\.ugb\ r , and a match against a team more of their own calibre tha.n T-he provincial fifteens—some ot them fairly formidable—would probably be more encouraging to them. At any rate, the N&w yiexiiantl Union iaig"h*t for once lia-ve disregarded the eternal question of L.s.d. Yet another instance of undue regard for gate and the winning of competitions was shown in the case of one or two members of the executive of the Otago Eugby Union. When they were first approached v.-i&h regard to the arrangement of a match with the Americans and the securing of a ground, one or two of the Tnembers expressed themselves as averse to giving up a Saturday, on the ground that it would interfere with the Flag Competitions, and consequently mean loss of revenue. Truly a sportsmanlike method of considering the question] Evidently the game for its own sake makes no appeal. However, seeing that the match to be played in Dtcnedin has been fixed for a Wednesday, these Dtmedin sportsmen may breathe •freely once more, for their all-important Flag Competitions and "gate" <will be unharmed.

Thus a Sydney -writer: "The New Zealand forwards are to be highly praised for their quickness, stamina, combination, and their versatile football. Their hookers may not be champions against three specialists, but in all other directions it would be a pack of giants in -physique and in skill that "would beat them in three matches for the championship. The Australian forwards of the first two matches achieved something- to be proud of by the manner in which they stood up to the Blacks. With a weakened pack we may now draw a veil over the finish by extending to the New Zealanders the heartiest praiee for the splendour of their football. New Zealand may rest assured that while there are such, men as Francis, Wilson, Patterson, and Paton on the field, the loss of eailier champions, even Seelings, need not worry them. Australia is proud of having stood up to this team so well in all the circumstances."

In discussing the Maoris' match with Victoria, the Melbourne "Argus" remarks: "Rugby has been neglected in Victoria, It has cot been considered worthy of the mild honour of 'blues' by the authorities who preside over University sports. It has been discouraged in numberless other ways. Consequently it came rather as a surprise to those who diner from the majority, and admire the game, Ho see that thousands of Melbourne citizens were ■willing to be instructed in its rules on Saturday. And many who watched the game went away wondering why it has been so consistently neglected. This game was played in excellent spirit; there -were no exhibitions of unfair play or bad temper. . . - A few games of this class, with the sides a little better matched in weight and knowledge, would do a great deal to popularise a game of which the great advantage is the possibility of inter-national and inter-State play." According to a Sydney writer, the Australian "'hookeT" of the first two matches, T. Grifien, could not play in the last match, owing to the injuries to his head he hai sustained in the other game 3. J. darken took his place in the pack, and S. H. Slater took Clarken's place in the front row. Again it was proved that the eight-pack is superior to the seven-pack in securing possession. However, the local men complain that the New Zealanders put their hands in front of 'the hooker's face in order that he could not see the ball ■when it was put into the scrummage. This and other matters gave rise to foul play in the centre of the scrummage. One does not pretend to fathom, this trouble. The New Zealanders have been clearly beaten for possession of the ball in the front row in their important matches in Sydney. It is far preferable to be beaten not only in that direction, but beaten in the game itself, than to resort to putting the hands in front of the eyes of men against you. If this kind of thing is done iv the future the front row of the scrummage in Australia v. New Zealand matches will be a good place to give a wide berth.

The result of the 1910 New Zealand team in Australia is as follows:— Points. 3ST.S.W. i. -~ Won 21— 8 N.S.W. ~.„ Won 17—11 Q ~ Won 19—15 Q Won 21— 3 Aus. (1) Won 0— 0 Ausi. (2) Lost o—ll Aust. l- Won 28—13 Summary: Seven matches, 6 -won and 1 lost; 112 points (29 tries and 11 goals) to 0i points (12 tries and 10 goals). F. Mitchinson and P. Burns have played in every match (7), Avery, Maguire, Francis, Paton, Patterson, and A. Wilson in 0; Ryan, Mynot-t, Fuller, Roberts. McßLellar, Ridland, and O'Leary in 5; Mitchell, Bligh, and Stohr in 4; Evans in 3; F. Wilson and Eudd in 2; Ivemy in 1. At the annual meeting of the English Rugby Union all the amendments to the laws of the game already approved by the International Board were adopted (though Mr. A. D. Stoop opposed several), -with the exception of an altered reading of law 14, which was withdrawn for reference back to that body. The variation of the definition as to the drop out, by which, if the ball pitch into touch the opposite side may accept the kick, have the ball dropped out again or scrummaged in the centre of the

i twenty-five yards'""line, was only-carried jby 33 to 13 on a second show of hands, so as not to have a divergence of rules lin ordinary and international fixtures. j Mr. Stoop also objected to the alteration !to law 12, excepting the hall belonging to the opposite side to that last touching ;it except when a player carrying the jball is forced into touch by an opponent, j instead of except when carried in. The .alterations to law 11 (N. and C), proj posed by Mr. G. C. Robinson on behalf jof Northumberland, and seconded by Mr. IC.1 C. W. Finch, Devon, were rejected by large majorities, the former having for I its object the prevention of a player not jin a serttnrmage getting jn a line with I any of his forwards before the ball comes jont of a scrummage,- the latter aiming iat a player being on the ground getting iup immediately before putting the ball down.

The balance-sheet of the Sydney Kugby Union shows profit on the match account of £3667, but on the general cash, account thease is an overdraft of £1271. The assets,.however, show an excess over liabilities of £12,610, the new Rugby gTound being- set down at its corse, £19,702. £Fo the Editor.) Sir, —The correspondence to the Northern Union League from the Australian Football League, as reported in your issue of the 4th inst., i≤ calculated to split the spleen of even the most soberminded of the sporting community. The very fact of the Northern Union "League (Auckland) acknowledging affiliation with the Northern Union League (England), an admittedly professional body, is a strajght-ont answer to any query regarding the amateur constitution of the local body. As for the expression, "assisting to mnlce the good old game purer," perchance the sum granted by the Auckland Rugby Union some three years ago towards the expenses of the New Zealand exponents of the Australian game who toured Australia, does not render the Auckland Rugby Union immune from scathing and caustic criticism at the hands of those who have sought the last-mentioned body's favours. At all 'events, the Australian game should "set its own house in order." Purity of administration is an absent factor in Melbourne when clubs like Essendon, Collingwood, and Carlton, drawing attendances of upwards of 25,000, take their quota of the revenue instead of the moneys being handled by a central body, the amounts being accounted for by the appearance of items in the various balance-sheets for fabulous sums, running into three figures for players' jerseys, boots, etc.

I do not wish it to be inferred that I hold a brief for any one of the three codes expounded in this city; neither did I intend this to be an all-round dissertation on sporting matters; but it is passing strange that the officials of the Auckland Centre New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association were not sufficiently alive to their duties to make application within the specified CO days for the recognition of D. Wilsons performance at the recent championship jneeting. Laxity of duty has a depreciating effect on the public and participants alike, and the happenings of recent years ( in almost every form of sport in Aueki land more than ever forces on mc the home-truth that for capable and energetic officials we are at a discount.—l am, etc., AMATEUR. [There may be something in my correspondent's contention about the laxity of officials in the various bodies in Auckland, but I am suro they are willing to learn, and if "Amateur" were to join any of the clubs probably he would be able to put tnings on a satisfactory footing.—Actaeon. ]